UK
Canada
USA
Tailor-made
Self-Guided Adventure
Made in Japan
from AU$18818 (Per Family)
10 Nights Trip Code: FAM3
From hands-on craft workshops and cookery classes, to playful museums and classic cities, our family-friendly journey brings Japan to life through doing, not just seeing. Read more >
Made in Japan is designed for families who want to experience Japan in a more hands-on way, with fun as a focus. Staying in spacious, well-located accommodation and travelling at an unhurried pace, you'll move between Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto, with plenty of time to explore, create and discover together. It’s ideal for families with younger children, but also craft enthusiasts.
Along the way, you'll cook ramen, try traditional textile dyeing, apply gold leaf by hand and cast your own tinware in a working foundry. We’ve built in space for play, imagination and exploration – from immersive digital art and miniature worlds in Tokyo to relaxed markets, gardens and historic neighbourhoods, all easy to explore with children. You’ll travel home with personally made souvenirs as memories of your trip, all truly 'Made in Japan'.
Private guiding in Tokyo and Kyoto helps you get your bearings without overloading the schedule, while optional day trips and free time keep things flexible to accommodate the ever-changing minds of children (and adults!). This is an itinerary built around curiosity, creativity, adventure and shared experiences.
Pricing: We know that families come in all shapes and sizes. This itinerary has been priced based on a family of four, made up of two adults and two children under 16. Speak to us and we can adjust everything to suit your family's situation and interests.
What's included
10 nights' accommodation
Breakfast in all hotels (apartment and townhouse style are self catered)
All transport between destinations
Airport transfers
Four-hour private guide service in Tokyo and Kyoto
Kanazawa Goldleaf Workshop
Tin Casting Workshop and Factory Tour
Indigo dyeing in Kyoto
Ramen cooking class
Pocket WiFi device
Your personalised InsideJapan Tours Info-Pack
What's NOT included:
International flights
Local transport (buses, subways, taxis) at any destination unless otherwise specified
Any entrance fees including those for shrines, temples and museums
Baggage handling and luggage forwarding
Trip Highlights
- Explore the cities with Tokyo and Kyoto with an expert local guide
- Cook hand made ramen before enjoying it as your evening meal
- Take the path-less-trodden on the Hokuriku shinkansen
- Experience gold and tin craft in the Hokuriku region of Japan
- Create unique Japanese souvenirs to take home
Ready to plan your trip?
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 61 7 2104 5561
What, where, when and how...
Made in Japan - 11 Days - Day by Day
Made in Japan - 11 Days - Accommodation
Made in Japan - 11 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-4
Settle into Japan with an adventure in the capital
Settle into your apartment-style hotel in Ueno. It's a well-connected area in Tokyo, with green areas and Ueno Zoo nearby.
Meet your local Insider for a half-day of private guiding. They'll help you get to grips with the city, and explore the corners that interest your family most, from historic temples more modern, neon-lit neighbourhoods. The rest of your time is free for you and your family. You could head out to the artificial island of Odaiba, where futuristic architecture, interactive museums and immersive digital art experiences make this a big hit with kids, teens and adults alike.
Whether you're exploring miniature worlds, wading through light-filled installations or cruising across the bay, Tokyo is as playful as it is overwhelming (in the best possible way).Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
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Day 4-7
Create your own gold-leaf piece in Kanazawa, a traditional crafting city.
Speed away from Tokyo on the world-famous Shinkansen bullet train to Kanazawa, a compact city where history and craftsmanship remain part of everyday life. It's famed for its gold – you can even eat atop ice creams! Your base is a restored town house within easy reach of markets, gardens and traditional districts.
Kanazawa is best explored slowly. Spend time in its celebrated landscape garden, wander geisha districts, browse small craft shops or snack your way through Omicho Market. At a gold leaf workshop, you'll learn to work with impossibly fine sheets of gold and create your own finished piece to take home.
You'll take a day trip to Takaoka, visiting a working metal foundry with more than four centuries of history. After seeing how molten metal is shaped using traditional techniques, you'll try sand casting for yourself, creating a tin item. Rest assured it's safe, memorable and surprisingly absorbing, bound to be one of the standout experiences of the trip.Overnight: Machiya Residence
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Day 7-10
Explore temples, shrines and quieter corners with a local Insider guide.
Travel south to Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital. Despite its busy reputation, Kyoto works well for families when approached thoughtfully, and private guiding helps you experience the city sustainably beyond the headline sights.
Your time here focuses on creativity and culture. Make ramen together at a cookery class, with plenty of tasting along the way. Try traditional textile dyeing, choosing patterns and colours before creating your own piece to keep.
There's also a free day for a side trip, with easy rail access to Osaka (where we highly recommend the streetfood) or Nara – home to expansive parkland and famously curious (and mischievous!) deer. Alternatively, use the time to explore Kyoto some more at your own pace.Overnight: GATE HOTEL Kyoto Takasegawa
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Day 10-11
Return to Tokyo – and explore a different side of the capital.
Your journey ends back in Tokyo. We suggest staying in a different neighbourhood, offering a fresh view of the city before departure. You've got time to visit gaming arcades, shop for last souvenirs or simply enjoy a final meal at an izakaya (a great way to try lots of different dishes together). You'll have a private transfer booked to take you directly to the airport – so there's no last-minute logistics to worry about.
Overnight: OMO5 Tokyo Gotanda by Hoshino Resorts
-
Day 1-4
Settle into Japan with an adventure in the capital
Settle into your apartment-style hotel in Ueno. It's a well-connected area in Tokyo, with green areas and Ueno Zoo nearby.
Meet your local Insider for a half-day of private guiding. They'll help you get to grips with the city, and explore the corners that interest your family most, from historic temples more modern, neon-lit neighbourhoods. The rest of your time is free for you and your family. You could head out to the artificial island of Odaiba, where futuristic architecture, interactive museums and immersive digital art experiences make this a big hit with kids, teens and adults alike.
Whether you're exploring miniature worlds, wading through light-filled installations or cruising across the bay, Tokyo is as playful as it is overwhelming (in the best possible way).Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
-
Day 4-7
Create your own gold-leaf piece in Kanazawa, a traditional crafting city.
Speed away from Tokyo on the world-famous Shinkansen bullet train to Kanazawa, a compact city where history and craftsmanship remain part of everyday life. It's famed for its gold – you can even eat atop ice creams! Your base is a restored town house within easy reach of markets, gardens and traditional districts.
Kanazawa is best explored slowly. Spend time in its celebrated landscape garden, wander geisha districts, browse small craft shops or snack your way through Omicho Market. At a gold leaf workshop, you'll learn to work with impossibly fine sheets of gold and create your own finished piece to take home.
You'll take a day trip to Takaoka, visiting a working metal foundry with more than four centuries of history. After seeing how molten metal is shaped using traditional techniques, you'll try sand casting for yourself, creating a tin item. Rest assured it's safe, memorable and surprisingly absorbing, bound to be one of the standout experiences of the trip.Overnight: Machiya Residence
-
Day 7-10
Explore temples, shrines and quieter corners with a local Insider guide.
Travel south to Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital. Despite its busy reputation, Kyoto works well for families when approached thoughtfully, and private guiding helps you experience the city sustainably beyond the headline sights.
Your time here focuses on creativity and culture. Make ramen together at a cookery class, with plenty of tasting along the way. Try traditional textile dyeing, choosing patterns and colours before creating your own piece to keep.
There's also a free day for a side trip, with easy rail access to Osaka (where we highly recommend the streetfood) or Nara – home to expansive parkland and famously curious (and mischievous!) deer. Alternatively, use the time to explore Kyoto some more at your own pace.Overnight: GATE HOTEL Kyoto Takasegawa
-
Day 10-11
Return to Tokyo – and explore a different side of the capital.
Your journey ends back in Tokyo. We suggest staying in a different neighbourhood, offering a fresh view of the city before departure. You've got time to visit gaming arcades, shop for last souvenirs or simply enjoy a final meal at an izakaya (a great way to try lots of different dishes together). You'll have a private transfer booked to take you directly to the airport – so there's no last-minute logistics to worry about.
Overnight: OMO5 Tokyo Gotanda by Hoshino Resorts
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