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Tailor-made
Self-Guided Adventure
From Shogun to Shinkansen
from AU$33914 (Per Family)
12 Nights Trip Code: FAM5
Follow Japan's story through castle towns, historic walking trails and modern cities, travelling from the age of the shogun to the modern Shinkansen and beyond. Read more >
Designed for families with teenagers, this journey follows Japan from the samurai age to the modern day, travelling between stops by Shinkansen bullet train. There is plenty of history, but zero chance of this feeling like a history lesson. You’ll walk part of the Nakasendo highway, stay in a ryokan, learn moves from a samurai sword dance and visit museums chosen because they are hands-on and interactive.
Your private Tokyo guide tailors your day to you and your family, mixing the big sights with time for play and discovery. Matsumoto brings you face to face with one of Japan’s original castles, while the Kiso Valley slows the pace with old post towns and a walk along the Nakasendo trail.
Kyoto is the centre of classical Japanese culture, and your local guide will steer you towards the best sites, and away from the crowds. And if you fancy a day trip, Nara and its cheeky deer are just a train ride away.
Hiroshima is handled with care, giving families time to understand the city’s past and its message of peace and resilience. But there’s time for pancake making too. Okonomiyaki is perhaps Hiroshima’s best-loved dish (and they’ll tell you it’s better than Osaka’s version…).
With private guides in the right places, flexible time elsewhere and high-speed rail journeys that are all part of the fun, this is a trip for families who want to understand Japan’s history through activities and fun.
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 teenagers aged 12-16. Speak to us and we can adjust everything to suit your family's situation and interests.
What's included
12 nights' accommodation (two nights Japanese style)
Breakfast in all hotels and three evening meals (self catered in townhouse)
All transport between destinations
Airport transfers
Eight-hour private guide service in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya and Hiroshima
Samurai Sword Dance and Experience
Cooking Class in Hiroshima
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
- Experience Tokyo city life: shrines, neighbourhoods and everyday traditions
- Find out about Nagoya's rich samurai history with a local guide
- Learn lessons from the past in Hiroshima, while also looking ahead to the future
- Walk to historic post towns along one of Japan's old highways: the Nakasendo Way
- Explore Kyoto, the centre of classical Japanese culture
Ready to plan your trip?
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 61 7 2104 5561
What, where, when and how...
From Shogun to Shinkansen - 13 Days
From Shogun to Shinkansen - 13 Days - Day by Day
From Shogun to Shinkansen - 13 Days - Accommodation
From Shogun to Shinkansen - 13 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-3
Discover the big city your way
Your adventure begins in Tokyo. With a private guide, you'll explore neighbourhoods that bring the city to life for families – from busy crossings and character shops to quiet shrine grounds tucked behind the main streets.
Expect a mix of the familiar and the unexpected: stories of loyalty at the Hachiko statue, fashion and youth culture in Harajuku, traditional rituals at Meiji Shrine, or time spent exploring Tokyo's hobby districts filled with manga, games, and collectibles. The pace is flexible, the route tailored to your interests, and the focus always on keeping everyone curious rather than overwhelmed.Overnight: Keio Plaza Tokyo
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Day 3-5
Walk in the footsteps of samurai
Travelling into the mountains, Matsumoto is home to one of Japan's best‑preserved original castles. Its steep staircases, low beams, and defensive design make it especially engaging for children – this is history you can climb, touch, and imagine. From here, you continue into the Kiso Valley.
Kiso Fukushima was once an important checkpoint town on the Nakasendo road that connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto during the Edo period, before trains. You can walk part of the old Nakasendo between Magome and Tsumago. This well‑maintained trail passes through forests, waterfalls, and small settlements. It's a gentle hike that's achievable for families. And, just like travellers years ago, you'll stay in a traditional ryokan, with tatami rooms, meals made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and hot spring baths (onsen).Overnight: Yamamizuki Urara Tsutaya
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Day 5-7
Modern Japan rooted in samurai history
Speed from samurai-era post town to modern day powerhouse Nagoya by Shinkansen – a city that often surprises travellers. Shaped by powerful samurai clans and modern innovation in equal measure, it's a city that doesn't feature on many Japan itineraries, and yet it works brilliantly for families.
With a private guide, you might explore Nagoya Castle, interactive museums, or hands‑on science exhibits. There's also time to eat. Lots. Grab a plate of miso katsu or spicy tebasaki chicken wings in izakaya bars or casual shopping arcades.Overnight: Marriott Associa Nagoya
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Day 7-10
See the sights and dance with samurai swords in Japan's ancient capital
Kyoto has over 1,600 temples and 400 shrines. You can't see them all, and your local guide will help you explore the best bits, give context you won't find on a quick Google search, and steer you clear of the crowds. Staying in a restored machiya townhouse you'll have plenty of space to spread out and recharge.
Take a break from temple hopping, and learn that samurai swords aren't just for fighting. At a dance workshop, you'll learn how graceful warriors can be. Feel like exploring beyond the city? Take a day trip to Nara, with its enormous temple halls and friendly free-roaming deer.Overnight: Machiya Residence
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Day 10-12
Explore a city known for its resilience, and, its delicious food
Visiting Hiroshima is an important part of understanding modern Japan. Your private, local guide will tell its story with sensitivity, clarity, and perspective. The Peace Park and Museum provide space for reflection, while other parts of the city show how Hiroshima has rebuilt and moved forward.
Today, the city is known for its okonomiyaki pancakes, and you'll make your own at a cooking class, layering your favourite ingredients on top of this savoury dish.Overnight: Hilton Hiroshima
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Day 12-13
Back to the capital
Your final day and night in Tokyo is yours to shape. We'll make sure your Info-Pack is full of ideas tailored to you and your family, whether you want one last big day out, a relaxed afternoon close to your hotel, or a final bowl of ramen somewhere excellent.
And of course, your time in Asia doesn't have to end here. Tell us if you'd like to extend your stay in Japan, or add another InsideAsia destination to the trip.Overnight: Palace Tokyo
-
Day 1-3
Discover the big city your way
Your adventure begins in Tokyo. With a private guide, you'll explore neighbourhoods that bring the city to life for families – from busy crossings and character shops to quiet shrine grounds tucked behind the main streets.
Expect a mix of the familiar and the unexpected: stories of loyalty at the Hachiko statue, fashion and youth culture in Harajuku, traditional rituals at Meiji Shrine, or time spent exploring Tokyo's hobby districts filled with manga, games, and collectibles. The pace is flexible, the route tailored to your interests, and the focus always on keeping everyone curious rather than overwhelmed.Overnight: Keio Plaza Tokyo
-
Day 3-5
Walk in the footsteps of samurai
Travelling into the mountains, Matsumoto is home to one of Japan's best‑preserved original castles. Its steep staircases, low beams, and defensive design make it especially engaging for children – this is history you can climb, touch, and imagine. From here, you continue into the Kiso Valley.
Kiso Fukushima was once an important checkpoint town on the Nakasendo road that connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto during the Edo period, before trains. You can walk part of the old Nakasendo between Magome and Tsumago. This well‑maintained trail passes through forests, waterfalls, and small settlements. It's a gentle hike that's achievable for families. And, just like travellers years ago, you'll stay in a traditional ryokan, with tatami rooms, meals made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and hot spring baths (onsen).Overnight: Yamamizuki Urara Tsutaya
-
Day 5-7
Modern Japan rooted in samurai history
Speed from samurai-era post town to modern day powerhouse Nagoya by Shinkansen – a city that often surprises travellers. Shaped by powerful samurai clans and modern innovation in equal measure, it's a city that doesn't feature on many Japan itineraries, and yet it works brilliantly for families.
With a private guide, you might explore Nagoya Castle, interactive museums, or hands‑on science exhibits. There's also time to eat. Lots. Grab a plate of miso katsu or spicy tebasaki chicken wings in izakaya bars or casual shopping arcades.Overnight: Marriott Associa Nagoya
-
Day 7-10
See the sights and dance with samurai swords in Japan's ancient capital
Kyoto has over 1,600 temples and 400 shrines. You can't see them all, and your local guide will help you explore the best bits, give context you won't find on a quick Google search, and steer you clear of the crowds. Staying in a restored machiya townhouse you'll have plenty of space to spread out and recharge.
Take a break from temple hopping, and learn that samurai swords aren't just for fighting. At a dance workshop, you'll learn how graceful warriors can be. Feel like exploring beyond the city? Take a day trip to Nara, with its enormous temple halls and friendly free-roaming deer.Overnight: Machiya Residence
-
Day 10-12
Explore a city known for its resilience, and, its delicious food
Visiting Hiroshima is an important part of understanding modern Japan. Your private, local guide will tell its story with sensitivity, clarity, and perspective. The Peace Park and Museum provide space for reflection, while other parts of the city show how Hiroshima has rebuilt and moved forward.
Today, the city is known for its okonomiyaki pancakes, and you'll make your own at a cooking class, layering your favourite ingredients on top of this savoury dish.Overnight: Hilton Hiroshima
-
Day 12-13
Back to the capital
Your final day and night in Tokyo is yours to shape. We'll make sure your Info-Pack is full of ideas tailored to you and your family, whether you want one last big day out, a relaxed afternoon close to your hotel, or a final bowl of ramen somewhere excellent.
And of course, your time in Asia doesn't have to end here. Tell us if you'd like to extend your stay in Japan, or add another InsideAsia destination to the trip.Overnight: Palace Tokyo
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