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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. Designed for families, this route mixes hands‑on history, countryside time and Japan's effortless rail travel; perfect for families Read more >
This family-friendly journey explores Japan's history through places, stories, and experiences that don't feel like lessons. But they leave a lasting impression all the same.
Starting in Tokyo, you'll get to know Japan's capital with a private guide who knows how to pace the day for families, balancing headline sights with moments of play and discovery. From there, travel inland to Matsumoto and the Kiso Valley, where original castles and old post towns introduce the world of samurai, merchants, and travellers on foot.
Staying in a traditional ryokan and walking a section of the old Nakasendo route gives children and adults alike a real sense of how people moved through Japan in the past - slowly, and with purpose. In Kyoto, you'll dive deeper into classical Japanese culture, from temples and neighbourhood streets to a hands-on samurai sword dance experience. There's time built in for flexibility too, whether that's meeting Nara's famously cheeky deer or exploring at your own pace.
The journey also includes Hiroshima, where history is handled with care and context, balanced by creativity and food culture - including an okonomiyaki cooking class - one of Hiroshima's specialty dishes (although don't ask if it's better than Osaka okonomiyaki unless you want a passionate debate!)
With private guides, thoughtfully chosen accommodation, and an itinerary designed to keep everyone engaged without rushing, this is a trip that takes Japan's past seriously - without taking the fun out of it.
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, one teenager, and one child aged 6-11. 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 layered with 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 historic post towns along one of Japan's old highways
- Explore Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan
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
Big-city energy, family-friendly discovery
Your adventure begins in Tokyo, where modern Japan meets layers of history just below the surface. 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
Walking through Japan's past
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.
Beyond the castle, the town offers an easy introduction to life outside the big cities, with walkable streets, local food, and a comfortable relaxed pace away from Tokyo. From here, you continue into the Kiso Valley, an area closely linked with Japan's historic travel routes.
Kiso Fukushima was once an important checkpoint town on the Nakasendo, the road that connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto during the Edo period (1603–1868). Today, traces of that past remain in the riverside streets, temples, and wooded hills that surround the town.
A highlight is walking part of the old Nakasendo between Magome and Tsumago. This well‑maintained trail passes forests, waterfalls, and small settlements, offering a gentle hike that's achievable for families. Walking at the same pace as Edo‑period travellers gives a real sense of how journeys were made before trains – and makes the day feel like an adventure rather than a sightseeing checklist.
Staying in a traditional ryokan, you'll experience tatami rooms, seasonal meals, and hot spring baths – a cultural highlight for many families.Overnight: Yamamizuki Urara Tsutaya
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Day 5-7
Samurai roots and modern Japan
Nagoya often surprises travellers. This is a city shaped by powerful samurai clans and modern innovation in equal measure, and 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 enjoy the city's food culture – from miso‑rich local dishes to casual eats in shopping arcades where everyday life unfolds around you.
Nagoya's manageable size and relaxed pace make it a refreshing stop between rural Japan and Kyoto's historic heart.Overnight: Marriott Associa Nagoya
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Day 7-10
The historical and cultural heart of Japan
Kyoto is the cultural heart of Japan, but travelling as a family means knowing where – and how – to explore it. With expert guidance and time built in for rest, discovery here feels thoughtful rather than rushed.
A hands‑on samurai sword dance experience brings history off the page, while guided sightseeing introduces temples, shrines, and neighbourhood streets in a way that makes sense for different ages. Staying in a restored machiya townhouse adds another layer, giving you space and privacy in a city known for tradition.
There's also the option of a day trip to Nara, where enormous temple halls and freely roaming deer create a memorable contrast that younger travellers rarely forget.Overnight: Machiya Residence
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Day 10-12
Modern history, resilience, and food culture
Hiroshima's story is an important part of understanding modern Japan, and visiting with a private guide ensures it's approached 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.
To balance the weight of history, you'll take part in an okonomiyaki cooking class, getting hands‑on with one of the city's best‑known dishes. Cooking, eating, and sharing food together is a natural way to end the journey – one that tends to bring the whole trip together.Overnight: Hilton Hiroshima
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Day 12-13
Back to the Capital to top off a memorable journey
After a long and enjoyable journey across Japan, you'll return to Tokyo to wrap up any last sightseeing desires, souvenir shopping or just take a moment to relax. Now is the perfect time to slip in a moment of luxury for the family, if budget allows, for an unforgettable last night in the towering skyscrapers of Japan's capital.
Overnight: Palace Tokyo
-
Day 1-3
Big-city energy, family-friendly discovery
Your adventure begins in Tokyo, where modern Japan meets layers of history just below the surface. 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
Walking through Japan's past
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.
Beyond the castle, the town offers an easy introduction to life outside the big cities, with walkable streets, local food, and a comfortable relaxed pace away from Tokyo. From here, you continue into the Kiso Valley, an area closely linked with Japan's historic travel routes.
Kiso Fukushima was once an important checkpoint town on the Nakasendo, the road that connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto during the Edo period (1603–1868). Today, traces of that past remain in the riverside streets, temples, and wooded hills that surround the town.
A highlight is walking part of the old Nakasendo between Magome and Tsumago. This well‑maintained trail passes forests, waterfalls, and small settlements, offering a gentle hike that's achievable for families. Walking at the same pace as Edo‑period travellers gives a real sense of how journeys were made before trains – and makes the day feel like an adventure rather than a sightseeing checklist.
Staying in a traditional ryokan, you'll experience tatami rooms, seasonal meals, and hot spring baths – a cultural highlight for many families.Overnight: Yamamizuki Urara Tsutaya
-
Day 5-7
Samurai roots and modern Japan
Nagoya often surprises travellers. This is a city shaped by powerful samurai clans and modern innovation in equal measure, and 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 enjoy the city's food culture – from miso‑rich local dishes to casual eats in shopping arcades where everyday life unfolds around you.
Nagoya's manageable size and relaxed pace make it a refreshing stop between rural Japan and Kyoto's historic heart.Overnight: Marriott Associa Nagoya
-
Day 7-10
The historical and cultural heart of Japan
Kyoto is the cultural heart of Japan, but travelling as a family means knowing where – and how – to explore it. With expert guidance and time built in for rest, discovery here feels thoughtful rather than rushed.
A hands‑on samurai sword dance experience brings history off the page, while guided sightseeing introduces temples, shrines, and neighbourhood streets in a way that makes sense for different ages. Staying in a restored machiya townhouse adds another layer, giving you space and privacy in a city known for tradition.
There's also the option of a day trip to Nara, where enormous temple halls and freely roaming deer create a memorable contrast that younger travellers rarely forget.Overnight: Machiya Residence
-
Day 10-12
Modern history, resilience, and food culture
Hiroshima's story is an important part of understanding modern Japan, and visiting with a private guide ensures it's approached 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.
To balance the weight of history, you'll take part in an okonomiyaki cooking class, getting hands‑on with one of the city's best‑known dishes. Cooking, eating, and sharing food together is a natural way to end the journey – one that tends to bring the whole trip together.Overnight: Hilton Hiroshima
-
Day 12-13
Back to the Capital to top off a memorable journey
After a long and enjoyable journey across Japan, you'll return to Tokyo to wrap up any last sightseeing desires, souvenir shopping or just take a moment to relax. Now is the perfect time to slip in a moment of luxury for the family, if budget allows, for an unforgettable last night in the towering skyscrapers of Japan's capital.
Overnight: Palace Tokyo
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