Welcome to Tokyo!

On your first full day in the capital you will have the services of an expert private guide for a half-day tour of the city. We can prepare a sightseeing itinerary for you in advance, or you can decide your plan with your guide on the day. We highly recommend exploring the nearby Asakusa district which offers an interesting contrast of new and old Japan, and the towering Skytree offers some incredible views of the city. A great way to have some family fun is to visit 100 yen shops where children can spend a bit of pocket money on things from snacks to snickers. After all - everything is so cheap!

With another full day in Tokyo, we have included tickets to the fabulous Studio Ghibli Museum. This is a fantastic chance to delve into the mysterious fantasy world of Hayao Miyazaki's animated films. Younger kids will love playing on the cat bus from My Neighbour Totoro, and don't miss the cinema showing world-exclusive original animated shorts.

Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel

Climb to to the top of Matsumoto's impressive original "Black Crow" samurai castle.

Swap the bright lights of Tokyo for the mountains of the Japanese Alps today as you catch a direct limited express train to Matsumoto - a journey of two-and-a-half hours. Matsumoto is home to own of Japan's few remaining original samurai castles, the "Black Crow," where you can climb up the steep staircases inside and imagine life in the time of ninja!

Overnight: Marunouchi Hotel

Spend two nights in the beautiful alpine craft town of Takayama.

Before leaving Matsumoto, you'll learn how to make the region's speciality dish: soba noodles. Under the expert supervision a chef from a local soba shop, the whole family can try their hand at making the buckwheat dough before kneading and chopping it into thin noodle strips. Of course, the fruit of your labour will be a hearty bowl of soba noodles for lunch.

In the afternoon your journey will continue with a scenic bus ride across the mountains to the traditional town of Takayama. For the next two nights you'll stay in a traditional ryokan, sleeping on futon mattresses on tatami mat flooring. A Japanese-style dinner will be included tonight.

After a restful night at your ryokan, your next day in Takayama will be spent cycling through the beautiful Hida countryside outside the town. A 20-minute train ride will take you to meet your cycle guide, who will take you on a gentle, three-and-a-half hour ride through the surrounding farmland, passing rice paddies, streams and forests and meeting a few friendly locals on the way.

Overnight: Yamakyu

Today you'll take a limited express train to Nagoya before hopping aboard the world famous Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto; an experience in itself!

Here you'll be staying like a local in a traditional machiya townhouse. You'll have full run of the two-storey property, and it makes the perfect base for exploring the city.

On your first full day in Kyoto you will once again be accompanied by an expert local guide for a half-day city tour, encompassing some of Kyoto's famous sights and hidden gems. The guide can take any special interests you may have into account to tailor an itinerary especially for you.

The afternoon will be free for you to spend at leisure and your Info-Pack will be full of sightseeing ideas. You may like to visit Toei Eiga Mura, a film set theme park where samurai action films are made. You can dress up as a geisha or samurai here!

On your next day in Kyoto you will be joining a taiko drumming class. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing as you're sure to work up a sweat beating these huge traditional drums/ The teachers will guide you through some basic rhythms and movements so that by the end of the class your family will have a little performance piece. Make sure you can record films on your camera to show off to your family and friends back home.

Overnight: Machiya Residence

From Kyoto it's a quick hop on the Shinkansen bullet train to your next destination, Osaka.

Osaka is home to Japan's movie industry, including a school dedicated to the art of stage fighting - where you'll be having a private tatedo lesson today! Dressed as samurai and using bamboo swords, the instructor will show you stylised movements to create your own ninja sword sequence. Bushido or "the way of the samurai" is as much about respect, dignity and mental training as it is fighting, and this philosophy will certainly be choreographed into your lesson.

Overnight: Hotel Intergate Osaka Umeda

Today your Japanese family adventure finally comes full circle as your return to the capital.

You'll have one last journey on the bullet train, whisking you from Osaka to Tokyo in just under three hours. Tonight you'll stay in an apartment hotel in Tokyo's neon-spangled Shinjuku district.

Sadly your time in Japan must come to an end, and on your final morning you'll take a shared shuttle bus to the airport in time to catch your flight home.

Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel