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Luxury Tailormade Trip
Juniors in Japan
from US$13277 per person (twin share)
13 Nights Trip Code: EPJFAM13
Made for families with kids and pre-teens who've got time to spend a bit longer in Japan, Juniors in Japan blends the classics with a few stops beyond the usual first-timer loop, with first-class journeys and high-class stays throughout. Read more >
It starts in Tokyo, where you can lean into the fun stuff: TeamLab, arcades, toy shops, big parks, and neighbourhoods that feel like different cities stitched together. You’ll also get a hands-on taste of old Japan with a private swordsmanship session in a traditional dojo.
Then it’s onto Kanazawa on the Shinkansen bullet train. It’s a great reset for your family after Tokyo: gardens, contemporary art and a slower pace that works well for this age group. There’s also wagashi sweet-making, a bit different from the corner shop treat stash back home.
From there you head into the countryside to Gokayama, a farmhouse village with the same steep thatched roofs as nearby Shirakawago, but with fewer day-trippers and more everyday life. Continue to Takayama for traditional markets, craft shops and a stay in a ryokan, with futons and hot springs that often become a family favourite.
Kyoto temples and backstreets are explained with a guide who knows how to keep things interesting for every age group. And, a high-adrenaline highlight, a day at Universal Studios. The trip finishes in Hakone for outdoor art, a hot spring or two, and perhaps a pirate ship lake crossing, with time to unwind before returning to Tokyo.
Throughout, we keep journeys relaxed and hotels and ryokan inns high-end, with your own, dedicated Insider guide at every stop.
What's included
13 nights' luxury stays (connecting rooms, subject to availability)
Airport transfers by private vehicle
Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 4 evening meals
All tours and transfers using luxury-chartered vehicles and 1st class reserved trains
Full day private guides in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone including entrance fees
Half day private guides in Gokayama, Takayama and Kanazawa (on 2 days) including entrance fees
Swordsmanship experience
Wagashi sweet-making experience
Washi paper-making experience
Universal Studios Japan tickets + Express Pass 4
TeamLab Borderless Digital Art Exhibition Tickets
Your personalised InsideJapan Info-Pack
Pocket WiFi device
What's NOT included:
International flights
Local transport (buses, subways, taxis) at any destination unless otherwise stated
Baggage handling and luggage forwarding (details will be highlighted in your Info Pack to pay locally)
Trip Highlights
- Insider Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hakone full day tours with private vehicle and guide
- Kanazawa, Gokayama, and Takayama half day tours with private guide and vehicle
- Wagashi sweet making and tasting
- Universal Studios Osaka (including express passes)
- Swordsmanship experience
- Kenrokuen Garden and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
- 300-year old farmhouses, washi paper making, soba noodle lunch in Gokayama
- TeamLab Borderless Digital Art Exhibition
Ready to plan your trip?
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3470
What, where, when and how...
Juniors in Japan - 14 Days
Destinations
Juniors in Japan - 14 Days - Day by Day
Juniors in Japan - 14 Days - Accommodation
Juniors in Japan - 14 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-3
Discover Tokyo with your private guide and driver, and visit a traditional dojo to learn samurai swordsmanship from a master.
Greeted by your private driver and guide, your first day in Tokyo will be tailored to you and your kids' interests.
Get into the mindset (and traditional hakama) of a samurai warrior at a dojo. You'll learn the basic sword techniques from a master surrounded by centuries-old katana swords on display, with guidance tailored to children and adults. But it's also all about those more relaxed moments of free time. In fine weather, a simple bento picnic in Yoyogi Park or Shinjuku Gyoen. You might like to visit the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, where kids can explore vintage shops, a public bath house and sit at the controls of a vintage Tokyo tram.Suggested Accommodation: Palace Tokyo
-
Day 4-5
Sit back and relax on the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa, covering 450km in just two and a half hours. After Tokyo, Kanazawa is your first taste of a more traditional, quieter side to Japan.
Zip from urban cityscapes to peaceful rice paddies on the bullet train. Be sure to pick up an eki-ben (bento box) at the station to eat along the way.
Your Kanazawa guide will take you to Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of Japan's Three Great Gardens. Stop by the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art for a dose of modern art. Then, it's afternoon tea with a difference. Sip a cup of sencha or matcha in a historic Higashi Chaya District teahouse, and make wagashi sweets for a traditionally Japanese sugar high.Suggested Accommodation: The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa
-
Day 6-7
Known for its traditional crafts, sake and busy markets, Takayama is a more rural slice of Japan life.
On your way to Takayama you'll stop by UNESCO-listed Gokayama, known for its steeply thatched gassho-zukuri traditional farmhouses, and a quieter alternative to Shirakawa-go. You'll make washi paper, have a soba noodle lunch and see farmers perform a kokuriku dance as you relax with a hot drink beside the hearth.
In Takayama, you'll stay two nights in a luxury ryokan inn, with futon beds, deliciously prepared meals and onsen baths. Your guide will walk you through the merchant streets, lined with traditional wooden buildings. As a Takayama local, they will be the best person to point out tiny historical and cultural points you'd otherwise miss. Visit the morning markets, food stalls, tea houses and local craft shops. And, if the little legs get tired, a rickshaw ride is a fun and relaxing way to get around.Suggested Accommodation: Hidatei Hanaougi Takayama
-
Day 8-10
Your time in Kyoto balances the show-stopping temples and gardens with theme parks and a film set.
Spend a full day with a local Kyoto guide and driver who will tailor everything to suit your family, ensuring you see the best of Kyoto.
Choose one or two of the most famous UNESCO sites with your guide and then mix things up with a visit to Toei Eiga Mura, a theme park and film set located near Arashiyama's famous bamboo grove and Golden Pavillion, Kinkaku-ji. Step into the world of a samurai film as you wander through replica Edo-period streets, with sets including Nihonbashi Bridge, a traditional courthouse, a Meiji-era police box and part of the former Yoshiwara entertainment district. Just an hour's drive away, Universal Studios Japan promises a fun-filled day guaranteed to keep little ones entertained and excited.Suggested Accommodation: Four Seasons
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Day 11-12
Fresh air, wide views and a bit of low-effort adventure, with Mount Fuji often making a cameo if the weather plays along.
The Hakone Open Air Museum is a real family-friendly highlight. It's a big mix of world-class art with installations that kids can touch and even climb on, all set against Hakone's mountains.
Once again, you'll have a dedicated guide to shape your day to suit you. Perhaps a ride up the Hakone Ropeway, a pirate ship cruise across Lake Ashi, paddle boating, pony rides, or a visit to the Hakone Aquarium. Back at your luxurious accommodation, hot springs and beautifully prepared dinners await.Suggested Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Hakone
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Day 13-14
Your final day in Tokyo is yours to enjoy however you like. Our top tip: focus on one area and really getting to know the place.
You could take the monorail across to the man-made island of Odaiba crossing the Rainbow Bridge. Odaiba is home to excellent museums, including the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), known for its interactive exhibits and robots, as well as a range of fun attractions such as Legoland Discovery Centre and Joypolis, a Sega indoor amusement park. For a quieter, more traditional alternative, take a river cruise along the Sumida River over to Asakusa. Your Info-Pack will include plenty of recommendations to help you make the most of your time.
Suggested Accommodation: Palace Tokyo
-
Day 1-3
Discover Tokyo with your private guide and driver, and visit a traditional dojo to learn samurai swordsmanship from a master.
Greeted by your private driver and guide, your first day in Tokyo will be tailored to you and your kids' interests.
Get into the mindset (and traditional hakama) of a samurai warrior at a dojo. You'll learn the basic sword techniques from a master surrounded by centuries-old katana swords on display, with guidance tailored to children and adults. But it's also all about those more relaxed moments of free time. In fine weather, a simple bento picnic in Yoyogi Park or Shinjuku Gyoen. You might like to visit the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, where kids can explore vintage shops, a public bath house and sit at the controls of a vintage Tokyo tram.Suggested Accommodation: Palace Tokyo
-
Day 4-5
Sit back and relax on the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa, covering 450km in just two and a half hours. After Tokyo, Kanazawa is your first taste of a more traditional, quieter side to Japan.
Zip from urban cityscapes to peaceful rice paddies on the bullet train. Be sure to pick up an eki-ben (bento box) at the station to eat along the way.
Your Kanazawa guide will take you to Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of Japan's Three Great Gardens. Stop by the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art for a dose of modern art. Then, it's afternoon tea with a difference. Sip a cup of sencha or matcha in a historic Higashi Chaya District teahouse, and make wagashi sweets for a traditionally Japanese sugar high.Suggested Accommodation: The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa
-
Day 6-7
Known for its traditional crafts, sake and busy markets, Takayama is a more rural slice of Japan life.
On your way to Takayama you'll stop by UNESCO-listed Gokayama, known for its steeply thatched gassho-zukuri traditional farmhouses, and a quieter alternative to Shirakawa-go. You'll make washi paper, have a soba noodle lunch and see farmers perform a kokuriku dance as you relax with a hot drink beside the hearth.
In Takayama, you'll stay two nights in a luxury ryokan inn, with futon beds, deliciously prepared meals and onsen baths. Your guide will walk you through the merchant streets, lined with traditional wooden buildings. As a Takayama local, they will be the best person to point out tiny historical and cultural points you'd otherwise miss. Visit the morning markets, food stalls, tea houses and local craft shops. And, if the little legs get tired, a rickshaw ride is a fun and relaxing way to get around.Suggested Accommodation: Hidatei Hanaougi Takayama
-
Day 8-10
Your time in Kyoto balances the show-stopping temples and gardens with theme parks and a film set.
Spend a full day with a local Kyoto guide and driver who will tailor everything to suit your family, ensuring you see the best of Kyoto.
Choose one or two of the most famous UNESCO sites with your guide and then mix things up with a visit to Toei Eiga Mura, a theme park and film set located near Arashiyama's famous bamboo grove and Golden Pavillion, Kinkaku-ji. Step into the world of a samurai film as you wander through replica Edo-period streets, with sets including Nihonbashi Bridge, a traditional courthouse, a Meiji-era police box and part of the former Yoshiwara entertainment district. Just an hour's drive away, Universal Studios Japan promises a fun-filled day guaranteed to keep little ones entertained and excited.Suggested Accommodation: Four Seasons
-
Day 11-12
Fresh air, wide views and a bit of low-effort adventure, with Mount Fuji often making a cameo if the weather plays along.
The Hakone Open Air Museum is a real family-friendly highlight. It's a big mix of world-class art with installations that kids can touch and even climb on, all set against Hakone's mountains.
Once again, you'll have a dedicated guide to shape your day to suit you. Perhaps a ride up the Hakone Ropeway, a pirate ship cruise across Lake Ashi, paddle boating, pony rides, or a visit to the Hakone Aquarium. Back at your luxurious accommodation, hot springs and beautifully prepared dinners await.Suggested Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Hakone
-
Day 13-14
Your final day in Tokyo is yours to enjoy however you like. Our top tip: focus on one area and really getting to know the place.
You could take the monorail across to the man-made island of Odaiba crossing the Rainbow Bridge. Odaiba is home to excellent museums, including the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), known for its interactive exhibits and robots, as well as a range of fun attractions such as Legoland Discovery Centre and Joypolis, a Sega indoor amusement park. For a quieter, more traditional alternative, take a river cruise along the Sumida River over to Asakusa. Your Info-Pack will include plenty of recommendations to help you make the most of your time.
Suggested Accommodation: Palace Tokyo
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