Australia
Canada
USA
Tailor-made
Self-Guided Adventure
Family Friendly Golden Route
from US$7543 (Per Family)
9 Nights Trip Code: FFGR
Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto at a pace that works for your family, with time to explore, slow down and enjoy being there together. Read more >
This is Japan's classic trip: Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto, customized for your family by our experts. The pace is comfortable, there's time to settle in, and plenty of flexibility to adapt as you go.
Your family's trip begins in Tokyo, staying in modern apartment style accommodation that gives everyone a bit more space to relax after a long journey. Day one is spent with a private guide, focused on helping your family feel comfortable navigating the city and seeing some world class sights like Asakusa's Sensoji temple. Experiences like teamLab's immersive digital art and relaxed neighbourhood exploration add colour and excitement to your family's trip early on, without feeling too rushed.
From Tokyo, you head to Hakone for a change of pace. It's a mountain area with hot springs and easy day-to-day travel. This is where you can mix light outdoor experiences with classic Hakone sights: ropeways with Mt Fuji views, walks through forested areas, and a boat crossing on the lake that tends to go down well with kids. Using the Hakone Freepass keeps local travel straightforward, and staying in a ryokan introduces Japanese style rooms and onsen bathing in a way that works well for families.
The journey then continues to Kyoto, where older parts of the city sit alongside everyday life. Experiences like a group tea ceremony and visits to places such as the Samurai & Ninja Museum mix things for you and kids. Staying in a traditional machiya townhouses gives your family a more local way of experiencing this historical city.
The trip finishes with a final night back in Tokyo, keeping departure simple and giving you one last chance to revisit a favourite area or explore somewhere new. We love bringing people back to a different neighbourhood in Tokyo to give you more of a feel for the city as a family before you head back home.
What's included
Nine nights' accommodation in Japan
Airport transfers
All transport between destinations
Four-hour private guide service in Tokyo & Kyoto
Pocket WiFi device
Hakone Free Pass for local transport in the Hakone region
Your personalised InsideJapan 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 - you will be expected to carry your own bags for the duration of the trip
Ready to plan your trip?
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3470
What, where, when and how...
Family Friendly Golden Route - 10 Days
Destinations
Family Friendly Golden Route - 10 Days - Day by Day
Family Friendly Golden Route - 10 Days - Accommodation
Family Friendly Golden Route - 10 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-3
Getting comfortable in the city
Arrive into Tokyo and transfer straight to your hotel in Asakusa, a family friendly area that's easy to get around and well connected by public transport. Having a bit more space at the start of the trip makes settling in much easier, especially after a long flight. One of your full days is spent with a private guide, focusing on helping your family understand how Tokyo works rather than trying to see everything at once. The day can be shaped around your interests — food, pop culture, temples or neighbourhood walks — and gives everyone the confidence to explore independently afterwards. Another highlight is a visit to teamLab Planets, where large-scale digital installations respond to movement and light. It's an immersive experience that works well for children and adults, and we'll also give you Tokyo self-exploration ideas on anything from cafes to shopping to anime.
Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
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Day 4-5
Out of the city and into the countryside
After sending your main luggage ahead, you travel by bullet train the Hakone area and pick up the Hakone Freepass, which covers buses, trains, cable cars and boats. The journey itself becomes part of the experience, winding through wooded hills and small towns. You stay at a traditional ryokan, offering a clear contrast to city hotels. Tatami mat rooms, futon bedding and the option to try hot spring bathing give your family a comfortable introduction to a more traditional side of Japan. Hakone is a great place to be a little unstructured and play it by ear. You might explore part of the Hakone sightseeing loop, visit the famous open-air museum, or simply enjoy the slower pace after Tokyo. Hakone is scenic, calm and easy to navigate.
Overnight: Ichinoyu Susukinohara
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Day 6-8
Historic streets and everyday Japan
Continue to Kyoto by shinkansen, arriving in a city that feels more compact and walkable than Tokyo. Your accommodation is centrally located, making it easy to explore different neighbourhoods without long travel times. While in Kyoto, you'll see well‑known sights, hidden gems and have interactive experiences. One afternoon includes a group tea ceremony, offering a relaxed and accessible introduction to a traditional art form that works well for families. A visit to the Samurai & Ninja Museum adds context and hands‑on learning, bringing Japanese history to life in an engaging way. Your stay in a machiya townhouse adds to the sense of place historical Kyoto, giving you a feel for traditional living, with plenty of western comforts. With several nights in the city, mornings can be slow and plans adjusted around weather, crowds or kids' energy levels.
Overnight: Machiya Residence
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Day 9-10
Another look at one of the world's biggest cities
Return to Tokyo by bullet train for your final night, staying in a different area of the city. This gives you the chance to see another side of Tokyo, revisit a favourite neighbourhood, or do any last‑minute shopping. Ending the trip in Tokyo keeps the journey home straightforward and avoids unnecessary transfers on departure day, rounding off the trip on a calm, practical note.
Overnight: Keio Plaza Tokyo
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Day 1-3
Getting comfortable in the city
Arrive into Tokyo and transfer straight to your hotel in Asakusa, a family friendly area that's easy to get around and well connected by public transport. Having a bit more space at the start of the trip makes settling in much easier, especially after a long flight. One of your full days is spent with a private guide, focusing on helping your family understand how Tokyo works rather than trying to see everything at once. The day can be shaped around your interests — food, pop culture, temples or neighbourhood walks — and gives everyone the confidence to explore independently afterwards. Another highlight is a visit to teamLab Planets, where large-scale digital installations respond to movement and light. It's an immersive experience that works well for children and adults, and we'll also give you Tokyo self-exploration ideas on anything from cafes to shopping to anime.
Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
-
Day 4-5
Out of the city and into the countryside
After sending your main luggage ahead, you travel by bullet train the Hakone area and pick up the Hakone Freepass, which covers buses, trains, cable cars and boats. The journey itself becomes part of the experience, winding through wooded hills and small towns. You stay at a traditional ryokan, offering a clear contrast to city hotels. Tatami mat rooms, futon bedding and the option to try hot spring bathing give your family a comfortable introduction to a more traditional side of Japan. Hakone is a great place to be a little unstructured and play it by ear. You might explore part of the Hakone sightseeing loop, visit the famous open-air museum, or simply enjoy the slower pace after Tokyo. Hakone is scenic, calm and easy to navigate.
Overnight: Ichinoyu Susukinohara
-
Day 6-8
Historic streets and everyday Japan
Continue to Kyoto by shinkansen, arriving in a city that feels more compact and walkable than Tokyo. Your accommodation is centrally located, making it easy to explore different neighbourhoods without long travel times. While in Kyoto, you'll see well‑known sights, hidden gems and have interactive experiences. One afternoon includes a group tea ceremony, offering a relaxed and accessible introduction to a traditional art form that works well for families. A visit to the Samurai & Ninja Museum adds context and hands‑on learning, bringing Japanese history to life in an engaging way. Your stay in a machiya townhouse adds to the sense of place historical Kyoto, giving you a feel for traditional living, with plenty of western comforts. With several nights in the city, mornings can be slow and plans adjusted around weather, crowds or kids' energy levels.
Overnight: Machiya Residence
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Day 9-10
Another look at one of the world's biggest cities
Return to Tokyo by bullet train for your final night, staying in a different area of the city. This gives you the chance to see another side of Tokyo, revisit a favourite neighbourhood, or do any last‑minute shopping. Ending the trip in Tokyo keeps the journey home straightforward and avoids unnecessary transfers on departure day, rounding off the trip on a calm, practical note.
Overnight: Keio Plaza Tokyo
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