Australia
USA
Self-Guided Adventure
Tailor-made
Zen & Now Family Holiday
10 Nights: from US$9646 (per family) Trip Code: ZANC
We know that the key to a good family holiday is to keep things simple. This trip is an easy two-centre jaunt to Japan's best-loved cities: Tokyo and Kyoto. With five nights in each you'll have plenty of time to explore, taking things as fast-paced or as relaxed as your family desires. Read more >
If adults come away from Japan enthralled - just imagine visiting as a child. Utterly fascinating yet accessible, a trip to Japan is a mind-opening experience for a whole family. This trip is just begging to be customized. Whether your family wants to try out ninja training in Kyoto, join one of our Insiders on a video game arcade safari across Tokyo, or immerse themselves in the hands-on futuristic art exhibits at teamLab, we can adapt the itinerary to suit your interest.
Japan's capital Tokyo has lots to entertain children of all ages. From play parks to amusement arcades, wacky outlandish fashions to open air historical museums, robots to cat cafes, plus all manner of transportation: boats, buses, subway trains, even rickshaws and a monorail. We've included our Tokyo Mystery Game, a fun way to discover the districts of Asakusa, Harajuku and Shibuya. We've also added in tickets up the Tokyo Skytree so you can see the vast neon cityscape from above.
Two and a half hours on the bullet train will take you on to Kyoto, the epicentre of traditional Japanese culture and home to the country's best temples, shrines and gardens. You'll stay in a self-catering machiya townhouse giving your family privacy and the freedom to come and go as you please. We'll also arrange for you to have a one-night stay in a traditional ryokan inn, but if you'd prefer to stay in your townhouse for the duration, we can adapt the trip for you.
There's probably only so many temples that your kids will tolerate, but fortunately Kyoto has lots more to offer. There's a fantastic train museum, bamboo groves, hands-on craft activities and kimonos to try-on. This trip includes a sushi-making class, but if you'd like to include more cultural lessons, please let us know and we can tailor the trip.
Kyoto is also a fantastic base for day trip. In Nara you can feed the cheeky yet sacred deer; in Osaka why not visit Universal Studios Japan; or unleash your inner samurai at Himeji Castle. Our complimentary Info-Pack is full of family-friendly sightseeing ideas and advice, and our English-speaking Japan office staff are just a phone call away should you have any problems or questions.
Please note that this trip is designed to start in Tokyo at either Narita or Haneda airports, and finish with a shared shuttle bus transfer to Osaka's Kansai International Airport. If you want to return to Tokyo or extend your trip to take in more of the country, let us know and we'll adjust accordingly.
Meals: Everyone has their own food likes and dislikes. As you'll have the freedom of being in self-catering accommodation in Tokyo and Kyoto, it means you get to choose what to have for each meal. We're sure you'll love discovering neighbourhood bakeries serving up fresh pastries, and your Info-Pack will have plenty of suggestions for kids-friendly lunch and dinner options. Hint: "curry rice" (Japanese-style non-spicy curry with sticky rice) is always a hit!
Guideline pricing: The trip price is for a family of four (based on two adults, one teenager and one child aged 6-11), but we know that doesn't reflect the reality of every family - they come in all shapes and sizes. Get in touch and we can put together the perfect trip to fit your family.
What's included
- 10 nights' accommodation
- Breakfast and dinner at your Kyoto ryokan
- Manaca transport card with 2,500 yen credit for city transport
- Bullet train tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto
- Shared shuttle bus airport transfers
- Tokyo Skytree tickets
- Tokyo Mystery Game
- Sushi-making lesson in Kyoto
- Family-friendly sightseeing ideas & inspiration
- Pocket WiFi device
- Your personalised InsideJapan Tours' Info-Pack
What's NOT included:
- International flights
- Any extra local transport (buses, subways, taxis) unless covered by the included passes
- Any entrance fees (including those for temples, shrines and museums) unless otherwise specified
- Baggage handling and luggage forwarding
Trip Highlights
- Explore Japan's greatest cities: Tokyo & Kyoto
- Learn to make your own sushi rolls
- Live like a local in a beautiful traditional Kyoto townhouse
- Spend a night in a homely ryokan inn
- Ride the world famous bullet train
- Enjoy quality family time on this gentle-paced trip
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380
What, where, when and how...
Zen & Now Family Holiday - 11 Days - Day by Day
Zen & Now Family Holiday - 11 Days - Accommodation
Zen & Now Family Holiday - 11 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-5
Welcome to Tokyo! Explore the parks, museums, wacky restaurants and skyscrapers of the world's greatest capital.
This is a holiday of two halves - first up: Tokyo. You'll stay in one of our favourite mid-range apartment-hotels near Ueno Park, where you get the independence of an apartment with the reassurance of having a hotel reception and friendly staff. It has excellent public transport links to all the main sightseeing areas in the capital.
Our complimentary Info-Pack has lots of family-friendly sightseeing ideas and advice, including our favourite playparks, the best fashion and shopping spots, and the best places to try out video games and arcades.
We've also included tickets up the Tokyo Skytree so you can see the mega metropolis from above, as well as our fantastic Tokyo Mystery Game. Solve the clues to progress from one district to another and along the way visit both famous sites and secret fascinating spots.Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
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Day 6
Take the bullet train to Kyoto, home of Japan's finest temples, shrines, gardens and geisha.
Next up is Kyoto, the heart of Japanese tradition and culture. After the modernity of Tokyo, to give your family a taste of tradition, your home on the first night will be a homely ryokan inn, where homecooked breakfast and dinner are included.
Overnight: Watazen
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Day 7-11
Explore where old meets new in Kyoto
For the last four nights we'll arrange for you to stay in a traditional machiya townhouse, now converted into self-catering accommodation while retaining its charm and character.
You'll have lots of time to explore Kyoto at your own pace, taking in as many or as few temples as suits you all! We have loads of great ideas for sightseeing in Kyoto. Japan's best railway museum is here housing 53 trains from steam locomotives to the most recent bullet trains.
Kyoto sits in a flat basin making it an easy place to walk or cycle. Bikes can be rented easily, and a great route is to cycle along the banks of the Kamo River. The Imperial Palace grounds are another place to let off steam. There's an excellent playground in the northeast corner of the park. If you don't mind parting with some yen, the parallel shopping arcades of Teramachi and Shinkyogoku in the city centre is the beloved hangout spot of Japanese schoolkids. Shops sell all manner of kitsch from pencil cases, to key rings, to flavoured KitKats. There are also plenty of gorgeous craft shops and vintage stores to keep adults happy.
While in Kyoto we'll arrange a hands-on cooking class for your family Kyoto is also a great place for a day trip. Nara is just 40 minutes by train, home to picturesque temples set in a sprawling deer park. Or why not visit Himeji Castle, 45 minutes away on the bullet train.
At the end of your stay in Kyoto we'll arrange a shared shuttle bus transfer to Osaka Kansai Airport ahead of your flight home.Overnight: Machiya Residence
-
Day 1-5
Welcome to Tokyo! Explore the parks, museums, wacky restaurants and skyscrapers of the world's greatest capital.
This is a holiday of two halves - first up: Tokyo. You'll stay in one of our favourite mid-range apartment-hotels near Ueno Park, where you get the independence of an apartment with the reassurance of having a hotel reception and friendly staff. It has excellent public transport links to all the main sightseeing areas in the capital.
Our complimentary Info-Pack has lots of family-friendly sightseeing ideas and advice, including our favourite playparks, the best fashion and shopping spots, and the best places to try out video games and arcades.
We've also included tickets up the Tokyo Skytree so you can see the mega metropolis from above, as well as our fantastic Tokyo Mystery Game. Solve the clues to progress from one district to another and along the way visit both famous sites and secret fascinating spots.Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
-
Day 6
Take the bullet train to Kyoto, home of Japan's finest temples, shrines, gardens and geisha.
Next up is Kyoto, the heart of Japanese tradition and culture. After the modernity of Tokyo, to give your family a taste of tradition, your home on the first night will be a homely ryokan inn, where homecooked breakfast and dinner are included.
Overnight: Watazen
-
Day 7-11
Explore where old meets new in Kyoto
For the last four nights we'll arrange for you to stay in a traditional machiya townhouse, now converted into self-catering accommodation while retaining its charm and character.
You'll have lots of time to explore Kyoto at your own pace, taking in as many or as few temples as suits you all! We have loads of great ideas for sightseeing in Kyoto. Japan's best railway museum is here housing 53 trains from steam locomotives to the most recent bullet trains.
Kyoto sits in a flat basin making it an easy place to walk or cycle. Bikes can be rented easily, and a great route is to cycle along the banks of the Kamo River. The Imperial Palace grounds are another place to let off steam. There's an excellent playground in the northeast corner of the park. If you don't mind parting with some yen, the parallel shopping arcades of Teramachi and Shinkyogoku in the city centre is the beloved hangout spot of Japanese schoolkids. Shops sell all manner of kitsch from pencil cases, to key rings, to flavoured KitKats. There are also plenty of gorgeous craft shops and vintage stores to keep adults happy.
While in Kyoto we'll arrange a hands-on cooking class for your family Kyoto is also a great place for a day trip. Nara is just 40 minutes by train, home to picturesque temples set in a sprawling deer park. Or why not visit Himeji Castle, 45 minutes away on the bullet train.
At the end of your stay in Kyoto we'll arrange a shared shuttle bus transfer to Osaka Kansai Airport ahead of your flight home.Overnight: Machiya Residence
Trip Reviews
Self-Guided Adventure Zen & Now Family Holiday
Read more >Excellent trip put together for gaining a good overall picture and impression of Japan.
Self-Guided Adventure Zen & Now Family Holiday
Read more >Inside Japan put together a well balanced itinerary which was well suited to our family’s interests. Everything was well planned and organised. Our holiday was a lot…
Trip Reviews
Self-Guided Adventure Zen & Now Family Holiday
Read more >Excellent trip put together for gaining a good overall picture and impression of Japan.
Self-Guided Adventure Zen & Now Family Holiday
Read more >Inside Japan put together a well balanced itinerary which was well suited to our family’s interests. Everything was well planned and organised. Our holiday was a lot…
5.0 out of 5 from 3 reviews Show all Zen & Now Family Holiday Reviews
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