Australia
Canada
USA
Tailor-made
Self-Guided Adventure
Made in Japan
from US$13845 (Per Family)
10 Nights Trip Code: FAM3
From hands-on craft workshops and food experiences to playful museums and classic cities, our family-friendly journey brings Japan to life through doing, not just seeing. Read more >
With 'Made in Japan', we've designed an itinerary for travellers who want to experience Japan in a more hands-on way. Staying in spacious, well-located accommodation and travelling at an unhurried pace, you'll move between Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and the Hokuriku region, with plenty of time to explore, create and discover together - making it perfect for families with younger children, but also craft enthusiasts.
Along the way, you'll cook ramen, try traditional textile dyeing, apply gold leaf by hand and cast your own tinware in a working foundry. There's also space for play and imagination - from immersive digital art and miniature worlds in Tokyo to relaxed markets, gardens and historic neighbourhoods that are easy to explore with children. You'll end up with a number of hand-made souvenirs to take home as memories of your trip, all truly 'Made in Japan'.
Private guiding in Tokyo and Kyoto helps you get your bearings without overloading the schedule, while optional day trips and free time keep the experience flexible to accommodate the ever-changing minds of children. We believe it's an itinerary built around curiosity, creativity and shared experiences making it an ideal way for the curious and adventurous to see Japan up close.
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
10 nights' accommodation
Breakfast in all hotels (apartment and townhouse style are self catered)
All transport between destinations
Airport transfers
Four-hour private guide service in Tokyo and Kyoto
Kanazawa Goldleaf Workshop
Tin Casting Workshop and Factory Tour
Indigo dyeing in Kyoto
Ramen cooking class
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
- Explore the cities with Tokyo and Kyoto with an expert local guide to introduce the highlights
- Cook hand made ramen before enjoying it as your evening meal
- Experience gold and tin craft in the Hokuriku region of Japan
- Create unique Japanese souvenirs and memories of your trip to take home
Ready to plan your trip?
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3470
What, where, when and how...
Made in Japan - 11 Days - Day by Day
Made in Japan - 11 Days - Accommodation
Made in Japan - 11 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-4
Settle into Japan with an adventure in the Capital
Your adventure begins in Japan's capital, a city that rewards curiosity at street level. After a smooth airport arrival, settle into your apartment-style hotel in Ueno – well connected, walkable and ideal for families with green areas and Ueno Zoo nearby.
A half-day with a private guide helps you get to grips with Tokyo's layout and contrasts, from historic temples to lively neighbourhoods. With the rest of your time free, you can shape Tokyo around your interests: hands-on museums, playground-filled parks, pop culture districts or simply riding the trains for the fun of it.
On your free day, we recommend Odaiba, where futuristic architecture, interactive museums and immersive digital art experiences make this a big hit with kids, teens and adults alike. Whether you're exploring miniature worlds, wading through light-filled installations or cruising across the bay, Tokyo is as playful as it is overwhelming (in the best possible way.)Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
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Day 4-7
Explore metallic crafts in Japan's centre of gold leaf production
An exciting journey on the world famous Shinkansen bullet train brings you to Kanazawa, a compact city where history and craftsmanship are part of everyday life - it's famed for its gold, which you can even eat atop ice creams! Your base is a restored town house within easy reach of markets, gardens and traditional districts – a chance to experience a different pace of Japanese life.
Kanazawa is best explored slowly. Spend time in its celebrated landscape garden, wander geisha districts, browse small craft shops or snack your way through Omicho Market. The city's long association with traditional arts comes into focus during a hands-on gold leaf workshop, where you'll learn to work with impossibly fine sheets of gold and create your own finished piece to take home.
A further day trip takes you to nearby Takaoka, visiting a working metal foundry with more than four centuries of history. After seeing how molten metal is shaped using traditional techniques, you'll try sand casting for yourself, creating a tin item under expert guidance. Rest assured it's safe, memorable and surprisingly absorbing, bound to be one of the standout experiences of the trip!Overnight: Machiya Residence
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Day 7-10
Learn Japan's history and culture up close in Kyoto
Travelling south to Kyoto, you'll go from feudal towns to Japan's former imperial capital. Despite its busy reputation, Kyoto works well for families when approached thoughtfully, and private guiding helps you experience the city sustainably beyond the headline sights.
Highlights here focus on creativity and culture. A ramen-making class turns one of Japan's most loved everyday foods into a shared experience, complete with plenty of tasting along the way. You'll also take part in a traditional textile dyeing workshop, choosing patterns and colours before creating your own piece to keep.
There's also a free day for a side trip, with easy rail access to either energetic Osaka or historic Nara – home to expansive parkland and famously curious (and mischievious!) deer. Alternatively, use the time to explore Kyoto some more at your own pace, wandering riverside paths, browsing small streets or returning to favourite spots.Overnight: GATE HOTEL Kyoto Takasegawa
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Day 10-11
Back to Tokyo for a dazzling final night
Your journey ends back in Tokyo and we suggest staying in a different neighbourhood, offering a fresh view of the city before departure. With time to revisit favourite areas, shop for last souvenirs or simply enjoy a final meal, it's a gentle wind-down to a trip packed with shared memories and hands-on fun.
A private transfer to the airport ensures a smooth departure – leaving you to focus on the memories (and souvenirs!) you made along the way.Overnight: OMO5 Tokyo Gotanda by Hoshino Resorts
-
Day 1-4
Settle into Japan with an adventure in the Capital
Your adventure begins in Japan's capital, a city that rewards curiosity at street level. After a smooth airport arrival, settle into your apartment-style hotel in Ueno – well connected, walkable and ideal for families with green areas and Ueno Zoo nearby.
A half-day with a private guide helps you get to grips with Tokyo's layout and contrasts, from historic temples to lively neighbourhoods. With the rest of your time free, you can shape Tokyo around your interests: hands-on museums, playground-filled parks, pop culture districts or simply riding the trains for the fun of it.
On your free day, we recommend Odaiba, where futuristic architecture, interactive museums and immersive digital art experiences make this a big hit with kids, teens and adults alike. Whether you're exploring miniature worlds, wading through light-filled installations or cruising across the bay, Tokyo is as playful as it is overwhelming (in the best possible way.)Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
-
Day 4-7
Explore metallic crafts in Japan's centre of gold leaf production
An exciting journey on the world famous Shinkansen bullet train brings you to Kanazawa, a compact city where history and craftsmanship are part of everyday life - it's famed for its gold, which you can even eat atop ice creams! Your base is a restored town house within easy reach of markets, gardens and traditional districts – a chance to experience a different pace of Japanese life.
Kanazawa is best explored slowly. Spend time in its celebrated landscape garden, wander geisha districts, browse small craft shops or snack your way through Omicho Market. The city's long association with traditional arts comes into focus during a hands-on gold leaf workshop, where you'll learn to work with impossibly fine sheets of gold and create your own finished piece to take home.
A further day trip takes you to nearby Takaoka, visiting a working metal foundry with more than four centuries of history. After seeing how molten metal is shaped using traditional techniques, you'll try sand casting for yourself, creating a tin item under expert guidance. Rest assured it's safe, memorable and surprisingly absorbing, bound to be one of the standout experiences of the trip!Overnight: Machiya Residence
-
Day 7-10
Learn Japan's history and culture up close in Kyoto
Travelling south to Kyoto, you'll go from feudal towns to Japan's former imperial capital. Despite its busy reputation, Kyoto works well for families when approached thoughtfully, and private guiding helps you experience the city sustainably beyond the headline sights.
Highlights here focus on creativity and culture. A ramen-making class turns one of Japan's most loved everyday foods into a shared experience, complete with plenty of tasting along the way. You'll also take part in a traditional textile dyeing workshop, choosing patterns and colours before creating your own piece to keep.
There's also a free day for a side trip, with easy rail access to either energetic Osaka or historic Nara – home to expansive parkland and famously curious (and mischievious!) deer. Alternatively, use the time to explore Kyoto some more at your own pace, wandering riverside paths, browsing small streets or returning to favourite spots.Overnight: GATE HOTEL Kyoto Takasegawa
-
Day 10-11
Back to Tokyo for a dazzling final night
Your journey ends back in Tokyo and we suggest staying in a different neighbourhood, offering a fresh view of the city before departure. With time to revisit favourite areas, shop for last souvenirs or simply enjoy a final meal, it's a gentle wind-down to a trip packed with shared memories and hands-on fun.
A private transfer to the airport ensures a smooth departure – leaving you to focus on the memories (and souvenirs!) you made along the way.Overnight: OMO5 Tokyo Gotanda by Hoshino Resorts
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