UK
Australia
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Luxury Tailormade Trip
Japan with Teens
from US$16385 per person (twin share)
11 Nights Trip Code: EPJFAM12
Designed for families with curious teenagers, this journey through Japan blends contemporary culture, samurai history and unforgettable landscapes. From cutting edge Tokyo to the UNESCO shores of Miyajima Island, this trip reveals a side of Japan that keeps every generation engaged. Read more >
Your adventure begins in Tokyo, where an insider-led tour focuses on exploring the colourful worlds of manga and anime, stepping inside buzzing video game arcades or browsing the city's endlessly inventive shopping districts like Akihabara, Harajuku and Shibuya. Or, if you prefer a different focused day, be sure to let us know. Your guide, your day!
From the capital, travel into the Japanese Alps to historic Matsumoto, home to one of the oldest surviving castles in Japan, Matsumoto Castle. With its dramatic black exterior often nicknamed Crow Castle it remains one of our favourite castles to visit. Nearby, you can also choose to visit an active wasabi farm to see how the famously fiery plant is cultivated in cool alpine streams.
The route then follows part of the historic Nakasendo Trail, once travelled by feudal lords, samurai and merchants moving between Kyoto and Tokyo. Hiking the scenic 8km path between the beautifully preserved post towns of Tsumago and Magome, you pass wooden inns, forested hillsides and quiet stretches of countryside that feel largely unchanged for centuries. Don’t be shy to mingle with the locals inside their old merchant houses, over a casual bowl of soba noodles.
In Kyoto, begin with a private evening experience where you will encounter a maiko, offering a rare window into the traditions of Kyoto's geisha culture. There's also flexibility built in, including the option to spend a high-energy day at Universal Studios Japan in nearby Osaka.
Moving up a gear aboard the high-speed bullet train to Hiroshima, watch, listen and learn how moving history and modern city life sit side by side. A short ferry ride brings you to Miyajima Island, known for its iconic floating torii gate and peaceful shrine-lined pathways. Here you'll stay overnight, soaking in steaming onsen hot springs and sampling beautifully presented kaiseki cuisine that celebrates seasonal local ingredients.
Throughout the trip, thoughtful touches elevate the experience at every stage. Carefully chosen stays, enhanced cultural encounters and seamless travel combine with insider access to create a journey that feels both immersive and effortless, an ideal way for families to discover Japan together.
What's included
11 nights' luxury stays (connecting rooms on request, subject to availability)
Airport transfers by private vehicle
Breakfast daily, 3 lunches, 5 evening meals
All transfers using luxury chartered vehicles and 1st class reserved trains
Private guides meeting you at each stop (Tokyo, Matsumoto, Tsumago, Kyoto, Hiroshima) including entrance fees and experiences
Experiences and entrance fees when with your guide
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))
Optional tours listed [available on request]
Trip Highlights
- Tokyo personalised Insider Tour
- Sushi lesson with master sushi chef
- The Nakasendo Trail (Tsumago and Magome samurai villages)
- Sea kayaking and cable car jaunts in Miyajima
- Heart-pumping Taiko drumming session
- Matsumoto samurai castle with private guide
- Private dinner and chats with maiko at exclusive ryotei
- Insiders' tales of Hiroshima's past and uplifting present
Ready to plan your trip?
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: 720 744 0205
What, where, when and how...
Japan with Teens - 12 Days
Japan with Teens - 12 Days - Day by Day
Japan with Teens - 12 Days - Accommodation
Japan with Teens - 12 Days - Experiences
![Sea Kayaking [Hiroshima/Miyajima]](/csp/jap/insidejapan/products/169x190/OD003.jpg)
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Day 1-3
Welcome to Tokyo, a colourful mix of shrines, skyscrapers, street life and pop culture.
A sensory overload of anime, gaming districts and iconic sights like Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, explored with an Insider guide. Take in sweeping views from Tokyo Skytree (634m), the world's tallest towers, before trying your hand at taiko drumming and mastering the art of sushi making. Round off your time in the city with a visit to teamLab's immersive digital art installations, one of Tokyo's most talked-about experiences.
Suggested Accommodation: Palace Tokyo
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Day 4-5
Travel aboard the Azusa Express into the Japanese Alps as cityscapes give way to mountainous valleys.
In Matsumoto, your guide will introduce the city's highlight, Matsumoto Castle, where you can climb the original wooden staircases to the top and imagine life as a feudal lord overlooking the city. In colourful contrast, the City Museum of Art showcases the bold and playful work of Yayoi Kusama. Optional experiences to visit a wasabi farm or river canyoning could also be arranged. Your stay for two nights in a luxurious ryokan is the perfect way to unwind, with onsen (hot springs), divine dinners, and time to relax after busy days of traveling.
Suggested Accommodation: Tobira Onsen Myojinkan
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Day 6-8
Continue your feudal journey from Matsumoto to the Kiso Valley, where the Nakasendo Trail offers a glimpse into Edo-period Japan, before continuing to Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital, for three nights.
The 8km walk follows part of this historic highway (1600–1868), once travelled by shoguns and samurai as it linked Tokyo and Kyoto. Today, the villages of Tsumago and Magome have been beautifully preserved, with cobbled paths, forest trails and traditional wooden merchant houses, along with a warm welcome from local residents. Kyoto, Japan's cultural capital, is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, giving the city the feel of a living museum. A private ryotei dinner with an apprentice geisha (maiko) offers a rare glimpse into this refined world. Explore with an Insider guide, from iconic temples to hidden corners of Arashiyama, before a free day to enjoy experiences such as Universal Studios Japan or hands-on cultural activities.
Suggested Accommodation: Six Senses Kyoto
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Day 9-10
Travel west by bullet train to Hiroshima, before continuing to the peaceful island of Miyajima for a two-night stay.
With a local guide, explore Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome, powerful symbols of the city's message of peace. A short ferry brings you to Miyajima, home to the iconic floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, set among forested hills and quiet lanes. As day trippers depart, the island reveals its quieter, more atmospheric side, best enjoyed from your luxury ryokan. The following day, explore at your own pace the waterfront, taking the ropeway up Mount Misen, or kayaking along the coast.
Suggested Accommodation: Kurayado Iroha
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Day 11-12
Return to Tokyo by shinkansen for a final night in the capital.
World-class dining and vibrant neighbourhoods provide a fitting finale. Use your time to soak up the stylish areas surrounding your hotel such as Roppongi Hills, Azabudai Hills or Tokyo Midtown, packed with rooftop views, digital art, cool cafés and great shopping. It's the perfect place for one last taste of Tokyo's energy.
Suggested Accommodation: 1 Hotel Tokyo
-
Day 1-3
Welcome to Tokyo, a colourful mix of shrines, skyscrapers, street life and pop culture.
A sensory overload of anime, gaming districts and iconic sights like Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, explored with an Insider guide. Take in sweeping views from Tokyo Skytree (634m), the world's tallest towers, before trying your hand at taiko drumming and mastering the art of sushi making. Round off your time in the city with a visit to teamLab's immersive digital art installations, one of Tokyo's most talked-about experiences.
Suggested Accommodation: Palace Tokyo
-
Day 4-5
Travel aboard the Azusa Express into the Japanese Alps as cityscapes give way to mountainous valleys.
In Matsumoto, your guide will introduce the city's highlight, Matsumoto Castle, where you can climb the original wooden staircases to the top and imagine life as a feudal lord overlooking the city. In colourful contrast, the City Museum of Art showcases the bold and playful work of Yayoi Kusama. Optional experiences to visit a wasabi farm or river canyoning could also be arranged. Your stay for two nights in a luxurious ryokan is the perfect way to unwind, with onsen (hot springs), divine dinners, and time to relax after busy days of traveling.
Suggested Accommodation: Tobira Onsen Myojinkan
-
Day 6-8
Continue your feudal journey from Matsumoto to the Kiso Valley, where the Nakasendo Trail offers a glimpse into Edo-period Japan, before continuing to Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital, for three nights.
The 8km walk follows part of this historic highway (1600–1868), once travelled by shoguns and samurai as it linked Tokyo and Kyoto. Today, the villages of Tsumago and Magome have been beautifully preserved, with cobbled paths, forest trails and traditional wooden merchant houses, along with a warm welcome from local residents. Kyoto, Japan's cultural capital, is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, giving the city the feel of a living museum. A private ryotei dinner with an apprentice geisha (maiko) offers a rare glimpse into this refined world. Explore with an Insider guide, from iconic temples to hidden corners of Arashiyama, before a free day to enjoy experiences such as Universal Studios Japan or hands-on cultural activities.
Suggested Accommodation: Six Senses Kyoto
-
Day 9-10
Travel west by bullet train to Hiroshima, before continuing to the peaceful island of Miyajima for a two-night stay.
With a local guide, explore Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome, powerful symbols of the city's message of peace. A short ferry brings you to Miyajima, home to the iconic floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, set among forested hills and quiet lanes. As day trippers depart, the island reveals its quieter, more atmospheric side, best enjoyed from your luxury ryokan. The following day, explore at your own pace the waterfront, taking the ropeway up Mount Misen, or kayaking along the coast.
Suggested Accommodation: Kurayado Iroha
-
Day 11-12
Return to Tokyo by shinkansen for a final night in the capital.
World-class dining and vibrant neighbourhoods provide a fitting finale. Use your time to soak up the stylish areas surrounding your hotel such as Roppongi Hills, Azabudai Hills or Tokyo Midtown, packed with rooftop views, digital art, cool cafés and great shopping. It's the perfect place for one last taste of Tokyo's energy.
Suggested Accommodation: 1 Hotel Tokyo
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