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Tailor-made
Self-Guided Adventure
Northern Japan Adventure
from US$14317 (Per Family (based on 2 Adults, 2 Children aged 7 and under))
12 Nights Trip Code: NJA
From Tokyo's bright lights to Tohoku's beautiful natural scenery and Hokkaido's open cities, a family-friendly journey through Japan's quieter north Read more >
This two-week family journey heads north from Tokyo by train, linking cities, coast, forest and hot springs – without the need to hire a car.
You’ll start in Tokyo, where a private guide will help your family explore the city and get your bearings before you journey continues north. Board the Shinkansen bullet train for Tohoku and watch from your window as apartment blocks give way to rice fields and forested hills.
In Sendai, spend time getting to know the city through its food (its seafood is some of the freshest you’ll find) and history, then travel out to Matsushima Bay, where hundreds of pine-covered islands sit just offshore. From here, continue to Lake Towada and Oirase Gorge. A local guide leads you along forest paths beside fast-flowing streams and waterfalls, before an overnight stay in a hotel complete with hot spring baths and seasonal meals.
The Shinkansen then carries you beneath the Tsugaru Strait to Hokkaido (the train goes through an underwater tunnel!). Hakodate’s hillside streets, red-brick warehouses and harbour reflect its past as one of Japan’s first international ports. Your final rail journey takes you to Sapporo, a city of broad avenues, parks and some of Hokkaido’s best-known food (it’s the place for miso ramen). From Sapporo, take a day trip to Upopoy, the national museum and park dedicated to Ainu culture.
The journey ends in Sapporo, with the option to fly home from New Chitose Airport or continue elsewhere in Japan (it’s an easy flight to Osaka, for example).
Two weeks of cities, coastlines, forest walks and hot springs, all connected by train and with no car keys required.
What's included
12 nights' accommodation
Breakfast every day and two evening meals
All transport between destinations
Airport transfers
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 on an itinerary that's tailored to families: local food tours, scenic train journeys and flexible sightseeing time
- Walk through the forests and waterfalls of the Oirase Gorge, one of Japan's most beautiful nature areas
- Cross from Honshu to Hokkaido by train and experience two of Japan's most distinctive regions in one trip
- Take a tour of Tokyo with a private guide and visit the immersive teamLab Planets digital art museum
- Discover Japan's lesser-visited north, from Sendai and Aomori to Hakodate and Sapporo
Ready to plan your trip?
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: 720 744 0205
What, where, when and how...
Northern Japan Adventure - 13 Days
Northern Japan Adventure - 13 Days - Day by Day
Northern Japan Adventure - 13 Days - Accommodation
Northern Japan Adventure - 13 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-3
Adventures in the capital – and a warm welcome to Japan
Your journey begins in Tokyo, one of the world's great cities (in our humble opinion). Staying in Ueno, you'll be well placed to explore everything from lively shopping streets and local restaurants to museums, parks and traditional neighbourhoods.
A day with a private guide will help bring the city to life, whether that means learning how to navigate Tokyo's rail network, discovering hidden corners you might otherwise miss, or simply getting answers to the many questions that tend to come up.
You'll also have the chance to visit teamLab Planets, where digital art, light and water combine to create an experience that appeals as much to adults as it does to children. If you're looking for more family-friendly attractions, nearby Odaiba offers everything from science museums and robots to waterfront walks and great views across Tokyo Bay.Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
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Day 4-5
Great food, samurai history and life in Japan's north
A short ride on the Shinkansen takes you into Tohoku and the city of Sendai. Often overlooked by international visitors, Sendai offers a more relaxed introduction to northern Japan, with tree-lined streets, excellent food and an interesting samurai heritage.
You can spend your time exploring sites connected to the famous warlord Date Masamune, eating some of the city's best food, or head out towards the coast to taking in views across Matsushima Bay, often considered one of Japan's most scenic coastal landscapes.
One of the highlights here is a day in Shiogama, a working port town known for its seafood. You'll explore local shops and markets, before a food tour, where you'll taste freshly caught seafood, traditional sweets, locally brewed sake and tea.Overnight: Hotel Metropolitan The Base Sendai
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Day 6-7
Forest trails, waterfalls and time to slow down
From the city, you'll head into one of the most scenic corners of northern Honshu – Lake Towada and the Oirase Gorge. Here, forests stretch in every direction, rivers run clear and cold through the trees, and walking trails follow the water past waterfalls and moss-covered rocks. A guided walk through the gorge is included, helping you discover some of the area's more hidden spots, and understand why this landscape is so highly regarded within Japan.
You'll stay in a high-end ryokan-style hotel here –a nice little treat mid-trip. After a day outdoors, soak in the hot spring baths, fill your plate with a seasonal selection of food at your hotel buffet dinner and listen to the sound of the river flowing past outside.Overnight: Oirase Keiryu Hotel By Hoshino Resorts
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Day 8-9
A historic port city and one of Japan's best night views
Crossing into Hokkaido, you'll arrive in Hakodate. As one of the first Japanese ports to open to international trade, Hakodate developed differently from many other cities. Churches sit alongside traditional Japanese buildings, and the steep streets around the old town offer wonderful views across the harbour.
One evening we recommend you head up to Mount Hakodate to see the city illuminated below. It remains one of Japan's most famous night views and it's easy to see why!
The following day, a private guide will help you explore the city in more depth, visiting local markets, historic districts and waterfront areas while learning more about Hakodate's trading port history.Overnight: OMO5 Hakodate by Hoshino Resorts
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Day 10-13
Hokkaido's laid-back capital
Next is Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city. Compared with many Japanese cities, Sapporo feels spacious and easy going, with wide streets, large parks and a food scene that makes the most of Hokkaido's agriculture. Locals will tell you how proud they are of their cheese, milk and potaotes.
There are no fixed plans here, giving you the freedom to explore at your own pace. You might spend time in Odori Park, visit museums and galleries, seek out a bowl of miso ramen (the city's classic dish), or cafe hop.
For those interested in learning more about Hokkaido's indigenous heritage, the Upopoy National Ainu Museum makes an excellent day trip – it's an introduction to a culture that many visitors know very little about.
From here, the choice is yours. Uou can end your trip and head home, or easily extend by flying down to the mainland to continue your adventure – just tell us what works best for you.Overnight: The Gate Hotel Sapporo
-
Day 1-3
Adventures in the capital – and a warm welcome to Japan
Your journey begins in Tokyo, one of the world's great cities (in our humble opinion). Staying in Ueno, you'll be well placed to explore everything from lively shopping streets and local restaurants to museums, parks and traditional neighbourhoods.
A day with a private guide will help bring the city to life, whether that means learning how to navigate Tokyo's rail network, discovering hidden corners you might otherwise miss, or simply getting answers to the many questions that tend to come up.
You'll also have the chance to visit teamLab Planets, where digital art, light and water combine to create an experience that appeals as much to adults as it does to children. If you're looking for more family-friendly attractions, nearby Odaiba offers everything from science museums and robots to waterfront walks and great views across Tokyo Bay.Overnight: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
-
Day 4-5
Great food, samurai history and life in Japan's north
A short ride on the Shinkansen takes you into Tohoku and the city of Sendai. Often overlooked by international visitors, Sendai offers a more relaxed introduction to northern Japan, with tree-lined streets, excellent food and an interesting samurai heritage.
You can spend your time exploring sites connected to the famous warlord Date Masamune, eating some of the city's best food, or head out towards the coast to taking in views across Matsushima Bay, often considered one of Japan's most scenic coastal landscapes.
One of the highlights here is a day in Shiogama, a working port town known for its seafood. You'll explore local shops and markets, before a food tour, where you'll taste freshly caught seafood, traditional sweets, locally brewed sake and tea.Overnight: Hotel Metropolitan The Base Sendai
-
Day 6-7
Forest trails, waterfalls and time to slow down
From the city, you'll head into one of the most scenic corners of northern Honshu – Lake Towada and the Oirase Gorge. Here, forests stretch in every direction, rivers run clear and cold through the trees, and walking trails follow the water past waterfalls and moss-covered rocks. A guided walk through the gorge is included, helping you discover some of the area's more hidden spots, and understand why this landscape is so highly regarded within Japan.
You'll stay in a high-end ryokan-style hotel here –a nice little treat mid-trip. After a day outdoors, soak in the hot spring baths, fill your plate with a seasonal selection of food at your hotel buffet dinner and listen to the sound of the river flowing past outside.Overnight: Oirase Keiryu Hotel By Hoshino Resorts
-
Day 8-9
A historic port city and one of Japan's best night views
Crossing into Hokkaido, you'll arrive in Hakodate. As one of the first Japanese ports to open to international trade, Hakodate developed differently from many other cities. Churches sit alongside traditional Japanese buildings, and the steep streets around the old town offer wonderful views across the harbour.
One evening we recommend you head up to Mount Hakodate to see the city illuminated below. It remains one of Japan's most famous night views and it's easy to see why!
The following day, a private guide will help you explore the city in more depth, visiting local markets, historic districts and waterfront areas while learning more about Hakodate's trading port history.Overnight: OMO5 Hakodate by Hoshino Resorts
-
Day 10-13
Hokkaido's laid-back capital
Next is Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city. Compared with many Japanese cities, Sapporo feels spacious and easy going, with wide streets, large parks and a food scene that makes the most of Hokkaido's agriculture. Locals will tell you how proud they are of their cheese, milk and potaotes.
There are no fixed plans here, giving you the freedom to explore at your own pace. You might spend time in Odori Park, visit museums and galleries, seek out a bowl of miso ramen (the city's classic dish), or cafe hop.
For those interested in learning more about Hokkaido's indigenous heritage, the Upopoy National Ainu Museum makes an excellent day trip – it's an introduction to a culture that many visitors know very little about.
From here, the choice is yours. Uou can end your trip and head home, or easily extend by flying down to the mainland to continue your adventure – just tell us what works best for you.Overnight: The Gate Hotel Sapporo
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