Japan Highlights Family Holiday

Trip Type: Family
Japan | 8 Days | 1 - 16 People
Starts From:

NZD 5,310.00 /Person

* Sale Price Available

Grab the kids and head to the place where spiritual tradition meets modern tech – Japan of course! Start in Tokyo, where you’ll explore the Harajuk...

Japan Highlights Family Holiday

Grab the kids and head to the place where spiritual tradition meets modern tech – Japan of course! Start in Tokyo, where you’ll explore the Harajuku district, kawaii culture and ancient shrines. Learn how to play the Taiko drums and soak up the neon lights before heading to the countryside. Enjoy a farmstay experience in Kawane to get a breath of fresh air and tuck into a farm-to-table feast with your gracious hosts. Wander through temples and markets as you immerse yourself in the culture and tradition of Kyoto. End it all in Osaka, where you’ll take a sushi-making class and toast to a trip well-travelled!

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Your adventure begins in Tokyo – the modern capital of an ancient land. If you arrive early, maybe wander through the streets at your own pace, full of hi-tech gadgets and neon lights. You could also head out on an Urban Adventures day tour, like the Tour Through Tokyo’s Kitchen. You’ll meet your fellow travellers and local leader at 5 pm for a welcome meeting. After, head out for a welcome dinner with the other families and toast to the start of your adventure.

Get ready for a day of fun as you head out to explore the Harajuku area – a district known for its colourful street art, youth fashion, vintage clothing shops and tasty treats. Visit the tax-free shop Kiddyland, where you can pick up some plushies of your favourite characters, then hit Takeshita Street – the birthplace of kawaii culture. If anyone in the family loves cartoons, anime or games, today will be full of excitement. For an introduction to Japanese culture, you'll also visit Meiji Shrine and take part in a hands-on, heart pumping Taiko drumming class. Learn from the experts how to play these traditional instruments before having a go yourself. Later you'll have an opportunity to visit Shibuya, the famous crossing between two of the busiest railway stations in the world before enjoying a free evening to find the perfect dinner spot.

This morning you'll head out on a leader-led walk through the weird and wonderful Akihabara Electric Town – this is the centre of Japanese otaku culture and a favourite for anyone into gaming, manga and anime. Stop for a drink at a social enterprise robot cafe, where people living with disabilities work as staff by remotely controlling robots from their homes or hospital beds. Learn how staff are able to interact with customers through the robots’ operating system and you may even be able to have a go at operating one yourself! The rest of the day is free to explore at your own pace. You might like to head across town to Shinjuku – central Tokyo's most vibrant district. From the Metropolitan Government Building’s 202-m-high observation deck, you can see Mt Fuji and the giant Godzilla statue!

Today, hop on the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) to Kanaya Station, where you’ll transfer to the scenic train that travels through mountains and gorges in Kawane. The ride is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season in the spring. Your farmstay host for the night will welcome you at the station and take you to their home – a local tea farm. You and the family will then try your hand at tea picking and learn about how the tea is properly brewed, trying some tea tempura. Your hosts will also show you the local seasonal vegetables in their garden. The kids may also want to get their hands dirty and help out with some farm work! Dinner will be a home-cooked feast using seasonal vegetables from the farm, and your host will be able to teach you a thing or two about Japanese home cooking.

This morning, make breakfast with your host at the farm and take the last opportunity to chat and learn their stories before saying goodbye. Watch the Japanese countryside pass you by as you travel by train to the vibrant city of Kyoto. When you arrive, you'll have time to check into your hotel before heading out for a leader-led walk through Gion – Kyoto's most famous geisha district. Listen to stories from the area as you pass temples and historic sites, then you have a free afternoon. You might like to find a local restaurant for a spot of people watching – if you're lucky, you might just see a geisha or two pass by.

After breakfast you'll visit the iconic Fushimi Inari – the head shrine of the kami Inari with the classic red design. This afternoon is free for you to choose your own adventure. The kids might like to explore the International Manga Museum or become a samurai for a day and learn about the history of ninjas and samurai in Japan (while wearing some traditional garb and trying out some cool moves of course).

Osaka is Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo and is popular for its modern architecture, family-friendly activities and delicious street food. It's a short journey by train and after you arrive you’ll head out for a fun sushi-making experience for lunch. Pick your favourite ingredients and then learn how to make the perfect snack! You'll have some free time in the afternoon, to perhaps visit the Osaka Castle or pick up some souvenirs from the famous Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street. Come together tonight with the other families for an optional group dinner to celebrate new friendships and your Japanese whirlwind adventure.

After breakfast your trip comes to an end and you are free to depart Osaka any time today. If you’d like to spend more time in this vibrant hub (and why wouldn’t you?) just speak to your booking agent.

Meals
7 Breakfast(s), 2 Lunch(s), 2 Dinner(s)

Transport
Metro , Local Train , Bullet Train

Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Farm stay (1 night)

Included Activities
  • Tokyo - Welcome dinner
  • Tokyo - Shibuya Crossing
  • Tokyo - Harajuku Walk & Meiji Shrine Visit
  • Tokyo - Taiko Drumming Experience
  • Tokyo - Dawn Avatar Robot Café (from)
  • Tokyo - Akihabara walking tour
  • Kawane - Farm Stay & Home-cooked Dinner
  • Kawane - Tea Farm Experience
  • Kyoto - Gion Walk
  • Kawane - Home-cooked Japanese Breakfast
  • Kyoto - Fushimi Inari - Taisha
  • Osaka - Sushi Making Experience (Lunch)
  • Step into the world of youth subculture and quirky fashion in Harajuku – the centre of Tokyo’s pop culture, known for its colourful street art and vintage clothes shops – before diving into a fun and immersive Taiko drumming workshop.
  • Discover the history and tradition of Kyoto with its many shrines, geishas and temples and snap the perfect family pic at the iconic red gates of Fushimi Inari.
  • Travel past Mt Fuji via bullet train and settle into rural Japanese life at a local farmstay, where you can help harvest tea and prepare a home-cooked, farm-to-table feast for dinner with your hosts.
  • Immerse yourself in Osaka's food scene with a super fun sushi making experience (the perfect skill to bring home from your trip to Japan)!
  • Experience the future of inclusive employment and support a good cause with a visit to an experimental cafe where the robot waiters are controlled remotely by staff living with disabilties.
  • Japan is best explored on foot and by public transport. You’ll need to be fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet and able to handle your luggage as you navigate busy train stations. We recommend comfortable shoes and packing light. On this trip, you’ll spend a night in a local home. It’s a great taste of tradition and local life and you’ll sleep on the traditional tatami floor (futons and blankets on the floor mat), just like the locals do! The facilities here will be shared. Room sizes in Japan may be smaller than you’re used to, and larger families may be provided two rooms due to limited availability of triple or quad share rooms.

Departing

Finishing

Availability

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,440.00

Price: NZD 6,440.00

Price: NZD 6,440.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price: NZD 6,195.00

Price:
NZD 6,135.00 NZD 5,521.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 6,135.00 NZD 5,521.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 6,135.00 NZD 5,521.00

Price:
NZD 6,135.00 NZD 5,521.00

Price:
NZD 6,135.00 NZD 5,521.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 5,900.00 NZD 5,310.00

Price:
NZD 5,960.00 NZD 5,364.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
CJFS
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Tokyo, Japan
Trip Finishes:
Osaka, Japan
Countries Visited:
Japan
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Destination Details
Japan | 8 Days | 1 - 16 People