Highlights
- Explore animé alongside cutting-edge technology in Tokyo's Electric Town
- Ride the high-climbing Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway for incredible views
- Drive a train simulator like a real conductor at the Kyoto Railway Museum
- Walk the torii-lined pathways of the famed Fushimi Inari-taisha
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Tokyo, Family-Friendly City Tour | Tokyo |
| Day 2 | Discover Mount Fuji & Cruise Along Lake Kawaguchi | Tokyo |
| Day 3 | Family Fun at Ghibli Museum & Pokémon Center | Tokyo |
| Day 4 | Train to Kyoto, Explore Kinkaku-ji Temple & Railway Museum | Kyoto |
| Day 5 | Walk the Red Gates of Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Tea Ceremony & Samurai Museum | Kyoto |
| Day 6 | Explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Ride the Sagano Scenic Railway | Kyoto |
| Day 7 | Train Back to Tokyo, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo, Family-Friendly City Tour
Welcome to Japan! Your flight lands in Tokyo, Japan's bustling capital city. Here, you'll find the perfect blend of modern and traditional, with neon-lit skyscrapers alongside historic temples and quiet gardens. Once you've checked in at your hotel and had a chance to regroup, meet up with an expert local guide and take the family on a deep dive into Tokyo's past and present culture.
Start at Tsukiji Fish Market, where you'll find nearly 400 shops and restaurants crammed into narrow lanes, trading all kinds of seafood, traditional snacks, and cooking ingredients. Roam the market as your guide points out the different kinds of seafood to you and your curious kids. Then visit Senso-ji Asakusa, one of the city's oldest Buddhist temples, where you can pick up an omikuji (fortunes written on strips of paper). Afterward, walk along Nakamise-dori, a street near the temple that's lined with shops and food stands—this is a great spot to let the kids pick out souvenirs for friends back home.
The tour ends at Akihabara, or Electric Town, where you'll find animé culture intertwined with cutting-edge technology. Explore themed cafés, electronics stores, arcades, and more in this techie's paradise. Walk along the brightly-colored buildings and sky-high advertisements, meet cosplayers dressed in full manga costumes, and purchase official animé merchandise from the many shops. Before you return to your hotel, be sure to stop at GiGO Akihabara Building 3, a game center where the kids can try their skills at the UFO catchers!
Day 2: Discover Mount Fuji & Cruise Along Lake Kawaguchi
Today's excursion takes you to Mount Fuji (or Fuji-san as the locals call it), the country's highest peak and one of Japan's three sacred mountains. Stretching into the sky at more than 12,000 feet (3,776 m), Fuji is a common pilgrimage site, with locals and visitors alike seeking to summit this revered and historic place. Your guide will collect your family from your Tokyo hotel after breakfast, and you'll make the scenic 1.5-hour drive.
Upon arrival, begin with a leisurely cruise on Kawaguchi-ko, a lake nestled at the foot of Mount Fuji, then continue to the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway. The kids will love riding in the glass-windowed cabin as it ascends to more than 1,300 feet (400 m), and you'll have time to walk around the observation deck and enjoy the expansive panoramas of the lake and mountain.
Visit Arakurayama Sengen Park, where the little ones can burn some energy climbing the hill that leads to photo-worthy views of a pagoda and Mount Fuji—if you're lucky enough to be here in the spring, you'll also be treated to glorious cherry blossoms everywhere. Your final stop is Oshino Hakkai, a set of eight ponds fed by snowmelt from the mountain slopes. A small open-air museum, the Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan, surrounds the largest pond and contains a traditional thatched roof farmhouse that displays farming tools, household items, samurai armor, and weapons from ancient times.
Day 3: Family Fun at Ghibli Museum & Pokémon Center
Kickstart the day with a fun-filled visit to the Ghibli Museum, dedicated to the animé world of filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. The whole family can learn more about classic animé films such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Spirited Away" as the kids walk through the tiny doors and climb winding staircases around the property. See exhibits and interactive displays, take in the views from the rooftop garden, and let everyone's imaginations run wild!
Later, stop in at the Pokémon Center, where your little ones can realize their Pokémon Master dreams, and you can purchase everything from plush Pikachu dolls to rare trading cards, then end the tour at one of Tokyo's animé cafés. These themed eateries offer delectable treats and beautifully crafted dishes, all inspired by characters from various animé and manga series. The kids can enjoy images of their favorite characters displayed on the walls, sparking imaginative play while you all relax with a great meal.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Train to Kyoto, Explore Kinkaku-ji Temple & Railway Museum
You're off to the city of Kyoto! This cultural powerhouse of a city is known for its historic traditions, geisha entertainers, and numerous temples, gardens, and palaces. You and your family will make your way to the train station in the morning and board a train for the two-hour ride. Upon arrival, you'll be met by a driver and escorted to your hotel for check-in, after which you're free to see some of the city sights.
If the kids are interested in Japan's traditions and history, visit Kinkaku-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple with a large golden pavilion. Walk the peaceful grounds, and be sure to visit the temple's top floors, which are completely covered in gold leaf. Any railroad or train aficionados in the family will enjoy a visit to the Kyoto Railway Museum. See the more than 50 retired trains, which range from steam locomotives to modern electric and Shinkansen trains, and the kids can drive a train simulator and learn the ins and outs of being a conductor. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant or just relax at your hotel.
Day 5: Walk the Red Gates of Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Tea Ceremony & Samurai Museum
Step out with your guide this morning to continue your family's immersion into Japan's traditions and culture. Start at the famed Fushimi Inari-taisha. Featured in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha," this shrine has more than 10,000 picturesque red torii gates, all donated by individuals and businesses as a sign of appreciation to the god Inari for blessings received. The kids will be entranced by the brightly colored gates, and if your family is physically active, you can take a light hike, following the torii-lined route all the way up the mountain for sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.
From here, head to Kyoto's captivating Gion district, where you'll take part in a traditional geisha tea ceremony. Otherwise known as chanoyu or sado, this highly ritualized tradition was born and curated in Kyoto and is hosted by local Kyoto geishas (female Japanese performing artists). Visit a tea house where you'll all enjoy a formal introduction to the history of the ceremonies while sipping fragrant and flavorful tea, then watch a traditional geisha dance performance. Parents should keep in mind that children under the age of seven are not permitted in the tea house.
After the ceremony, make the five-minute walk to the Samurai & Ninja Museum. Try on full samurai armor for your souvenir pictures, and get a glimpse of what it was like to be one of the most prestigious ruling classes of old Japan. The kids can practice holding and sheathing a katana, and you'll all learn more about the history and traditions of this military nobility.
Day 6: Explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Ride the Sagano Scenic Railway
Discover the charm of Kyoto's Arashiyama district, a serene and peaceful area home to lush greenery, ancient temples, and a towering bamboo forest. Meet your guides in the morning and make the drive to the outskirts of the city, starting with a visit to the gardens of Tenryu-ji, one of Kyoto's renowned Zen temples. Then, take a walk in the Sagano Bamboo Grove, a natural bamboo forest that encompasses more than 3,800 acres (1,537 ha), with paths and trails that take you through the towering stalks.
The tour concludes with a ride on the Sagano Scenic Railway, nicknamed the "Romantic Train." The leisurely, 25-minute journey takes you through mountains and along the Hozugawa River, offering views of the Hozukyo Ravine, cherry blossoms in spring, and brightly-colored Japanese maples in fall. Relax in the tranquility of nature, and be sure to get photos of the kids smiling faces!
Day 7: Train Back to Tokyo, Depart
Your family adventure in Japan comes to an end today. After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel and head to the train station to transfer back to Tokyo and to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!
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