Family Adventure in Japan

Day 1: Arrival

Depart London Heathrow on an overnight flight to Tokyo, Haneda International Airport.

Day 2: Tokyo

Welcome to Japan! You will be met today at Haneda Airport with a driver waiting for you as you enter into the arrivals lobby holding a sign with your name on. You will transfer by private vehicle to your accommodation in Tokyo, making for a smooth and relaxing start to your trip. Journey time is in the region of 30 minutes (dependent upon traffic). Sit back, relax and enjoy the views of Tokyo's skyscrapers as you approach the city.

Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel [Breakfast]

Day 3: Tokyo

After breakfast today you will have the services of a local professional guide for a private tour of Tokyo. The guides speak excellent English and have a wealth of knowledge to share. With the guide’s expert help, you'll get to grips with Japanese culture and history while gaining a useful orientation of the city. Together you'll travel around the city by public transport as the Tokyoites do, using your included IC card. The street-level detail is what makes Tokyo such an incredibly interesting place to explore and at every turn you will be met with an array of sights, sounds and smells to enliven the senses. The city has many major sights to visit such as Senso-ji Temple in the old downtown area of Asakusa or the fashion hub of Shibuya from where all new trends are said to emanate. You can also let your guide know of any sites or places you would like to visit, and it will be incorporated in your day's itinerary. Your day of guiding will finish at 1:00 PM with the guide either dropping you back at your hotel or anywhere else in the city you wish to spend the evening.

You will also receive tickets for Tokyo's iconic landmark: Tokyo Skytree. The 634m high tower is the tallest tower in the world (and the second tallest structure in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai) and the observation decks located at 350m and 450m offer unparalleled views over Tokyo. On clear days you can see Mount Fuji in the distance towering above the city and its low-lying foothills. Your ticket allows entry at a designated 30-minute time slot enabling you to skip the lengthy queues. The ticket gives you access to the first observation deck only. There is also a sizeable shopping complex at the base of the tower as well as the Sumida Aquarium should you wish to extend your visit.

Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel [Breakfast]

Day 4: Disneyland

And now for Tokyo Disneyland! This was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States, and it's classic Disney, the same style as Disneyland in California and Florida's Magic Kingdom. Expect to find the famous Disney Castle and all your favourite Disney characters. The spacious park has seven themes zones: the World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and for younger children Critter Country and Mickey's Toontown. Popular attractions include Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and the Western River Railroad. Seasonal performances and parkwide parades take place every day.

Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel [Breakfast]

Day 5: Tokyo to Nagano 

From Tokyo, you will take the Shinkansen to Nagano, the main access point for many areas of the Japan Alps and host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics. The 222km journey takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes. Nagano has a history stretching back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333) when it was a temple town centred around Zenko-ji Temple. The temple is still Nagano's main attraction with more than 4 million visitors a year. In 1998 the city gained international fame as the host of the Winter Olympics. As well as a fair amount of debt, the games left a legacy of improved transport, great English tourist information, some wonderful Olympic buildings and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Nagano station was rebuilt for the Olympics and has two sides: East and Zenko-ji. Take the latter for the city centre and Zenko-Ji Temple. Nagano makes a great base for day trips to Matsumoto Castle, as well as the famous snow monkeys of Yudanaka Onsen.  

Accommodation: Metropolitan Nagano [Breakfast]

Day 6: Nagano

Today you have the day at leisure.

Optional Day Trip to the Snow Monkeys: You may like to make a trip from Nagano to Yudanaka Onsen, home of the famous Snow Monkeys. These cheeky macaques come down from the surrounding hills to bathe in natural hot springs. Please note there's only likely to be snow on the ground during the winter months (December to March), but the monkeys like to lay in the onsen all year round so we can guarantee plenty of amazing photo opportunities!  

Accommodation: Metropolitan Nagano [Breakfast]

Day 7: Nagano to Kyoto

From Nagano you will use your Japan Rail Pass to take a Ltd Express train to Nagoya and then the Shinkansen (bullet train) on to Kyoto. Kyoto is one of the most culturally rich cities in Asia. Home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, this ancient city showcases the heart and soul of traditional Japan. Kyoto boasts an array of world-class gardens, majestic festivals and delicate cuisine, all of which make much of the rhythms of nature and the changing of the seasons. On first glance however, visitors will see that like any large Japanese city, grid-like Kyoto has its fair share of neon and concrete. But the discerning eye will soon pick out Kyoto’s treasures: sacred shrines tucked in among shopping arcades, time-honoured teahouses nestling among modern businesses and mysterious geisha scuttling down backstreets among the tourists and souvenirs. Kyoto’s charm lies in these details and whether you’re here for three days or three years, the closer you look, the more you’ll discover.

Accommodation: Machiya Residence Kakishibu-An [Self Catering]

Day 8: Kyoto

Today you will be accompanied on a private tour around Kyoto by a local professional guide. This is the best way to explore Kyoto, a city so rich in UNESCO World Heritage sites that it can be hard to know where to start! Our carefully-selected guides will reveal Kyoto’s intricate culture, introducing you to famous must-see spots as well as secret corners of the city that only the locals know. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and together you'll travel around the city by public transport. Your day of guiding will finish at 1:00 PM with the guide either dropping you back at your hotel or anywhere else in the city you wish to spend the evening.

Accommodation: Machiya Residence Kakishibu-An [Self Catering]

Day 9: Kyoto - Hiroshima

From Kyoto, you can make a day trip down the eastern seaboard west to Hiroshima by Shinkansen using your Japan Rail Pass. This journey of nearly 400km takes around 2 hours, during which time the train passes through several major cities along the coast, including Kobe, famous for its top-grade beef. 

Hiroshima is a city that needs little introduction. It is of course infamous for being the site of one of two atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of the Second World War. Despite it's tragic past, Hiroshima is now a bustling and vibrant city which has risen phoenix-like from the ashes. The Peace Park and Museum are a poignant reminder of the reason for Hiroshima's fame and everyone should spend an afternoon in this part of town. Other attractions in Hiroshima include Hiroshima Castle and the baseball stadium. The Shukkei-en garden is well worth an afternoon stroll with a number of tea houses dotted about the grounds. The Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Art contains some wonderful paintings by both Japanese and Western artists. There is also the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art which has many pieces inspired by the 1945 bombing. There are also some great views of the city from here. The local food is okonomiyaki, a kind of Japanese savoury pancake. You choose the ingredients and then cook the pancake yourself at your table. If you have time you may like to take a visit to Miyajima Island. Located just off the coast from Hiroshima, Miyajima is a lovely place to visit and a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Lively with tourists during the day Miyajima is a haven of peace and tranquillity in the evenings. The island boasts Itsukushima Shrine with its famous 'floating' torii gate which at sunset with the shimmering reflections in the water is considered to be one of the most beautiful sights in all of Japan!

Accommodation: Machiya Residence Kakishibu-An [Self Catering]

Day 10: Kyoto

Taiko Drumming Experience: From its ancient origins as military exercises and entertainment in castles and shrines, taiko drumming has evolved into ensemble drumming entertaining audiences across the world. Requiring nothing more than a willingness to learn, taking a taiko drumming lesson is a fantastic way to try your hand at a traditional Japanese instrument regardless of your musical ability and it’s also a great work out too! We can arrange a group taiko drumming lesson in Kyoto where you will learn the basic rhythms of this traditional instrument and gradually layer them together to create your very own stage-worthy performance. The session, taught in English, will last 1.5 hours. Please note that you will need to make your own way to the taiko studio but we will provide full transport instructions.  

Accommodation: Machiya Residence Kakishibu-An [Self Catering]

Day 11: Kyoto to Osaka (Shin-Osaka)

You will use your Japan Rail Pass to board the Shinkansen at Kyoto station for the short trip to Shin-Osaka, the Shinkansen terminal in Osaka. Journey time is just 15 minutes. Osaka is Japan's second city and an extremely vibrant and lively place to stay. There may not be any real 'tourist' sights but it is just the life on the streets that makes Osaka such a fascinating city to visit. Osaka people work hard and play hard and it really shows with the vast number of restaurants, bars and all-round entertainment available. The city aquarium is world class and you cannot stay in Osaka without taking a ride on one of the city's several giant big wheels, perhaps the most dramatic of which is perched on top of the Hep 5 department store in the Umeda district of the city - just don't look down if you are afraid of heights! Osaka Castle is well worth a visit despite being a reconstruction as the original was burnt down during the firebombing at the end of World War Two and you will find a variety of very interesting museums scattered throughout the city. After dark Osaka really comes alive, and a walk through the bright lights of the Nanba district is a great way to take in the atmosphere, with some great people-watching opportunities. With literally thousands of restaurants, bars and entertainment spots to choose from, Osaka is perfect for a big night out, some hearty local food and the chance to let your hair down. Osaka really is one of Japan's truly all action cities and a stay here is a chance to experience what life in modern-day urban Japan is really like. 

Tatedo (Sword Fighting Experience)

Today we will arrange for you to join a Tate-do class at the Nihon Tatedo Association in Osaka. This is a great chance to learn some of the secrets of how to fight with a sword! The course lasts for around an hour and it's a good work out! Please wear comfortable sports-style clothes; a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms (sweatpants) would be ideal.

Accommodation: Marriott Miyako Osaka [Breakfast]

Day 12: Osaka

Osaka Cycling Half Day Tour Today you'll join a cycling tour for a 3-hour ride around the northern half of Osaka City with a guide. You'll start near the banks of Nakanoshima Island and follow peaceful tree-lined riverside paths past some of Osaka's best preserved pre-war buildings. From there the group heads to Osaka's most famous landmark, Osaka Castle. After exploring the Castle grounds, you'll visit the beautifully manicured, historically interesting, and ridiculously photogenic Utsubo Park, where you can see enjoy the gardens, and if its warm, have a dip in the fountains. Water, helmets and bike rental are included in the price so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the city!

Accommodation: Marriott Miyako Osaka [Breakfast]

Day 13: Osaka to Hakone

From Shin-Osaka station you will travel on the Shinkansen train to Odawara, the access point for the scenic Fuji-Hakone national park. You will be picked up from Odawara station and transfer to your accommodation in Hakone by private taxi. Upon arrival at the hotel, you can start using your 2 Day Hakone Freepass. The pass is valid for two days and entitles you to unlimited use of 6 different forms of transport in the Hakone region. These include the mountain buses and railway, one of the longest cable cars in Japan and a funicular railway as well as a pirate ship which cruises across Lake Ashi! These all criss-cross the region making it easy to explore and enjoy the surroundings as well as some of the many top quality art museums. The pass also gives you discounts at many attractions in the area so show your pass when purchasing tickets. Of course, if you are lucky with the weather, you will be rewarded with stunning views of Mount Fuji.

Accommodation: Motoyu Kansuiro [Half Board]

Day 14: Hakone

Hakone National Park is a great place for families with plenty of things to keep both children and parents entertained. Getting around Hakone is an experience in itself with funicular railways, cable cars and ropeways - all included with the Hakone Freepass. Also included with the Freepass is a boat trip across Lake Ashi. The boat itself is a pirate ship and if the weather is clear you will be able to get great views of Mount Fuji. The Hakone Open-Air Museum is home to hundreds of pieces of artworks, the most famous of which being those of Picasso. Although the vast majority of pieces are outdoors there are a few indoor galleries, allowing visitors to enjoy the collection whatever the weather. The museum also has a maze garden for children, touchable art-piece statues, an observatory tower, foot onsen (hot springs) and a "hanging playground" that defies description. Be warned that the museum's gift shop has a lot of quirky crafts and toys for children so unless you want a huge dent in your wallet, we suggest you quickly by-pass that area when leaving! Another great option for families is the Yunessun Resort which is a hot spring theme park. Don't worry, you will be spared any blushes and awkwardness as, unlike traditional onsens, Yunessun asks that all its visitors wear swimming suits. The park has a wide range of pools, slides and hot spring baths, some of which are filled with coffee and green tea! Yunessun could easily keep you occupied for a whole day and is a great option whatever the weather. Information on all of these attractions and more will be provided in your Info-Pack.  

Accommodation: Motoyu Kansuiro [Half Board]

Day 15: Hakone to Tokyo

Private Car from Ryokan to Hakone Yumoto We will arrange for you to take a private car from the Sightseeing in Hakone to Hakone Yumoto Station. Transfer time to Odawara Station is around 20 to 30 minutes. Jumbo Taxi (3 to 6 People) - Private Service. The journey from Hakone Yumoto to Shinjuku is on the charmingly named Romance Car Express. This stylish train has extra wide windows so you can enjoy the view and makes the journey direct to Shinjuku in around 90 minutes. We will be supplying you with Limited Express tickets for this journey. Limited Express - Ordinary (4)

Robot Restaurant: Are you ready for the weirdest, kookiest experience Japan has to offer? Welcome to Shinjuku's Robot Restaurant which obliterates the rest of Tokyo in the bizarre stakes. Forget the food - you're here for the hour-long show: a "robot cabaret" accompanied by a garish kaleidoscope of strobe lights, lasers, techno music and dancers in glittery bikinis. You'll even see giant dancing pandas, dinosaurs, ninjas and of course plenty of robots. We will include a voucher for the robot show in the early evening today. Please note, despite being called a "restaurant" the food is pretty terrible, so we will just make a reservation for the show - not the bento box meal.

Accommodation: Keio Plaza Hotel [Breakfast]

Day 16: Departure

A private taxi will transfer you to Tokyo Haneda Airpor. Depart on a daylight flight to London Heathrow for same day arrival.

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Tour Excludes

Visas, Other meals where not mentioned in the programme, Drinks, Overweight luggage, Personal expenses, Travel insurance, Tips & gratuities

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These itineraries are samples of itineraries we have created for our guests. Speak to one of our travel experts at 020 7843 3531 or email at info@clevelandcollection.co.uk to create your perfect holiday based on your travel requirements.

* This is a guide price, based on travel in low season