Japan Family Holiday

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Tokyo – Japan's modern capital steeped in ancient tradition. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm at your hotel, where you'll meet your local leader and the other families. If you arrive early, why not wander Tokyo at your own pace or take an Urban Adventures day tour? After your meeting, consider joining the group for an optional dinner at a local restaurant and dive into the delicious local cuisine that’s around every corner.

Kick things off with a visit to Sensoji in Asakusa – Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple (about 1300 years old) set on the banks of the Sumida River. Nearby, you’ll discover a great shopping street where you can find quirky Japanese souvenirs or sample some traditional snacks. You’ll then have a free afternoon to find some lunch or maybe visit a manga (Japanese comic and cartoon) market in Akihabara. Tonight, head out for dinner on a boat, cruising through the Tokyo Bay. Surrounded by the sparkling lights of the city, you’ll enjoy monjayaki (a savoury pancake with a unique, gooey texture) cooked on a sizzling hot plate.

This morning, head to Shinjuku and take part in a traditional calligraphy lesson. You and the kids will learn how to write your name in Japanese (and maybe learn to say a few words, too) with the help of a local teacher. After, grab some lunch at a local restaurant with your group then visit Harajuku – a neighbourhood simultaneously known for its eccentric street style and teen pop culture. Sample one of Harajuku’s famous crepes or try some of its 3D latte art as you explore the iconic Takeshita Street. Finish the afternoon in Shibuya – home to the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world – where you’ll have some free time to grab dinner or head back to the hotel.

Say goodbye to Tokyo and catch your first shinkansen bullet train of the trip to Hakone, travelling up to 285 km an hour. In Japan, trains operate with incredible precision – the sight of a white-gloved guard bowing to a carriage full of travellers is something the kids are sure to remember! Part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Hakone is a place of staggering natural beauty. Here, you can soak in hot spring onsens, go on bush walks, chill out by the lakes, take in the views of Mt Fuji (if you’re blessed with good weather!), or explore an open-air modern art museum. Tonight, you’ll experience Japanese ryokan (traditional inn) hospitality – sleeping on futons in a tatami mat room, wearing yukata (a light kimono-style robe) and soaking up (literally) the onsen culture.

Today, you’ll take a ropeway (cable car) up to the top of the volcanic valley of Owakudani and hopefully catch views of Mt Fuji. Continue to Lake Ashinoko – a natural caldera formed after a major volcanic explosion some 3000 years ago – for a cruise aboard a pirate ship-style boat. Back on land, visit the Karakuri Secret Box Museum and try to open these beautifully hand-crafted puzzle boxes (and maybe purchase your own as a unique souvenir). During your free afternoon, you might like to hike through the grasslands of Sengokuhara or pamper yourself at Hakone’s hot spring theme park, which has a variety of baths ranging from open-air onsens to cave baths and water slides.

Hop on another bullet train and make the journey to the city of Hiroshima. A visit to Hiroshima is sobering, but the tragedy that happened here is an important part of history to confront. In the afternoon, visit the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, both of which stand as an emotional testament to the fateful day in August 1945 when Hiroshima became the first target of nuclear attack in human history. The dome stands as both a symbolic reminder of the devastation of war and a monument to peace. For dinner tonight, you might like to seek out some okonomiyaki – a savoury pancake dish with customisable toppings like meat, seafood or vegetables, made with a Hiroshima-style twist by adding yakisoba noodles.

This morning, head for the island of Miyajima, just a short ferry ride across the Inland Sea. The island is home to the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima, famous for its huge bright orange gate (torii) which rises majestically over the water! Maybe take a stroll through Momiji Park (AKA Maple Valley) or take the cable car up to the top of Mt Misen for panoramic views of the Inland Sea and its many islands. Keep an eye out for the hungry deer that roam the island! Return to Hiroshima in the afternoon, and in your free time, maybe visit the five-storied Hiroshima Castle, which was originally built in the 1590s, though it was destroyed by the bomb and has since been reconstructed.