Delve deep into Japanese culture, ancient and modern, on a family journey that combines the thrilling modernity of Tokyo, outdoor adventures in the Kiso Valley and the rich traditions of Kyoto. Smiles guaranteed for kids, kidults and adults alike!
Japan offers year-round travel possibilities depending on where you go, but the summer months from June to September are usually hot and humid.
Price depends on the experiences and accommodation included, and your time of travel. It is based on a family of four travelling for 9 nights and does not include international flights.
3 nights in Tokyo, 1 night on the Izu Peninsula, 2 nights in the Kiso Valley and 3 nights in Kyoto
What makes this journey special?
- Experience Tokyo like an insider through a range of curated family experiences.
- Canoe, raft or go paddleboarding with Olympians, meet master craftsmen and walk the Samurai Trail at a very exclusive adventure lodge in the Kiso Valley.
- Immerse yourselves in age-old Japanese traditions and rituals with a stay at a wonderful ryokan on the Izu Peninsula.
- Kick back in the cultural capital of Kyoto with a fun market visit and cookery lesson, along with the chance to explore its atmospheric geisha district.
- Watch the countryside float serenely by through the window of a shinkansen bullet train.
Your Japan private family holiday itinerary
Where the future meets the past
Tokyo
If it’s your first time in Tokyo, you’ll be left wide-eyed by the city’s vibrant energy. Along with visiting the city’s top temples, food markets, and shopping districts, we can curate unique experiences tailored to your interests. Join our sumo expert for an exclusive visit to a sumo stable, where you’ll witness the wrestlers’ morning training sessions and have the chance to interact with them, taking photos and chatting.
Enjoy martial arts lessons with one of Japan’s most renowned sensei, and as a family, dive into the spiritual aspects of Ninja culture together, such as meditation, ancestor worship, and the concept of ku (the idea of “no-self”). You’ll even get to wear an authentic Ninja costume and handle traditional weapons like throwing stars and blowguns. For tech geeks, Akihabara offers a dream come true, with its cosplay crowds, megaplexes and idol stores that are sure to excite children young and old with a passion for electronics.
Deep Japan
Izu Peninsula
At Explorations Company, we like to mix the yin with the yang, so following your stay in the capital we’ll whisk you away on the legendary bullet train to the Izu Peninsula. In the hot spring town of Shuzenji, unwind at what is often considered Japan’s most exquisite ryokan. From the moment you arrive, your dedicated room attendant will handle every detail, making sure your bath is always ready, offering freshly brewed tea and delicate wagashi (traditional sweets), and serving a wonderful kaiseki dinner.
Several times a month, captivating cultural performances take place on the floating stage, featuring noh theatre, traditional Japanese flute, or bunraku puppetry. If you’re feeling more energetic, explore the town’s peaceful Zen temple founded over 1,200 years ago, or walk along the amazing Mishima Skywalk, Japan’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, with views of Mount Fuji on clear days.
Your own private Narnia
Kiso Valley
While the masses flock to Hakone for their adrenaline fix, let us share with you our secret alternative. Further west, among the flowering forests and rushing emerald rivers of the Kiso Valley, Zenagi Expedition Lodge is a very private adventure paradise. Guided by charismatic Olympian athletes, you’ll enjoy a host of outdoor activities in natural spots usually inaccessible to the public: canoe or SUP downriver to a bankside gourmet picnic lunch; climb a remote waterfall; even go paragliding above the stunning landscapes.
Or walk the Nakasendo Way, an ancient pathway connecting Tokyo to Kyoto, along with the impeccably preserved post town of Tsumago. The lodge also has deep cultural ties and can organise private visits to regional crafts workshops, from lacquerware to ceramics. Morning meditations can be arranged with a temple priest overlooking the lodge’s serene gardens, while forest foraging trips with the chefs can also be organised.
Geisha
Kyoto
Jump back on the bullet train and head to Kyoto for the final leg of your family adventure. Explore this historic city with a private guide, beginning in Arashiyama, the western district known for its UNESCO-listed temples, Zen gardens and bamboo groves. Highlights include Tenryu-ji with its striking dragon-painted ceiling, and Sanjusangendo temple, home to thousands of statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Back in town, enjoy dinner with a geisha and learn the art of etiquette, and join a private ramen masterclass where you’ll learn to craft this beloved noodle soup before slurping it down. And nearby Nara, with its tame sacred deer who will bow for a food offering, will soften even the most adamantine heart.
Where you'll stay on your Japan family adventure
Great journeys need great places to lay your head. These are our tried and tested suggestions.
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
One of Tokyo’s iconic luxury hotels, the Mandarin Oriental offers an enticing blend of sleek modernity and timeless Japanese elegance. Set high above the streets of Tokyo’s historic merchant district, the hotel offers fabulous views of the city and, on clear days, Mount Fuji. Rooms and suites come with floor-to-ceiling windows that bathe them in natural light, while the dining is nothing short of extraordinary, with 12 world-class restaurants and bars, including the Michelin-starred Sushi Shin by Miyakawa. There is also an award-winning spa, infinity pool and a fitness centre.
Asaba Ryokan
Asaba Ryokan on Japan’s Izu Peninsula, is a masterclass in understated luxury and timeless tradition. For over 500 years, this elegant ryokan has offered guests a deeply restorative escape steeped in Japanese culture, complete with tatami-matted rooms, sliding shoji screens, a koi-filled pond, spring-fed onsen and omotenashi hospitality. Dining here is exquisite, with seasonal kaiseki meals served in the privacy of your room or in the elegant dining space. The ryokan is also famous for its magical evening noh theatre performances.
Zenagi Expedition Lodge
Housed within a restored seventeenth-century kominka farmhouse overlooking the Kiso Valley, Zenagi is an exclusive-use private lodge with in-house chef, sommelier and host offering a truly personalised luxury stay. Perfect for families or groups of friends wanting to experience authentic rural Japan, Zenagi offers curated experiences that immerse you in the region’s traditions and natural beauty. Hike the Nakasendo Trail, with its ancient post towns and moss-covered shrines; kayak crystal-clear rivers with an Olympic champion; head out on mountain bikes; or learn traditional crafts from local artisans from washi paper making to pottery and wood carving.
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto
Kyoto is a city of quiet grandeur, where centuries-old traditions blend seamlessly with contemporary refinement, and The Mitsui captures this essence with effortless grace. Set in the shadow of Kyoto’s Nijo Castle, this exquisite retreat occupies the former estate of the Mitsui samurai family, transforming heritage into high design. Enter through the striking eighteenth-century cypress-wood entrance gate and you’ll encounter a place where history is honoured, but never at the expense of modern indulgence. Interiors by André Fu balance traditional Japanese craftsmanship with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. Rooms exude serene sophistication, with wasabi-hued walls, shoji screens, and deep bathtubs. The crowning jewel? A private onsen, fed by natural thermal waters beneath the property.
Customise your luxury Japan family holiday
All of our journeys are fully bespoke, and can be customised to meet your needs, interests and preferences. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Add a few days of relaxation at spectacular Amanemu on the Ise-Shima Peninsula
Hit the beaches and coral reefs of Okinawa at the Rosewood Miyako-jima
Learn valuable lessons from history as you explore Hiroshima
Go island-hopping by bicycle in the Seto Sea
Include some time enjoying some of Japan’s richest cultural experiences in Kanazawa
Looking for more inspiration?
We have a huge range of inspiring private experiences and accommodation options available. Get in touch with our Japan specialists.
ENQUIRELearn more about our luxury holidays, or call our expert Asia team on +44 1367 850566 / 1-855-216-5040 (toll free) to discuss how we can turn your dreams into something truly magical.
“The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”