Designed for families who want to explore Japan’s food, culture, and ancient history, this customizable 14-day Japan tour leads you on immersive and exciting experiences. Delve into the world of Studio Ghibli, encounter gentle Nara deer, and learn about the samurai way of life with this incredible trip to Japan.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Tokyo - Takeshita Street in Harajuku
When your flight lands at Narita Airport, a private transfer will greet and transfer you to your luxury accommodation. Once you have settled in, your guide will lead you to Tokyo Skytree, which is the tallest tower in Japan. The tower sits at 2,080 feet tall and has a viewing deck that is over 1,100 feet tall. Harajuku is a renowned area in Japan because of its colorful street art and quirky clothing of the locals. After the tower, you will have some time to visit Takeshita Street. Here, you may be able to recognize your favorite anime character as cosplay is very popular in this area.
What's Included:
Day 2
Tokyo - Ancient Streets of Asakusa
Day 3
Tokyo - The World of Studio Ghibli
Day 4
Toyama - The UNESCO Site of Gokayama
Day 5
Toyama - Sail on the Matsukawa River
Day 6
Yokohama - Traverse Yamashita Park
Day 7
Yokohama - Ascend Landmark Tower
Day 8
Hakone - The Hot Springs of Hakone
Day 9
Nara - Encounter Nara Deer
Day 10
Nara - Kasuga-Taisha Shrine
Day 11
Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Wonderland
Day 12
Kyoto - Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Day 13
Osaka - Samurai Culture at Osaka Castle
Day 14
Osaka - Departure
Trip Highlights
- Marvel at the colorful Takeshita Dori district in Harajuku before traversing the ancient streets of Asakusa
- Delve into the world of Studio Ghibli and witness life-sized reproductions of anime characters
- Observe the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gokayama and wander around unique roofs
- Sail down the Matsukawa River in a gondola and view the city from a unique perspective
- Traverse the largest seaside park of Yamashita Park and ascend to the top of the Landmark Tower
- Stroll through Hakone Shrine and immerse yourself in the healing waters of a private onsen
- Encounter Nara deer and visit the Big Buddha Temple
- Traipse through the wonderland of Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
- Traverse the thousand bright orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Learn about samurai culture at Osaka Castle and even learn a few techniques of the sword
Detailed Description
Japan is a world of innovation, bustling energy, and ancient culture. You will immerse yourself in the culture of Japan from the moment your plane lands at Narita Airport. Your first excursion in Japan will lead you to Tokyo Skytree, which is the tallest tower in Tokyo. As you ascend to the top of the building and walk to the observation deck, you will be able to witness a panoramic view of Tokyo. Asakusa is the entrance to Japan’s ancient past. During your visit, you will visit the Sensoji, which is a popular Buddhist temple that was built during the 7th century.
The world of Studio Ghibli will allow you to witness life-sized characters from the studio’s anime shows. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gokayama in Toyama will reveal how silkworms were raised and farmed. The following day, you will sail down the Matsukawa River in a gondola. In Yokohama, you can stroll through Yamashita Park before ascending to the top of the Landmark Tower, which has an incredible view of the city and a Pokemon Center for your kids. In Hakone, you can indulge in a private onsen experience.
In Nara, you will explore ancient sites and encounter the gentle deer of the city. The next day, you can wander through the Arashiyama Bamboo wonderland. You can then walk through the thousand orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. When you immerse yourself in samurai culture at Osaka Castle, you will learn the samurai code and how to handle a sword from a swordmaster. The following day, your vacation will sadly come to an end, and your driver will transport you to the airport to connect you with your flight home.
Starting Price
$9,100 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.84 stars based on 676 reviews.
Our trip to Japan was well planned and well thought out. Zicasso's travel designer made us feel very well taken care of. We are grateful to the travel designer for his effort in putting together this wonderful trip for us. We loved interacting with our excellent guides. Their expertise truly enhanced our experiences. All our travel assistants were extremely helpful and very thoughtful.
Reviewed By Alok G.
Yet another fantastic family trip, courtesy of a Zicasso partner! My family of six just returned from our 10-day trip to Japan, as coordinated with Zicasso's travel company, and we have nothing but wonderful stories and memories to report!
Our agent arranged every detail to perfection, from transportation to guides to activities. All four kids and both parents had a fantastic experience. The guides he selected were incredibly knowledgeable and personable, and the hotels and transportation were spot on. I have nothing to say but that it was a seamless, A+ experience.
Thank you to our agent and travel companyI!
Reviewed By Sara G.
Our travel expert was professional, accurate, timely, and patient. It was wonderful working with her. Zicasso really made creating a customized itinerary effortless.
Reviewed By Suzy A.
Zicasso's travel designer had less than three months to bring an amazing trip to life. Our goal was to experience the history, art, culture, and people of Japan. Mission accomplished!
There were so many highlights shared by our exceptional guides and drivers, who felt like friends and family by the trip's end. Some experiences surprised us with their creativity, joy, and value (slapstick sumo skits in Tokyo, the samurai sword experience, sushi class, open-air and Venetian glass museums in Hakone, and especially the Himeji Castle master carpenter tutorial). Though in our late 70s, walking five to seven miles per day and climbing 766-oot sacred Mount Inari weren't an issue.
The veracity of this review is paramount... the only experience we would forgo was spelunking (crawling) in the cold, wet lava cave, as in our ignorance, we were out of our element. We found joints we did not know we had! We are focused on collecting memories, not things. This fabulous trip achieved that goal. Thank you!
Reviewed By William H.
I was very pleased with our trip, the accommodations, and the personal touch. Zicasso's travel specialist was excellent and even when we had some hiccups during the trip, he was there to make an adjustment. I was very pleased. Some really nit-picky tips for future travelers from out of town.
The Shinkansen is a fun ride and everyone should do it. However, when you need multiple tickets at a time, remind the passenger that you put all the tickets into the ticket turnstile at one time, not individually.
We had to visit in July, but I think the best time to visit Japan would be in the three other seasons because of the heat and humidity (with the exception of Hokkaido).
There are still some places that need cash, like public baths etc. I would carry a little on you. Also, visiting the public baths was one of the truly authentic Japanese experiences we had. If a traveler is into the authentic experience, don't underestimate that experience.
You can get "shrined out." They are great and we appreciated every one. We even caught a monk actively praying at a fairly remote one, which was tremendous. I'm not sure if it's possible to know approximate times, but seeing this happen as a traveler was immensely gratifying. It was 6.30am on a Saturday. So if there is a way to figure out an approximate schedule, you will have elevated your travel game above all the rest. It would be a differentiator for you.
Letting travelers know about the bento boxes and grab-and-go foods is a plus. I was so impressed by them and that info should be shared with every traveler, especially the kiddos.
The Japanese do some things really well and a side list of them might be helpful for tours. For example, we stopped for some anime magazines, kitchen knives, street food, and a baseball game, baths, and hot springs. I'd lean into this and provide some lists for people to pick from, especially the kitchen knives.
Explain the concept of luggage forwarding and the approximate costs. It's a uniquely Japanese thing, and it's awesome and affordable, but needs some getting used to.
Google Translate and the app to read the signs (I forgot its name) is a must. Share the links early and often.
I have so many more ideas, but we will start there. I hope it helps.
Reviewed By Matthew F.
Zicasso's travel agent was absolutely fantastic! She created a trip of a lifetime! Furthermore, when our plans changed or we needed something, she was there and helped with ease. We would work with her again, and Zicasso, in a heartbeat.
Reviewed By Erica M.
