Japan Family Adventure
Many of the Selective Asia team will tell you that Japan is their ultimate family destination. It’s safe and fun, with a high-tech culture that feels familiar from afar and yet astonishingly different in reality. There’s a plethora of delicious food, reassuring routine, and a feeling of genuine reciprocity wherever you go.
Family is so important in Japanese culture, and visiting families often report back to us on their delightful experiences of feeling truly welcomed. You might assume it’d be tricky to get teenagers excited about a tea ceremony or calligraphy class, but there’s something in the air that makes it all slightly mesmerising and aspirational, even to very young minds. We pepper each family itinerary with a few lighter experiences too, such as a day at Disney, a samurai swordplay class, or creating a kawaii character bento lunch. Many families return to Japan for a second helping, as you’re unlikely to see everything on your wish list in just a couple of weeks, but it’s enough time to get a thrilling taste of what’s on offer and dive into some truly memorable experiences.
We know there’s no such thing as ‘fun for the whole family’, and there are always compromises to be made in a country with such a wealth of choice (more time in Tokyo Disney or extra days on an Osaka foodie frenzy?) but Japan genuinely delivers on that overused travel cliche ‘something for everyone’. If you want a gentle couple of weeks on a beach, this might not be the place (though Japan does have a few excellent beaches...) On the other hand, if you’re eager to take your family on a multi-stop cultural and historical adventure, Japan hits all the right notes.
Raitsu, Kamera, Akushon!
Boom! You’ve arrived in Tokyo - Japan’s iconic capital. Family-friendly foodie tours and theme cafes are popular for that first night wow factor, giving you the chance to sample plenty of delicious dishes with a side of your favourite video game or anime characters. Learn Samurai sword fighting with an expert instructor, brush up on your manga drawing skills with a local artist, and wander through the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods to experience a seemingly infinite variety of foodie flavours. Delve into the eccentric subculture of the Akihabara and Harajuku neighbourhoods; the gaming centres are a must, even if you don’t play.
Bag some kawaii merchandise on the UFO catchers, or step into a virtual reality zombie apocalypse at Joypolis indoor theme park. Do you do Tokyo Disney now, or give it a miss and head for a locally-grown option, such as Ghibli Park, later in your trip? Tokyo really is your oyster, with an overwhelming diversity of things to choose to see and do, and our Destination Specialists will help you get the best from your Tokyo experience. Whatever you choose, we’d recommend at least three nights in Tokyo to sample its delights without complete exhaustion!
Imagination & Adrenaline
Despite being one of Japan’s largest cities, Nagoya can feel like a bit of an unassuming place at first, but just beyond its centre lies a scattering of energising highlights with a family focus. The young and young-at-heart will find plenty to inspire their imaginations at the nearby theme parks, each one offering a different window into another world. Admire the gargantuan constructions and creativity of Legoland Japan, and dive into the anime worlds of the new Ghibli Park, which celebrates the iconic works of Japan’s most well-loved animation studio. Satisfy curious minds at the Nagoya City Science Museum, complete with planetarium, and indulge budding engineers at the Railway Park and Toyota Museum.
Once you’ve discovered that Nagoya is the birthplace of Toyota, one of Japan’s most famous car manufacturers, it seems obvious that the country’s most famous motor circuit should be just an hour away at Suzuka. Formula One fans can take a walk down motorsport memory lane, and the whole family can enjoy the gentle diversion of the mini amusement park next door for a few racing adrenaline thrills on a more manageable scale!
Look back in time…
Kyoto remains a wonderfully atmospheric and beautiful place, and it’s definitely worth timing your sightseeing carefully to avoid the ever-increasing crowds. Our Specialists recommend being super early birds, and seeing the city first thing in the morning when there are far fewer people about, while leaving some of your sightseeing until the late afternoon can reward you with a quieter experience too. Kyoto’s UNESCO-listed castle is fantastic, with its working nightingale floor (designed to detect intruders) adding an imagination-firing level of intrigue to engage creative minds of all ages. The soul stirring beats of traditional Taiko drumming feel more appropriate here than anywhere else, and your instructor will make sure you get the basic rhythms of this highly-skilled art just right.
Wander through Arashiyama’s iconic bamboo grove, taste some of the area’s famous unagi (grilled eel), and have your favourite ‘go to’ cartoon characters in mind to make from edible treats in a Kyaraben character bento class. There are so many family-friendly things to do in the cultural capital and we’ll help you choose the best times to visit each area to avoid the crowds.
A Slice of Paradise…
Tucked away in a sheltered sweep of coastline, Amanohashidate is regularly cited as having one of Japan’s most beautiful views, and it definitely lives up to its rather romantic translation of ‘bridge in heaven’. Though not exactly a secret, this winding sandbar just a couple of hours from Kyoto comes as a pleasant surprise to visiting families who aren’t expecting to find a bit of beach in central Japan. Accessed by a striking rotating bridge, which swings aside to allow ships to enter the harbour, this narrow ridge has dense pine trees running down its spine, fringed by soft sands begging to be wandered or cycled along.
With a handful of pretty pagodas and shrines to explore, a cablecar ride to up the hillside to look out over the bay, and charming local shops to potter in, Amanohashitade makes a refreshing change of pace with time to pause between taking in the sensory rush of Japan’s heavyweight cities.
Relax and Tuck In…
Another burst of shinkansen hyperspeed and, before you know it, you’re rolling into Osaka for a bit of indulgence to finish your Japan family adventure. It might not have the diverse sights of Tokyo, but it is very, very cool; a really relaxed, fun place to spend your last nights in Japan.
Dotonbori is insanely retro, colourful, noisy and boisterous; a real crowd pleaser, and the perfect place for an inexpensive street dinner. Takoyaki are the city’s speciality: small, fluffy, doughy balls filled with octopus, which are usually served very hot, garnished with delicious sauce and mayonnaise, and (for the grown ups!) perfect with a super-cold Asahi beer.
It’s easy to spend a couple of days just wandering through Osaka’s well-trodden but somehow chilled-out streets. If you’ve got the flexibility to stay for an extra night or two, you could squeeze in a visit to the nearby Universal Studios Japan, or a session of supervised shuriken star throwing at the nearby ninja museum to round off your Japan Family Adventure in style.
Other places to consider...
We don’t want to over-prescribe your trip for you, and almost anything is possible, so any or all of the above can be changed. If you’re a super-outdoorsy family, you might want to do some hiking in the central alps, or join the locals and make your Japan holiday one of complete beach bliss by heading to Ishikagi in subtropical Okinawa ... the list goes on, so let’s talk.
A note on cost…
The guide price of £4,490US$5,990 is a per person price (not including international flights) staying a total of 3 nights in Tokyo, 2 nights in Nagoya, 3 nights in Kyoto, 2 nights in Amanohashidate, 2 nights in Osaka, all in our favourite mid-range hotels.
The exact shape of your trip is up to you - our tailor-made specialists work with you to create your perfect journey.
