A Luxury Family Vacation to Japan

Enjoy your time exploring the incredible metropolis of Tokyo, a city with an infectious energy that is like no other.

Together with your private guide, you will spend the day discovering Tokyo. There are a variety of sights to visit and tours you might choose to go on. You will pay for your own and your guide's transportation for the day. Some of the places you can visit include:

Visit the Imperial Palace, the celebrated residence of Japan’s imperial family. Located on the former site of the Edo Castle, the huge park area is surrounded by moats and massive stone walls.

Experience all things automobile at Toyota's self-proclaimed car theme park. Here you can see over 60 current models, including some that have never been displayed anywhere else. As well as learning all about the technical side of things, you can go for a test drive in one of the newest models. The History Garage is a wonderful showcase of historic cars from around the world and there is a kids' section where they can learn all about traffic rules and take a turn behind the wheel.

Visit the appropriately named Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro, Japan's largest Pokémon mega-store, to browse its masses of exclusive merchandise, candy, clothing and mountains of cute plushies.

With your private guide and vehicle, spend the day discovering Tokyo with tours to the following highlights:

Take a stroll in the former imperial gardens now known as the Hamarikyu Garden then enjoy a shared cruise on the Suminda River to Asakusa.

Today you'll visit the Asakusa District, one of Tokyo oldest and best-preserved districts. We'll stop at the Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, marked by its huge lantern. We then walk along the Nakamise Dori merchant street. The Nakamise Dori merchant street dates back to the Edo period when the temple’s neighbours were given special permission to open their shops in the approach to the temple. Your guide will show you the small streets of Asakusa, where you can still feel the presence of Ancient Japan.

Visit the Taiko Drumming Studio to experience the exciting world of Japanese Taiko. Wadaiko, Japanese drums, were ceremonial instruments and communication tools. Nowadays, Japanese drumming is used for music and performance. The powerful strokes are balanced and enhanced with a beautiful posture. After the professional performance and explanations by the players, learn how to play the drums Taiko yourself. Afterwards, you'll be transferred back to your hotel.

Explore Akihabara, an area famous for its shops catering to cosplay, manga and anime fans and the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture. Stroll around to see an amazing array of figurines, costumes and merchandise, as well as vast arcades, 'maid' cafes and electronics shops.

Head to the small city of Mitaka just west of Tokyo, home of the Ghibli Museum. Showcasing the work of the Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, it combines features of a children's museum, technology museum, and a fine arts museum, and is dedicated to the art and technique of animation. Some features include a life size replica of the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro, a café, reading room, rooftop garden, and a theater for exclusive short films.

Shibuya is a shopping and eating district popular with a lot of young Tokyoites, famous for its bright neon lights and five-way crossing.

Enjoy a night at your relaxing ryokan near to the famous spa town of Hakone.

Take a cruise on Lake Ashi which formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone. While enjoying the magnificent views of Mount Fuji in the background, look out for the reflections of the surrounding mountains in the lake surface.

Visit the unique Hakone Open Air Museum where you can enjoy the balance of nature and art through a variety of sculptures in perfect harmony with picturesque views of the surrounding valley and mountains. We'll also take a look at the indoor galleries, including works from world famous artists including Rodin, Bourdelle and Miro and one of the largest collections of British sculptor Henry Moore. There is also a Picasso Pavilion with a collection of over 300 pieces.

Enjoy your pristine natural surroundings from the comfort of the magnificent Hoshinoya Fuji. Nestled within a pristine red pine forest overlooking Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji, this is a beautiful glamping hideaway. Volcanic activity 10,000 years ago created a landscape of craters and ice caves, and the surrounding area is ripe for exploring. Canoe on the lake, go horse riding through the forest or take a lesson in stargazing and marvel at the night sky.

Today you will visit the mysterious Aokigahara Forest with your nature guide, an untouched natural forest known for its dense woods and lava trails. Folk tales and legends tell of ghosts and goblins haunting the forest. You will also join a cave guide and head into one of the lava caves of the mountain, exploring the underground wonders that await.

Your Travel Designer will recommend the best things to see and do during your time in Hiroshima and Miyajima Island.

Your English speaking guide who will take you to the A-Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. The A-bomb Dome is the skeletal remains of the Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall, situated just below the explosion point of the atomic bomb. The Peace Memorial Park and the museum are moving, educational and humbling and feature sculptures and memorials from all over the world. We then make our way to Hiroshimajo Castle, also known as “carp castle”. The exhibits explain the construction of the castle in the Edo Era and display helmets and armour that were used by feudal lords and warriors. We then move on to Miyajima or "shrine" Island to see the celebrated and dramatic gate of the 6th century Itsukushima shrine and red O-Torii gate which appears to be floating on the water.

Take the ropeway and enjoy a short hike to the top of Mt Misen, standing 530m high, where fantastic views of the mountain of sea await. There are some light treks around the summit that can be enjoyed.

Spend your time in Kyoto admiring the impressive imperial beauty of the city, evident in the abundance of prewar buildings such as grand palaces, traditional "machiya" townhouses and ornate shrines. See kimono-clad geisha on their way to engagements and stroll in the celebrated Ryoan-ji
rock garden. Make sure you visit the magnificent wooden Kiyomizu-dera and the Golden and Silver Pavilion Temples. Your travel designer can help you to experience the city at its best with private guided tours and excursions.

With your private guide and vehicle, spend the day discovering Kyoto with tours to the following highlights:

Experience a tea ceremony, one of Japan’s most famous traditional cultural practices, a part of culture that encompasses not only the making of tea, but also tea-room architecture, the appreciation of tea utensils and bowls and Zen Buddhism. The tea master will then teach you how to prepare and present 'matcha' powdered green tea.

Visit Tenryu-ji Temple, a famous Zen Buddhist temple that is the head temple of the Tenryu-ji branch of Rinzai Zen sect and part of World Cultural Heritage monuments. You'll also explore the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, one of the most beautiful in Japan.

Visit the Kinkaku-ji 'Golden Pavilion' temple. Built in 1397 to serve as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Kinkaku-ji served as the inspiration for the Ginkaku-ji the Silver Pavilion which was built by the Shogun's grandson.

We then continue to the serene Ryoan-ji Temple which is celebrated for its rock garden, comprised of nothing but clay walls, raked sand and 15 rocks.

Today we visit the Geisha district of Gion which is famed for its beautifully preserved traditional architecture. During Gion's golden age in the first half of 19th century, more than 3000 Geikos (young Geisha) worked in some 700 teahouses. We will keep our eyes open for Geisha on their way to an assignment. This is also a great opportunity for shopping in this craft-rich district.

Indulge yourself in a little make believe and become a part of old Japan. Try on the elegant makeup and intricately patterned kimono of the Geisha or Samurai wear.

This evening, you'll have the exclusive, once-in-a-life-time opportunity to experience an evening in the company of Geishas at exclusive Kyoto restaurant and tea house. Two Geisha, accompanied by a musician, will perform traditional dances and songs and delight dinners with their skilfully-honed art in entertainment, playing games and making conversation (your guide will be here to act as a translator). This is the unique experience of a lifetime, even for Japanese people themselves. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel in a private vehicle.

Visit Toei Uzumasa Kyoto Studio Park, known in the 1960’s as the "Hollywood of Japan". Toei, one of Japan's leading film companies has opened its sets to the public at Eiga Mura (Film Village) and the result is a theme park complete with samurai and ninja shows, geisha, arcades and souvenir shops. Many movies were shot here and it is still a working studio with more than 200 TV and movie productions filmed each year. You can also turn into a samurai or a princess with real disguises, including wigs and makeup. This is certainly a touristy place, but children will definitely love it.

Meet your private guide for your trip to Nara, the ancient capital of Japan in the 8th Century. Start your visit from Nara Park, a large pleasant park in the center of the city, commonly known as “Deer Park,” home to hundreds of freely roaming deers, regarded in Shinto religion as messengers of the gods and symbol of the city. A large numbers of historical sites in Nara are located in and around this park.

Visit Kasugataisha Shrine, originally established in 768AD as the shrine of the powerful Fujiwara Family. See the magnificent interior famous for its numerous bronze hanging lanterns, as well as the many stone lanterns that lead up to the shrine. Move on to the gigantic Todaiji temple, reputedly the largest wooden buildings in the world and one of Japan’s most famous and historically significant temples to be overwhelmed by the giant statue of Buddha Virocana.

Finish your Nara tour in Naramachi, the former merchant district of Nara, which was not affected by bombings during the Second World War. The district features several traditional warehouses and residential buildings including the Naramachi Koshi-no-ie, an old residence open to the public for free. Small boutiques, shops, cafes and restaurants can also be found along the narrow lanes in the district. Back to the hotel by 17:00pm and enjoy time at leisure.