A 12-Day Japan Itinerary for Families and first-time visitors through Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka

Upon your arrival to Japan you will be transferred to the capital Tokyo. After arriving at the airport, you will find your private driver waiting for you at arrivals. He will then take you to your hotel, where you can rest for a while and freshen up. After this, you can start exploring this great city. It is recommended to start with the world’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree where there are 2 observation decks, the higher one has a spiral walkway with 360° views of the city. On a clear day you can even see Mount Fuji from here. Next to the Skytree there is Tokyo Solamachi, a shopping district with over 300 shops including stores selling food and drinks as well as places to eat. There are also plenty of shops selling souvenirs and the Sumida Aquarium. After a long day at the Skytree, take a leisurely stroll through Sumida Park. The park and its trees are covered in white petals along the riverside paths, especially during the cherry blossom season.

Today is designed as a self-guided introduction to some of Tokyo’s most expressive neighborhoods. Begin near Harajuku Station with a visit to Meiji Jingu, a peaceful Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, set within a forested sanctuary that feels far removed from the surrounding city. Continue to Takeshita Street, where Tokyo’s youth culture appears in full color through quirky boutiques, cosplay fashion, vintage finds and playful snacks. From there, walk along Omotesando, often compared to the Champs-Elysees for its stylish architecture and elegant shopping. Later, head to Shibuya to cross the famous scramble crossing and see the city from above at Shibuya Sky. As evening falls, Center-Gai offers casual eateries, izakayas and a lively atmosphere that makes it a fun place to enjoy dinner with the family.

An early start brings you close to one of Japan’s most distinctive traditions. Make your way to Honjo-Azumabashi Station for the short ride to Asakusa, where your guide will meet you before a sumo practice session. From a front-row perspective, watch rikishi train through drills, conditioning, and practice bouts while the trainer explains the rituals and techniques behind the sport. After the session, continue exploring Asakusa independently. Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest and most revered Buddhist temple, is a natural stop, along with the surrounding streets filled with traditional snacks and small shops. In the evening, the mood shifts from heritage to high-energy fun in Akihabara. Dress as a favorite superhero or character and set off on a go-kart ride through neon-lit streets, passing Tokyo Station, Ginza and some of the capital’s most animated city scenes during a playful one-hour drive.

Leave Tokyo behind for a self-guided day trip to Hakone, reached by train from Shinjuku. Known for hot springs, mountain scenery and Mount Fuji views, Hakone offers a peaceful contrast to the capital’s pace. Begin at the Hakone Open-Air Museum, where sculptures and installations by Japanese and international artists are displayed across the landscape. Rest for a moment at the museum’s foot onsen before continuing to Hakone Shrine, whose red torii gate stands beautifully at the edge of Lake Ashi. A boat cruise on Lake Ashi gives you another angle on the mountain scenery, weather permitting. Continue by ropeway over Owakudani Valley, where steam vents, hot springs and volcanic terrain create an otherworldly scene. Before returning to Tokyo, try the region’s famous black eggs, boiled in hot springs and traditionally associated with good fortune.

Today, you travel by bullet train to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital, once the center of the empire and today a city of many temples, gardens, shrines and art. This city will allow you to move at your own pace and first of all you will go to visit Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, a temple of Zen Buddhism that is covered in gold-leaf. The temple and its beautiful gardens are absolutely unique and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards you head to the famous Yasaka Shrine, with its traditional wooden buildings, its statues and, above all, its paths made of stones lined with hundreds of beautiful lanterns that lead to a very peaceful and very pretty internal courtyard, located in the heart of the famous Gion district, where one can often spot geishas going about their daily business. In the evening instead you can enjoy dinner and drink in a very traditional restaurant where you can taste the famous kaiseki cuisine, a very refined cuisine, made up of many small plates of seasonal products. In Maruyama Park, in the very heart of Gion, in spring there is also a famous weeping cherry tree.

You will start your day in Arashiyama with a rickshaw ride through the famous Arashiyama bamboo grove. Your guide will pull you through the lane sharing stories of the area’s history. Then you can continue to wander through the bamboo forest on your own to explore the changing light and tranquil paths of the grove for the remainder of the day. Alternatively after the rickshaw ride you can visit the beautiful Okochi Sanso, a villa that once belonged to actor Okochi Denjiro, now converted into a stunning garden and tea house or the temple of Jojakuko-ji which has panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and is an extremely peaceful place to spend time. Another option is to visit the historic Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street which is made up of a beautiful street lined with traditional machiya houses, some teahouses and small stores.

Today brings you closer to Kyoto’s living traditions with a tea ceremony in the historic Higashiyama district. Choose a kimono, complete the look with a simple hair arrangement, then join a tea master who will guide you through the careful preparation of matcha. After the ceremony, continue independently to Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of Kyoto’s most iconic Shinto shrines. Follow the path of vivid red torii gates as they wind up Mount Inari, each gate carrying the name and wish of its donor. Depending on your pace, the climb can take one to two hours, with rewarding views of Kyoto and the surrounding countryside along the way. In the evening, experience the grace of Kyoto’s performing arts with a geisha presentation at Gion Maikoya. Watch traditional dances by geiko and maiko, take photos and enjoy a light introduction to classic games and customs.

Travel by train to Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital, and meet your guide near Kintetsu-Nara Station. Your walk begins through a shopping arcade before reaching Kofuku-ji, one of the country’s oldest and most important temples, known for its striking five-story pagoda. Move on to Todai-ji, home to the Great Buddha, one of Japan’s most impressive bronze statues. From there, climb toward Nigatsu-do, a temple hall known for its elevated views over the city. Kasuga Taisha follows, with atmospheric paths lined by stone and bronze lanterns. After a vegetarian or vegan lunch at a local restaurant, spend time in Nara Park, where hundreds of friendly deer roam freely and are often happy to bow for a treat. Before returning to Kyoto, explore local craft shops and visit a traditional merchant house in Naramachi for a glimpse into life during the Edo period.

This morning, leave Kyoto for Osaka, a city with a bold personality, relaxed humor and one of Japan’s most beloved food scenes. After the short train ride, make your way to your hotel and prepare for a guided culinary walk through the city. Begin in Shinsekai, Osaka’s retro district, where your guide will introduce you to local stories, neighborhood character and a Shinto shrine. Beneath Tsutenkaku Tower, taste kushikatsu, the city’s beloved deep-fried skewers. Next, go through a narrow hidden food alley, pause at the intimate Hozen-ji Temple, then follow the bright signs and canal-side energy of Dotonbori. Along the way, sample Osaka favorites such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki while your guide shares the traditions, history, and local pride behind the city’s food culture.

This self guided day in Osaka starts with a visit to the imposing Osaka Castle. The castle is surrounded by large stone walls and beautiful gardens. The museum inside the castle shows artifacts and expositions about the castle and its history. On the upper floors you can enjoy the great views of the city. In the afternoon you will visit the famous Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street. This is a large shopping street with many boutiques, small shops with souvenirs and other goods as well as places to have a snack. Next to the Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street is the Kuromon Market. This market is filled with all kinds of fresh produce, including a lot of seafood. You can also eat the products at the stalls. In addition to the seafood you can also find stalls with for example grilled scallops, fresh fruit, mochi and many other local products to eat. In the evening you can visit the teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka. This is a unique park where nature and digital art come together in several installations. The light of the flowers, plants etc. is projected onto the objects and with the use of sensors the installations react to the movements of the visitors. A very special place to end this day in Osaka.

Your day begins with a return journey to Tokyo by train. After settling back into the capital, take part in a hands-on sushi-making class led by a skilled chef. Learn how to prepare seasoned sushi rice, slice fresh fish, and shape your own sushi rolls before sitting down to enjoy the creations you have made, paired with sake. It is a fun, practical way to bring Japan’s culinary traditions into your own hands. The rest of the day is free. You may continue the food theme at Tsukiji Outer Market, explore the waterfront district of Odaiba, visit the futuristic Miraikan Museum or pick up final souvenirs in one of Tokyo’s many shopping areas.

Your Itinerary’s last day allows for a very relaxed day in Tokyo for your family to explore as you please depending on your flight time. A very pleasant boat trip along the Sumida River is recommended. Here you can see old Tokyo and modern Tokyo along the way passing by Tokyo Skytree, Hamarikyu Gardens, Asahi Beer Hall to name a few. Upon the correct time, return to your hotel where you will meet your private driver for your transfer to the airport for your flight to your next destination. This was a fantastic vacation packed full of temples, the city lights, the beautiful mountains and loads of great food and many more fun and memorable things.