First time in Japan for a Family through Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka in 8 Days

After arrival at the airport in Tokyo your private driver transfers your family to your hotel. After checking into your hotel with your family, you can start your first Tokyo city walk after having a chance to freshen up. This self-guided city walk for families takes you to Tokyo Tower, one of the best known landmarks in the world and in Tokyo. The observation deck of Tokyo Tower gives you a feel for the size of Tokyo and on a clear day even the snow capped top of Mount Fuji is visible. After having seen the Tower, you then walk down to Harajuku to see bold fashion, to experience the very colorful street life, individual boutiques as well as shops that sell the most delicious Japanese treats that your kids can never get enough of. This is also a great walk for families with kids who are a bit older as there is plenty to see. After a fun-filled day in Tokyo, you then enjoy a dinner of local cuisine in Tokyo before retiring to your hotel for an early night.

This morning, meet your guide for an introduction to some of Tokyo's most meaningful cultural landmarks. Begin at Meiji Shrine, a peaceful Shinto sanctuary dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Set within a forested area of walking paths and gardens, it offers a gentle introduction to Japanese spiritual traditions. Continue to Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest and most important Buddhist temple, where the atmosphere is lively, colorful and engaging for all ages. Visit the main hall, try an omikuji paper fortune and stroll along Nakamise-dori, a festive shopping street filled with souvenirs, snacks and small local finds. The day ends with a memorable rickshaw ride through historic streets and lively neighborhoods. As your rickshaw puller shares stories about the district, you will pass old shops, modern towers and charming corners of Tokyo that feel especially vivid from this open-air perspective.

Today is a fantastic day for families with children of all ages, who love fantasy, films, imagination and pop culture from Japan. You start your day with a visit to the Ghibli Museum, a unique museum, dedicated to the works of Studio Ghibli and its founder Hayao Miyazaki. The movies of this studio are full of imagination and bring you to wonderful worlds. The permanent exhibition is an amazing immersion in the world of My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. Interactive exhibitions, staircases, doors and many other details will make you feel as if you are in the movies. On the top of the museum there is a beautiful roof top garden with a wonderful view of Inokashira Park. After visiting the Ghibli Museum you will go to the biggest Pokemon store in Japan, the Pokemon Center TOKYO DX. You can find everything about Pokemon here: plush toys, trading cards, fans, sweets and many more items. In the afternoon you will go to Akihabara, the heart of anime and manga in Tokyo. This is also the place for gamers, for electronics, for arcades, for theme cafes and for everything that is pop culture in Japan. You can take pictures with costumed characters, you can find all kinds of goods in the many shops and you can experience the unique atmosphere of this area with its neon lights and fast pace of life. A great day to see the more playful side of Tokyo.

Leave Tokyo this morning with your guide for the Mount Fuji region, where Japan's most iconic mountain takes center stage. Known locally as Fuji-san, this sacred peak rises to 3,776 meters and has inspired pilgrims, artists, poets and travelers for centuries. Begin with a scenic cruise on Lake Kawaguchiko, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, where the mountain can reflect beautifully across the water on clear days. Continue to the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, where a glass-windowed cabin carries you up to a viewpoint with sweeping vistas over the lake, countryside and surrounding peaks. The final stop is Arakurayama Sengen Park, known for its postcard-like view of Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji beyond. Children can stretch their legs on the climb, and in spring, cherry blossoms add extra beauty to the scene. Later, continue by train to Kyoto, Japan's cultural heart, where your driver will meet you and take you to your hotel.

Today’s schedule is all about exploring Kyoto with your family. You start the day with a visit to the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, a temple surrounded by a beautiful garden. Just next to the temple of the Golden Pavilion there is the Nijo Castle, the former residence of the first shogun of the Edo period, Ieyasu. The castle as well as the beautiful garden are a great place to start to learn about the history of Japan and the traditions of the samurai. In the afternoon you will walk around the famous geisha district of Gion. In this district there are many wooden houses, many stone lanes and there are many teahouses, galleries and shops to visit, such as shops where you can find kimonos and other objects typical of Japan. In the late afternoon you will visit a tea room where you will participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. During this ceremony you will learn everything about matcha, the traditional Japanese sweets, that can be eaten during the ceremony, and the gestures of it. Late in the afternoon you will visit the Samurai Ninja Museum. In this museum you will be able to wear samurai armor and you will learn about the life of a samurai in the past as well as about the secret agents called ninjas. There will be many photo opportunities that you will be able to share with your friends and family back home.

Travel with your guide to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital and one of the country's most rewarding family day trips. The city is known for its ancient temples, peaceful parkland and friendly free-roaming deer, which have become a beloved symbol of the area. Visit Todai-ji, home to the Great Buddha, one of Japan's most impressive cultural treasures. Around Nara Park, children will especially enjoy meeting the deer, many of which bow their heads in anticipation of special deer crackers. Walking trails and green spaces add a gentle outdoor rhythm to the day. After your visit, continue to Osaka, a lively port city celebrated for bold flavors, glowing signs and a relaxed local spirit. Once settled at your hotel, head to Dotonbori for an evening of street food and lights. Try takoyaki, grilled crab, taiyaki or other local favorites as the canal, arcades, restaurants and neon signs bring Osaka's energy to life.

For your last day in Japan we have planned a fun packed day of great family activities to take place in the heart of Osaka. The first stop is to experience one of Japan’s most famous landmarks, Osaka Castle. The castle itself contains a series of exhibitions which give detailed information of the many battles that took place at the castle as well as the following centuries where Japan was involved in warfare. The beautifully maintained gardens are also not to be missed as they give a wonderful setting to return to after exploring the inside of the castle and also provide many great photo opportunities of the impressive castle from all angles. Next you head to the Umeda Sky Building which from its higher floor provides the most breathtaking views of the Osaka skyline. As adults you can admire the buildings and take notice of all the different styles from around the world, whereas the children will be entertained watching the tiny streets and all the movements below. After lunch you visit the world famous Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan which contains a huge central tank that is home to many fish, rays and even a massive Whale Shark as well as a variety of colorful tropical species from all corners of the globe. The aquarium is one of the best in Japan and is great for all ages to see the underwater world up close. Last but not least you will experience the Tempozan Ferris Wheel which gives great views of the harbor and city when the lights start to change to that of night time, hopefully around sunset time.

After breakfast, enjoy a little time for last-minute packing, souvenir shopping or a quiet final stroll near your hotel. At the arranged time, your private driver will meet your family and transfer you to the airport for your flight home. This may be the end of the journey, but your first family taste of Japan will leave you with vivid memories: Tokyo's neon and shrines, Mount Fuji's mountain views, Kyoto's traditions, Nara's deer and Osaka's joyful food and skyline.