What Makes it Special?
- Learn to draw anime-style art in a hands-on manga workshop.
- Brave world-class rides in Jurassic Park and Hogwarts at Universal Studios Japan.
- Zoom past Mount Fuji on your first high-speed Shinkansen bullet train ride.
- Learn how to swing a samurai sword in a fun, interactive martial arts session.
- Kayak around Miyajima’s iconic floating torii gate.
- Feast on takoyaki and ramen in Osaka’s street food backstreets.
Your tailor-made holiday will be as unique as you are. These itineraries are just a starting point – a bit of inspiration to show what’s possible. Your own trip all starts with a conversation with one of our Japan experts, who’ll take the time to understand what matters most to you and design the perfect Japan holiday to match.
Keeping the whole family happy on a two-week break is never easy, but we’ve done the hard part for you by designing this well-balanced and exciting itinerary for your family holiday to Japan. With time to adventure through the modern skyscraper-filled cities of Tokyo and Osaka, and time to experience the traditional, slower and spiritual side of Japan in ancient Kyoto and the mystical island of Miyajima – this balanced Japan holiday has it all.
Ride the shinkansen bullet trains, learn about feudal samurai warriors and sneaky ninjas, kayak in the waters of the Seto Inland Sea – this is a Japan family holiday like no other. Top this off with visits to two of the world’s most exhilarating theme parks – Disney and Universal – and you’re sure to have an unforgettable journey that is enthralling, entertaining and memorable for everyone. Of course, every holiday we design is unique to you, so this itinerary is just to give you an idea of what might be possible on your family holiday in Japan.
14 hours from London
When to go
- High season: October to April, July to August
- Low season: May to June & September
Average temperature
- January: 0°C
- August: 30°C
Average rainfall
- December: 50mm/month
- June: 240mm/month
Itinerary at a Glance
Day by Day
Here's a summary of what you might get up to day-to-day on this Japan holiday. As always, this is just an idea. Every single day of your holiday will be tailored to suit you.
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Fly from the UK to Tokyo, the largest and most exciting city on Earth. Direct flights from London will get you here the following morning, so you'll have plenty of time on arrival to explore this incredible metropolis for yourselves.
Our friendly team will be there to meet you on arrival with all the tickets, documents and advice you need, before helping to get you to your first hotel. The rest of your day is free to find your feet and do as you choose, but we have some incredible evening tours and excursions to offer if you're keen to hit the ground running.
Feel free to have a lie-in today - it is a holiday, after all! Tokyo doesn't really get going until 10am, but there are plenty of beautiful parks and temples to explore before the city wakes up. This afternoon we'll organise an introduction to Manga for you; the quintessentially Japanese style of art made famous by comics, and on the screen in the form of Anime. You and your family will learn to draw the style for yourselves in this enjoyable workshop.
For the kids, and the big kids among you, today is all about Disney! The Disneyland park in Japan was the first outside of the USA, and it is somehow even more action-packed and enjoyable than its Western counterparts. You really would struggle to find a happier place on Earth. For something different, DisneySea - a second resort adjacent to Disneyland itself - offers even more rides, including some of the best adrenaline-pumping choices around.
Today is free to do as you wish, though we'd recommend getting out to explore some of Tokyo's most interesting neighbourhoods on a walking or cycling tour. If you want to take a journey to the future, TeamLab museum is an interactive and breath-taking experience that's sure to keep the whole family fascinated. For something more traditional, a visit to the bustling shopping streets and incense-filled alleyways of Asakusa is a must.
Enjoy the experience of your first Shinkansen, or bullet train, as you zoom down to Kyoto, one of the ancient capitals of Japan. This bustling modern city is packed to the rafters with shrines, temples and historical wonders. After arriving and checking into your hotel, head out to explore one of the many exciting neighbourhoods.
Today you'll get into the mindset of a samurai warrior, learning the graceful movements of these feudal-era nobles as you swing a sword like the best of them at a samurai workshop. The rest of your day is free to take in the sights of this ancient city – we recommend a trip to the picture-perfect bamboo groves and riverside temples of Arashiyama.
Learn some more traditional Japanese skills today with a ninja workshop. Get up close with the weapons and don the garb of these spies and assassins from Japan's past. The rest of the day is yours to check out some more of the attractions offered in Kyoto – whatever your interests (and family ages!), we can help you pack your afternoon full of experiences your whole family will love.
Jump back on the bullet train again as you head to the city of Hiroshima – a vibrant, modern city with a dark and sombre past. This afternoon you'll take a boat out to the island of Miyajima - a quick journey from the city centre - to kayak around the famous floating torii gate. The island itself is filled with friendly, semi-tame deer - take some time to join them on a wander round the historical streets.
This morning, you'll get to experience the key sights of Hiroshima on two wheels with an informative and energetic cycle tour of the city and its many green spaces. You'll learn about the tragic history of the atomic bomb that was dropped in 1945, but also, more cheerily, your guide will share their pride in the resilience of their city as it rebuilt itself into the vibrant place it is today.
Head back to the rails to the last stop-off of your Japan family holiday - the 'second city' of Japan, Osaka! This is the street food capital of the country, a modern urban landscape of neon lights and gloriously unhealthy snacks and treats. This evening we'll take you around one of the wonderfully busy neighbourhoods to eat your fill of great food, all while savouring the night-time bustle of this crazy city.
You'll want to set your alarms early today to maximise your time in Universal Studios Japan – a manic, sprawling theme park that really packs a punch. Check out the Jurassic Park rides, the unbelievable magic of Harry Potter World and enjoy some of the best roller coasters in Asia. Your whole family will be talking about this day for a long time to come!
This is your last full day in Osaka - and in Japan - so nothing has been planned for you. We'd definitely recommend a wander around the castle and its surrounding park, or to check out the world-class aquarium in Osaka Bay. If you would rather hit the shops, you'll find some of the best malls in the country around Umeda station, happy to rid you of your remaining Yen.
It's time for your family to say a fond farewell to Japan as your holiday comes to an end. Head back to Kansai airport for your flight back home. Our hope is that this amazing country will have made such an impact on your family that you'll be planning your next visit before you've even landed back in the UK.
Places you'll visit
We have hundreds of partner hotels across the world, with our tailor made trips you can pick from our range of beautiful hotels
What You're Saying
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A highly knowledgeable and professional company that looks after you and your particular needs from beginning to end. Japan was my third trip through them and their team in the office, Fenton in particular, their local guides and their on the ground back up staff were brilliant. Faultless is the one word that springs to mind and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Judith Young
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Emma planned our trip to Japan with us expertly. We explored Tohoku and had some wonderful guides. The travel, the hotels, and the advice and support we were given was just what we had hoped for. The adventure was truly memorable and totally enjoyable. A truly superb experience. Thank you!
David Price
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Just back from an amazing time in Japan. Fenton looked after us brilliantly during the initial discussions, all the way to checking-in once we were back to see if there were things that could have been improved. The key thing for us was that Fenton listened to us, and asked about the things that interested us and would make the holiday special. He was able to use his experience and knowledge to guide us - including tweaking some of our initial ideas that would not have worked. Then he crafted an itinerary that really delivered on the promises. Proper small business service levels - highly recommend.
RD
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Japan was our second trip arranged by Holiday Architects and like the first was a huge success, Emma helped us organise a wonderful three week itinerary, eight stops all connected by trains, Japans trains are a revelation and run perfectly. Everything from hotels, which were well located and comfortable, our well planned tours and excellent tour guides and Japan and the Japanese people made for a wonderful memorable trip.
Steve Ausden
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We recently returned from an incredible trip to Japan, arranged by Holiday Architects, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the start, Fenton was attentive and professional, sharing his personal experience and expertise about Japan. He took the time to understand what we wanted from our trip – combining cultural experiences, visits to historic buildings and serene gardens, and the excitement of bustling city life – and created a tailored itinerary that suited us perfectly.
Maggie and Mark
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I booked a holiday of a lifetime for myself and my daughter to Japan. Fenton at Holiday Architects organised everything to the finest detail. When we arrived in Tokyo, we were met by someone who had all our tickets prepared with full instructions on how to use them, where and when. Each hotel was chosen with us in mind, each within the vicinity of the main sights. Guided tours showed us the culture of Japan and its history. Fenton has great knowledge of the country, if you don’t. He can advise. Thank you Fenton!
Ian
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Emma planned and organised an amazing trip to Japan for myself and a friend, which was just what we wanted. The quality of her advice and the tours organised for us were first class. We would definitely use Holiday Architects again. Thank you.
Jill Carnie
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I could not have planned such a memorable adventure to Japan with my 19 year old son without Emma’s extensive and invaluable knowledge. She really listened to my brief, with the end result that we had a trip of a lifetime. We felt we were experiencing Race Across the World but in a good way and armed with all the information we needed. The App was brilliant which detailed our itinerary day by day including train times and local information. Excellent.
Cathy Stafford
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Holiday Gallery
Meet our Japan experts
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our experts Emma and Fenton are dedicated to all things Japan and are here to help you plan your perfect trip.
Emma Higgins
Destination Manager
A self-confessed ramen lover and hiking enthusiast, Emma fell hard for Japan’s food and lush countryside. She’s full of ideas for getting off the well-trodden trail and soaking up the quieter, greener side of this one-of-a-kind country.
Fenton
Destination Manager
Fenton’s passion for Japan runs deep, he’s studied the language, explored all corners of the country from Hokkaido to Kyushu, and even named his cat Kyoto. If you want an expert who lives and breathes the place, he’s your guy.
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