Japan: slow cities and a ryokan
Tokyo, a ryokan in the hills, and Kyoto with mornings left open.
Japan · Family holidays
Japan for families
Tokyo, Kyoto and a ryokan night, with a guide who knows how to keep children interested.
Japan with children works better than parents expect. Trains are punctual and fun, the food is approachable, and the cities are safe to walk. The art is in pacing: one thing a day that is for the children and one that is for everyone.
Tell us the ages and how long you have. Twelve nights is right for a first trip.
Where we go
Four nights in Tokyo for the neighbourhoods, a baseball game or a sumo morning, and the teamLab museums; four in Kyoto in a machiya townhouse with room for everyone; a ryokan night in Hakone or the Alps for an onsen and a kaiseki dinner. A snow monkey or a ski add-on suits a winter trip.
How the week runs
A private guide for the first day in each city, then independent days with everything booked. Bullet trains between cities, with luggage forwarded so nobody carries bags. Evenings are early and dinner is chosen with the children in mind.
Who it suits and when
Families with children from about seven. Late March for the blossom and late October to November for the colour are the most beautiful and the busiest; May and early June are quieter.
- Best time
- Late March to April for blossom; October to November for colour. May, June, and September are quieter and still excellent.
- Suits
- Families with children of mixed ages · Grandparents travelling with the whole family · First long-haul trips with young children
- Also see
- Japan overview · Family holidays everywhere
Example journeys
Family holidays itineraries in Japan
Where to stay
Stays for family holidays in Japan
Kyoto machiya
A restored townhouse with a courtyard garden.
Hakone ryokan
A private onsen bath and a kaiseki dinner.
Good to know
Questions about family holidays in Japan
Will the children cope with the food?
Yes. Noodles, rice, grilled chicken and tempura are everywhere, and we choose restaurants that welcome families.
Is there a planning fee?
No. The first conversation and the proposal are free. You pay when you accept the plan.
Is this a live booking?
No. It is a starting point. A specialist writes a private proposal and availability is confirmed then.
Plan family holidays in Japan
A specialist replies personally with a first private proposal: stays, pacing, and a guide price. No obligation for the first conversation.