Family Tours

11 Day Family Package - Tokyo, Nagano and Kyoto

A variety-filled family adventure, with the fun and excitement in Tokyo, a chance to see the snow monkeys in rural Japan, and the fascinating culture of Kyoto. Travel Japan with ease on the high-speed bullet trains and discover the many wonders of Japan.

*inclusions shown in the bullet points - package does not include airfares

Day 01 - Tokyo

Welcome to Japan! Upon arrival at Narita International Airport, clear customs with your luggage and exit to the Arrivals Lobby.

Take the escalator downstairs to the train station and purchase a ticket on the spot for the Narita Express to travel to Tokyo Station. Within the Station take a location train one stop to Hatchobori Station.

Your accommodation at the Mimaru is a two minute walk.

Mimaru Hotels specialise in Family friendly hotels with a range of bedding options.

Stay: Mimaru Tokyo Station East - 1/4

Day 02 - Tokyo Tour

This morning board a JR Yamanote Line train from Shinagawa Station to Shinjuku Station. (21 mins) At Shinjuku Station, take the East Exit and follow the signs to a 2nd Exit named Kabuki Cho. The Hato Bus parking bay is located on the opposite side of the Studio Alta Building. Easy to navigate maps with photos and directions will be provided.

This is the meeting location for your 1-Day Tokyo Tour including lunch. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the tour's departure time and allow yourself plenty of time to find the pick-up spot.

At 09:10 you will be collected for your 1 Day Tour of Tokyo operated by Hato Bus with an English-speaking guide and transported by coach to the following sites:
Imperial Palace (Nijubashi Bridge) - Once home to Edo Castle, the centre of development of Edo-Tokyo, this is now where you can find the Imperial Palace
Asakusa Kannon Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street - Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, offers plenty to see including the bright red Kaminarimon Gate, a statue of the god of thunder, and a five-story pagoda. The bustling street known as "Nakamise" stretches for about 250m from Kaminarimon Gate to Senso-ji Temple and is filled with a variety of souvenir shops.

Your Tour will next drive past the Kabuki Theatre, Tokyo Station and the Ginza which is famous for upmarket boutiques and magnificent department stores.

(Lunch) at the Toshi Center Hotel

Visit Tokyo Tower and enjoy a panoramic view of the famous Tokyo skyline from the main observation platform.

Drive over the Rainbow bridge and past Odaiba and the Toyosu Market.
Visit the Hamarikyu Garden. Take a step into the magnificent Edo period garden (1603 - 1867) with a teahouse built to look as if it were floating on the water.
Your Tour will disband at Tokyo Station at around 5pm.

Stay: Mimaru Tokyo Station East - 2/4

Day 03 - Tokyo

Enjoy a fun, action-packed day at Tokyo Disneyland or at Tokyo DisneySea. *Please purchase your desired ticket via the Disney website. A range of tickets are available to purchase which includes Express Passes.

From Tokyo Station board a JR Keiyo Line train to Maihama Station. (15 mins)

Tokyo Disneyland's attractions include: World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Toontown & Tomorrowland.

Come nightfall, the fireworks display and Electrical Dreamlights Parade is well worth the wait should you have the energy to stay on.

Tokyo Disney Sea's attractions include: Mediterranean Harbour, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, Arabian Coast, Mermaid Lagoon and Mysterious Island.

Stay: Mimaru Tokyo Station East - 3/4

Day 04 - Tokyo

Continue your exploration of Tokyo with a trip to Odaiba - the huge amusement zone where you can enjoy shopping, delicious food, entertainment, and a view of Tokyo Bay simultaneously.

From Hamamatsucho Station board a JR Yamanote Line train to Shimbashi Station. (2 mins) At Shimbashi Station, using your Pasmo Card, board the Yurikamome Line unmanned monorail across the 918 metre span Rainbow Bridge to Daiba Station. (14 min)

Odaiba was built on reclaimed land in the Tokyo Bay in the southeast of Tokyo. This ultra-modern island is home to the Fuji TV Studio, Toyota Motor Company Showcase, Palette Town, Giant Ferris Wheel, the Museum of Maritime Science, Odaiba Marine Park, and the Sega Game Centre.

Visit teamLab Borderless at the Mori Building Digital Art Museum, which is located on the 2nd floor of Palette Town, next to the entrance of the ferris wheel. Described as art without boundaries, a museum without a map, 'Borderless' is a vast 10,000m2 space using 520 computers and 470 projectors to create a completely new world of light and illuminations. After the huge success of its mobile exhibitions, this permanent venue has been open since June 2018.

Stay: Mimaru Tokyo Station East - 4/4

Day 05 - Tokyo - Nagano

Today is the first day of your 7 Day Japan Rail Pass.

Check-out of your hotel and from lines and from Tokyo Station board a Kagayaki bullet train to Nagano. (90 mins)

Board your waiting courtesy vehicle provided by the Hotel Selan which will take you to the star attraction of Nagano - Zenkoji Temple. Founded over 1,400 years ago, Zenkoji has over 8 million visitors each year.

Your excursion will next take you to the famous snow monkeys of Yudanaka. Here you can marvel at these cute monkeys that bathe every day in the local volcanic bath which has made the area famous. Your courtesy bus will next take you to your accommodation at the Hotel Selan which is located on top of Mt Kosha which is a ski resort in winter but provides amazing views and fresh alpine. Here you can try their Japanese outdoor natural hot spring baths (private rooms available for hire).

*Your stay at the Hotel Selan includes dinner and breakfast daily

Stay: Hotel Selan - 1/2

Day 06 - Nagano

Relax and enjoy during your second day in beautiful Nagano. Take advantage of the wonderful Japanese public and private onsens at the Hotel Selan.

The Hotel Selan will be happy to transfer you to Obuse which is a small town famous for its arts and crafts. They will drop you off and pick up in the early afternoon. This gives you sufficient time to explore the town and choose a restaurant for lunch.

Should you like to do an outdoor activity... tennis, trekking and mount biking riding are options. Just have a chat to the staff at the Hotel Selan and they will look after you.

Stay: Hotel Selan - 2/2

Day 07 - Nagano - Kyoto

Check-out of the Hotel Selan and board the courtesy shuttle bus back to Nagano Station. From Nagano Station board a Kagayaki bullet train to Kanazawa Station. (66 mins) Change trains and board a Limited Express Thunderbird train to Kyoto Station. (120 mins)

Your accommodation at the Mimaru Kyoto Station is a two minute walk from the station.

After check in, commence exploring the sights of Japan's old capital. Use your Pasmo Cards to board a Subway Karasuma Line train 2 stops to Shijo Station for the busiest shopping district in Kyoto. There are a number of cafes, restaurants and shops to explore. Next, walk down to the Nishiki Food Market. (10 mins from Shijo Station) Here you can try various Japanese foods from traditional sweets to fresh seafood.

In the late afternoon walk towards Gion, Kyoto's famous entertainment district which is open until late at night. Gion is the one place in Japan where you may see Maiko or Geisha scampering between appointments. As darkness falls, watch the traditional lanterns gradually come to life as you wander down tiny alleys housing a variety of restaurants offering tempting cuisine.

Stay: Mimaru Kyoto Station - 1/4

Day 08 - Kyoto

Commence your exploration of the ancient city of Kyoto. Please make your way to the Sunrise Tours Desk (B1F) within the Avanti shopping complex and arrive 10 minutes prior to the official pick up time. Refer to your tour voucher and you will see the Avanti shopping complex is directly opposite the Hachijo East Exit of Kyoto Station. At 08:30am, you will be collected to join your Kyoto Morning Tour operated by Sunrise Tours.

Your English-speaking local guide will take you by bus to Nijo Castle, the Golden Pavilion, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace (except Mondays and Tuesdays following a public holiday). The tour will disband at the Kyoto Station with a likely return being around 1:30pm.

In the afternoon, from Kyoto Station bus terminal board a local bus #100 or #206 and get off at the Gojozaka bus stop. From the bus stop take the 10 minute walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple (6am - 6pm/ JPY 300).

Walk up this attractive winding road lined with colourful souvenir and craft shops. Kiyomizu-dera is famous for its giant wooden stage overlooking panoramic views of Kyoto and its main hall purely constructed of wood and sustained by huge columns and beams without the use of a single nail, screw or bolt.

Return to Kyoto Station in the late afternoon. Be sure to visit the Sky Plaza Observation Deck on top of Kyoto Station for a free panoramic view of the surrounding area of Kyoto. This modern station also contains a large shopping mall, including hotels, theatres, specialty shops, restaurants and event venues.

Stay: Mimaru Kyoto Station - 2/4

Day 09 - Kyoto

Next, from Kyoto Station, board a JR Nara Line train to Inari Station. (5 mins)

From Inari Station visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine which was featured in the film Memoirs of a Geisha. It is one of the oldest Shinto Shrines in Kyoto which is famous for its thousand red torii gates which lead up the mountain.

Return to Inari Station and board the JR Nara Line to Tofukuji Station. (2 mins) Tofukuji Temple is a 10 minute walk from the station and is home to the Hojo Gardens, one of the great Zen gardens of Japan. (08:30-16:00 - JPY400)

In the late morning, from Tofukuji Station board a JR Nara Line Rapid Service train to Nara Station. (50 min)

Upon your arrival at Nara Station, walk to the picturesque Nara Park where tame deer roam. At end of the park is the World Heritage listed Todaiji Temple, the world's largest wooden architecture housing the giant bronze Buddha that soars 16 metres in height. (JPY600/8:00am-4:30pm)

On the way back to Nara Station, stroll through the Nara Machi (town centre) an old precinct full of traditional houses, shops and tearooms.

Return to Kyoto in the late afternoon.

Stay: Mimaru Kyoto Station - 3/4

Day 10 - Kyoto - Hiroshima/Osaka - Kyoto

Take a day trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima. From Kyoto Station, we recommend you board the Hikari #491 bullet train at 07:20am which arrives in Hiroshima at 09:05. If you use this train you don't need to change trains at Shin-Osaka.

Commence your sightseeing of Hiroshima by boarding a tram to the Peace Park and visit the A Bomb Dome, Atomic Bomb Epicentre and the Memorial Peace Museum. Return to Hiroshima Station and after lunch take a trip to Miyajima Island - a very popular Island with foreign tourists who want to see the real Japan.

Board a local train from Hiroshima station to Miyajima Guchi Station. (25 min) Using your Japan Rail Pass, board the JR ferry to Miyajima Island which is famous for the Itsukushima Shrine whose long wooden corridors reach out into the sea. Miyajima is also famous for Mount Misen which is said to boast one of the three best panoramic views in Japan. Make sure you take the ropeway to the peak. Spend the day exploring the many walks, temples, shrines and gardens of Miyajima.

Make your way back to Hiroshima in the late afternoon. In the evening make sure you visit one of the okonomiyaki restaurants located within Hiroshima Station. Okonomiyaki is a layered noodle pancake which is a specialty dish of Hiroshima. Cooked on the hotplate in front of you, the contents may include chicken, pork or seafood. Okonomiyaki is a cheap and entertaining night's dinner.

To return to Kyoto, board the Sakura bullet train #568 at 19:51 which arrives in Shin-Osaka at 21:25. Within Shin Osaka Station board the Kodama #696 at 21:33 which arrives in Kyoto at 21:48.

OR

Take day trip to Osaka. Osaka is Japan's 2nd largest city and is famous for delicious food and bargain shopping. Osaka is only 30 minutes from Kyoto Station on the JR Special Rapid Service.

Osaka has a long history as one of the oldest seaports in Japan and has flourished as a window open to the culture and the goods of the Asian continent is known for its bargain shopping and delicious restaurants. For entertainment and shopping the Umeda and Namba districts have it all. Umeda, centred on Umeda Station, has a number of modern arcades which are always teaming with visitors and shoppers.

The Namba area boasts a 700-metre long arcade leading to the Dotombori River, a man-made canal completed in 1615. In the Edo Period, the area along the river was the city's amusement quarter where five theatres entertained the citizens. Today, theses theatres are still there, though transformed into cinemas and comedy halls. Dotombori is even busier at night glittering with colourful neon signs, extravagant restaurant decorations and alive with pop music.

Continue your exploration of Osaka with a visit to the city's most prominent symbol, Osaka Castle which was built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who succeeded in unifying the entire country in the 16th Century. The inside of the castle has been made into a museum which has a number of exhibits celebrating Japan's samurai history. A panoramic view of Osaka City can be seen from the observation deck on the 8th floor. The castle grounds now form a large tree-filled park. Only a 15 minute walk from Morinomiya Station on all lines or Tanimachi 4-chome Subway Station.

Stay: Mimaru Kyoto Station - 4/4

Day 11 - Kyoto - Airport

Check out of your accommodation and leave your luggage in storage at the porter's desk for your later return.

Spend your last morning in Kyoto completing any final sightseeing or shopping.

For those departing from Tokyo, board a Hikari bullet train from Kyoto to Shinagawa Station. (2.5 hrs) Within Shinagawa Station board the Narita Express Train to Narita Airport. (65 min)

For those departing from Osaka, board the direct Haruka train service from Kyoto Station to Kansai International Airport (80min).

*Please note all airport trains must be reserved in advance.

Be sure to check in for your scheduled flight at least 2 hours prior to its departure