Japan is an amazing destination to visit, but as a typically time-poor family sometimes you want someone else to make all of the arrangements. In addition, the benefit of being escorted by a guide means that you don’t have to spend a lot of time learning how the system in Japan works (which can sometimes be difficult), so you can just relax and make the most of your holiday or vacation.
The good news is that a range of family holiday package tours are available to suit a wide range of budget, from cheap to luxury, and to suit the age of your children. I have put together this detailed article on how to find the right family tour to suit your needs and budget. Most Japan tours use the shinkansen or bullet trains to get around so you and your children won’t miss out on this speedy experience!
Best Japan Family Holiday Package Tour Options
A great option to find the right tour to Japan is to do some searching on Tour Radar – they offer a wide range of multi-day package tours for Japan, and after you click through, you can quickly filter the tour options to find the ones which will suit you best. They regularly offer great deals of up to 60% off package tours, so I suggest you sign up for their email list to receive those deals as they arise. Click here to check out the Japan tour options on Tour Radar.
Best Japan Family Holiday Packages for Older Teenagers
Different tour operators have a range of minimum ages for children to participate in their tours. Here are the best options for families with older teenagers aged from 15 years old. Note that all of the tours mentioned in the tweenager / younger teenager and young children sections are also suitable for this age group 🙂
Intrepid Cycle Japan Tour – 14 Days Small Group Tour
The Intrepid Cycle Japan Tour is a 14 day Original small group tour for ages 16 and above which visits Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa, the Noto Peninsula and Tokyo. This tour uses mostly Ryokan (8 nights) and hotel (5 nights) accommodation. This tour provides accommodation, a bicycle, support vehicle and train tickets and requires a good level of fitness to ride a bicycle between 35 – 65km each day. This tour includes many activities and 13 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners are included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Cycle Japan Tour.
Peregrine Explore Japan Tour – 12 Days Small Group Tour
The Peregrine Explore Japan is a 12 day small group tour for ages 15 and above which visits Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Takayama and Tokyo. This tour uses hotels for 9 nights and traditional Ryokens for 2 nights. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness to carry your own luggage and the ability to walk 10-15km on some days. This tour has many included activities and has 11 breakfasts and two dinners included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Peregrine Explore Japan Tour.
Intrepid Classic Japan Tour – 12 Days Small Group Tour
The Intrepid Classic Japan Tour is a 12 day Comfort small group tour for ages 15 and above which visits Kyoto, Mt Koyasan, Hiroshima, Tsumago, Matsumoto and Tokyo. This tour uses hotels and traditional Ryokans for 10 nights and a temple stay for one night. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness to carry your own luggage and the ability to walk up to 10 km on some days. This tour has many included activities and has 11 breakfasts and 2 dinners included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Classic Japan Tour.
Intrepid Real Food Adventure Tour – Japan Tour – 12 Day Small Group Tour
The Intrepid Real Food Adventure – Japan Tour is a 12 day original small group tour for ages 15 and above which visits Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Osaka, Mt Koyasan and Kyoto. This tour uses hotels for 6 nights, traditional Ryokans for 4 nights and a monastery for one night. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness and the ability to walk up to 10km on some days. This tour includes many food related and other activities and 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners are included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Real Food Adventure – Japan Tour.
Intrepid Japan Express Tour – 9 Day Small Group Budget Tour
The Intrepid Japan Express Tour is a 9 day Basix small group tour for ages 15 and above which visits Tokyo, Nikko and Kyoto. This tour uses mostly Ryokan and small guest house accommodation. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness to carry your own luggage and the ability to walk up to 10km on some days. This tour is structured to maximise your independent travel time with very few included activities and no meals included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Japan Express Tour.
Best Japan Family Holiday Packages for Tweenagers and Younger Teenagers
Different tour operators have a range of minimum ages for children to participate in their tours. Here are the best options for families with tweenagers and younger teenagers aged from 12 years old.
G Adventures Iconic Japan Tour – 12 Day Small Group Deluxe Tour
The G Adventures Iconic Japan is a 12 day National Geographic Journeys small group deluxe tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Tsumago, Kanazawa, Hiroshima and Kyoto. This tour uses higher quality hotels for 10 nights and a traditional Ryokan for one night. This tour includes accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness. This tour has a higher number of included activities and has 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Iconic Japan Tour.
G Adventures Sapporo Snow Festival and Japan Winter Highlights Tour – 13 Day Small Group Tour
The G Adventures Sapporo Snow Festival and Japan Winter Highlights Tour is a 13 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Shirakawa, Kanazawa, Kawayu, Osaka, Kyoto, then flies to Sapporo, Noboribetsu and Sapporo. This tour uses hotels for 9 nights, traditional inns for 2 nights and a farmhouse for 1 night. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets, the flight to Sapporo and requires a moderate level of fitness. This tour includes many activities and 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Sapporo Snow Festival and Japan Winter Highlights Tour.
G Adventures Japan Hike, Bike and Kayak Tour – 13 Day Small Group Adventure Tour
The G Adventures Japan Hike, Bike and Kayak Tour is a 13 day Active small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Osaka, Chikatsuyu, Katsuura, Wakayama, Kyoto, Onomichi, Ikuchi Jima, Matsuyama, Hiroshima and Tokyo. This tour uses hotels (9 nights) and traditional Ryokans (3 nights). This tour provides accommodation, a bicycle and kayaks and public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness. This tour includes many activities and 12 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Japan Hike, Bike and Kayak Tour.
G Adventures Discover Japan Tour – 14 Day Small Group Tour
The G Adventures Discover Japan Tour is a 14 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Takayama, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Mt Fuji region and then returns to Tokyo. This tour uses hotels for 9 nights and traditional Ryokens for 4 nights. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness. This tour has many included activities and has 2 breakfasts and one dinner included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Discover Japan Tour.
G Adventures Japan Winter Highlights Tour – 9 Day Small Group Tour
The G Adventures Japan Winter Highlights Tour is a 9 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Shirakawa, Kanazawa, Kawayu, Osaka and Kyoto. This tour uses hotels for 6 nights and traditional inns for 2 nights. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness. This tour includes many activities and 3 breakfasts and 2 dinners are included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Japan Winter Highlights Tour.
G Adventures Backroads of Japan Tour – 12 Day Small Group Tour
The G Adventures Backroads of Japan Tour is a 12 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Tokyo, Nagano, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kurashiki and Kyoto. This tour uses hotels and traditional Ryokens for 9 nights and traditional inns for 2 nights. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness. This tour has many included activities and has 1 breakfast and one dinner included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Backroads of Japan Tour.
G Adventure Japan Express Tour – 9 Day Small Group Tour
The G Adventure Japan Express Tour is a 9 day Classic small group tour for ages 12 and above which visits Osaka, Mt Koyasan, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Hakone/Mt Fuji Area and Tokyo. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness. This tour has many included activities and has 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners included. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the G Adventures Japan Express Tour.
Best Japan Family Holiday Packages for Younger Children
Different tour operators have a range of minimum ages for children to participate in their tours. Here are the best options for families with younger children aged from 5 years old.
Intrepid Japan Family Holiday Tour – 11 Day Small Group Tour
The Intrepid Japan Family Holiday Tour is an 11 day Original small group tour which visits Tokyo, Mt Fuji/Hakone Area and Kyoto. To participate children must be at least 5 years old. This tour uses hotels for 8 nights and traditional Ryokans for 2 nights. This tour provides accommodation, public transport tickets and requires a moderate level of fitness. This tour includes many activities and 10 breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner. Click here to check out the latest prices and availability for the Intrepid Japan Family Holiday Tour.
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Anne Sutherland-Smith is the creative force behind Pretraveller.com, a travel blog that specializes in offering insightful guidance for exploring Japan, South Korea, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Her passion for these diverse and dynamic regions shines through in her expert advice, particularly in helping travellers stay connected with the latest in SIM cards, pocket WiFi, and eSIMs.
With an unquenchable thirst for Asian and Oceanian cultures, Anne has carved out a niche as a knowledgeable guide for those venturing into the bustling streets of Tokyo, the historical alleys of Kyoto, the vibrant scenes of Seoul, the scenic landscapes of Australia, the vibrant markets of Hong Kong, or the futuristic cityscape of Singapore. Her articles are full of practical tips and detailed information, ensuring travellers are well-equipped for their journeys.
Anne’s approach is grounded in providing reliable, authoritative travel content that enhances the travel experience. From navigating the complexities of digital connectivity on the go to immersing in the local culture, her advice is designed to make travel both enjoyable and seamless.