9-Nights Journey Through Japan... A Family Adventure - Tauck Bridges Family Travel from $10,190

Day 1 Tokyo, Japan
Arrive Tokyo

Tour begins: 5:00 PM, Conrad Tokyo. A transfer is included from Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports to the Conrad Hilton hotel in the heart of the city's Shiodome district within walking distance of the famous Ginza district. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight as you meet your fellow family travelers in one of the world's most exciting cities.

Your day begins at lively Tsukiji Outer Market, a great place to hunt for foods made of fish and learn firsthand how to make sushi for lunch. This afternoon, visit Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, try your hand at the art of Taiko drumming, and enjoy the height of fashion for kids and teens on a walking tour of trendy Harajuku that tempts with sweets and bubble tea. Dinner tonight is at your hotel.

Begin with a visit to Tokyo's oldest temple - Asakusa Kannon (Senso-ji), founded in 645 and set against the striking silhouette of the Tokyo Skytree. Then, a rickshaw ride through the city offers a unique window into local life, before lunch at a local restaurant showcases the national sport of sumo wrestling on full display in front of you as you dine. In the afternoon, dive into the immersive worlds of teamLab Planets Tokyo - an award-winning digital art museum where you'll walk through water, bloom with flowers, and wander among stars in ever-changing exhibits. Wrap up with a bit of free time to explore the stylish streets of Ginza before enjoying the evening at your leisure.

Capable of traveling up to 200 miles per hour, Japan's famous bullet train is the fastest way to speed from place to place. Today, come aboard for a train ride to the hot springs town of Hakone in the Japanese countryside for an overnight stay. Enjoy lunch back at your hotel before heading to Lake Ashi, and have fun on a pirate boat cruise across picturesque Lake Ashi - weather permitting, enjoy views of Mount Fuji towering off in the distance. Back on land, embark by tram for a ride to Owakundani, a volcanic valley famous for its active sulphur vents and hot springs. Created 3,000 years ago following the explosion of the Hakone volcano, the valley is famous for its "kuro-tamago," a local variety of hard-boiled egg boiled in the mineral-rich hot springs causing the shells to turn black. Enjoy free time at your hotel before dinner tonight.

A visit to the outdoor sculpture park at the Open Air Museum precedes two bullet trains rides en route to your hotel in Hiroshima. Take in the sights like the locals do and find lunch in the food courts at the train station. Late this afternoon check into your hotel for the next two nights, the Hilton Hiroshima, ideally located in the center of the city. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.

Hiroshima is where the first atomic bomb was dropped in World War II creating unimaginable devastation. Today this important rebuilt city has become a beacon of hope and education towards abolishing nuclear weapons and promoting peace. Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park, home to many poignant memorials and monuments that chronicle the reality of that fateful event. For lunch, your family is in for a special treat as you learn to make okonomiyaki, a crepe-like pancake that is topped with a variety of meat, seafood, vegetables and cheese. Prepare it the way you like and enjoy a taste of this favorite Japanese treat. A short ferry ride this afternoon brings you to the island of Miyajima for a visit to the Itsukushima Shrine, known for its "floating" torii gate. Home to hundreds of free-roaming Sitka deer, the island is regarded as one of the most scenic spots in Japan. Ferry back to your hotel in Hiroshima where the evening is free to enjoy as you wish.

Speed to the enchanting city of Kyoto aboard a bullet train this morning, an experience in itself, arriving for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, your family will visit a place of spellbinding beauty, Nijo Castle; built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of the powerful first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). On a guided tour - shoes off - you'll listen closely as you walk the famous nightingale floors, designed to chirp underfoot and alert the shogun to approaching footsteps, a detail that never fails to capture young imaginations. Afterwards, you'll drive to HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO, set beside the castle grounds on the site of a former Edo-period estate. Thoughtfully designed and serene without feeling formal, the hotel is recognized as one of "The Best Hotels and Resorts in the World: The Gold List 2024" by Condé Nast Traveler. Take time to settle in, explore the peaceful courtyard spaces, and enjoy being together before dinner at the hotel at your leisure.

Home to more than 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, Kyoto is world-famous for its refined culture, dining, and charm of rural Japan. Explore its landmark sites today, including a locally guided visit to golden-topped Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, set in a garden on the edge of a lake, and a walk through Nishiki Market, rich with history and tradition and renowned for its famous foods and goods. Learn about the art of life in this enchanting city as you experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony and discover the finer points of calligraphy. Later this afternoon, explore the geisha district with a local guide on a Gion Walk - meandering past paper-lantern-lit alleyways, elegant wooden machiya townhouses, and hidden teahouses that preserve Kyoto's timeless traditions. Your evening is free to spend with your family as you wish.

After breakfast, visit the Buddhist temple Kiyomizu-dera for a locally guided tour. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temple was founded in 780 on the side of a steep, forested hillside overlooking the Otowa Waterfall. Its name, which translates as "pure water temple," comes from the clear streams that flow beneath the main hall. Tradition holds that each stream offers a different blessing - longevity, academic success, or good fortune in love - and choosing wisely is part of the fun. From the temple's expansive wooden deck, enjoy sweeping views across Kyoto. The afternoon is yours to enjoy together in Kyoto - perhaps wandering temple gardens, browsing a local market, visiting a samurai or railway museum, or relaxing in one of the city's peaceful parks. This evening, come together with the families who've shared your journey for a farewell reception and dinner, celebrating the adventures you've had, the moments you've shared, and the memories you'll take home together.