Japan Highlights Family Holiday

Japan is best explored on foot and by public transport. You’ll need to be fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet and able to handle your luggage as you navigate busy train stations. We recommend comfortable shoes and packing light.

On this trip, you’ll spend a night in a local home. It’s a great taste of tradition and local life and you’ll sleep on the traditional tatami floor (futons and blankets on the floor mat), just like the locals do! The facilities here will be shared.

Room sizes in Japan may be smaller than you’re used to, and larger families may be provided two rooms due to limited availability of triple or quad share rooms.

1. These trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.

2. Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.

3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.

4. A single supplement is available to book for adults who would like to confirm a single room for themselves. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

5. It is essential that you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. Luggage size restrictions apply. Please review the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

6. We are currently unable to offer airport transfers in Japan. Please refer to the Joining Point Instructions of the Essential Trip Information for our recommendations on arrival. Your leader will be able to advise the best way to reach the airport at the end of your trip.

7. Accommodation in Japan can be difficult to secure at short notice. If you are travelling in Japan before or after your trip, we recommend requesting additional accomodation via your booking agent as soon as possible.

8. If your family would prefer a triple room please request one via your booking agent as soon as possible. They may not be available in all destinations. Where a triple room is not available, we will request a twin share room and a single room.

LUGGAGE IN JAPAN
On this trip you will need to carry your own luggage for up to 30 minutes at a time. Train stations are quite complex and usually require climbing a lot of stairs, especially when doing a quick transfer from train to train. Elevators aren't always available and cannot accommodate many people at a time, so if you bring a suitcase, please ensure you are able to lift and carry it up and down stairs yourself without difficulty. Our ryokans allow suitcases, but you'll need to carry it onto the tatami floor in the room, instead of wheeling it. A backpack is often preferred by travellers for these reasons.

We recommend that you keep your main luggage weight around 15kg and certainly no more than 20kg.

LUGGAGE SIZE RESTRICTIONS ON JAPANESE TRAINS
Luggage allowances for train travel are calculated by adding the length, width and height together. We recommend your main piece of luggage does not exceed 159cm.

Luggage between 160cm and 250cm requires pre-booking additional luggage space for an additional fee. This can be difficult to secure given how busy Japan's rail system is. Luggage over 251 cm will NOT be permitted on Shinkansen trains.

If you have oversize luggage you will need to use luggage forwarding services. Additional charges will apply. Please speak to your leader if you need to utilise this service.

Japanese trains don’t have large luggage racks for big suitcases so it's best to pack as light and small as possible so that you are not blocking aisles or taking up extra seats.

DAY PACK
A day pack for carrying essentials when exploring destinations, as well as for any shorter overnight stays, will be useful.

SEASONAL CLOTHING
Weather in Japan varies greatly between summer and winter so be sure to check whether you’ll need a beanie and thermals or light cotton layers during your visit.

PACKING LIST
Below is a link to our ultimate packing list, a guide to get you started:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. Some travellers like to bring a bottle with its own filtration system or water purification tablets. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip, you will need to carry at least 2 litres of water with you.

You will be expected to carry your own luggage, including while moving about busy public transport hubs to make tight connections, up stairs and escalators and on and off buses and trains. Although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage, you are expected to be able to walk and handle your own luggage for up to 30 minutes, sometimes at a fast pace and in crowds. Good general fitness and mobility will play a big part in making your trip more enjoyable. Japanese cities are best explored by foot and public transport, so be prepared for a lot of walking each day you are in a destination! Many travellers are surprised how much distance they end up covering each day just seeing the sights. Bring comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to spend most of the day on your feet.

These trips are setup to involve and include all the family so no real physical preparation is necessary. The trips all have some degree of physical activity but nothing that is too strenuous. Please check the physical rating on the trip notes and if you need further explanation please contact one of our sales consultants who will provide you with more detailed information.

Hotel Monterey Hanzomon, 23-1 Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0082, JAPAN, Phone: +81 335567111

Hotel Monterey Hanzomon is located in the heart of Tokyo, near the Hanzomon area. It is ideally situated close to Hanzomon Station (on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line), providing convenient access to major attractions like the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, and Chiyoda. It is a popular choice for both business and leisure travelers due to its central location and proximity to cultural landmarks and business districts. Although located in central Tokyo, the hotel is in a very quiet environment.

Alternate Joining Point

Japan has a very efficient public transport service and there are many ways to get from the two airports in the Tokyo region (Narita Airport or Haneda Airport) to your hotel. Narita is located approx. 65 km from Tokyo and taxi fares are expensive given the distance (around JPY25,000). Haneda Airport is closer to central Tokyo and a taxi fare will cost around JPY6,000-10,000.

Public Transport
If you prefer to make your own way to the hotel from Narita, there are various connections either by express train or limousine bus to Tokyo Station and then by taxi to Hotel Monterey Hanzomon. The airport information desks can provide helpful advice too. The most direct way is by JR Narita Express (approx. JPY3,000 and 60 mins) or Limousine Bus (approx. JPY1500 and 80 mins) to Tokyo Station and then by taxi.
If you're travelling from Haneda Airport, the most direct option is Limousine Bus to Tokyo City Air Terminal (T-CAT) (approx. JPY1000 and 40 mins) and then subway or taxi.
Please check the transport details on the hotel's website: https://www.hotelmonterey.co.jp/en/hanzomon/access/
If you're having any problems finding the hotel, ring the hotel directly (you can use one of Japan's green public phones with coins of JPY10 or JPY100). "

Agora Place Osaka Namba, 1-9-7 Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, JAPAN

Japan has a very efficient public transport service and there are many ways to get from your hotel to the two international airports in the Kansai region (Kansai International Airport (KIX) or Itami Airport). KIX is about 50km southwest of Osaka and Itami is about 12km northwest. Please talk with your leader or consult with the hotel's reception desk or check the hotel website for more transport details: https://agoraplace-namba.com/en/access/

Please note that we are not currently able to provide any shared shuttle bus service from your Osaka hotel to the two airports in Osaka.

Alternate Finish Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this finish point.
26 Sep 2025 (CJFS250926)
Osaka View Hotel Honmachi
4-5-2 Hommachi
Chuo-ku
Osaka
Osaka
541-0053
JAPAN
Phone: 06 62615111
For trips departing on the following dates
use this finish point.
21 Sep 2025 (CJFS250921)
28 Sep 2025 (CJFS250928)
05 Oct 2025 (CJFS251005)
Hotel Agora Regency Osaka Sakai
4-45-1 Ebisujima-cho
Sakai-ku
Sakai-shi
Osaka
Osaka
590-0985
JAPAN

Agora Place Osaka Namba is centrally located in the heart of Osaka, just a 3-minute walk from Namba Station on the subway line and Kintetsu line, and a 6-minute walk from the famous Kuromon Market. It's a convenient location for exploring the sights and entertainment districts of central Osaka.

Breakfasts included: 7

Lunches included: 2

Dinners included: 2

Most of our families find the diversity of Japanese food surprising. Trying different foods is great fun and an opportunity to understand a little about Japanese culture. Some of the different meals you can enjoy include: sushi, soba noodles, ramen noodles, monjaki and okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), takoyaki (ball-shaped Japanese fried snack – a bit like the Japanese equivalent of fish fingers), yakitori (skewered chicken). There are also great treats to try including green tea kit kats and ice-creams, pounded-rice desserts such as mochi and dango, and lots of types of sweet red bean cakes. Yum! For anyone in search of food for a picnic the majority of department stores have food halls (depachika) with an eyepopping selection of different types of food. Also, convenience stores (combini) are around nearly every corner and have snacks to tempt the fussiest eater. If in doubt and needing a little taste from home the Japanese chain Moss Burgers have great hamburgers, and in the major cities there are more western options such as pasta and pizza as well as great bakeries.

Breakfast in Japan
Some of our families are surprised by the traditional Japanese breakfast foods and the western variations that our accommodation provides. Rice or noodles with fish or meat are common breakfast foods in Japan. Typical western foods available generally include toast, eggs, tea and coffee, and sometimes cereals.

While travelling with us you and your family experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. Please ensure you tell them of any dietary requirements you and your family may have. We know children can be fussy eaters at times so we do recommend you bring any snacks from home to have throughout the trip.

To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you and your family to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.

PEAK TRAVEL TIMES
Please be aware that while travelling during major national holidays (late Apr to early May) and peak seasons in Japan (Apr-May/Sep–Oct) are fascinating and exciting times to travel, there are also some downsides. There will be huge crowds at most tourist attractions and on all public transport. It's common for there to be difficulties in securing train tickets at our usual preferred times, hotels become overbooked, traffic jams and changes to the itinerary without prior notice can be necessary. If you decide to travel during peak periods come with a sense of adventure and flexibility and we are sure that your experience will still be rewarding and memorable.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +81 70 1771 5588

GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS:
Family of two - All family groupings of two will be put into a twin room.
Family of three - Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in a handful of places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that, in practice, a triple room will often simply be a twin room with a mattress on the floor or a further bed squashed in. Where it is impossible to provide a triple room, you will have to decide which of your party takes the single room.
Family of four or more - You will most likely stay in two twin rooms. If and wherever possible we will aim put you in a quadruple room. Whilst we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over where you will be put. You need to come prepared for this.