WAY OF THE NINJA

Your Japanese family holiday begins in the country’s iconic capital, Tokyo. A thrilling collision of the old and the new, Tokyo’s ancient temples, soaring neon-fronted skyscrapers and vast shopping and entertainment complexes offer something for all the family. Your home for three nights is the scenic Mandarin Oriental, a luxurious hotel in the heart of central Tokyo.

Explore the city at your leisure – the Meiji Shrine and Imperial Palace Gardens are well worth a visit, as is Tokyo’s old town, to see what life was like in centuries past at the places like the Shitamachi Museum. Continue on to Ameyoko, a bustling food market beneath the Yamanote train tracks. For budding anime fans, head to the brilliant Ghibli Museum, dedicated to the iconic animation and film studio of the same name or for the Kung Fu Panda-obsessed, walk around the Ueno Zoo to spot the black and white bears.

During your stay in Tokyo, you’ll be taken on a tour of Asakusa, the centre of the capital’s shitamachi (downtown or old town region). Here, walk past 7^th century Buddhist temples, impressive shrines and a variety of traditional stalls laden with local snacks – perfect for refuelling on.

Leaving Tokyo, you will take a short train journey to Hakone and then head to the beautiful Hoshinoya Fuji, considered Japan’s first glamping resort. Set in a dense red pine forest and overlooking the beautiful shores of Lake Kawaguchi, your family will have a glorious viewpoint of Mount Fuji. Wake up slowly with a lesson on how to brew the perfect cup of coffee or get up with the sun for an early morning yoga lesson.

Explore the slopes of Mount Fuji by walking with a guide through the Aokigahara Forest to the nearby lava caves, both of which are national treasures. We recommend taking the canoes out during the day to paddle the placid waters of Lake Kawaguchi and then following this with a horse ride through the surrounding woodlands.

In the evenings, huddle around the warming bonfire and make your own pizzas in the outdoor clay ovens under the chef’s supervision, and round off the day with some superb stargazing. 

Next, it’s on to Takayama, a ‘little Kyoto’ high up in the Japanese Alps where hillside shrines, ancient inns and temples make up the landscape and centuries-old traditions continue to thrive. The San-machi Suji district, home to Takayama merchants and sake brewers, has remained unchanged for 300 years, and the Hida Folk Village replicates traditional mountain life – both worth a trip.

Getting into the slower rhythm of the area, you’ll go on a cycling tour around the gorgeous farming village, through rice fields and ancient avenues, accompanied by an experienced guide. Return to your hotel, the beautiful Wanosato Ryokan, to dine on delicious fare underneath the lichen-covered thatched roof of the centuries-old historic building.

Japan’s one-time imperial capital, Kyoto is a treasure trove of ancient shrines and temples, and your time here will give you a taste of old-world Japan. A local guide will take you on a bicycle tour of Kyoto’s backstreets, cycling through the ancient districts of Miyagowacho and Gion and past traditional homes of the iconic Geisha – who you will still catch a glimpse of as they dash between appointments.

If your children are interested in wildlife, consider visiting nearby Nara, another of Japan’s ancient capitals, which is similarly full to the brim with charm and character. Particularly famous for the deer which roam its parks, Nara is also home to no fewer than eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among them Daibutsu – the Great Buddha statue – one of Japan’s most impressive sites.

Back in Kyoto, stop at the Imperial Palace Park with its beautiful gardens, marvel at the fantastic display of food and trinkets at the Nishiki Market, try to creep along the squeaky floorboards like a ninja in Nijo Castle and watch manta rays, sharks and colourful fish float above your head in the Kyoto Aquarium – all ideal activities for active families.

Your home for three nights in Kyoto is the traditional Hiiragiya, a luxurious base in the heart of the city with the atmosphere of a family-run inn.

After the quiet streets of Kyoto’s old town, you’ll be able to enjoy some urban buzz to end your trip, which finishes with two nights at the fashionable St Regis in Osaka, renowned as one of the food capitals of the world. An expert guide will give you a tour of Osaka’s eateries where you can sample some of the local dishes, including okonomiyaki pancakes and takoyaki octopus doughnuts, and you’ll soon share the Osakan ambition of ‘eating yourself into ruin’.

Most of your time in Osaka is free for you to use at your leisure – the kids will love Universal Studios, while Osaka’s aquarium is one of the largest in the world. There’s also the reconstructed Osaka Castle to explore, while Osaka is home to some of Japan’s most traditional theatrical arts, such as kabuki and bunraku.