100% customisable travel idea
Mangamania, ninjas and Ghibli magic Japan through the eyes of a child
Japan - Tokyo - Japanese Alps - Nagoya - Kyoto
100% customisable travel idea
Japan - Tokyo - Japanese Alps - Nagoya - Kyoto
100% customisable for you
Night on board, arrival the next day.
Customised welcome at the airport by our local representative, then transfer with them to your city centre accommodation. Four-night stay in an aparthotel in the Taito ward. The property is modern - in both aesthetic and intent. The former reflects that Japanese taste for simplicity and clean lines; the latter, a fondness for up to date tech. Your apartment includes a lounge, a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom and, above all, two bedrooms with Japanese-Western beds. Everyone gets their own space - practical, efficient and genuinely comfortable. The whole family quickly slips into the rhythm of everyday life in Japan.
Traditional lanes haunted by the spirit of the samurai, avant-garde districts where skyscrapers brush the clouds: Tokyo didn’t earn its title of “Capital of the East” by chance. Behind this striking duality, you’ll take time - together - to explore its nuances and discover a city of contradictions.
In your itinerary: Tokyo, manga-focused, in the footsteps of a local. Originally from France, your guide for the day has lived in the Land of the Rising Sun for several years and knows the Japanese capital - his adopted city - like the back of his hand. Warm, enthusiastic and highly engaging, he has a keen eye and an easy way with words. Exploring the city with him is interactive and easy, shaped by stories that stay with you long after your tour. Bonus: a whole section of the visit is devoted to manga, Japan’s famous comic-book art. Your guide shares his secrets before leading you - like a pilgrimage - to several places across the metropolis that inspired creators that are locally revered, almost like demi-gods.
Your event of the day - Introduction to the secrets of a ninja. Both spies, assassins and scouts, these elusive warriors captivate with their infiltration techniques, discipline and formidable weapons. This immersive workshop (in private) is led by a true descendant of the Shinobi, their traditional name. After an introduction to Ninjutsu (an ancestral martial art blending strategy, discretion and self-mastery), you’ll try the basics - silent movement, stances and handling traditional objects - before concluding with a meditation session designed to reconnect body and mind.
Optional - The TeamLab Planets interactive exhibition.
Tokyo Already included - Your tickets for Shibuya Sky, the observatory atop Scramble Square. This open-air rooftop rises to 751 ft (229 metres), offering an incredible panorama over the capital - including the famous Shibuya crossing, one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world. On a clear day, you may even catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance!
See and do - Admire the style of Shinjuku’s punks, Harajuku’s lolitas, and the hipsters of Naka-Meguro; get the family up a little earlier to cross through the Tsukiji fish market; grab sushi from the conveyor belts; let the kids drag you into a purikura photo booth for a family manga-style portrait; slurp ramen noodles noisily in a street-side eatery; admire the city from the 51st floor of Tokyo City View; stroll through the garden of the Meiji-jingu Shinto shrine; spending under control during a shopping session in Omotesando; sink into a sofa surrounded by dozens of cats in a Neko cafe; belt out a tune in a Shibuya karaoke booth.
Travel to Matsumoto aboard the Shinkansen, Japan’s bullet train. Settle in for the night in the shadow of the famous castle. Founded in 1887, your accommodation stands as one of the oldest in town. Inside, the aesthetic is carefully composed, blending Western elements with handcrafted furniture. Your room, for its part, is typically Japanese, with tatami mats and sliding panels. The hotel also has an onsen, Japan's traditional steaming baths. It's highly likely your children have seen them in their favourite anime (Japanese animated films) and will be eager to try.
See and do - Visit the illustrious Matsumoto-jo, one of Japan’s most beautiful castles, nicknamed the “Crow” for its dark tiers stacked one upon another. Built in the 16th century, during the time of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the building has earned its place on Japan’s list of national treasures. A military stronghold, economic hub and administrative centre, it perfectly reflects the singular role these fortresses played in feudal Japan.
Bus transfer to Takayama - a great opportunity to travel like the locals. On arrival in the Japanese Alps, check in for a one-night stay just a stone’s throw from the station and Kokubunji Temple. A true ryokan at heart, it pairs tradition with a contemporary touch - introduced with confidence and restraint. There’s no television, of course, and no Wi-Fi, but the essentials of travel in Japan are all here, from traditional furniture to attentive service and hot-spring bathing. All of it framed by a wooden structure washed in soft, subdued light. It's immersive - and impressive too.
See and do - Make the most of an early start to wander the morning market at dawn; explore the splendid Kusakabe Mingei-kan house and the temples of Higashiyama Teramachi; step into the reconstructed traditional homes of the excellent open-air Hida Folk Village museum; lose yourself in the picturesque streets of San-machi Suji; escape to the pretty little town of Furukawa, 15 minutes by train; and attend a mechanical puppet performance.
Optional - A private introduction to Takayama regional specialities.
Train to Nagoya and check-in for two nights at a contemporary, stylish and comfortable hotel, ideally located in the city centre. The spaces are bright and open, both pared-back and welcoming. We love the simplicity of the design and the neutrality of the colours. The modern guest rooms echo this same harmony, with the addition of a few bohemian touches, such as tie-dyefabrics. Your room is cleverly laid out to accommodate four beds without making it feel cramped. In the restaurant, a varied international menu caters to all tastes. The cafe, meanwhile, serves everything from afternoon tea to cocktails.
In your itinerary - A day at Ghibli Park, around 20 miles (30 km) from Nagoya. Who hasn’t heard of Hayao Miyazaki, the iconic director behind internationally acclaimed Japanese animated films? Castle in the Sky (1986), My Neighbour Totoro (1988), Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), Porco Rosso (1992), Princess Mononoke (1997), Spirited Away (2001), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), Ponyo (2008)... It's not about white-knuckle rides, but colourful and imaginative recreations of elements taken from the films, from giant plants to fantastical towers, whimsical houses, and more. Hugely popular, tickets are hard to secure - but don't worry, we take care of that for you! Spread over 17 acres (7 hectares), you’ll have the whole day to explore the site and capture all the memories.
Train to Kyoto. With its thousands of Buddhist temples and hundreds of Shinto shrines, the city is the venerable guardian of Japan’s millennia-old traditions. And the people of Kyoto perpetuate them beautifully - in their gardens, through the tea ceremony, in the kitchen, or through Japanese hospitality known as omotenashi. There’s a serene atmosphere in the city, and in the bamboo groves and forests around it. You only have to lose yourself in the paths of Ryoan-ji’s rock garden or along the banks of the Kamo River to feel it.
Stay for three nights in the centre in a machiya. More than twelve centuries old, these traditional two-storey wooden townhouses once belonged to merchants and craftspeople. Renovated to welcome visitors, they remain an integral part of Kyoto’s traditional urban landscape. A small garden is usually tucked away somewhere - behind a partition or sliding door.
Already included - Private tour of the Kyoto International Manga Museum. As a manga specialist, translator, editorial coordinator and exhibition curator for France's largest comic book festival, one thing is for sure: your guide today knows their subject. Together, you’ll explore a museum that Japan quite logically dedicated to what is considered its ninth art: manga. Housed in a former primary school, the site holds no fewer than 300,000 works, mostly in Japanese (so your guide will definitely come in handy).
Optional - Introduction to origami; sword performance.
See and do - Take an early morning walk along the Philosopher’s Path; visit the Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji); wander through the old residential areas; admire the lines of the machiya in the Gion district; shop for tea at Ippo-cho and tofu at Iriyama-Tofu; attend an ikebana flower-arranging ceremony; meditate in the rock garden at Ryoan-ji; immerse yourself in the enchanting world of an odori dance performance led by geisha at the Minami-za Theatre; experience the authenticity of a traditional tea ceremony; dine on the terrace of a riverside kawadoko.
Other experiences to consider - A night in the Kyoto countryside.
Bus transfer to Osaka Airport and international return flight. Night on board, arrival the next day.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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