Family holidays to Japan

• The Imperial Palace, Tokyo
  The Chrysanthemum Throne is the world’s oldest living monarchy. A guided tour of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace is interesting, but the gardens are spectacular.
• Kaiyukan Aquarium, Osaka
  The world’s largest aquarium is just exactly as astounding as you’d expect.
• Meiji-jingu Shrine, Tokyo
  For such a relentlessly busy city, Tokyo has a surprising number of Shinto shrines, this is the largest and by far the loveliest.
• Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo
  Art in Life is the theme at Suntory and the collection of Japanese art and design ranges from 10th to 21st century.
• Mount Fuji, Central Japan
  There are dozens of different ways to experience Japan’s sacred mountain. You can stay in the national park, but it’s also less than two hours from Tokyo.

• Shinkansen Bullet Train
  The Shinkansen Bullet Train reaches top speeds of 320kmph, covers Japan and is the easiest way to travel. But it’s also a visitor attraction in its own right.
• Snow Monkey Park
  Every travel guide to Japan has images of the Jigokudani Snow Monkeys. The hot spring loving macaques can be seen in Jigokudani Park, north of Tokyo.
• Yokohama Minatomirai, Tokyo
  Tokyo Harbour is a must for everything from funfairs and zoos to fantastic restaurants and waterparks. It also looks stunning.
• National Museum of Emerging Science, Tokyo
  You can’t visit Tokyo without discussing technology, this is where to start the conversation with kids.
• Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto
  One of the oldest and most important shrines in Japan, Fushimi Inari is famous for its 10,000 red Torii gates.

Educational value for kids

• Finding the past in Tokyo isn’t as easy as you’d imagine. The city was almost entirely rebuilt after WWII and much of the history lost. But if you’re keen to explore era when Shogun ruled and Japan’s ancient rituals and traditions were born, visit Edo Wonderland. Just outside Tokyo, life in the Edo period’s reproduced flawlessly here, and it’s incredible.
• Koka Ninja Village is the place where kids can learn to be Ninja for the day. The lethal assassin aspect is left a bit vague, but the dress-up and skill building are great fun. An hour by train from Osaka with a park shuttle from Koka Station.
• Japanese children (and adults) are unfailingly polite, so it’s always a good idea to learn a few basic phrases, greetings and customs before you go on holiday.
• You have to visit at least one Shinto shrine in Japan, it’s a fascinating experience. But nowhere else has so many rituals to observe: even walking through a Torii Gate has to be done in a specific manner. Older kids and teenagers will enjoy learning the customs.

• Take teens to Takeshita-dōri in Tokyo. This legendary shopping district is where the Harajuku Girls were born and wannabes hang-out to drink Bubble Tea and buy ‘cos’. Incomprehensible to anyone over the age of 21, but teenagers love it. If you don’t do crowds, avoid Saturday afternoon.
• From cherry blossom to first snowfalls, there’s very little Japan doesn’t celebrate with charming festivals. Every city has several throughout the year, so get a guide and plan to see at least one – especially if there’s fire or fireworks involved.
• Find out what’s on at the National Art Centre in Tokyo. It’s the largest cultural space in Japan. There’s no permanent collection, but the year round programme of events, exhibition and performance is considered to be one of the best worldwide.

Getting around with kids in Japan

Air and rail is the way to go between provinces and cities in Japan. If you book international flights with a Japanese carrier, book domestic flights at the same time, it works out considerably cheaper. The national rail company, JR Network Transportation, has a wide range of inexpensive family rail passes for travel all over the country, they also operate the Shinkansen ‘Bullet Train’. City transport is universally excellent, so always avoid taxis, and use local buses, trains and underground services instead.