Essential Japan Family Tour: Tokyo, Kyoto, Oksaka, and More

Zicasso's travel specialist and her team planned an absolutely outstanding 16-day trip for me and my family. We visited Tokyo, Ghibli Park (near Nagoya), Kanazawa, Kyoto (with day trips to Nara and Osaka), and then wrapped things up with two nights at a beautiful and luxurious ryokan in Hakone.

Communication leading up to the trip was clear and efficient, and whenever we had a question during the trip, we were able to get quick answers from our travel company's rep in Japan.

I would absolutely book another trip with this company.

From planning to execution, it was truly an exceptional trip. My husband, 17-year-old son, and I spent two weeks in Japan this June. We visited Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. We covered a lot of ground, but Zicasso's travel specialists made sure it was a stress-free experience, with activities for our varying interests. They really listened to what we wanted and provided a trip that exceeded even our high expectations.

I highly recommend planning a trip to Japan a year ahead. One of the highlights for us was a stay at our hotel in Osaka, with only 18 rooms, which made it hard to book. Favorite activities were knife making, the Osaka food tour, and the Nintendo Museum. We are glad we went in mid-June to avoid crowds and extreme heat. It was also easier to get into restaurants and shops that are otherwise packed.

Thank you to the tour operator and all the kind guides and drivers for two weeks of amazing memories.

Thank you to Zicasso’s travel agent for a trip of a lifetime. The guides and drivers took the trip to the next level. We loved the hotels and the tours! Everything went flawlessly, and we are grateful for all the advice we were given at the beginning of our conversations on where to go and what to do throughout Kyoto, Hakone, and Tokyo. We would highly recommend this travel company to anyone considering Japan.

Our mother-daughter trip to Japan was truly unforgettable and much of that was thanks to Zicasso’s travel company. From the very beginning, they listened carefully to our interests and designed an itinerary that felt completely personalized to us.

One of the things that impressed me most was how thoughtfully they incorporated our interests into the trip. I mentioned that my daughter loves animals and they built in experiences that became some of our favorite memories, including animal cafés in Tokyo, the bowing deer in Nara, and the monkey park in Arashiyama.

The hotel selections were outstanding. Every hotel was perfectly located, allowing us to easily explore the surrounding neighborhoods after a day of sightseeing and discover great restaurants and local gems. The highlight was our stay in Hakone at a traditional ryokan. Our room felt like something out of a movie—beautiful, serene, and almost dreamlike—with its own private onsen overlooking nature. It was one of the most memorable experiences of the entire trip. They also booked us into a luxury hotel in Tokyo for our final nights and its beautiful spa was the perfect place to relax and recharge before our flight home.

The guides they selected were exceptional. They tailored each day to our interests and provided wonderful local insights that we never would have discovered on our own. In Nara, on an especially hot day, our guide suggested a local shaved-ice shop, and it was pure bliss—a cool cloud of deliciousness when we needed it most. Our guide at Fushimi Inari seemed to know everyone and took us to hidden spots that most visitors never get to see.

The attention to detail throughout the trip was remarkable. One example that stands out is the train seating they reserved for us. We had luggage that was slightly larger than a standard carry-on and they managed to book the only seats in the train car with convenient baggage storage space. It made traveling between destinations so much easier and more comfortable.

They also arranged unique cultural experiences that became cherished memories. We participated in a calligraphy class at a beautiful Kyoto gallery with a knowledgeable and encouraging teacher, and we left with meaningful keepsakes we created ourselves. Another highlight was a Japanese home-cooking experience with a gracious local hostess who not only taught us traditional recipes, but also took us on a walk through her neighborhood and a beautiful local park. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience everyday life in Japan beyond the typical tourist attractions.

What sets this travel company apart is its ability to combine flawless logistics with authentic, meaningful experiences. Every detail was thoughtfully planned and every recommendation felt personal. They helped us experience not only the famous sights of Japan, but also the culture, hospitality, and local moments that made the trip truly special.

I would recommend this travel company without hesitation and would happily work with them for a future trip to Japan.

It was a fabulous trip overall, with one tour guide hiccup that I’m working on resolving, but in general, the trip was well organized and had pretty good tour guides throughout. We especially loved our e-bike ride in Kyoto and our spunky, energetic, and caring guide in Osaka.

We just came back from Japan about 2 weeks ago. The trip was good, but not great for the price we paid. Our first disappointment was with the hotel we were put up in Kyoto. How in the world is this place 5-star? After staying at our hotel in Tokyo, this place was a letdown, from the location, to the room size, to the room itself. For the price we paid for the trip, the hotel was not up to the mark.

Our second disappointment was with the guides. Although all of them were really good people, they were not the best guides. A lot of times they were actually telling us inaccurate things about certain places or were lacking in overall experience.

Also would like to mention that the travel company owner gave irritated and impatient responses when inquiring about a destination. In one instance, when I was asking whether we were going to a particular destination or not, her response was that if the destination was listed on the travel app, we were going, and if it was not listed, then we were not going. She was clearly irritated at my asking her. If she has a problem answering a few questions, then it is annoying.

Finally, we were sent to Hakone to stay a night in a very quiet mountain town. We are not quite mountain-town people. I wish more effort had been put into getting to know us better before deciding on the itinerary. An extra day in Tokyo or Kyoto would have been more enjoyable.