2025 Cherry Blossom Trip To Japan

Japan is the perfect holiday destination for kids. It’s colourful, fascinating, fast paced and safe. Plus it’s the home of Pokemon and anime and has a huge video game culture.

We’re taking a group of families on an epic 11-night trip to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, right in the middle of cherry blossom season.

Our trips are unstructured, with people choosing their own activities depending on budget and the needs of their individual kids. Everyone stays at the same hotels and every day there are opportunities to do group activities together, but families are able to spend as much or as little time with the group as they like and as much or as little money as they like.

Visiting Japan as a family is super fun, but visiting with a group of of families is even better. It’s an amazing opportunity for kids to gain a new perspective on the world, build independence and enjoy an experience on their own level with lots of new friends.

How much does it cost?

The price is $4655 for adults and $4350 for kids aged 5-17. Kids aged 4 and under are free. That’s an amazing price for cherry blossom season, which is by far the most magical time to visit Japan, but unfortunately also the most expensive.

You can secure your spot with a $400 per person deposit and the balance is due by 1 January 2025. We have a payment plan available.

  • This trip will start on 26 March and end on 6 April 2025

  • Our trips are designed specifically for families.

    We want kids to have the time of their lives and we want adults to have the kind of relaxing holiday that just isn’t possible if you’re stressed about entertaining the kids the whole time.

    You’ll travel with other families and a trip co-ordinator, who will suggest activities along the way, make sure everything runs smoothly and help the kids get to know each other.

    We also set up a private group chat for people who are going on the trip, so that everyone can get to know each other before it starts and share photos along the way.

  • If you have kids in your life and you’re keen to make amazing memories and show them the world - this is for you.

    Kids have more fun when they travel together and parents get to relax and enjoy their company, instead of constantly worrying about entertaining them.

    Most of the people who join our trips are homeschoolers, but families with school kids are very welcome too.

    Our trips are not the usual group tours. Everything is built around giving kids an opportunity to make friends, have amazing educational experiences and travel at their own pace.

    The day-to-day experience of our trips is also very different. We set up a private group chat to talk about options and get to know each other before we go. It’s perfect for a quick shout out to the group if you’re heading out to the market and want some company. If you want to spend time alone, that’s totally fine too.

  • As with all of our trips, you’re welcome to join in as much or as little as you like. It’s totally up to you.

    Everything is very flexible. We understand that some people love to be constantly on the go and surrounded by friends, and others need time to themselves and rest days to recharge.

    We just want everyone to have an amazing holiday, feel comfortable and have a memorable experience safe in the knowledge that they’re not alone if they need support.

  • Our trips are built around creating social connections and opportunities for growth, so kids with goals around social engagement and skill development may be able to claim some of the cost.

    Please contact us at info@boldgorilla.com.au to discuss NDIS funding in more detail.

  • The ticket price includes accommodation at premium hotels for 11 nights, tickets for the bullet train rides between Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, a group dinner at a local restaurant, tickets to the Samurai and Ninja Museum and a shuttle from the airport to the hotel when you arrive.

    You’ll travel with a group of families and a trip co-ordinator, who will make sure everything runs smoothly and all of the kids have lots of opportunities to bond and make friends.

    The trip co-ordinator will also let you know what tours and sights are available in each area and will suggest activities for the group to do together.

    Flights are not included.

Here’s what we have planned:

Days 1-5: Osaka

We’ll spend the first five nights of the trip in the heart of beautiful Osaka, visiting world-famous cherry blossom sites including Kema Sakuranomiya Park and Osaka Castle Park.

We’ll organise a shuttle to pick you up from the airport and have dinner together at a local restaurant, so the kids can meet their travel buddies.

There is so much to do in and around Osaka. You can take day trips to amazing locations, like the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Himeji Castle, visit Super Nintendo World or just wander around the streets and take in all the colour and atmosphere.

Days 6-8: Kyoto

On day six we’ll take the bullet train to Kyoto, where we’ll spend the next three nights in the middle of Old Town, with its amazing landscapes and fascinating history.

Kyoto has a much calmer vibe than Osaka or Tokyo and is a great place to see the cherry blossom.

The Samurai and Ninja Museum is always a big hit with kids, so we’ll spend a couple of hours there together, dressing up and throwing ninja stars.

Depending on your interests, you might also like to visit the wild deer at Nara, experience a tea ceremony or see monkeys at the bamboo forest.

Days 9-11: Tokyo

On day nine we’ll catch the bullet train to the most vibrant part of Tokyo - Shinjuku. We’ll stay right in the centre of town for three nights, so you’ll get the full experience.

There’s so much to do around Tokyo, depending on your interests. There’s Disneyland and Disney Sea, the Pokemon Centre, Hello Kitty Land, as well as otter, hedgehog and chinchilla cafes. There’s amazing cherry blossom, crazy museums, the Akihabara gaming district, Skytree and every kind of shop you could ever imagine.

It’s such a great city for making memories with your kids.

FAQs

  • Prices in Japan are similar to Australia, but food is cheaper.

    A good quality meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs around $15 and a 3-course meal at a mid-range restaurant costs around $50. You can grab a bento or noodles for lunch for less than $10.

    A Coke costs $1.50, a bottle of water costs $1.20 and a loaf of bread costs $2.10.

    Tickets for Disneyland and other big activities are expensive, but if you're on a budget you can skip those and still have an amazing time. Just being in Japan is cool and your kids will love wandering around looking at everything. There are lots of activities that are free or cost very little.

  • Tipping is not expected in Japan and is considered impolite in some places.

  • We’re visiting the most tourist-friendly parts of Japan, so many people speak English. Most of the signs and menus have English translations.

  • It's easy to find any kind of food in Japan. Good quality sandwiches and basic salads are available on every street corner, most restaurants have options like plain beef or chicken and there are lots of fast food places like McDonalds.

    No matter how fussy your kids are, you will be able to find food that they love.

  • Jetstar regularly runs sales on flights to Japan. They often have tickets available for less than $500 return. Jetstar releases tickets around 10 months in advance, so they will be available from around May 2024.

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