Where ancient temples meet futuristic cities...
Experience the magic of Japan on this unforgettable World School Camp designed just for adventurous families and curious kids. From the neon buzz of Tokyo to Kyoto’s golden temples and Osaka’s famous street food—this journey blends education, exploration, and friendship in all the best ways.
This semi-guided itinerary gives you the perfect mix of structure and flexibility. We take care of the logistics while you dive deep into Japan’s rich culture, history, and hands-on learning opportunities—alongside a community of likeminded families.
Highlights:
✨ Discover Tokyo’s vibrant neighbourhoods, shrines, and sky-high views
🗻 Optional day trip to Mount Fuji (encouraged for all families!)
🏯 Ride the bullet train to ancient Kyoto and explore UNESCO temples
🍜 Taste your way through Osaka’s street food scene
🎎 Kids make friends, explore Japanese culture, and learn through real-life adventures
🤝 Built-in free time, with Dream Big support to customise your experience
👨👩👧👦 Travel with other homeschooling/worldschooling families
Who is this trip for?
This camp is perfect for homeschooling families, worldschoolers, and curious kids. Whether it's your first time in Asia or you're returning for more, Japan offers a safe, exciting, and deeply enriching experience for all ages.
What’s Included:
✔️ Airport welcome & guided transfers
✔️ Semi-guided itinerary across 3 major cities
✔️ Accommodation, transport, entry fees for key experiences
✔️ Osaka Castle entry + Tokyo & Kyoto highlights tours
✔️ Support from Dream Big Travels before and during your trip
✔️ A community of likeminded families to travel alongside
Opportunities to join optional group activities and excursions will be priced according to group interests and added to your itinerary.
Extend Your Stay
Not ready to leave? Families can add up to 3 extra nights after the tour to continue exploring at their own pace—with our help arranging accommodation and activity suggestions (hello, Universal Studios!).
🌟 Join the Waitlist
We’re currently finalising group rates, but here’s what to expect:
Estimated Price Per Person:
Including International Flights From $3,899 AUD
(All prices can be adjusted to support International Campers wishing to join. Land Only prices may be more expensive due to airfare and hotel bundling)
Spaces will be limited.
Register your interest today and be first in line when bookings open.
Get ready for an unforgettable adventure! Wander through Tokyo’s coolest neighborhoods, step into the storybook streets of Kyoto’s Geisha district, and be wowed by the bright lights and futuristic fun of Osaka.
-
Your Japan journey kicks off in vibrant Tokyo! Explore the colourful streets of Harajuku, step back in time at historic Asakusa, and take in jaw-dropping views from the Skytree tower. Then hop aboard a lightning-fast bullet train to Kyoto, where you’ll discover the shimmering Golden Pavilion and taste your way through local treats and traditional Japanese taverns. Finally, wrap up in exciting Osaka—a city where ancient traditions and futuristic fun come together in the coolest ways!
-
Pack your bags and head to the airport—it’s finally time to fly to Japan! You'll board your big international flight and get cozy for an overnight adventure in the sky. Dream of cherry blossoms, ninja legends, and Tokyo skyscrapers as you sleep your way toward an unforgettable journey.
✈️ Psst: If your flight leaves super early (before 4:00 a.m.), you might need to be at the airport the night before. -
Touch down in Japan—you're in Tokyo, one of the coolest cities in the world! A friendly local guide will meet you at the airport to hand over your travel pack and help you get to your hotel like a real Tokyo local (yes, on public transport!). Once you’ve checked in, it’s time to start exploring. Maybe you’ll spot a towering robot, a quiet temple, or try your very first bowl of real Japanese ramen!
🌆 Tokyo is full of surprises—where the future and the past live side by side.
Overnight in Tokyo. -
Rise and shine—it’s time for your first big day out in Tokyo! Meet your guide near the famous LOVE statue in Shinjuku, then hop aboard the bus for a full day of exploring.
🛐 First stop: Harajuku & Meiji Shrine, hidden in a magical forest right in the middle of the city. This peaceful Shinto shrine is one of Japan’s most beloved, dedicated to an emperor and empress from long ago.
🏯 Next, cruise past the Imperial Palace and head to Asakusa, where you’ll walk through giant red gates, explore the colorful Nakamise shopping street, and visit the ancient Senso-ji Temple—watch out for the dragon statues!
🍵 Then, try some yummy matcha (green tea) and enjoy a delicious Japanese-style lunch.
🌇 After lunch, ride up to the top of the Tokyo Skytree and take in the views from one of the tallest towers in the world!
🚤 To finish your day, glide across Tokyo Bay on a river cruise to the futuristic island of Odaiba, where your bus will take you back to your hotel.
🌙 Overnight in Tokyo.
🕗 Heads up, adventurers! Be ready to leave your hotel early to meet at 7:50 a.m. The bus won't wait—so set those alarms!
-
Today you have the option to explore Tokyo independently with your family OR join in the group activity which is a day trip to Mount Fuji.
🎌 The optional day trip to Mount Fuji & Hakone—trust us, will be unforgettable!
🚌 Start by making your way to Shinjuku by 7:45 a.m. to hop on the tour bus. You’ll drive up the slopes of Mount Fuji to the Fifth Station, 2,000 meters high in the clouds! (If weather stops us from reaching it, don’t worry—we’ll visit the beautiful Fuji Sengen Shrine instead.)
🎁 Stop to check out quirky souvenir shops where real climbers begin their journey to the top.
🍱 Then tuck into lunch in a ninja village (yep, you read that right!).
🌋 After lunch, visit the wild and steamy Owakudani Valley, nicknamed “The Valley of Hell” for its bubbling sulphur pits. Try one of the famous black eggs—they say eating one gives you seven extra years of life!
🚠 End the day with a scenic cable car ride and a boat cruise on Lake Ashi, where you can spot Mount Fuji from the water.
Return to Tokyo by bus and spend the night dreaming of volcanoes and ninja eggs.
🌙 Overnight in Tokyo.🔔 Heads up! Weather and traffic may shuffle things around a bit—but there’s always something amazing in store!
PLEASE NOTE: While the Mount Fuji day trip is an optional add-on, we highly encourage all world-school campers and their families to join!
This unforgettable excursion is a key highlight of the trip—a chance to share an epic day of adventure, learning, and connection with fellow families. It’s a memory-maker you won’t want to miss. -
Today is all yours—pick your own Tokyo adventure! Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or an anime superfan, there’s something exciting waiting for you.
🎮 Into anime, manga, video games, and gadgets? Akihabara is your dream playground!
🛍️ Prefer fashion, snacks, and iconic photo spots? Head to Shibuya, grab a treat, and snap a pic at the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing (yes, it’s just as cool as it looks!).
🍜 Foodie in the family? There are delicious discoveries around every corner—think sushi, crepes, ramen, or even rainbow cotton candy!
💡 This is a great day to buddy up with another family on the tour who shares your interests and go exploring together!
✨ Dream Big Travels will suggest and help plan optional experiences for this free day—past favourites have included:
A thrilling Sumo wrestling experience
Learn ancient skills at a samurai sword workshop
Explore creativity and science at Planet Lab
Join a street food tour or take part in a traditional cooking class
(Experiences are optional and subject to availability—but we’ll do our best to make it happen!)
📱 Or, keep it simple: grab your Google Maps, wander Tokyo’s fascinating streets, and soak in the sights, sounds, and culture of this incredibly unique capital city at your own pace.
🌙 Overnight in Tokyo.
🧭 Kid Tip: Keep track of the wildest, weirdest, or most wonderful things you see today—Tokyo is full of surprises!6th Day: Zoom to Kyoto on the Bullet Train!
-
All aboard the Shinkansen—Japan’s famous bullet train! 🚄 This morning, your guide will help you navigate the Tokyo train station like a local as you get ready to board the legendary shinkansen (bullet train). Around 11:45 a.m., you’ll zoom through the countryside at incredible speeds—keep an eye out the window for mountains, rice fields, and maybe even a glimpse of Mt. Fuji!
🚄 Your guide won’t ride with you, but no worries—another friendly face will meet you when you arrive in Kyoto!
Once you reach this historic and peaceful city, your new guide will help you settle into the hotel. Then it’s time to explore!
🏯 Kyoto is known for its golden temples, quiet alleyways, paper lanterns, and delicious street food. In the evening, wander at your own pace—or team up with other families from the group to find a local izakaya (Japanese tavern) and try tasty specialties like fried tofu, yuba, or whatever catches your eye on the menu.
🌙 Overnight in Kyoto.
🍱 Kid Idea: Try something totally new—and bonus points if you can’t pronounce it until your third bite! 😄
-
Get ready for a magical day exploring the best of Kyoto on a full-day bus tour with your guide!
⛩️ First stop: Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of bright red torii gates that form winding paths through the forest. It’s like walking through a real-life tunnel of wishes!
🛕 Then head to Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, a wooden masterpiece with stunning views, where people have made wishes and said prayers for centuries. (It’s even part of a UNESCO World Heritage site!)
✨ Next, you’ll visit the dazzling Kinkakuji, also called the Golden Pavilion—yes, it’s actually covered in gold!
🎋 Finally, wander through the peaceful and towering green stalks of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest—it’s like stepping into a dream.
🍱 A tasty lunch is included during the tour, and after that, the rest of the day is yours to relax or explore more of Kyoto at your own pace.
🌙 Overnight in Kyoto.🧭 Kid Tip: Count how many red gates you walk under today—or imagine what you’d wish for if you could add your own gate to the shrine!
-
Today you're off to Osaka, Japan’s fun and food-filled city! 🎉
This morning, your guide will help the group catch the train from Kyoto to Osaka—a quick and comfy ride, and you’ll be there before you know it!
🚄 Train rides like this are the perfect chance for kids to bond, swap stories, and share giggles as excitement builds for the next chapter of our journey!
Once you arrive, your guide will help you navigate public transport and get settled into the hotel.
🗺️ Today is a great day to buddy up with another family (or a few!) and explore Osaka’s magic together.
Our Suggestion:
🛍️ Wander through Kuromon Market, a colourful wonderland of sizzling skewers, fresh seafood, and sweet treats. It’s a feast for the senses—and even better when shared with new friends.
🌆 Head up to the Floating Garden Observatory at the top of the Umeda Sky Building for sweeping views of the city.
Top Tip: Save your hotel on Google Maps, grab an Uber, and head out for an afternoon of exploring and memory-making together!
🌙 Overnight in Osaka.
🍡 Kid Challenge: Try a street food you’ve never had before (maybe takoyaki—those little octopus balls!) and give it a score out of 10!
-
Today is all about exploring Osaka your way! You’ll receive a Metro & Bus Pass, so you can zip around the city like a local ninja and make the most of your free day.
👨👩👧👦 It’s also a perfect time to join forces with another family or two—by now, your kids will likely be fast friends (and maybe even a little inseparable!). Exploring together makes the adventure even more memorable—and gives parents a chance to share the journey too.
🏯 Start with your included visit to Osaka Castle, a legendary fortress surrounded by peaceful gardens and towering stone walls. Step inside to uncover stories of ancient battles, brave samurai, and hidden treasures.
🛍️ After that, the day is yours! Wander through buzzing neighbourhoods, try Osaka’s famous street food, or hunt for unique souvenirs in colourful arcades.
✨ Need help mapping out your day? Dream Big Travels has your back. Whether you’ve got a must-see spot in mind or just want a few suggestions, we’ll help you customise your free time in advance, so you can relax and enjoy every moment.
🌙 Overnight in Osaka.
🏰 Kid Tip: Pretend you’re a time-travelling warrior at the castle—what’s your samurai name?
-
It’s time to say goodbye to Japan—and to all the amazing new friends you’ve made on this worldschooling journey.
🚌 You’ll head to the airport by shuttle bus* in time for your flight back to Australia. Depending on your flight time, a guide may accompany you to the shuttle bus stop or hotel pickup.
But before you go...
🎒 It’s time to say goodbye to your new homeschool friends! Don’t forget to swap social media handles, email addresses, or even set up a good old-fashioned pen pal exchange so you can stay in touch across the globe.🌏 Whether it’s memories of bullet trains, bamboo forests, or your first black egg—Japan will always be a part of your story now.
Safe travels, and see you on the next worldschool adventure!
🌙 Depending on your flight, you’ll arrive back in Australia tomorrow or in two days.💌 Kid Tip: Write down one thing you’ll never forget—and one friend you want to stay in touch with!
Not Ready to Say Goodbye?
Why not Extend the Adventure! 🇯🇵
We get it—saying sayonara to Japan is hard! That’s why we’ve arranged a special offer just for our Dream Big families:
🌟 You can extend your stay in Japan for up to 3 extra nights after the camp ends.
This gives your family more time to explore, relax, and soak up the magic of Japan before heading home.
We’ll help you arrange the accommodation and suggest some amazing kid-friendly things to do near Osaka during your extended stay. Some fun ideas include:
🎡 Universal Studios Japan – A thrilling day out with everything from Mario Kart to Harry Potter and Minions!
🎨 TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka – A magical night-time art experience blending nature and glowing digital installations.
🦒 Tennoji Zoo & Park – A chilled-out day spotting animals and riding paddle boats, perfect for younger kids.
🎎 Kids Plaza Osaka – A hands-on science and creativity museum that’s made just for children!
🚢 Tempozan Ferris Wheel & Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan) – Ride one of the world’s largest Ferris wheels and explore an epic underwater world right next door.
🍜 Street food adventure in Dotonbori – Think giant crab signs, neon lights, and food on sticks—it’s Osaka in a nutshell!
✨ Whether you want to chill, play, eat, or explore—we’ll help you make the most of it.
Let us know if you’d like to stay on, at the time of booking, and we’ll take care of the details!