(13 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Tokyo, Kamakura & Hakone, Kurashiki, Miyajima & Hiroshima, Kyoto & Nara
This comprehensive private tour features Japan's most iconic destinations and experiences, including famous temples and shrines, tours of traditional towns, renowned gardens, and exclusive cultural experiences.
Begin in Tokyo, the capital of contemporary culture and style in Japan. During touring with your own private guide and driver, visit Tokyo’s most interesting neighborhoods, such as Ginza, Aoyama, Shibuya and Harajuku. Experience Japanese pop culture and also tour important historical sites such as the Meiji Shrine. See striking contemporary architecture and the latest Japanese gadgets. Visit some of Tokyo’s best museums, such as the Edo-Tokyo Museum or the Tokyo National Museum. Also experience Tokyo’s exciting culinary scene by visiting Tsukiji Fish Market, the Kappabashi kitchenware district, and our favorite specialty shops and department store food halls. Upon request, additional experiences can be arranged such as watching sumo wrestlers practice at a sumo stable, meetings with culinary and sake experts, private martial arts lessons, seeing a Japanese baseball game, visiting favorite family attractions such as the Ghibli Museum, and attending local festivals. Artisans of Leisure can also make reservations at our favorite restaurants in Tokyo, which range from local noodle shops to some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world.
One day, take an excursion outside of Tokyo. See Zen temples, Shinto shrines and the Great Buddha in the beautiful seaside town of Kamakura, an ancient capital of Japan. Also visit Hakone, where highlights include seeing geysers and hot springs, taking a lake cruise at the base of Mt. Fuji, and visiting acclaimed local art museums.
Continue by first-class shinkansen (bullet train) to Kurashiki, an atmospheric town of willow tree-draped canals, traditional black-and-white architecture, and folk art museums and shops. Stay at a ryokan (traditional inn) and enjoy a gourmet kaiseki (seasonal tasting menu) dinner. Visit Okayama to see Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's most important gardens, en route to Miyajima, most famous for its UNESCO-listed vermilion torii (Shinto shrine gate) that seems to rise out of the sea. During a private tour, explore the island and its traditional temples and architecture. If desired, also take a private tour of nearby Hiroshima to visit the Peace Park and Museum.
Next, travel to enchanting Kyoto, Japan’s heart of culture and tradition. During touring with your private guide and driver, experience the best of this elegant city. Visit important temples and shrines. Gain access to imperial villas and private gardens such as Katsura Rikyu, Shugakuin and Saihoji (the Moss Temple). Enjoy an exclusive private tea ceremony. Stroll through a bamboo forest. Enjoy a Buddhist vegetarian lunch at a local temple. Tour traditional geisha districts such as Gion. Visit markets and food purveyors to sample Kyoto’s culinary specialties, considered the most refined in Japan. Explore antiques districts, and browse our favorite shops for exquisite ceramics, lacquerware and other crafts. One day, enjoy a private excursion to the I. M. Pei-designed Miho Museum or to ancient Nara, the birthplace of Buddhism in Japan.
Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange a wide range of other unique activities in Kyoto, such as an exclusive private dinner accompanied by geisha and maiko, private Zen meditation in a local temple, meetings with local craftspeople, ikebana (flower arranging) lessons, manga drawing lessons, a visit to a private machiya (traditional merchant house), hiking to temples in the hills surrounding the city, and private Japanese cooking classes.
Return to Tokyo for last-minute shopping, dining and free time to enjoy the city.
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The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:
- Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
- Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
- Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
- Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
- Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
- A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
- Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
- Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world
All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.
Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.
