Autumn in Japan

(9 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Yamanaka Onsen, Kyoto & Nara

This private luxury tour is specially designed around the best time to see Japan’s spectacular koyo (fall foliage), from October through early December. It features private cultural and scenic touring in iconic destinations in Japan and includes momijigari (viewing autumn leaves) in the most beautiful locations, soaking in relaxing onsen (hot springs), meals of exquisite seasonal cuisine and accommodation at Japan’s most luxurious hotels and ryokan.

Begin in Tokyo, the capital of contemporary culture and style in Japan. Stay at one of the city’s best luxury hotels, and enjoy comprehensive city touring with your private guide and driver. Visit Tokyo’s most interesting neighborhoods, such as Ginza, Asakusa, Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Roppongi and Aoyama. See striking contemporary architecture, and tour important historical sites such as Meiji Jingu Shrine and Sensoji Temple. Visit popular leaf-peeping locations around Tokyo, such as Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue (Icho Namiki), Yoyogi Park, Ueno Park and the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. Experience the best of Japanese pop culture during visits to trendy districts, specialty shops and quirky cafes. Visit Tokyo’s best museums, such as the Mori Art Museum, Edo-Tokyo Museum and Tokyo National Museum, according to your interests. Experience Tokyo’s exciting culinary scene at the Tsukiji Outer Market or Toyosu Market, the Kappabashi kitchenware district, and our favorite specialty food shops and department store food halls. We also make reservations for our travelers at our favorite restaurants in Tokyo, which range from local noodle shops, sushi bars and izakaya (pubs) to some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange additional experiences in Tokyo, such as watching sumo wrestlers practice at a sumo stable, a private sushi-making lesson, visiting a teamLab Borderless immersive video installation, shopping for the latest Japanese gadgets, meetings with culinary and sake experts, private martial arts lessons, seeing a Japanese baseball game, attending a kabuki performance and visiting the Ghibli Museum.

Next, travel by first-class shinkansen (bullet train) to Kanazawa, one of Japan’s wealthiest cities during the feudal era and now a wonderful cultural and culinary destination on the Sea of Japan. With your expert guide, explore the highlights of Kanazawa, including traditional Japanese architecture in former samurai and geisha districts and beautiful Kenrokuen Garden, one of the most famous gardens in Japan, which is especially colorful in autumn. Learn about Kanazawa’s celebrated traditional crafts, including silk, lacquer and gold leaf products. Other options include exploring the Omicho food market, touring fascinating Myoryuji (Ninja Temple), and visiting museums such as the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art and Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts.

Continue to Yamanaka Onsen, a resort town with hot springs, refined cuisine, crafts traditions and a scenic gorge. Stay at one of Japan’s finest luxury ryokan (traditional inns), enjoy exquisite kaiseki ryori (seasonal tasting menu) meals and relax in your private open-air onsen hot spring bath with views of autumn leaves. During private touring, enjoy a private soba-making lesson, explore the historic town and perhaps walk through scenic Kakusenkei Gorge, known for its brilliant red and gold leaves in autumn. Meet local artisans in their workshops, or perhaps opt to visit a local soy sauce maker or confectioner. Alternatively, visit the nearby traditional town of Yamashiro Onsen and its ceramics boutiques. Also visit Natadera Temple, an ancient Buddhist complex of buildings perched on cliffs and tucked into caves that’s particularly atmospheric when fringed in red, yellow and orange autumn leaves.

Next, travel to enchanting Kyoto, the heart of Japanese culture and tradition. Stay at one of Kyoto’s best luxury hotels or ryokan and enjoy flexible private touring of the best of this elegant city with your private guide and driver. Visit the city’s most important historic attractions and temples and shrines—many of which have gardens punctuated by brilliant gold and crimson leaves in autumn—such as Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), Ryoanji and its famous Zen rock garden, Kiyomizudera Temple, Nijo Castle, Ginkakuji, Saihoji (Moss Temple), and Fushimi Inari and its tunnel of red torii gates. Take a private excursion to Arashiyama, a beautiful mountainside district, to see its enormous bamboo forest, historic gardens and fall foliage. Also have a vegetarian lunch at a Zen temple in the area. Enjoy a private tour of Gion, Kyoto’s traditional geisha district, walk on the Philosopher’s Path and see traditional architecture in our favorite neighborhoods. Also browse Nishiki Market, antiques districts, specialty museums and historic shops that have been selling traditional goods for centuries. Artisans of Leisure will also arrange an exclusive private Japanese tea ceremony in a tea villa and reservations at Kyoto’s best restaurants. Upon request, we can arrange access to imperial villas and private gardens such as Katsura Rikyu and other less-visited attractions. Depending on timing, we can also arrange visits to fall festivals in Kyoto. One day, enjoy a private excursion to Nara, the eighth-century capital of Japan, to enjoy touring of Todaiji Temple, Nara Park and other highlights among the breathtaking fall foliage. Also visit nearby Horyuji Temple, where Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the seventh century.

Upon request, other activities that can be arranged around Kyoto include an exclusive private dinner with geisha entertainment, private Zen meditation in a local Buddhist temple, meetings with local craftspeople, private ikebana (flower arranging) lessons, visiting a master swordsmith, meetings with ceramics experts, tea tastings and tea plantation visits, visits to sake breweries and tofu factories, manga drawing lessons, a visit to a private machiya (traditional merchant house), hiking in hills blanketed in autumn leaves and private Japanese cooking classes.

This tour can be extended to include other destinations, such as Nikko, Tohoku, Takayama, Miyajima, Hakone and other favorite fall foliage destinations.

Booking Information >

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.

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