Japan

Arrive in Tokyo, where your private guide greets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel. Settle in with an orientation meeting, complete with curated maps, a Wi-Fi device and insider etiquette tips. Spend the following days discovering Tokyo’s vivid contrasts: the energy of Shibuya Crossing, the elegance of Ginza, the spiritual calm of Asakusa’s shrines and the culinary wonder of neon-lit food alleys. You may also choose to experience an early morning visit to a private sumo stable, where you can witness the wrestlers’ rigorous keiko (training practice).

Glide southwest on the bullet train while your luggage is forwarded to Kyoto. On arrival in Hakone, check into Hakone Gora Byakudan, an elegant ryokan nestled in forested hills. Here, every detail is a ritual — slipping into bamboo slippers, reclining on tatami mats, and dining on a traditional Kaiseki meal in a private room overlooking the mountains. Kaiseki is Japan’s haute cuisine: a seasonal progression of artful courses, from delicate beginnings to rich finales, before cleansing closure. Later, soak in your private onsen as evening light fades over the foliage.

Continue by train to Kyoto, the former imperial capital. With your private guide, explore Zen gardens, moss-covered temples and artisan quarters. Walk the Philosopher’s Path, marvel at the golden spire of Kinkaku-ji, and wander the lantern-lit streets of Gion. Take part in a private tea ceremony and, if the moment arises, witness a Maiko apprentice on her way to the okiya. Evenings are yours to choose — Michelin-starred kaiseki or humble soba, each a story of devotion.

End your journey in Osaka, Japan’s culinary capital. Neon-lit Dotonbori sets the stage for nights of izakaya hopping, while street food in Shinsekai captures the bold, savoury side of Japanese cuisine. Visit Osaka Castle, stroll riverside paths and sample a dram of Japanese whisky before bidding farewell.

Depart Osaka for your international flight home — the rhythm of shrines, onsens and neon nights still echoing in memory.