PagesExperiences: Days 1 and 2 unfold with a private city tour of Tokyo as well as moments of quiet serenity during a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and a personal sushi masterclass. Toast the end of the second day with a bespoke tasting of rare whiskies in chic Ginza.

VillaAccommodation: The Kitano Hotel Tokyo

Directions_RailwayTransportation: Private Car (Narita or Haneda Airport to The Kitano Hotel Tokyo)

PagesExperiences: Journey to Japan’s old samurai capital for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience. Craft your personal hanko seal, admire the view from Hasedera Temple and the Great Buddha, or visit the shrine of a god of war and stroll through a historic Zen temple’s serene bamboo grove.

VillaAccommodation: The Kitano Hotel Tokyo

Directions_RailwayTransportation: Private Car (The Kitano Hotel Tokyo to Kamakura and back)

PagesExperiences: Arrive in ancient Kyoto where transformative tea rituals, meditative Zen gardens, and more await you. Explore the beautiful Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the Gion geisha district with a guide before a dinner steeped in timeless elegance.

VillaAccommodation:  Sumiya Ryokan

Directions_RailwayTransportation: Private Car (The Kitano Hotel Tokyo to Tokyo Station) and Shinkansen (Tokyo to Kyoto) and Private Car (Kyoto Station to Sumiya Ryokan)

PagesExperiences: Conclude your journey in Osaka by diving into the craft of traditional koji mold, a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine. Savor innovation rooted in centuries of history in this vibrant culinary capital to forever etch the spirit of Japan on your heart.

Directions_RailwayTransportation: Private Car (Sumiya Ryokan to Osaka City to Kansai International Airport)

Step behind the counter of Sushi Hazan in Tokyo's upscale Nishi-Azabu district for a private lesson led by chef Kenichiro Hirai, who trained at the Michelin-starred Udatsu Sushi restaurant. Learn how to make perfect nigiri hand-shaped sushi and how to grate fresh wasabi, then taste your creations and compare them to master Hirai's craft. This exclusive, intimate, and authentic experience offers an unforgettable culinary journey into the Edomae style of sushi that developed in and exemplifies Japan’s capital.

Uncover Tokyo’s exalted past and dynamic future on a private tour of the city that will take you to famous landmarks, tranquil places of worship, and minimalist museums. After enjoying panoramic views from Tokyo Tower's Top Deck, your spirit will remain on a higher plane at Zojoji, a temple with a connection to Japan’s Tokugawa shoguns. Finally, you’ll visit the 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT museum in Tokyo Midtown, where design and everyday life meet in elegant, thought-provoking harmony.

Imbibe Tokyo’s intoxicating spirit in Ginza, a sophisticated part of the city where elegance meets Japanese craftsmanship. At Imami, a specialty whisky boutique, you’ll savor three rare whiskies: Yamazaki 18, Hakushu 18, and Hibiki 21, served in exquisite Edo Kiriko glassware in the comfort of a private room anytime between 11:00 AM and 7:40 PM. You decide when it’s time for high spirits. Take home a keepsake 180ml bottle of premium sake as a souvenir of your time surrounded by Japan’s high-class potable culture.

At The Kitano Hotel Tokyo, modern comforts are combined with timeless Japanese sophistication. Savor exquisite dining, serene designs, and an authentic tea ceremony led by a genuine tea master, an exclusive cultural immersion crafted especially for travelers seeking privacy, elegance, and refined luxury (only available on weekdays from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM). The hotel’s flavors, panoramic city views, and world-class hospitality are sure to become memories of a lifetime.

After a night at The Kitano Hotel Tokyo, you’ll awaken to refined comfort in the form of your morning meal at L’Orangerie Koh-an. Begin your day with a chef-curated breakfast that starts with yogurt, compote, a smoothie, and fruit salad. Next, choose from the hotel’s Japanese-Western set menu, featuring seasonal, carefully selected ingredients prepared to perfection. Every bite reveals an attention to detail that is hard to come by outside the capital of hospitality that is Tokyo.

Touch the handmade heritage of Japanese craftsmanship in Kamakura where veteran artisans will guide you through the creation of your very own personal seal, still used throughout modern Japan in place of signatures. Select from carefully chosen premium materials and traditional font styles, and witness centuries-old carving techniques up close. Your custom seal, housed in a beautiful case, will serve three purposes: a unique souvenir, a practical tool for everyday life, and a stunning work of art.

Two spiritual excursions await the sophisticated traveler in Kamakura. The first follows a path from the sacred and scenic sanctuary of Hasedera Temple, where the majestic Eleven-Faced Kannon statue resides, to the open-air Great Buddha at Kotoku-in. The second journey begins at the venerable Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine enshrining the deity of archery and war, and continues to the bamboo grove of Houkokuji Temple enveloped in serene silence.

At The Kitano Hotel Tokyo, dinner becomes a singular experience not to be quickly forgotten. The hotel’s L'Orangerie Koh-an (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM, closed for dinner from Sunday to Tuesday), serves creative culinary blends of French cuisine and Japanese sensibilities, satisfying both the eyes and the palate. Be sure not to miss the rooftop bar, Kitano Arms Lounge (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM, closed on Wednesdays), a tranquil space enveloped in city lights and pairing panoramic views of Tokyo with relaxing drinks.

Awaken in Kyoto to a masterfully prepared breakfast at Sumiya Ryokan, an inn with over a century of history and a reputation for its tea traditions. Served in the privacy of the guests’ rooms, Sumiya’s morning meal features exquisite Kyoto-style cuisine crafted with care from local ingredients. Each dish embodies the spirit of Kyoto: a reverence for harmony and balance, respect for tradition, celebration of the seasons, and the timeless elegance of Japan’s tea culture.

At the Komyo-in “Rainbow Moss Temple,” a sub-temple of Kyoto’s famous Tofuku-ji, visitors tour the tranquil Hashin-tei Garden, a masterpiece of dry-landscape design, with the head priest as a guide. Surrounded by moss, stone, and sand all perfectly laid out in eternal harmony, travelers to this retreat can practice Zen meditation in a private setting steeped in history. Afterward, share matcha green tea and enjoy a conversation with the head priest, experiencing the stillness of Zen in everyday moments.

Begin your journey at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto's sacred Kannon pilgrimage site where the goddess of mercy watches over the city from Mt. Otowa. Next, descend the charming stone-paved Sannenzaka slope lined with teahouses, Kyoto pottery shops, and traditional sweets stores. The tour ends at Kyoto's renowned geisha district, Gion, where lantern-lit alleys illuminate traditional machiya townhouses.

During a special evening at Ochaya Man, a teahouse in Kyoto’s famous Gion geisha district, you’ll experience quintessential Kyoto elegance and artistry in a historic setting. Savor seasonal Japanese cuisine while enjoying traditional dances performed by talented geisha as well as shamisen music and traditional party games. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to savor Japan’s centuries-old traditional culture firsthand. The evening promises to be an unforgettable encounter with Japanese culture and hospitality.

At one of Kyoto’s most distinguished ryokan inns, travelers will find refined traditions and exceptional experiences converging in one gorgeous location. For over a century now, the serene and elegant Sumiya Ryokan has welcomed select guests, including tea masters and cultural luminaries. Be welcomed among their ranks with a private tea ceremony hosted by the proprietress, available when her schedule allows it. Sumiya Ryokan is not merely a place to rest. It’s a gateway to Kyoto’s living heritage and ancient elegance.

Dive into over three centuries of Japanese culinary craftsmanship at Osaka’s long-established Koujiya Amekaze. Under expert supervision, combine cooked soybeans, rice cultured with koji mold, and salt to create your own miso, choosing from one of five varieties, and take home 1 kilogram of Japan’s famous fermented seasoning. You will also have a chance to savor koji-based drinks: amazake and doburoku. In addition to the experience at Koujiya Amekaze, you’ll have a chance to immerse yourself in the history and food culture of Osaka, known as “the Kitchen of the Nation.”