Japan’s Ultimate Art & Architecture Tour

16 days from £13,850 for 2025 per person

• Tokyo
• Naoshima
• Kyoto
• Kanazawa

This itinerary is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Cultural Holidays.

This 16-night luxury art and architecture tour of Japan offers an immersive journey through the country’s most iconic art destinations, blending contemporary works, traditional masterpieces and innovative architecture. The tour begins in Tokyo, where you’ll experience cutting-edge modern art at the Mori Art Museum, the interactive wonder of teamLab Borderless and the historical significance of MOMAT. You’ll explore the beautiful Nezu Museum, with its tranquil garden, and enjoy a private architectural tour of Tokyo's most striking modern buildings. Afterward, you’ll head to Naoshima, Japan’s art island, staying at Benesse House to fully immerse yourself in contemporary art, including the Chichu Art Museum with works by Monet and Tadao Ando’s iconic architecture.

Next, the tour takes you to Kyoto, a city that beautifully merges tradition with modernity. Explore the Kyoto National Museum and Hosomi Museum for Buddhist treasures and Nihonga paintings, and take a private tea ceremony in a historic machiya townhouse. You’ll also visit the Miho Museum, designed by I.M. Pei, and gain exclusive access to a private Kyoto art collection. Afterward, travel to Kanazawa, where you’ll experience Kenroku-en Garden and the renowned 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. You’ll also learn about traditional crafts like gold leaf art and take private gallery tours with a local curator.

The final days of your tour will bring you back to Tokyo, where you’ll visit the Inujima Seirensho Art Museum, an industrial site transformed into a stunning art space, and gain access to private galleries and architectural sites. The tour concludes with a Michelin-starred farewell dinner at an art-inspired restaurant, offering the perfect send-off.

This tour is an exclusive blend of art, architecture, culture and natural beauty, offering you privileged access to world-class collections and experiences while staying in some of Japan’s most prestigious hotels. It is purely a suggested itinerary, it can be booked as it is, or alternatively used as a starting point for creating your own ideal tailor-made tour of Japan. If you'd like to see some of our other favourite itineraries across Asia, take a look at the Ampersand Favourites and Epic Journeys collections.

Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.
Lisa St. Aubin de Teran