Ultimate Luxury Tour of Japan

12 days from £10,900 for 2024 per person

• Tokyo
• Hakone
• Kyoto
• Naoshima

Begin your experience in downtown Shinjuku at the heart of Tokyo. Your guides will be on hand to help you navigate this vast city and discover the story behind some of its most iconic sights and stores. Strolling under the zelkova trees on Omotesando, two highlights are The Prada building by Herzog and de Meuron, and the Dior building by the Pritzker prize-winning Japanese duo SANAA. If you prefer boutique shops then nearby Daikanyama is the place, where the beautifully curated Tsutaya library lounge is located alongside Tadao Ando’s T-site. His 21-21 Design Sight is not far away in the neighbouring Aoyama district, along with the Nezu Museum. Designed by Kengo Kuma who is renowned for incorporating nature and natural materials into urban design, it is also a treasure trove of fine Japanese paintings and ceramics. These new developments provide an evocative contrast to the ancient majesty of Meiji Jingu shrine nearby. Like all the best hotels in Tokyo, the Park Hyatt strives to incorporate elements of classic and contemporary design, making for a rich and rewarding cultural experience.

From Tokyo, head west to Hakone in the foothills of Mt Fuji and discover the Japanese interrelationship of art and nature at the open-air sculpture museum featuring works by Picasso and Moore amongst others. Stay at the Gora Kadan, arguably Japan’s finest traditional inn or ‘ryokan’ where you will experience the finest ‘kaiseki’ traditional dining and Japanese discreet but attentive ‘omotenashi’ hospitality. We recommend having lunch at the Fujiya, which has offered western comfort within a traditional Japanese exterior since the late 19^th century and hosted Charlie Chaplin, John Lennon and Bill Clinton amongst others.

Catch the bullet train down to Kyoto, the beating cultural heart of Japan with a long history of fine textile and kimono houses still very much in business today. There are no less than 17 World Heritage sites to explore, from the austere zen and moss gardens to grand Kiyomizu temple and the charming fine pottery shop streets around it. Explore the old Geisha quarter of Gion then walk down Ponto-cho street to discover some of the city’s best restaurants. You could spend a week here and still not see it all, but we will work with your guides to ensure that your itinerary suits your interests.

The art island of Naoshima is just a little further west, with Tadao Ando’s Benesse House and the Chichu museum at the centre of a scattered set of installations and sculptures over three islands. It makes for an absorbing and relaxing two-day retreat before getting back on the bullet train for another couple of nights back in the big city. We recommend wrapping up your stay at one of the hottest properties in the city, Aman Tokyo, offering unparalleled views of the city and easy access to the shopping and dining delights of Ginza. With our expertise and private guides, this rich but sometimes bewildering country will reveal its wonders to you.

This luxury holiday is a suggested itinerary; it can be booked as it is or used as a starting point for creating your ideal tour of Japan. If you would like to see similar trips, take a look at our collection of Ampersand Favourites as well as our Ultimate Luxury and Train itineraries.

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