Two Weeks in Japan

Explore Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kagaonsen, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Naoshima & Hiroshima

Make it my own

Trip Overview

Day 1 - 5 | Tokyo | K5 Tokyo ‍| 4 nights

Day 5 - 7 | Kanazawa | Korinkyo | 2 nights

Day 7 - 8 | Kagaonsen | Beniya Mukayu | 1 night

Day 8 - 11 | Kyoto | Park Hyatt Kyoto | 3 nights

Day 11 - 13 | Naoshima | Benesse House | 2 nights

Day 13 - 15 | Osaka | Four Seasons Osaka | 2 nights

Day 15 | Departure

  • A serene Japanese garden with cherry blossom trees in full bloom, a calm pond reflecting the trees, and neatly trimmed bushes and rocks lining the water's edge.

  • Two women in traditional kimonos walk through a Japanese shrine with torii gates on a sunny day, surrounded by green trees.

  • A person pours hot tea into small white cups on black saucers, with steam rising from the cups and a dark background.

  • A woman in a colorful kimono standing in front of traditional Japanese sake barrels and lanterns at a shrine.

  • A person is pouring sauce over sliced white fish on a wooden cutting board in a sushi restaurant, with a knife, a small container, and bamboo whisk nearby.

Day 1 | Tokyo

Airport Pick-Up & Private Transfer

Land at Narita International Airport. After clearing customs and baggage claim, meet your driver in the arrivals hall for a private transfer to your hotel in the city center for check in.

Evening at Leisure

Take a quiet first evening to rest up after your long journey. We recommend dinner at your hotel this evening, as you recuperate from your trip.

STAY: K5 Tokyo ‍| High Ceiling Junior Suite

Day 2 | tokyo

Imperial Palace Plaza

9:00am: Meet your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby and set off on a private car tour of Tokyo’s cultural highlights. Begin your day at the Imperial Palace Plaza, taking a stroll around the palace grounds and enjoying views of the historic stone walls and gardens.

Tokyo Tower

Next, visit the world-famous Tokyo Tower, which is a former TV Tower. From the Top deck at 250m high, Greater Tokyo, Yokohama, Disneyland, Mt. Fuji, etc. can be observed if the weather is clear. If you’re feeling jet lagged this morning, your guide will communicate with you in case you want to postpone your pick-up.

Teamlab Borderless Digital Art Museum

In the afternoon, visit Teamlab Borderless Digital Art Museum. This is currently the number one museum in Japan, offering a multi-sensory experience using hundreds of computers and projectors.

Tsukiji Outer Market

Afterwards, head to Tsukiji Outer Market, Tokyo’s famous food market, where you can wander through the lively stalls and sample some of the city’s freshest seafood and local delicacies.

Kabuki Performance

To end the day, enjoy a Kabuki performance, a traditional Japanese performing art combining music, dance, and acting, known for its stylized drama, elaborate costumes, and all-male casts. The full shows lasts between 3 to 4 hours (including intermissions) - you will enjoy one act (around 1-1.5 hours).

5:00pm: Return to hotel.

STAY: K5 Tokyo ‍| High Ceiling Junior Suite | Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 | tokyo

Deeper Dive into Tokyo

9:00am: Meet your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby and set off on a private car tour of Tokyo’s cultural highlights. Begin in Asakusa, the city’s oldest district, where you’ll walk through the iconic Kaminarimon Gate with its giant red lantern and explore Nakamise Arcade, lined with local crafts and souvenirs. From there, enjoy a scenic riverside view featuring Tokyo Skytree and the striking golden artwork atop the Asahi Breweries headquarters.

Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine, Japan’s most revered shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Surrounded by a tranquil forest, you can soak in the sacred atmosphere and make a wish for prosperity and health at the main hall.

Continue to an Animal Café for a fun and light-hearted experience with some of Japan’s favorite animals, either dogs, cats, hedgehogs, capybaras, owls or mini-pigs.

Sumo Show

Step into the world of sumo with a fun experience led by retired sumo wrestlers. Learn about the traditions, rituals and techniques behind Japan’s national sport, watch the wrestlers demonstrate their skills up close, and enjoy an authentic Chanko-nabe lunch - the hearty hot-pot traditionally eaten by sumo wrestlers.

Yanaka and Goma Ritual

In the afternoon, explore Yanaka, one of Tokyo’s most atmospheric neighborhoods, known for its old-world streets, traditional shops and temples. Continue to Fukagawa Fudo Temple to experience the Goma Ritual, a 30-minute Buddhist fire ceremony in which burning cedar sticks are used to purify guests and their belongings. Accompanied by powerful drumming and rhythmic chanting, the ritual is a striking and immersive glimpse into Japanese Buddhist traditions.

End with a stroll through Harajuku and Omotesando, where lively street food stands and trendy teen shops meet high-end boutiques and striking contemporary architecture. Conclude your day in Shibuya, where you’ll witness the energy of one of the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings, a quintessential Tokyo experience.

STAY: K5 Tokyo ‍| High Ceiling Junior Suite | Breakfast

Day 4 | Tokyo

Day-Trip to Mt. Fuji

08:00am: English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel lobby. Private transfer to Mt. Fuji.

11:00am: Visit Kubota Itchiku Kimono Museum. After rediscovering a traditional technique for dying kimono, Itchiku Kubota made it his life's work to design and create a collection of kimono that is unparalleled in Japan. The museum in the Fuji Five Lakes area   is also undoubtedly one of the world's most remarkable museums devoted to textiles.

1:00pm: Visit Oshino Hakkai.  Hakkai, or "Eight Seas," refers to the eight pools of water that are the main attraction at Oshino Hakkai. Bridges and pathways lead you around and over these tranquil ponds. The traditional thatched roof buildings, slowly spinning water wheels, and amazing view of Mt. Fuji all transport you to another era.

7:00pm: End of the tour at your hotel.

STAY: K5 Tokyo ‍| High Ceiling Junior Suite | Breakfast

Day 5 | Kanazawa

Pick-Up & Private Transfer

8:30am: After breakfast and check out, meet your driver at the hotel lobby for a private 20 minute transfer to the train station to catch your train.

Shinkansen to Kanazawa

Grab a bento snack and hop aboard the high-speed bullet train known as Shinkansen.

Departure: 9:20am
Arrival: 11:52am

Meet your guide on the platform upon arrival.

Introduction to Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a town that was untouched by the war and to this day maintains its Imperial age charm. With a historic samurai and geisha district, it feels like a little Kyoto with fewer tourists. Explore Kanazawa’s lively Omicho Market, known for its excellent selection of fresh seafood, local produce and regional delicacies, with time to browse the stalls and sample some of the city’s specialities. Continue to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, then explore the historic Higashi Chayagai geisha district and Nagamachi Samurai District, where traditional wooden houses and narrow streets offer a glimpse into Kanazawa’s past.

Private Geisha Performance

Experience a private Geisha performance. Enjoy the beautiful music and dance created by geisha (Geigi) in a quiet old folk house, and also enjoy traditional games and play Japanese drums.

Check In

5:00pm: Upon arrival at Korinkyo, you’ll be greeted with warm, understated hospitality that reflects Kanazawa’s refined charm. The serene architecture and soft, natural light immediately create a sense of calm. Elegant vintage furnishings, soothing tones, and thoughtful details set the tone for a stay that feels both luxurious and deeply tranquil. It’s the perfect welcome to Kanazawa

Dinner Reservation at Sushi Akihama

Enjoy a dinner reservation on your first night at one of the city’s best sushi restaurants. The restaurant is a 5-minute walk from your hotel.

STAY: Korinkyo | High Floor Sauna Suite | Breakfast

  • Inside a train, view through the window showing Mount Fuji in Japan with blue sky and cityscape below.

  • A train station platform with a train on the left side and several people waiting or walking. There are signs indicating platforms and waiting areas, and uniformed staff present on the platform.

  • Kanazawa

  • View of Mount Fuji with snow on top, seen through a train window, with a rural landscape and town below.

  • A traditional Japanese bento box filled with rice, grilled salmon, tamagoyaki, rolled sushi, pickled vegetables, and various side dishes.

  • Kanazawa

Day 6 | kanazawa

Kanazawa: Gardens, Samurai & Kintsugi Workshop

9:30am: Visit Kenrokuen Garden. Kenrokuen Garden is the focal point of Kanazawa and has a long and celebrated history. The garden was created over the span of several hundred years by the Maeda family and today is one of the best examples of a strolling-style Japanese landscape garden. The garden offers something to enjoy whatever the season.  "Kenrokuen" means “garden that combines six characteristics." These six characteristics are spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, water sources and magnificent views. Not every garden in Japan can combine all of these features but Kenrokuen does.

11:00am: Visit Nagamachi Samurai District.  Southwest of Kanazawa Castle lies the Nagamachi Samurai District, a neighborhood where the samurai of the powerful Maeda clan - the rulers of Kanazawa and the old Kaga Domain—once lived. Take a stroll back in time and absorb the lifestyle of the samurai during the Edo period (1603-1867).

2:30pm: Enjoy Kintsugi & Workshop visit (subject to availability). Kiyose Ikko, who has been preserving the traditional techniques of Kaga maki-e for generations, has spent many years creating works of art with meticulous attention to detail.  Kiyose is Kanazawa’s leading craftsmen, who have been working in the area for three generations.  For the experience, you will be prepared a piece that has been done by a craftsman right up to the final finishing touches.  You can choose from small plates, accessories, etc.

5:00pm: End of the tour at your hotel.

Kanazawa By Night

Enjoy the evening food tour “Kanazawa Nighttime”.  You can discover the unique flavors of Kanazawa - a city nestled between the Sea of Japan and the Japanese Alps, offering some of the freshest seafood in the country paired with premium sake crafted from pure mountain water.  The food expert guide will lead you through the charming back alleys of the Korinbo district, where hidden culinary gems await.  Indulge in local specialties at 2 carefully selected restaurants, each offering a unique atmosphere and dining experience that embodies the essence of Kanazawa’s well-preserved traditions and rich culinary history.

STAY: Korinkyo | High Floor Sauna Suite | Breakfast

  • Modern living room with a gray armchair, a beige sofa with pillows, a round coffee table, a potted plant, a small bar area, and a hanging pendant light.

DAy 7 | Kagaonsen

Exploring Kaga Onsen

10:00am: Walk the Kakusenkei Gorge, a 1.3 km riverside path along the Daishoji River in Yamanaka Onsen, past cedar groves and waterfalls. The path links three bridges. It starts at Korogi Bridge, built entirely of cypress wood, and passes the sculptural Ayatori Bridge, designed by the ikebana master and film director Hiroshi Teshigahara. It ends at the Kurotani stone arch bridge. Along the way, stop for tea at Kakusenkei Kawadoko, a riverside café with tatami seating and red parasols. Near the end of the walk is Basho-do, a small hut honouring the haiku poet Matsuo Basho, who praised the gorge on his visit in the 17th century.

11:30am: Visit Natadera Temple, a sacred site for more than 1,300 years, built into volcanic cliffs and caves above gardens and carp ponds. It was founded in 717 by the monk Taicho in honour of Kannon, the bodhisattva of mercy. Natadera blends Buddhism, Shinto and Hakusan mountain worship, so you'll see torii gates alongside carved wooden halls and pagodas. The temple has a star in the Michelin Green Guide.

1:00pm: Stroll Yuge Kaido, Yamanaka Onsen's main street, lined with traditional style buildings, lacquerware galleries and small eateries. It's a good place to see local craftsmanship and stop for lunch or snacks along the way.

Check In to Beniya Mukayu

3:00pm: Arrive at your hotel and check in. A stay at Beniya Mukayu, nestled in the serene hot spring town of Yamashiro Onsen, is a truly tranquil and luxurious escape. This elegant ryokan blends contemporary design with traditional Japanese hospitality, offering spacious rooms that open onto private open-air baths surrounded by nature. Relax in the soothing hot springs, enjoy personalized service, and savor exquisite kaiseki cuisine crafted from seasonal local ingredients. With its peaceful atmosphere and meticulous attention to detail, Beniya Mukayu offers an intimate retreat that embodies the essence of Japanese wellness and refinement.

Dinner at the Ryokan

Have dinner at Kaiseki Horin, the fine dining restaurant located in your ryokan.

STAY: Beniya Mukayu | Executive Suite with Private Open-Air Bath | Breakfast, Dinner

  • Balcony with two wicker chairs facing a view of lush green trees outside

  • A narrow stone pathway winding through a lush green moss-covered forest area with plants and ferns.

  • A minimalist room with two beds, a large shoji-style window, and two round floor cushions.

  • A minimalist interior with a wooden platform floor, a round tray, and four round cushions, with a wall featuring small square and rectangular shelves and a large window overlooking lush green trees.

  • A scenic waterfall cascading down a dark rock face into a pool surrounded by lush green foliage in a forest.

Day 8 | Kyoto

Pick-Up & Private Transfer

9:45am: After breakfast, the ryokan shuttle bus will take you to the Kaga Onsen train station.

Train to Kyoto via Tsuruga

Hop aboard the high-speed bullet train to Tsuruga.

Kaga Onsen Departure: 10:24am
Tsuruga Arrival: 11:02am

Your escort will meet you on the platform at Tsuruga station and bring you to your next train.

Tsuruga Departure: 11:14am
KyotoArrival: 12:12am

Exploring Kyoto

Upon arrival at Kyoto train station, meet your driver for an afternoon tour of Kyoto before checking in to your hotel. Begin at Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former residence of the Tokugawa shoguns. Continue to Nishiki Market, known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” where you can wander through the lively covered arcade and discover local delicacies, traditional ingredients and small food stalls.

5:00pm: Check in to your hotel

STAY: Park Hyatt Kyoto | Garden View King Room | Breakfast

  • A woman in pink traditional Japanese kimono kneeling on tatami mat, praying or meditating in a dimly lit room with shoji screens.

  • A quiet street in Japan at dusk with traditional wooden buildings illuminated by warm lights and red paper lanterns, with a clear blue sky overhead.

  • A hand pouring hot water into small tea cups on a table, with steam rising in a dimly lit setting.

  • A woman dressed as a Geisha with traditional hairstyle, makeup, and kimono, sitting at a table in a restaurant or tea house.

  • A black bowl of assorted raw sashimi with salmon, tuna, and other fish, garnished with a leaf and salmon roe.

  • A woman in traditional Japanese attire (kimono) with an intricate hairstyle and hair ornament sitting at a wooden bar, looking towards the window. Behind her, another woman is seen smiling and standing near the window which overlooks a garden with trees.

Day 9 | kyoto

Kyoto with a Local Guide

9:00am: English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel lobby.

9:45am: Enjoy Rickshaw ride through Arashiyama Bamboo path.  Located in the northwestern area of Kyoto, Arashiyama draws many visitors for its world-renowned bamboo grove and beautiful scenery that changes with each season. The area is dotted with temples, old imperial villas, and famous historical sites, many of which are National Treasures, or have been recognized as World Heritage sites. The entire region is designated by the Japanese government as a Place of Scenic Beauty.  The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is one of Kyoto's most iconic sights, and a walk through it will be one of your most lasting impressions of this city.

10:30am: Visit Tenryuji Temple.  Built in 1339, Tenryuji Temple was once an enormous temple complex that comprised more than one hundred sub-temples. Today, only a few structures remain. The prime reason to visit is for the garden, one of the finest examples of traditional Japanese garden design.

12:00pm: Visit Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple.  Nestled in the tranquil hills of Arashiyama, Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple stands as a testament to artistic creativity and spiritual resilience.  This unique Buddhist sanctuary houses over 1,200 distinctive stone statues, each with its own personality and charm.  Unlike the solemn atmosphere of many temples, Otagi Nenbutsuji offers you a delightful blend of spirituality and whimsy.  (closed on Wed. & Sat.)

05:00pm: End of the tour at your hotel.

STAY: Park Hyatt Kyoto| Garden View King Room | Breakfast

Day 10 | Kyoto

Dive Deeper into Kyoto

9:00am: Meet your guide in your hotel lobby for a day exploring some of Kyoto’s most impressive temples and viewpoints. Begin at Sanjusangendo, renowned for its vast hall lined with 1,001 statues of the Buddhist deity Kannon. Continue to Kinkaku-ji, the famous Golden Pavilion, set beside a tranquil pond and surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Finish at Shogunzuka Mound, part of Shoren-in Temple, where two observation decks offer spectacular views across Kyoto. From the northern deck, look out over the city towards Mount Hieizan and see landmarks including the Imperial Palace, Heian Shrine and Nanzenji. According to legend, this is where Emperor Kanmu first surveyed the valley before choosing it as the site of Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital.

3:00pm: Return to your hotel.

STAY: Park Hyatt Kyoto| Garden View King Room | Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 | NAOSHIMA

Pick-Up & Private Transfer

9:15am: Meet your English-speaking driver outside your hotel entrance for a private transfer to Kyoto Station, approximately 20 minutes.

Bullet Train to Okayama

Board the Nozomi 13 bullet train in First Class for the journey to Okayama.
Kyoto Departure: 10:02am
Okayama Arrival: 11:03am

Private Transfer & Boat to Naoshima

Upon arrival at Okayama Station, meet your driver for a private transfer to Uno Pier, approximately one hour. From the pier, continue by private boat and shuttle bus to Benesse House, taking approximately 40 minutes.

1:00pm: Arrive at Benesse House

Arrive at Benesse House and enjoy the afternoon at leisure. You can leave your luggage with the hotel front desk until your room is ready for check-in.

STAY: Benesse House| Park Double | Breakfast

Day 12 | NAOSHIMA

Art in Naoshima

9:00am: Meet your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby for a full-day exploration of Naoshima, Japan’s renowned art island. Visit the Chichu Art Museum, an extraordinary underground museum designed by architect Tadao Ando, where art and architecture are seamlessly integrated with the surrounding landscape.

Lee Ufan Museum

Continue to the Lee Ufan Museum, dedicated to the work of the influential contemporary artist, before exploring the Art House Project, where abandoned houses and buildings have been transformed into thought-provoking works of art. Finish at the Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery, showcasing the celebrated Japanese photographer’s work within another striking architectural setting.

5:00pm: End the day at Benesse House.

STAY: Benesse House | Park Double | Breakfast

Day 13 | Naoshima to Hiroshima to Osaka

Shuttle to Honmura Port & Boat to Okayama Station

8:00am: Check out of Benesse House and take the shuttle to Honmura Port. A private boat will take you across the Seto Inland Sea to Uno Port on the mainland, where your driver will be waiting to drive you to Okayama Station.

Hiroshima

10:00am: Take the bullet train from Okayama to Hiroshima.

11:28am: Your English speaking guide will meet you on the platform. Start at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, built near the hypocenter of the atomic bombing of 6 August 1945 as a place dedicated to lasting world peace. Alongside the Atomic Bomb Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park holds the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims and several other memorials. Continue to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which tells the story of the bombing through objects and personal accounts from survivors. Some of the exhibits are hard to see, but the museum gives a balanced, deeply human account of what happened to the city and why it was chosen as a target.

4:00pm: Visit Orizuru Tower, next to the Atomic Bomb Dome. From its wooden rooftop deck you can see over the Peace Memorial Park and the Dome, and on a clear day as far as Mount Misen on Miyajima. Fold a paper crane and drop it into the Orizuru Wall, a glass wall that fills with cranes folded by visitors from around the world as wishes for peace. The tower also has a shop with local Hiroshima products and a café for a break.

5:00pm: Take the bullet train from Hiroshima to Shin Osaka, about 1 hour 30 minutes, followed by a transfer to your hotel.

STAY: Four Seasons Osaka | Deluxe King Room | Breakfast

Day 14 | OSAKA & Nara

Day Trip to Nara

9:00am: Meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a day trip to Nara. Begin at Kasuga Shrine, one of Nara's most important Shinto shrines, before continuing to Todaiji Temple, home to the impressive Great Buddha. Take time to explore the temple grounds and wander through Nara Park, where the city's famous free roaming deer can be found.

Sake Tasting

In the afternoon, enjoy a casual sake tasting in Naramachi, Nara's old merchant quarter. Sake brewing in Japan began in Nara's temples, so the city is a natural place for a first tasting.

5:00pm: Return to your hotel and enjoy some time at leisure before heading out for an evening of Osaka's legendary food culture.

If you prefer a full sake brewery visit, we can check availability in Kyoto or Kanazawa.

Evening Food Tour: Osaka!

Meet your food expert in the hotel lobby for a nighttime exploration of Tenma, one of Osaka’s most atmospheric neighborhoods for local dining. Visit three carefully selected restaurants where locals gather for after-work drinks and classic Osaka comfort food, with three drinks included along the way. Discover the lively backstreets and the spirit of kuidaore — Osaka’s famously enthusiastic approach to eating and drinking.

5:00pm: End the tour at your hotel in Osaka.

STAY: Four Seasons Osaka | Deluxe King Room | Breakfast

Day 15 | DEPARTURE

After breakfast, meet your driver in the lobby for a private transfer to the airport for your international flight home. We hope you leave with memories to last a lifetime.

PRICING & inclusions

See our Booking Terms & Conditions here.

Starting at $1,500 per person per day

  • Accommodation

  • Transport: All private transfers with a personal guide for the entire trip, high-speed train tickets

  • Tours & Activities: All tours, activities and excursions with an expert English-speaking guide as listed in the itinerary, along with the required entrance fees associated with the tours.

  • Meals: All breakfasts, and some lunches and dinners as listed in your itinerary

  • Other: City taxes associated with your accommodations. Restaurant reservations and coordination. All insider recommendations for your trip. Local team on call 24-hours a day during your trip.

Exclusions

  • International flights

  • Travel insurance

  • Tips