Signature Japan – 9 Days

Signature Japan 2023-24

9 days from $16,495 per person

Special Offer: Private Tour, You can pick the date freely and we will arrange for you based on it.

Discover the incredible breadth of Japan’s culture and history, from the contemporary flair of Tokyo to the charms of traditional Kyoto, visiting historic temples, overnighting at a sought-after ryokan, and sampling its culinary treasures.

Advantages

  • Private Tour, You can pick the date freely and we will arrange for you based on it.
  • PRIVATE TOUR
  • Behold the exalted flowering cherry trees, known locally as sakura, or view the vivid red leaves of autumn
  • Experience neon-lit Tokyo and feel the vitality of this buzzy world capital, playing taiko drums and visiting a seafood market
  • Be among the few to stay at Gôra Kadan, one of the country’s most exclusive ryokans (traditional inns), access made possible by A&K’s local relationships
  • Zoom by bullet train along the classic stretch past majestic Mount Fuji to Osaka, where you savor a foodie experience in the renowned Dotonbori District
  • Embrace the tranquil spirit of Kyoto, exploring the traditional Zen rock gardens at Ryoan-ji and contemplating the gold leaf detailing at the glittering Kinkaku-ji Temple

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Tokyo, Japan

Arrive in Tokyo, Japan’s exciting capital. Transfer to your hotel, located near the Imperial Palace.

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi or similar.

Day 2: Tokyo | Spiritual Centers & Exclusive Workshop

This morning, visit Asakusa Kannon Temple. This colorful pagoda-style temple was completed in 645 and is dedicated to Kannon, the goddess of mercy in several East Asian spiritual traditions. Continue to a family-owned workshop that specializes in Japanese drum making, and try your hand at playing the taiko, on an A&K-exclusive experience. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before exploring the Tokyo National Museum, the oldest national museum in Japan and home to a vast collection of Japanese art and antiquities. Continue to Meiji Shrine, a Shinto complex dedicated to an emperor that was rebuilt after World War II.

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Tokyo | Design Your Day

Start your day at a local fish market, a bustling hub of Japanese daily life where a dizzying array of seafood can be found. Then, receive a lesson in sushi making, followed by lunch, during a Chef ’s Table experience. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities:

Explore the Mori Art Museum to take in local contemporary art.

Learn the Secrets of the Samurai Warriors and test your sword skills during a private class led by a modern-day master samurai.

Indulge in a Sake Tasting, sampling some of Japan’s finest sake and learning about its cultural importance.

Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Hakone | Stay at a Traditional Ryokan

Travel to Hakone, among Japan’s most popular hot-spring destinations, and immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Board an aerial tram rising above the wooded slopes for inspiring views of Mount Fuji. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before strolling the grassy hillsides of Hakone’s Open-Air Museum. Admire the impressive contemporary sculptures and artwork on display, including masterpieces by Henry Moore and Auguste Rodin. The museum also features one of the world’s finest Picasso exhibits, presenting visitors with over 100 works by the cubist master. Tonight, enjoy unparalleled service at Gôra Kadan, an exclusive ryokan (traditional inn).

Gôra Kadan or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Osaka | Bullet Train & Dotonbori Delicacies

After breakfast at your ryokan, head to the Okada Museum of Art to view its stunning collection of paintings, ceramics, lacquerware and bronzes from Japan, Korea and China. Then, Ride Like a Local by bullet train to Osaka. Historically known as a merchant city, it is today renowned as Japan’s undisputed culinary capital, where diners indulge in everything from octopus dumplings to okonomiyaki — a battered, grilled concoction of chopped cabbage, meat or seafood, and seaweed, topped with mayonnaise. This evening, enjoy a wonderful foodie tour in the Dotonbori District, sampling dishes from the brilliantly lit and culinarily creative restaurants that line the street.

The St. Regis Osaka or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Nara | Insights into a Profoundly Spiritual Heritage

Travel early this morning to Nara, Japan’s first capital. Visit Todai-ji, a temple complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan. Continue to Nara Park, home to hundreds of tame deer, venerated here as divine spirits, which you have the opportunity to feed by hand. Next visit the celebrated Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Conclude your Nara excursion with an exploration of the Naramachi District, comprised of winding Japanese streets and modernized merchant houses.

The St. Regis Osaka or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Kyoto | The Golden Pavilion & Bamboo Grove

Travel to Kyoto early this morning to contemplate the iconic Zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji and glittering Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion). Covered in gold leaf that casts a shimmering reflection in the tranquil pond beside it, the temple exhibits three different styles of architecture — shinden, samurai and Zen — one on each floor. After lunch, explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, strolling along a winding path as sunlight filters down through towering bamboo shoots, considered by many a healing experience. Proceed to nearby Tenryu-ji Temple and its wonderful gardens before continuing to your hotel.

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Kyoto | Hillside Views and Tea

This morning, visit Kiyomizu Temple, a celebrated Buddhist temple known for its stunning views of Kyoto. Marvel at the city from afar and enjoy the panorama of cherry and maple trees that come into color in the spring and fall. Proceed to a local temple, where you experience the art of the tea ceremony, noting its refined sense of hospitality and etiquette, which date to the time of the samurai. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto or similar.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Depart Kyoto

Transfer to Kansai International Airport or Itami Airport, both located just outside of Osaka, for your international flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Included With Every Signature Luxury Tailor Made Journey
  • A Ready-to-Book, Private Itinerary Designed for You
  • Hand-Selected Luxury Accommodations
  • Exclusive Insider-Access Opportunities and Inspiring Sightseeing
  • English-Speaking Local Guides
  • Airport Meet and Greet with Private Transfers
  • Full Breakfast Daily
  • Entrance Fees and Taxes
  • 24/7 A&K On-Call Support

Accommodation Plan:

  • Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
  • Gôra Kadan
  • The St. Regis Osaka
  • Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
price per person in DBL or TRPL room$16445