Private Custom Travel | Sample Itinerary

A Family Journey Through Japan

route map

Customize Your Luxury Vacation

• Experience the best of Japan on a fully tailored journey

• Enjoy activities tailored to the entire family (best for kids 12 and older, but itinerary can be modified for younger children)

• There are no set dates—the best times of the year to travel are March through May and September through November

• This itinerary can be customized to your interests, specifications and group

• Pricing is per person, based on double occupancy, for a group of four

Destinations

Guests

Moderate Pace

Customizable

What's Included

The price of this all-inclusive custom journey covers everything from travel by car or helicopter, hotels, all daily activities unless specifically outlined, top-of-the-line guides and gratuities. The price excludes international flights to and from your home.

A Family Journey Through Japan

1 Tokyo, Japan
2 Kanazawa, Japan
3 Kyoto, Japan

Explore the journey

1
Tokyo, Japan

Days 1 - 4

Begin your journey in Japan’s vibrant and eclectic capital.

One of the world’s most populous cities, Tokyo enchants and inspires with a heady blend of ancient traditions and ultramodern possibilities. Alongside your private guide, embark on an exciting exploration of this diverse metropolis, which offers immersive activities for the whole family.

Accommodation

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Set high above the city, the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, offers impeccable service and breathtaking views. Enjoy vistas of Mount Fuji from your spacious room that blends futuristic luxury with a sweeping sense of space. Pamper yourself with the essence of Japanese style in your spa-like bathroom that includes a bath and walk-in shower. After a day of exploration, savor a meal in one of the hotel’s fine restaurants or just relax with Asian- and Western-inspired treatments in the 37th-floor spa.

Art & Architecture Private Calligraphy Lesson

Learn the quiet art of calligraphy. After a presentation and demonstration by a master calligrapher, try your own hand at it, carefully writing the Kanji (Japanese character) of your choice.

Shopping Akihabara Electric Town

Explore one of the largest shopping paradises on Earth for electronic and computer goods, as well as shops catering to cosplay, manga and anime fans. Stroll around the area and discover the amazing array of figurines, costumes and merchandise. During your visit, stop for some refreshment and cuddle time at one of the famous “Animal Cafés” in the district.

Food & Wine Private Sushi Making Lesson

Meet your private chef for a hands-on education in how to make several different kinds of sushi, as well as miso soup. Then, enjoy the fruits of your labor during a private lunch.

Archaeology & History Meiji-jingu Shrine

Explore the enormous Meiji-jingu shrine, which was constructed in 1920 by more than 100,000 volunteers to honor Emperor Meiji, the first emperor of modern Japan. While you’re there, wander through the forest of 120,000 trees, donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established.

Shopping Private Shopping Excursion

Set off on a special shopping adventure, accompanied by a local fashion expert who will introduce you to the best brands and secret shops and ateliers in the Omotesando and Aoyama district. If you like, let us know your own preferences and tastes, so that we can design a truly tailor-made high-end shopping experience.

Outdoor Activities Sightseeing by Helicopter

Board your private helicopter for a half-hour sunset flight to gaze at breathtaking views of the city, Tokyo Bay, and, weather permitting, majestic Mount Fuji in the distance.

Activities

Immerse yourself in a wealth of wonders in Japan’s dynamic capital

Experience the best of Tokyo—from gourmet food markets and a private sushi-making lesson to calligraphy, ancient temples and opportunities for shopping. Cap your time here with an unforgettable sunset helicopter flight as you soar over the cityscape and the glittering waters of Tokyo Bay.

See more information here.
2
Kanazawa, Japan

Days 5 - 6

Delve into Japan’s rich cultural heritage in the historic city of Kanazawa.

Kanazawa offers untold delights, including beautifully preserved historic districts with fine examples of traditional architecture, a number of magnificent temples and one of the prettiest gardens in the country. As you explore the city, you’ll come across wonderful museums, an excellent market full of local produce and a pace of life that feels positively leisurely after the excitement of Tokyo.

Accommodation

Beniya Mukayu

A haven of peace and healing since its founding in 1928, Beniya Mukayu welcomes travelers with a blend of traditional Japanese hospitality and invigorating wellness treatments. Each spacious and elegant room boasts its own private open-air hot spring bath and marvelous views of the hotel’s gorgeous Japanese garden. Immerse yourself in morning yoga lessons and signature treatments from the hotel’s blissful spa.

Art & Architecture Samurai District

Explore the ancient samurai district of Nagamachi, where cobblestone streets bordered by earthen walls and decorative gates evoke the feudal times of Japanese history. Visit Nomurake, the former home of a samurai, to gain insight into traditional Japanese architecture.

Outdoor Activities Kenroku-en Castle Garden

Discover the magnificent Kenroku-en garden, one of the most beautiful landscape gardens in the country. As you stroll, admire the harmonious coexistence of the six Chinese attributes of perfection: seclusion, spaciousness, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and expansive views.

Food & Wine Traditional Kaiseki Dinner

Indulge in a multi-course kaiseki dinner, which features surprising and elegant seafood dishes presented in locally made ceramics. The acclaimed restaurant at Beniya Mukayu sources its fresh and delicious cuisine exclusively from local artisans and producers, and organic farmers.

Art & Architecture 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

Visit one of the finest museums of Japan, which is housed in an architecturally striking building that integrates innovative design with an excellent permanent collection of contemporary Japanese artists and renowned international painters and sculptors.

Shopping Higashi-chaya District

Explore the historic Higashi-chaya district, which is home to tea houses where geishas used to entertain their clients. Then, take a stroll along the pedestrian street where handicraft shops sell lacquerware and examples of gold leaf decorated goods, an ancient technique that you can try your hand at in a nearby workshop.

Activities

Experience the glory of Japan’s rich traditions

Take a walk through the past as you explore the historic city of Kanazawa. Delve into the legends of samurais and geishas, discover the peace and harmony of an ancient castle garden and sample some of the exceptional local seafood before fast-forwarding to the future with a visit to an architecturally stunning museum of contemporary art.
3
Kyoto, Japan

Days 7 - 10

Discover the spiritual and cultural heart of Japan.

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years, and it remains a center of pilgrimage and spirituality to this day. It’s a city of contrasts, with ancient temples abutting modern high-rises and tranquil Zen gardens of rock and sand situated near vibrant markets. To really get to know Kyoto, spend some time exploring its quieter sides, and don’t forget to sample some of the traditional restaurants that have made the city a destination for culinary as well as spiritual pilgrims.

Accommodation

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Located on the banks of the serene Kamogawa River, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto blends Japanese architecture with ancient tradition. Japanese gardens and expansive views of the Higashiyama Sanju-Roppo mountain range complement modern room amenities.

World Heritage Sites Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Marvel at magnificent views of the city from the main hall of the hilltop Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which was originally founded in 798 and is now a pilgrimage site for visitors from all over Japan.

Local Immersion Private Tea Ceremony

Visit an ancient tea house in the private part of a temple to experience a tea ceremony, which is one of Japan's most treasured cultural practices. After the ceremony, learn the art of making tea from a tea master—and then enjoy a cup of tea that you prepare yourself.

Food & Wine Culinary Exploration

Discover Nishiki, a narrow shopping arcade that’s home to more than 100 vendors offering a selection of Kyoto’s distinctive culinary delicacies.

Outdoor Activities Bamboo Forest

Take a relaxing stroll around the Kyoto bamboo forest as you engage in the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, before visiting the unique and quiet Otagi-Nenbutsuji Temple.

Local Immersion Toei Uzumasa Eigamura Movie Museum

Delve into the history of Japanese film, and then enjoy a private Tate (Japanese sword fighting) lesson conducted by a professional to learn the skill of samurai swordsmanship.

World Heritage Sites Kinkaku-ji Temple

Experience the glorious Golden Pavilion temple, which was built in 1397 to serve as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

World Heritage Sites Nara Daytrip

Discover the ancient treasures of Nara, the first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century. Visit Nara Park and wander among the herds of freely roaming deer that are a symbol of the city. Marvel at the stone and bronze lanterns of the famed Kasuga-taisha Shrine and then pay your respects at the massive Todaiji temple, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world.

Food & Wine Geisha Dinner

Savor the once-in-a-lifetime experience of dining in one of Kyoto’s most exclusive Japanese restaurants in the company of a geisha and a maiko (geisha in training), as well as a musician. Your guide will be your interpreter as you chat with the geishas before they perform for you.

Activities

Immerse yourself in the imperial traditions, cuisine, and natural beauty of Kyoto

There’s something for everyone in Kyoto. Explore the incredible UNESCO World Heritage temples of this ancient city, savor some local delicacies in the world-famous Nishiki Market, stroll through great stands of bamboo and learn the art of preparing tea from a master.

kyoto

Let's Get Started

This trip is completely customizable and the itinerary can be modified in any way to create a one-of-a-kind journey just for you. The price quoted below is based on the accommodations and activities listed.

$20,750 per person

based on double occupancy for a group of four

Get in touch with us today.

Customize This Trip