14 Days of Art, Architecture & Discovery: A Journey from Tokyo to Naoshima

From July 2025
14 days
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Naoshima & Beyond

Delve into Japan’s creative core on this journey through temples, galleries, and architectural landmarks. Experience private meditations, exclusive tours, and refined stays across Tokyo, Kanazawa, and Naoshima.

Week One

Days 1-5: Tokyo

Arrive in Tokyo via private airport transfer to your design-led hotel, K5 Tokyo. Begin your stay by exploring the city’s architectural contrasts on a private tour with a practicing Tokyo architect and reveal how the city blends traditional forms with modern design. Experience a private zazen meditation session in a quiet neighbourhood temple. Learn to chant sutras and experience seated meditation under the guidance of a local monk. Your time in Tokyo includes visits to independent galleries, design-focused bookstores, historic temples, and leading contemporary art spaces. You’ll move between quiet museum gardens, cutting-edge exhibitions, and overlooked cultural sites that reveal Tokyo’s layered character.

Days 5-7: Karuizawa

Travel to Karuizawa, a quiet mountain town known for its mix of natural beauty and contemporary culture. Stay at Hoshinoya Karuizawa, a luxury ryokan with sleek alpine lodgings set among forested hillsides. With a private guide and driver, explore forest trails, hidden waterfalls, and remote scenic spots away from the main routes. Visit the Hiroshi Senju Museum, a striking space designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Ryue Nishizawa, where light, nature, and art are integrated into a single experience. Karuizawa’s slower rhythm and clean mountain air create space for reflection, creativity, and calm.

Destination highlight

**Nezu Museum, Tokyo** — Nestled in the heart of Aoyama, the Nezu Museum offers a thoughtful collection of pre-modern Asian art surrounded by a beautifully landscaped garden. Architect Kengo Kuma's elegant design creates a seamless blend between indoor galleries and peaceful outdoor pathways, making it a sanctuary within Tokyo’s vibrant centre.

**21_21 Design Sight, Tokyo** — Conceived by Tadao Ando and Issey Miyake, this sleek, subterranean gallery focuses on the intersection of design and daily life. Regular exhibitions challenge ideas of function, creativity, and aesthetics, housed within a minimalist concrete structure that itself feels like a modernist sculpture.

‍**Hiroshi Senju Museum, Karuizawa** — Set deep in a forest, the Hiroshi Senju Museum is devoted to the artist’s luminous waterfall paintings. Architect Ryue Nishizawa designed the building to appear weightless among the trees, encouraging visitors to experience the artworks in complete harmony with the natural world around them.

Week Two

Days 7–10: Kanazawa

Explore Kanazawa, a city known for its preserved geisha districts and refined craft traditions. Join a private kintsugi workshop to learn the art of repairing ceramics with natural lacquer and gold. Visit a local sake brewery and sample a curated selection of regional sake. You will also experience a private geisha dinner, one of the most exclusive forms of Japanese entertainment, held in a traditional teahouse within the historic Higashi Chaya district. Between experiences, visit Kenroku-en Garden, modernist museums, and contemporary galleries that reflect the city’s quiet blend of history and innovation.

Days 10–12: Naoshima

Arrive on Naoshima, a remote island in the Seto Inland Sea known for its museums and architectural landmarks. With a private guide, explore the island’s major works by Tadao Ando, cycling between art sites and quiet fishing villages. Enjoy exclusive after-hours access to select galleries and installations, experiencing the island’s art without the crowds. From underground museums to outdoor sculptures along the coast, Naoshima offers a rare encounter with contemporary art in a deeply natural setting.

Days 12–14: Iwakuni

Located in western Hiroshima Prefecture, Iwakuni offers a slower, more contemplative end to your journey. Stay at the Simose Art Garden Villa, a design-led retreat recently named the world’s most beautiful museum. Take a private half-day tour of Miyajima Island, home to the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine and sacred Mt. Misen.

Experience highlights

**Private Zazen Meditation, Tokyo** — Engage in a calming private Zazen meditation session at Kinryuji Temple, guided by an experienced monk. Afterwards, enjoy matcha tea and seasonal sweets in a traditional tatami room, offering a deeply authentic encounter with Japanese spiritual culture right in the heart of the capital.

**Kintsugi Workshop, Kanazawa** — Discover the centuries-old art of kintsugi at Urushitoki Sadaike, where you’ll learn the delicate process of repairing ceramics with natural lacquer and gold. Led by a master artisan, this hands-on workshop offers a tangible connection to Japan’s philosophy of beauty in imperfection.

**Naoshima Art House Project, Naoshima** — Wander through the Honmura district and step inside traditional Japanese homes transformed into site-specific art installations. The project invites visitors to see the connection between art, architecture, and daily life, all while supporting the revitalization of a rural island community.

Reviews

Ben’s knowledge of Japan’s workings and lesser known experiences is vast. He has a wonderful understanding of flow, which is essential to plan a bespoke trip.

Lauren Born, California, USA

Ben was instrumental in helping us navigate our trip to Japan. He was able to thoughtfully listen and arranged everything from places to stay, eat, see.

Kim Dunham, New York, USA

The consultation with Ben was amazing. He especially had great suggestions when it comes to amazing accommodation.

Kevin Maschke, London, UK

Ben’s knowledge of Japan is unparalleled, and the personalised service helped us avoid tourist traps and discover authentic experiences.

Brettley Clark, California, USA

Where you'll stay

**K5 Tokyo** — Housed in a lovingly restored 1920s bank building, K5 Tokyo blends Scandinavian minimalism with Japanese design sensibilities. Its intimate rooms, stylish dining spaces, and curated art collection create a cosmopolitan yet quietly personal base for exploring Tokyo’s creative heart.

**Hoshinoya Karuizawa** — Set within a bird sanctuary and forest, Hoshinoya Karuizawa offers a ryokan experience fused with eco-conscious luxury. Geothermal heating, serene riverside views, and exquisite kaiseki meals define this tranquil hideaway, perfect for travellers seeking renewal through both nature and design.

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**Benesse House, Naoshima** — Blending seamlessly into Naoshima’s natural hillside, Roka offers a peaceful ryokan experience with warm hospitality, minimalist rooms, and close proximity to the island’s most iconic art sites. It’s an ideal retreat for travellers seeking quiet reflection after days immersed in creative exploration.

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