Japan Essentials: A 14-Day Cultural Escape from Tokyo to Kyoto
From private geisha dinners in Kyoto to design hotels beside Mt Fuji, this two-week experience combines Japan’s must-see highlights with rare encounters.
Week One
Days 1-5: Tokyo
Arrive via private airport transfer and check-in to Aman Tokyo, one of the world’s most celebrated hotels, offering panoramic skyline views and a serene spa. Explore iconic landmarks and lesser-known neighbourhoods, beginning with a private tour of Meiji Shrine, where you’ll gain insight into Japan’s spiritual traditions and rituals. Wander through Tomigaya, a low-rise neighbourhood of Scandinavian cafes and independent design bookstores. Visit a sumo stable for an intimate look at the rituals behind Japan’s national sport. Sample fresh seafood and street-side sushi at the outer lanes of Tsukiji Market, and spend a morning at Daikanyama T-Site, a beautifully curated bookstore complex filled with art volumes, travel guides, and Japanese design publications.
Days 5-6: Lake Kawaguchiko
Just two hours from Tokyo, the Fuji Five Lakes region offers a slower pace and direct connection to nature. Stay at Hoshinoya Fuji, a minimalist retreat set in the forest above Lake Kawaguchiko, where floor-to-ceiling windows offer uninterrupted views of Mt Fuji. Wake early for a sunrise canoeing experience on the lake, followed by a private cycling tour through hidden temples, and pathways rarely explored by visitors. Visit Fujiyoshida, a traditional town at the mountain’s base, and hike to Chureito Pagoda, where sweeping views frame Mt Fuji alongside the silhouette of a five-storey pagoda.
Week Two
Day 6-8: Takayama & Nagano
Step back in time in Takayama, a preserved Edo-period town known for its wooden streets, morning markets, and signature Hida beef. From here, venture into the Japanese Alps to Kamikochi, a pristine valley of forests, rivers, and towering peaks. Cross the iconic Kappa Bridge and follow trails along the Azusa River, or take on longer hikes to dramatic alpine summits like Mt. Kita-Hotakadake.
Day 8-12: Kyoto
Wake up to panoramic city views from Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto, a new hilltop retreat offering a rare perspective over Kyoto’s historic skyline. Begin in Gion, the city’s famed geisha district, where lantern-lit alleys and preserved machiya architecture evoke a sense of old Kyoto and enjoy an exclusive private geisha dinner in a traditional teahouse. Explore hidden temples and lesser-known bamboo groves in Arashiyama, followed by a private boat cruise through its forested riverside. Dive into Kyoto’s culinary scene with a private food tour through Nishiki Market, where generations of artisans sell handmade sweets, fresh seafood, and traditional ceramics.
Day 12–14: Naoshima
Your final stop is Naoshima, Japan’s island of contemporary art. Stay overnight at Benesse House, a museum-hotel designed by Tadao Ando where you can explore exhibits 24/7. See Yayoi Kusama’s Yellow Pumpkin, a now-iconic sculpture perched on the shore, and visit Naoshima Pavilion, a futuristic mesh structure by Sou Fujimoto. At the Valley Gallery, Kusama’s mirrored spheres and Ozawa’s modern Buddha statues line the approach to one of Ando’s newest masterpieces — a poetic blend of form, light, and land.
