Sacred Pathways: A 14-Day Spiritual Pilgrimage Across Japan
Trace the steps of monks, pilgrims, and poets on this rare journey through Japan’s spiritual heartlands.
Week One
Days 1-5: Tokyo
Arrive in the capital via private transfer, and settle into luxury ryokan, Hoshinoya Tokyo. Begin your journey with a private zazen session inside a peaceful temple, tucked into one of Tokyo’s oldest neighbourhoods few travellers ever visit. Explore the quiet backstreets of Yanaka, where small temples, incense shops, and timeworn alleyways preserve Tokyo’s spiritual roots. Take a private tour of Meiji Shrine, Japan’s most iconic Shinto site, set within a towering forest that hums with silence. Conclude with a private taiko drumming workshop, learning how sound and spirit intertwine in one of Japan’s oldest musical traditions.
Days 5-7: Magome Juku
Travel by private transfer to the mountains of Gifu, where the Nakasendo Trail winds through cedar forests and stone-paved villages. Settle into Magome-juku with a local guide and explore hidden paths, teahouses and viewpoints of Japan’s historic route. Hike between villages, discover local crafts and woodwork, and visit the Wakihonjin Museum, housed in a former Edo-period inn once reserved for high-ranking officials.
Week Two
Day 7-9: Kanazawa
Arrive by bullet train to Kanazawa, where craftsmanship and heritage shape daily life. Stroll through Higashi Chaya, the city’s historic geisha district, where latticed wooden teahouses conceal centuries-old rituals. Enjoy an exclusive private geisha dinner, where you’ll dine and converse with a practising geigi — one of the few still performing in the refined Kanazawa style. Visit Kenroku-en Garden at first light with your guide, and stroll its winding paths while the city still sleeps. Step inside a local sake brewery for a private tasting led by a toji, or master brewer.
Day 9-12: Kyoto
Go far beyond the tourist routes to experience the spiritual heart of Japan’s ancient capital. Begin with a private tea ceremony inside a traditional machiya, guided by a tea master. Enjoy a private wagashi confectionery workshop, where you’ll sculpt seasonal sweets into edible artworks. On a private half-day tour, explore the tea plantations of Uji, Japan’s tea capital, where family-run farms have produced some of the finest matcha for generations. End your days in the tranquil and luxurious Aman Kyoto.
Day 12–14: Wakayama
End your pilgrimage on the sacred Kumano Kodo, a UNESCO-listed network of trails used by emperors, monks, and seekers for over a thousand years. With a private guide, hike sections of the Nakahechi Route, where moss-covered jizo statues line the forest paths and ancient cedar trees tower overhead. Depart to your private island accommodation to soak in mineral-rich waters after long days on the trail. These final days bring the journey full circle; grounding, cleansing, and deeply connected to the stillness that runs beneath it all.
