A journey into Japan

Arriving in Japan’s capital, your private driver will take you to one of Tokyo’s most prestigious addresses: The Palace Hotel Tokyo, in the shadow of the central Imperial Palace itself. This will be your home for the next four nights and you’ll spend your first day settling in. Unwinding at Japan’s first Evian Spa, dining in one of the hotel’s ten restaurants, and admiring the scenic Wadakura Fountain Park and the Imperial Palace Plaza from your private balcony. At night, the view alters, unveiling a twinkling skyline stretching from Marunouchi to Toranomon and beyond.

Waking at sunrise, your private guide will take you to the bustling Tsukiji Outer Market. Here, you’ll discover the freshest fish as well as a dazzling array of Japanese delicacies. Fried tamagoyaki, sweet wa-gashi, Tsukemono (Japanese-style pickles), ocha (Japanese green tea). And then lunch will made by you, under the guidance of an expert sushi chef. In the afternoon, you’ll follow the Sumida River to the Asakusa district where you’ll explore the traditional shops of Nakamise and Sensoji, the ruby-red 7th-century Buddhist temple.

Waving farewell to Tokyo (for now), you’ll hop on the train to the historical city of Kanazawa. You’ll spend the day exploring Kenroku-en garden, gold leaf workshops, and Nagamachi (the old samurai district). We’ll then take you to Beniya Mukayu, a beautifully restored ryokan (and spa retreat) encircled by weeping sakura trees. With private outdoor spring baths, you’ll rest here for the night. As you look out at the Yakushiyama hillsides, you’ll dine on kaiseki, the Japanese “tasting menu”. Precise, ornate, ceremonial. And, of course, delicious.

Leaving Beniya Mukayu behind, you’ll arrive in Kyoto. Your first stop? Kiyomizu temple. Here, red pagodas and wooden structures emerge from staggering heights. You’ll breathe in the views before your descent to explore Sannen-zaka and Yasaka-jinja, Kyoto’s sloping, stone-paved streets. Dinner will be a fascinating affair. Attended by you – and by a geisha, a Japanese hostess trained to entertain guests with conversation, dance, and song. Deep in the geisha district lies The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, where you’ll rest your head for the next four nights. Serene, elegant, and at the heart of things.

The day will be spent at leisure, between UNESCO-listed Nijo Castle, Kyoto’s kitchen, Nishiki Market, and the striking torii “tunnels” of Fushimi Inari. But your evening will be spent elsewhere; in the quirky eateries of Osaka. With your expert guide, you’ll explore tucked-away hangouts where the food is rich, the drinks are strong, and the company vibrant – from bicycle bars and basement food halls to tiny hole-in-the-wall venues. And then there’s the markets of Tenma and Namba’s bar scene. After all, the night is young.

Leaving Kyoto behind, you’ll return to Tokyo for your final night, resting up at the 38-storey Otemachi Tower. Located on the top six floors – with rooms featuring ryokan-style influences like shoji screens and furo bathtubs – you’ll find your stylishly modern yet traditional hotel: Aman Tokyo. As night settles on the Tokyo skyline, we’ll take you out for one final evening; discovering (and tasting) award-winning ramen of all kinds, and all across the neighbourhoods of Tokyo.