Tokyo · Sapporo · Kyoto · Okayama · Fukuoka · Nagasaki · Osaka · Kanazawa
On arrival in Tokyo, an English-speaking assistant meets you in the arrivals hall with your travel documents, rail tickets and passes in hand, helps with anything you need at the airport — from setting up a local SIM to any first questions — and walks you to your waiting private transfer.
Begin in Tokyo, where neon districts and quiet temples sit side by side, settling into The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho (or similar). With a private guide you take in Shibuya's famous crossing, the polished boutiques of Ginza, and the leafy promenade of Omotesando, then the grounds of the Imperial Palace at the heart of the city.
A morning at Sensō-ji Temple and the souvenir stalls of Nakamise Street leads to an Asakusa river cruise, and an evening of panoramic skyline views. Four full days is enough to feel the rhythm of the capital before the journey south and north begins.
Fly north to Sapporo, the spirited capital of Hokkaido and home to one of Japan's most renowned food scenes, with nights at the Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo. You explore the seafood markets, the green expanse of Odori Park, and the historic beer district with its local breweries.
Beyond the city lie sweeping mountain landscapes, and a day excursion to the canal town of Otaru — its gas-lit waterway and merchant warehouses among the prettiest sights in the north.
South to Kyoto, the thousand-year imperial capital, with Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto as your base. You walk the Arashiyama bamboo grove, sit for a traditional tea ceremony, and wander the lantern-lit geisha districts after dark.
Iconic temples and Zen gardens fill the days, timed for the quiet hours, and a day trip to Nara brings the Great Buddha and the free-roaming deer of the ancient capital.
On to Okayama and Kōraku-en, one of Japan's three great gardens, set across the river from Okayama Castle with its riverside promenades. Nights are spent at the ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama.
A short journey reaches Kurashiki, whose preserved merchant quarter of white-walled storehouses lines a willow-shaded canal, and the region's celebrated sake rounds out the stay.
West to Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu, famous for its yatai street-food culture — open-air stalls along the river where the city gathers after dark — checking into the Grand Hyatt Fukuoka.
By day you visit ancient temples and shrines and the sleek modern waterfront, and no stay is complete without a bowl of rich Hakata ramen.
Nagasaki carries an international heritage shaped by centuries of trade. You take in Glover Garden and its hillside views, then the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum, quietly moving and quietly hopeful.
Dutch and Chinese influences run through the streets and the cuisine, and the city's fresh seafood is among the finest in the south. Nights are spent at Hotel New Nagasaki.
On to Osaka, Japan's exuberant kitchen, with nights at Patina Osaka. You explore the Dōtonbori entertainment district and its legendary street-food scene — takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and more — and the stalls of Kuromon Market.
Contemporary architecture and a famously lively nightlife make Osaka the energetic counterpoint to the journey's quieter days.
North to Kanazawa, the refined castle town that kept its old quarters intact, settling into Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa. You walk Kenroku-en, another of the country's three great gardens, and the preserved samurai and geisha districts.
Kanazawa is renowned for its gold-leaf artistry; you visit Ōmichō Market and the preserved Edo-period streets that give the city its quiet grace.
Return to Tokyo for last-minute shopping and a few final culinary discoveries in the city where the journey began.
After a final meal, a private transfer takes you to the airport for your flight home — three weeks that spanned Japan north to south, from Hokkaido's markets to Kyushu's heritage.
This is a sample custom route — a starting point, not a fixed package. Many clients travel something very close to this. Book a free consultation and a specialist will build from here.
Your specialist pre-arranges the right luxury experiences based on your interests and travel style. These are the custom experience types available on this route — specific choices are made with you, not for you.
Activities are selected and pre-booked with your specialist based on your interests — not all activities are included in every trip version. Availability varies by season.
You work directly with a specialist who knows Japan deeply — not a call center or booking agent. Every consultation is with someone who has been there, stayed in those hotels, and knows the country inside out.
Alli is a dual citizen of the US and UK, raised between California and Europe, who spent years exploring East Asia — Japan among her favorites. She designs bespoke private itineraries from scratch, built entirely around how you like to travel.
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Raised in one of the country’s largest Japanese-American communities, Cherisse has explored 21 countries and counting. A self-proclaimed foodie, she believes the best way to know Japan is through its cuisine — and designs every itinerary from scratch around you.
Book a Consultation30 minutes, completely free. Walk away with a clear picture of what your luxury custom Japan trip could look like — dates, route, 4 and 5-star accommodations, and all.
