Luxuries of Japan & Thailand

(14 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Bangkok, Chiang Mai

This private tour of Japan and Thailand is one of the greatest luxury journeys in Asia. It's an ideal combination of Japanese and Thai culture, cuisine and lifestyle. It features private cultural touring with your own guide and driver, accommodation in the best luxury hotels and resorts, private airport transfers, first-class train travel in Japan, internal flights in Thailand, access to a wide range of unique activities and more.

Begin in Tokyo, the capital of contemporary culture and style in Japan. Stay at one of the city’s best luxury hotels, and enjoy comprehensive city touring with your private guide and driver. Visit Tokyo’s most interesting neighborhoods, such as Ginza, Asakusa, Shibuya, Harajuku, Aoyama, Shinjuku and Roppongi. See striking contemporary architecture, and tour important historical sites such as Meiji Jingu Shrine and Sensoji Temple. Experience the best of Japanese pop culture during visits to trendy districts, specialty shops, quirky cafes and popular sites such as Yoyogi Park. Also visit Tokyo’s best museums and art sites, such as the Mori Art Museum, a teamLab Planets installation, Edo-Tokyo Museum or the Tokyo National Museum according to your interests. Experience Tokyo’s exciting culinary scene during visits to the Tsukiji Outer Market or Toyosu Market, the Kappabashi kitchenware district, and our favorite specialty food shops and department store food halls. Artisans of Leisure can also assist with reservations at the best restaurants in Tokyo, which range from local noodle shops, sushi bars and izakaya (pubs) to some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world.

Continue to Hakone, a volcanic national park renowned for hot springs and views of nearby Mount Fuji. Stay at one of Japan’s most luxurious and renowned ryokan (traditional inns), where you can soak in outdoor onsen (hot spring bath) and enjoy a gourmet kaiseki ryori (seasonal tasting menu) dinner. During private touring, explore Hakone’s geothermal areas and historical sites. Perhaps also visit one of Hakone’s best art museums or a studio dedicated to yosegi (inlaid wood), a local craft. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can incorporate hiking, a drive up the base of Mount Fuji or a boat ride on Lake Ashi.

Next, travel to enchanting Kyoto, the heart of Japanese culture and tradition. Stay at one of Kyoto’s best luxury hotels or ryokan, and enjoy flexible private touring of the best of this elegant city with your private guide and driver. Visit the city’s most important historic attractions and temples and shrines such as Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), Ryoanji and its famous Zen rock garden, Kiyomizudera Temple, Nijo Castle, Ginkakuji, Saihoji (Moss Temple) and Fushimi Inari, famous for its tunnel of red torii gates. Take a private excursion to Arashiyama, a beautiful mountainside district, to see its enormous bamboo forest, historic gardens and sites, and to have a vegetarian lunch at a Zen temple. Enjoy a private tour of Gion, Kyoto’s traditional geisha district, walk on the Philosopher’s Path, and see traditional architecture in our favorite neighborhoods. Also browse Nishiki Market, antiques districts, small specialty museums and historic shops that have been selling traditional goods for centuries. Upon request, we can arrange access to imperial villas and private gardens such as Katsura Rikyu and other less-visited attractions. Artisans of Leisure will also arrange an exclusive private Japanese tea ceremony in a tea villa and reservations at the Kyoto’s best restaurants.

Next, fly to Bangkok, the colorful capital of Thailand. With your own private guide, experience the most interesting parts of this fascinating city. Enjoy a private longtail boat tour through the residential canals. Visit Bangkok's most important temples, and learn about Buddhist practices and influences on daily life. Explore markets overflowing with textiles, flowers, food and crafts. Tour small museums and interesting local neighborhoods. During leisure time, enjoy one of the world's leading spas, shop for exquisite Thai silk, and dine on some of Southeast Asia's best cuisine.

Conclude with several days in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Stay at an exclusive luxury resort surrounded by mountains and lush fields of terraced rice paddies. During touring with your private guide and driver, participate in a morning Buddhist alms ceremony at a mountaintop temple, enjoy a hands-on experience at an elephant sanctuary, visit local hill tribe villages, and explore Chiang Mai's temples and markets. During leisure time, perhaps enjoy a Thai cooking class, spa treatment, or time to relax at the wonderful resort.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Arrive Tokyo, Japan Private arrival transfer to hotel for 2 nights Day 2 Tokyo Full-day private city tour Day 3 Tokyo – Hakone Private transfer to station for first-class shinkansen (bullet train) to Hakone. Full-day private tour on arrival. Private transfer to luxury hot springs ryokan for 1 night, including kaiseki ryori dinner Day 4 Hakone – Kyoto Private transfer to station for first-class shinkansen to Kyoto. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights. Afternoon private tour Day 5 Kyoto Full-day private city tour, including private tea ceremony and vegetarian lunch at a temple Day 6 Kyoto & environs Full-day private city tour with option for cultural activity, or private excursion Day 7 Kyoto – Bangkok, Thailand Private transfer to Osaka airport for flight to Bangkok (flight not included in cost). VIP airport assistance through immigration. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights Day 8 Bangkok Full-day private city tour Day 9 Bangkok Half-day private city tour Day 10 Bangkok – Chiang Mai Private transfer to airport for flight to Chiang Mai. Private arrival transfer to resort for 4 nights Day 11 Chiang Mai Half-day private tour, including option for sunrise alms-giving Day 12 Chiang Mai Private excursion to elephant sanctuary or cultural touring. Private evening visit to night market Day 13 Chiang Mai Morning market visit and Thai cooking lesson or private cultural touring Day 14 Depart Chiang Mai Private airport transfer. VIP departure assistance

Hotels

Tokyo: Aman Tokyo Hakone: Gora Kadan Kyoto: The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto Bangkok: Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok or Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River Chiang Mai: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Cost

Upon request