Exclusive Japan: Amans, Art & Onsen

(15 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Tokyo, Naoshima, Kyoto, Ise-Shima region

Travelers wanting the ultimate in luxury, culture and fine art will appreciate this leisurely private tour of Japan. It features the exclusive Aman hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and the Ise-Shima region, the renowned contemporary art island of Naoshima, relaxing Japanese onsen (hot springs) and flexible private touring of the most interesting cultural sites in each destination.

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. 

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange additional experiences in Tokyo, such as watching sumo wrestlers practice at a sumo stable, a private sushi-making lesson, specialized shopping, meetings with culinary and sake experts, private martial arts lessons, seeing a Japanese baseball game, attending a kabuki performance and visiting the Ghibli Museum. We can also arrange touring to include Japanese seasonal events such as ohanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties in the spring, fireworks festivals in the summer and viewing koyo (fall foliage) in the autumn.

Next, travel to Naoshima, an amazing art destination on an island in the Seto Inland Sea. Stay at Benesse House, a Tadao Ando-designed hotel and contemporary art museum. During private touring, explore Benesse Art Site Naoshima, a collection of museums, installations and art spaces scattered across the island. See compelling artworks by Yayoi Kusama, James Turrell, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Rei Naito, Claude Monet and other top artists. If desired, see additional installations on the nearby islands of Teshima and Inujima (also part of Benesse Art Site). Another option is to visit the island of Shikoku, where permission can be arranged to tour the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum Japan and Ritsurin Garden.

Next, travel to enchanting Kyoto, the heart of Japanese culture and tradition. Stay at one of Kyoto’s best luxury hotels or ryokan (traditional inns), 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, 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 Kyoto’s best restaurants.

One day, enjoy a private excursion from Kyoto. Options include the I.M. Pei-designed Miho Museum; ancient Nara, the eighth-century capital of Japan; Hiroshima for an educational and moving visit to the Peace Park and Museum and nearby Miyajima Island with its iconic torii (Shinto gate) that seems to float on the water; Osaka for food and pop culture touring; Uji to visit tea plantations and Byodoin Temple; and Himeji Castle, the most impressive medieval castle in Japan.

Upon request, other activities that can be arranged around Kyoto include an exclusive private dinner with geisha entertainment, private Zen meditation in a local Buddhist temple, meetings with local craftspeople, private ikebana (flower arranging) lessons, visiting a master swordsmith, meetings with ceramics experts, tea tastings, visits to sake breweries and tofu factories, manga drawing lessons, a visit to a private machiya (traditional merchant house), hiking to temples in the hills, attending local festivals, private Japanese cooking classes, and visiting the best places around Kyoto to view cherry blossoms and fall foliage.

Continue to Amanemu, a luxurious onsen (hot spring) resort overlooking the sea in off-the-beaten-path Mie Prefecture. During private touring, visit fascinating Ise Jingu Shrine, Japan’s most important Shinto shrine and a major pilgrimage site inside a sacred forest. Also see other local highlights such as the famous “wedded rocks” and Mikimoto Pearl Island, where cultured pearls were first developed. During leisure time, enjoy the beautiful setting and amenities of the Aman resort, including your own private hot spring bath. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange helicopter transfers to and from Amanemu.

Return to Tokyo for additional touring or shopping according to your interests.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Arrive Tokyo Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights Day 2 Tokyo Full-day private city tour Day 3 Tokyo Half-day private city tour Day 4 Tokyo – Naoshima Private transfer to station for first-class shinkansen (bullet train), private car and ferry to Naoshima. Private touring en route to hotel for 3 nights Day 5 Naoshima Full-day private tour Day 6 Naoshima & Seto Inland Sea Full-day private tour Day 7 Naoshima – Kyoto Transfer by private car, ferry and first-class shinkansen to Kyoto. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 4 nights. Afternoon private tour Day 8 Kyoto Full-day private city tour, including private tea ceremony and vegetarian lunch at a temple Day 9 Kyoto & environs Full-day private excursion Day 10 Kyoto Half-day private city tour, including option for cultural activity Day 11 Kyoto – Ise-Shima region Private transfer to Ise. Private touring on arrival and transfer to resort for 2 nights Day 12 Ise-Shima region Full-day private tour Day 13 Ise-Shima region – Tokyo Private transfer to Nagoya station for first-class shinkansen to Tokyo. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 2 nights Day 14 Tokyo Half-day private city tour Day 15 Depart Tokyo Private airport transfer

Hotels

Tokyo: Aman Tokyo Naoshima: Benesse House or Ryokan Roka Kyoto: Aman Kyoto Ise-Shima region: Amanemu

Cost

Upon request