Luxury Tour of Japan: Modern Meets Traditional in Tokyo, Kyoto & Miyajima - 10 Days

Day 3: Hands-On Cooking Class, TeamLab Planets & Miraikan Museum 

Try your hand at cooking Japanese food today as you meet with a local chef and learn the secrets behind Japan's incredible cuisine. You'll start with traditional appetizers, then move on to classic dishes such as Wagyu beef, dashimaki tamago (rolled, pan-friend eggs), miso soup, hot pot with thinly sliced beef, tofu, and vegetables, and kuzu manju, a confectionary served with a rich matcha syrup. Your instructors will guide you through the process as they regale you with stories about how each dish plays into Japan's food culture, then you'll sit down to enjoy your meal.

After you've sated your appetite, embark on a privately guided trip to TeamLab Planets, an interactive exhibition that gives new meaning to the term "modern art." Walk barefoot through four different spaces, following art as it moves along the walls, and interact with body-immersive exhibits that minimize boundaries between the human body and artistic creation.

Time permitting, your guide can also take you to the high-tech district of Odaiba and the Miraikan Museum (officially the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation), where you'll find zones dedicated to science, nature, and technology. Witness the changing weather patterns of our blue planet on the LED globe Geo-Cosmos, say hello to the museum's famous robot residents, and experience what it's like being inside the International Space Station. 

Day 4: Discover the Wonders of Mount Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi, Whisky Tasting

Today's excursions revolve around the legendary Mount Fuji, an active volcano located approximately one hour from Tokyo. Mount Fuji, or Fuji-san as the locals call it, is the country's highest peak, stretching into the sky at more than 12,000 feet (3,776 m). It's a common pilgrimage site, with people coming from around the world to hike it, and is considered one of Japan's three sacred mountains. 

Your private guide will pick you up from your hotel, and you'll make your first stop at Arakurayama Sengen Park, where Mount Fuji views frame a monumental pagoda. See Oshino Hakkai, a set of eight ponds fed by snow melt from Fuji's slopes, and stop in at Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan, a small museum at Oshino Hakkai's largest pond with a thatched-roof farmhouse and exhibits of farming tools, household items, samurai armor, and weapons.

Board a boat for a cruise across Lake Kawaguchi or head for the sky on the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, reaching an observation deck for panoramic lake and mountain views. The day closes with a stop at the Fuji Gotemba Distillery, where whisky and saké are produced using water sourced from Fuji's snow melt. Learn about their whisky-making process, and see the pot stills, distillation equipment, and wooden vat fermentation tanks that produce various types of whisky. Enjoy a tasting of the different spirits, then head back to Tokyo for the evening. 

Day 5: Train to Kyoto, Samurai Ninja Museum & Kimono Tea Ceremony

You're off to Kyoto today! This cultural powerhouse of a city is known for its historic traditions, such as kaiseki dining and geisha entertainers, as well as its numerous temples, gardens, and palaces. Your private transfer will take you to the train station, and you'll board a Shinkansen bullet train for the 2.5-hour ride. Seating will be in the Green Car section, which is more spacious and offers a nice array of amenities.

Upon arrival, you'll be met by your private driver and escorted to Ryokan Genhouin, a traditional Japanese inn that sits on a quiet Kyoto street. This 100-year-old property was once the opulent residence of Count Yamashina and serves as a shining testament to the preservation of imperial court culture. The property features a well-kept garden and traditional wooden architecture, and its location offers an easy walk to local attractions such as Heian Shrine or Shoren-in Temple.

 

Relax for a bit in your luxurious suite, then start your immersion into this fascinating city with a kimono tea ceremony. Known as chanoyu or sado, this highly ritualized tradition was born and curated in Kyoto. Your driver will take you to a property in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward, where you'll don a colorful kimono and learn the history of the ceremonies while sipping fragrant and flavorful tea. Afterward, stop in at the Samurai & Ninja Museum. Try on samurai armor for souvenir pictures and wield replica swords, getting a glimpse of what it was like to be one of the most prestigious ruling classes of old Japan.

Day 6: Highlights of Kyoto Tour, Geisha Dinner Performance

The day begins with a private tour of some of Kyoto's most revered historic sites. Your guide will collect you from your hotel, and you'll start at Kinkaku-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple with a large golden pavilion. Walk the peaceful grounds here, and be sure to visit the temple's two top floors, which are completely covered in gold leaf. Then, head to the impressive Nijo Castle, built in 1603 as the residence of Edo-era shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Take in the grand design and beautiful decor, and roam the lovely garden with its elegant water features and springtime cherry blossoms.

Your final stop is the captivating Fushimi Inari-taisha. Featured in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha,” this shrine has more than 10,000 picturesque red torii gates, all donated by individuals and businesses as a sign of appreciation to the god Inari for the blessings received. Take a light hike along the torii-lined route up the mountain for sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.

Tonight, explore the mysterious world of the geisha at a private dinner show. Together with your guide, visit a traditional machiya, a registered Cultural Heritage Property, and meet the geishas (female Japanese performing artists) and maiko (geishas in training). Watch a dance performance and learn more about the traditions of this age-old art while dining on an authentic Japanese kaiseki meal of seasonal fish, meat, vegetables, rice, soup, and pickles. After the performance, you'll have an opportunity to take photos with the entertainers and participate in some traditional games if time permits. 

Day 7: Explore Nara City: Parks, Temples & Friendly Deer

Just 30 miles (50 km) south of Kyoto lies Nara, once the first permanent capital of Japan and now a city known for its World Heritage temples, gardens, and parks full of friendly deer. You'll have a chance to explore this lush region as you head out with your guide for a private city tour.

Visit Nara Park, where you'll find peaceful greenery and walking trails, one of which takes you through Mount Kasuga Primeval Forest and features more than 175 different types of trees. Say hello to the deer, who are quite likely to approach and let you feed them, and stop at Todai-ji temple, home to the giant Daibutsu Buddha statue and one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples. 

Afterward, you'll spend some time at Kasuga-taisha shrine, which offers a traditional Shinto experience. Founded around the same time as Nara, the shrine features the unusual Kasuga-zukuri architectural style, with stone lanterns lining the paths and a vermilion-colored main sanctuary. The sanctuary is also adorned with bronze lanterns dangling from the roof, making a stroll around the shrine even more impressive. Return to Kyoto in time for dinner at your hotel, or let your guide suggest a local restaurant.

Day 9: Itsukushima Shrine & Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park 

Spend your last full day in Japan taking in some of the sights around the island and in nearby Hiroshima. Start with a visit to Miyajima's UNESCO-listed Itsukushima-jinja, a shrine built over water with boardwalks connecting its main hall, prayer hall, and other buildings. At high tide, the giant red-orange torii gate appears to float in the ocean, and during low tide, you can walk to the foot of the gate to see it up close.

Afterward, head to the pier and take the ferry to Hiroshima, the historic city that was largely destroyed by an atomic bomb during World War II. Visit Peace Memorial Park, which features original photography and artifacts recovered from the atomic bombing. Stop at the Peace Memorial Museum within the park, which serves as a somber reminder to never take peace for granted, and the Atomic Bomb Dome, a building still left standing from the bomb explosion and a disturbing but important testament to the horrors of war. Return to your ryokan and rest up for tomorrow's departure.