Luxury Japan Holiday

Airport pick-up by private car with chauffeur: When your flight lands at Tokyo’s Narita Airport or Haneda Airport, please collect your luggage and walk to the arrival hall, where you will be warmly greeted by our service staff, your personal driver. The driver will escort you to the hotel in a luxurious air-conditioned private car that has been well prepared for you. It takes about 1 hour to the hotel from the Narita Airport, while half an hour from the Haneda Airport.

Our handpicked luxury hotels, located in the heart of Tokyo, boasts first class facilities and service. After checking in, you can have a good rest to recover from jet lag. If you have the energy later on, explore the neighborhood around the hotel on your own. Our 4 stars hotel is at Ginza while 5 stars hotel is close to the bustling streets of Kabukicho, where you can enjoy dinner and the colorful nightlife of this metropolis.

Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier (4 stars) or Hilton Tokyo (5 stars)

After enjoying a hearty breakfast buffet, our guide will be waiting for you in the lobby. We’ll start our private car tour to the Meiji Jingu Shrine, which honors the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, and would instantly put you into the context of Japan’s long history. The shrine, known as an urban oasis, will make you feel relaxed with its forests, green spaces, and various wildlife. Next, head to the Shibuya Crossing, featured in many movies. It is the busiest intersection in the world. When the light turns green, the traffic sometimes reaches up to 3,000 people at a time.

★ Tokyo Premium Food Tour with Famous Chef at Shibuya
Shibuya is a Tokyo fashion landmark and a food paradise. Here, our guide will take you to a famous restaurant on Instagram for you to try the omakase sushi (or teppanyaki) with a cup of sake for lunch. A local celebrity chef will prepare food in front of you, and you can see how the raw ingredients are transformed into exquisite dishes by his magical hands. What an eye-opening experience!

After lunch, let’s explore the Asakusa area, passing through the Kaminarimon Gate and the bustling Nakamise Shopping Street, and visiting the prosperous Senso-ji Temple. Follow the guide, do as the locals do, wash your hands and gargle in the front sink before entering the main hall to worship.

★ Special Gift: Rickshaw Experience at Asakusa
In Asakusa area, we will arrange a complimentary 12-minute rickshaw ride for you, which is a unique Japanese cultural experience. A rickshaw man in traditional dress will serve you from the Kaminarimon Gate into alleyways inaccessible by buses and taxis, and with vibrant Showa atmosphere. Along the way, the rickshaw puller will introduce you to the surrounding scenery, and you can take pictures with him.

► Tip: There are many kimono rental shops near the Senso-ji Temple. If you like, you can rent a kimono at your own expense, dress like a local and take photos.

★ Tokyo Panorama Seen from Roppongi Hills
In the late afternoon, we will go up to the roof observation deck on the 52nd floor of the skyscraper Roppongi Hills to enjoy the urban views of the Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba and, on a good day, the Mount Fuji. See the sunset and night view, and you can also visit the Mori Arts Center inside the building.

Finally, our guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier (4 stars) or Hilton Tokyo (5 stars)

In the morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel for a 2 hours ride by our private car with driver, from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji 5th Station or as high as possible. The elegant snow-capped summit of Mt. Fuji is often coyly hidden in the clouds. In good weather, you can see the true face of this famous mountain in Japan.

Cruise down Lake Ashi & Admire Mt. Fuji
Next, we’ll drive to Hakone. Follow the guide to start a Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise by Hakone Pirate Ship from the Hakone Bay Boat Pier. The beautiful, crystal-clear volcanic Lake Ashi that backs Mt. Fuji is one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in Hakone area. We will provide you with a first-class ticket, which allows you to take a viewing seat on the second floor and access to the top deck. During the 30-minute cruise, you can see the top of Mt. Fuji on a sunny day, the Heiwa no Tori of the Hakone Shrine as well as other shrines and scenic spots along the lake’s shore.

Visit Steaming Owakudani & Eat Unique Black Eggs
When the ship reaches Togendai-ko Pier, we will disembark and take the Hakone Ropeway from Togendai Station to Owakudani, which is known by some as hell and by others as a wonderland for its mysterious, steamy scenery. From the observation deck of the Owakudani Boiling Valley, you can see below constant streams of sulfur steam and volcanic gas spewing from exposed crevices in the rocks, as well as hot springs heated by the geothermal energy.
► Special Gift for You: Here, our guide will invite you to taste a black egg (kuro-tamago) cooked in the hot spring water. The local legend has it that eating one black egg can prolong your life by 7 years! Can’t wait to try one?
► If there’s still time, we will take you to the Hakone Open-Air Museum (entrance ticket excluded).

★ Stay at a Luxury Onsen Ryokan & Enjoy Authentic Japanese Cuisine
After the visit, our driver will pick you up in our private car and take you to our carefully selected upscale ryokan. The guide will help you check in, explain the schedule for the next day, and then leave. You’ll be free to enjoy the night. The ryokan is located in a valley near the Sukumo and Haya Rivers in Hakone Yumoto, with stunning views. Enjoy the ryokan’s delicious Japanese food for dinner, take a break, and then soak in its natural hot spring with indoor bathhouse and open-air onsen, and completely relax yourself.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hakone Pax Yoshino (4 stars) or Yumoto Fujiya Hotel (5 stars) in Hakone

Transfer to Kyoto on Your Own (tickets from Odawara to Kyoto included):
You need to go to Kyoto by train this morning. We will reserve the train tickets from Odawara to Kyoto for you in advance. Please check out of the hotel one hour ahead of the train’s departure time. Ask the hotel staff to reserve a taxi in advance at your own cost, taking you to the Odawara Station in 20 minutes. From here, take the Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto. Sometimes it may need to transfer at Nagoya Station. Please rest assured that our guide will inform you of the details in advance. The whole journey takes about 3 hours this morning.

Kyoto Essence Tour
Upon arrival in Kyoto, you will be met at the train station by our local guide, who will first escort you to the hotel within walking distance for check-in. Drop off your luggage, and then the guide will accompany you on a short taxi ride to the Pure Water Temple (Kiyomizu-dera Temple). Here, in addition to the Buddhist architecture, you will marvel at the traditional Stage of Kiyomizu built on the hillside. From below, you can see this huge wooden stage without a single nail. Climb up the stage, and you can get a panoramic view of Kyoto.

After the visit, our guide will lead you to start a Gion walking tour. Stroll from Sannenzaka to Ninenzaka, both of which are bustling ramped pedestrian streets lined with traditional Japanese architecture, teahouses and souvenir stalls. Walk all the way to the Maruyama Park, a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in spring, where you can see a huge weeping cherry tree that are more than 200 years old. Visit the Yasaka Shrine and then enter Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district, where you might happen to see a dressed geisha walking past. If time permits, the guide will lead you to the nearby Kennin-ji Temple to admire its beautiful murals before escorting you to the Gion Corner Theater for a traditional geisha performance.

★ Enjoy Geisha Show at Gion Corner
No visit to Japan is complete without seeing a geisha performance. We will specially arrange a wonderful geisha show for you at a famous local theater. Dressed in kimonos, with delicate makeup and elegant manners, these geishas or maikos (apprentice geishas) specialize in traditional dance of the Kansai region, offering a great feast of Japanese culture and crafts.
► Instead of an informal show in a small teahouse on a regular tour, our luxury tour arranges this prestigious theater for our distinguished guests to enjoy a formal geisha performance.
► VIP tickets for premium seats in front rows will be arranged for you, allowing an up-close experience.
► Watch seven authentic traditional art performances in one go, including Kyomai dance, ikebana flower arranging, tea ceremony, koto music, bugaku dance, Kyogen comedy, and bunraku puppet show.
► Tip: After taking you to the theater, our guide will leave. After the show, you can walk around Gion to enjoy the night view and then take a taxi for 10 minutes back to the hotel at your own expense.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station (4 stars) or The Thousand Kyoto (5 stars)

► Lunch & Dinner Suggestions: (on your own expense)
The Nishiki Market, in the heart of Kyoto, is a proper place for lunch recommended by many gourmets; while the Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, and Gion areas are full of snack bars that are good for dinner. Our guide will be willing to give you advice on what and where to eat. You can try dango dumplings, matcha ice cream, tempura, croquette or other local food.

After breakfast, our guide and the driver will pick you up from your hotel for a morning tour of the World Heritage Sites of Kyoto. First, we will head to the Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple). Its representative building Golden Pavilion, aka the Shariden Hall, will impress you with its elegant shape and its reflection in the Mirror Lake. The gilded pavilion was actually rebuilt after it had been burned down in 1950. Only the golden copper phoenix statue on its spire is the original. There is an appalling story about the fire, which our guide, who is well versed in Kyoto history, will tell you during the tour.

Next, the guide will take you to explore the Nijo Castle. Get across the moat to enter the city wall, and enjoy the courtyards, gardens, and buildings dating back to the early 17th century. From these well-preserved buildings, you can see the great power of the castle’s owner, the shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa.

Travel to Osaka and Visit Dotonbori
In the afternoon, our guide will escort you to Osaka in about 1.5 hours by private car with driver. Check into the hotel, take a short break, and then visit Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, and Hozenji Yokocho, the most popular business and food district in Osaka. In the end, our guide will take you back to the hotel, or you can enjoy some free time at Dotonbori if you wish and make your own way back to the hotel, which is just 7 or 8 minutes’ walk south.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Namba Oriental Hotel (4 stars) or Swissotel Nankai Osaka (5 stars)

Please check out after breakfast. Our guide will be waiting for you in the lobby. Take your luggage to board our private car taking you to Osaka’s famous attractions. We’ll start with the Osaka Castle Park, a sizable urban garden in the heart of the city. Stand in the middle of the park to admire the Osaka Castle, an irreplaceable symbol of Osaka. Take a 20-minute Osakajo Gozabune Cruise along the inner moat, and you can observe the towering castle and honmaru from different angles. Next, we’ll visit the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine on the way to the airport. Avoid noisy tour groups and you'll get a truly reverent Shinto vibe in a quiet Japanese town. The red arched footbridge inside the shrine will definitely impress you. The sight of the local families with their newborn babies coming here to pray will also make you have warm and interesting memories.

End of Service:
We hope you’ve enjoyed your luxury Japan tour! We will arrange the Osaka Kansai International Airport drop-off service by private car according to your flight time. You are recommended to book a flight after 17:00 or in the evening to allow sufficient transfer time. Have a nice trip home!

Meals: Breakfast

► Tip: If you would like to add or upgrade some of the activities, please contact our travel consultants, and all of our tours can be customized to your individual needs. Or if you want to extend your trip to other countries, don't hesitate to contact us!