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To understand a country, you begin with its icons. The landmarks of Japan aren’t just famous; they are Japan at its most expressive. This journey takes you from neon-lit Tokyo to the timeless streets of Kyoto, through the mountain villages of the Japanese Alps and onto the shores of Miyajima. Trains are the lifeblood of this itinerary—fast, seamless, and a joy in their own right. You’ll stay in a mix of traditional ryokans and sleek city hotels, with time to absorb the country’s rhythms at your own pace. From tea ceremonies to torii-lined paths, from bustling market streets to hidden gardens, this is Japan as it should be experienced—deeply, thoughtfully, and without hurry.
At each port of call you’ll be accompanied by your private driver/guide while staying at our curated collection of utterly unique boutique hotels. There are many ways of seeing Vietnam, this is the Yonder way.
What's Included
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International flights from the UK
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Stunning & unique hotels
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Private, expert-guided tours
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All transfers & collections by private chauffeur
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Dedicated support 24/7
Sample itinerary in full
Remember: Every Yonder itinerary is uniquely created to suit our individual clients. Destinations, hotels, lengths of stay and even modes of transport are all decided by you, with the help of our local knowledge and expert guidance.
DAYS 1-4 | Tokyo
A direct arrival into Tokyo, where the skyline unfolds like an intricate puzzle of glass, steel, and neon. Your base is a contemporary retreat high above Shibuya, the city’s restless heart. Below, students rush between coffee shops, boutiques push the boundaries of design, and at night, the streets hum with the energy of izakayas and underground jazz bars. With a private guide, Tokyo is whatever you need it to be. A slow morning in the alleys of Shimokitazawa, where vinyl shops and coffee houses open lazily. A deep dive into the city’s craft culture, from the sharp precision of a knifemaker in Kappabashi to the fluid artistry of a calligrapher in a private studio. Time is left for self-guided discovery: the incense-filled air of Sensoji, the contrast of Harajuku’s fashion tribes, the early-morning ritual of the fish market, where the knife work is as disciplined as a tea ceremony. An evening might end at a quiet counter seat in Ebisu, where the chef prepares each dish with near-meditative focus.
Your included hotel
Aman Tokyo
Your alternative hotel choices
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
DAYS 5-6 | Kanazawa
The journey turns westward. The shinkansen delivers you to Kanazawa, a city of artisans. The precision of Kyoto without the spectacle. The samurai quarters whisper stories of feudal Japan, the geisha houses in Higashiyama still hold their secrets. Visit the Kutani Porcelain Museum, a nod to the city’s dedication to craftsmanship. The experience continues with a tea ceremony inside a historic chaya—a quiet, deliberate ritual that distills centuries of Zen practice into a single bowl of matcha. Kanazawa’s treasures unfold at their own pace. The silk-dyeing workshops, where fabric absorbs color like water on paper. Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s most revered gardens, where every tree is shaped with intention. A meal at Omicho Market, where seafood is sourced from waters just beyond the city’s edge.
DAYS 7-8 | Hida Furukawa
From Kanazawa, the route winds into the mountains. A stop at Shirakawa-go, where thatched-roof farmhouses sit against a backdrop of rice fields. Then on to Hida Furukawa, where the streets remain unchanged for centuries—wooden townhouses, narrow canals where carp swim lazily, the scent of miso fermenting in old storehouses. A morning cycle through the countryside reveals a different side of Japan—one of quiet lanes, grazing cattle, and farmhouses where Hida beef is a source of local pride.
DAYS 9-12 | Kyoto
The train pulls into Kyoto, a city that moves at its own measured pace. A private guide reveals Kyoto beyond the picture-perfect temples. The unspoken rules of the geiko world, the hidden tea houses, the streets where history lingers in the wooden latticework of machiya townhouses. Mornings are for wandering—through bamboo groves in Arashiyama, under the vermillion torii of Fushimi Inari, along the Philosopher’s Path where cherry blossoms drift onto the canal. There is space for stillness: the rock garden at Ryoan-ji, a calligraphy lesson, the rhythmic slicing of soba noodles in a family-run kitchen. A tea ceremony offers not just a taste of matcha but an insight into a culture where the smallest gestures hold meaning. A final option: a journey to Nara, where ancient temples stand watch over herds of sacred deer.
Your included hotel
Four Seasons Kyoto
Your alternative hotel choices
Hoshinoya Kyoto
The Hyatt Regency Kyoto
DAYS 13-14 | Miyajima & Osaka
The journey southward leads to Miyajima, where the torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine rises from the water like a brushstroke against the sky. This is a place best experienced after the day-trippers leave—when the light softens, the lanterns flicker to life, and the island breathes. The final leg: Osaka. A city that makes no apologies for its energy. Bright, bold, relentless in its pursuit of flavor. A last evening in Dotonbori, where takoyaki sizzles on street-side griddles and laughter spills from standing bars. One final morning, then a smooth departure homewards.
Your included hotel
Cross Hotel Osaka
Your alternative hotel choices
The St. Regis Osaka
Tailor-Made Itineraries
THE YONDER DIFFERENCE
Off-the-shelf is off the menu at Yonder: from the moment you first get in touch you'll be in the hands of a senior executive who has spent years getting to know your destination first-hand. Other travel companies might talk a big game about expertise and customisation but, to blow our own trumpet for a minute, we're in a league of our own.
Hotels featured in this itinerary
Aman Tokyo
Aman Tokyo is a serene oasis perched high above the city in the Otemachi Tower, offering an unparalleled blend of modern sophistication and traditional Japanese aesthetics.
View this hotelMandarin Oriental Tokyo
The Mandarin Oriental Tokyo is the embodiment of refined luxury, offering a sophisticated escape amidst one of the world’s most bustling cities.
View this hotelHow to go Yonder
What you get for your money
This itinerary would typically cost from £4,950pp inclusive of international flights staying in the specified hotels and having the services of a private chauffeur and guide.
The costs vary based on season, flights, room type and board basis. All our holidays are tailor-made and can be created around your budget.
Every Yonder itinerary is uniquely created to suit our individual clients. Destinations, hotels, lengths of stay and even modes of transport are all decided by you, with the help of our local knowledge and expert guidance.
All Yonder holidays include flights, carefully curated hotels. private drivers, expert guides and local concierges alongside 24/7 support from Yonder should it ever be needed so you know you are in safe hands.We are immensely proud of our unique and in-depth expertise of the destinations we offer. Unlike some travel companies, each hotel we feature is handpicked and personally experienced by us so we can give you the inside story. We also carefully choose our guides based on their their exhaustive knowledge and professionalism to ensure you have a perfect holiday.
What’s the process?
We love to chat. Tell us about your Yonderlust, your travel tastes, your wishes and desires. The more we know the better and we will make a few suggestions based on extensive our first-hand experience.
Once we‘ve glimpsed your travel soul we will start crafting your unique itinerary. And then we will refine it until you’re as excited as we are.
When you are ready to go Yonder you can make your reservation. We usually take a 30% deposit (but this can vary depending on your holiday). The balance payable 90 days prior to departure. Best of all, booking with Yonder really is headache free. You have complete financial protection for all holidays which include flights through our ATOL licence (11237).
And once you’ve booked, you can be absolutely sure that you’ll have someone to turn to whenever you need to. We will be there for you 24/7.
Every great journey starts with one small step
Please get in touch by phone, by email or by filling in our simple enquiry form so that our travel experts can get in touch to discuss your perfect tailor-made holiday.
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As Featured By
Registered office: Yonder, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ Tel: 0203 880 8585 Email:
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