Art & Artisan Japan

Welcome to Japan, the land of the rising sun! Arrive in Tokyo at either airport, pass through immigration, collect your luggage and clear customs. *If you have booked an arrival transfer through us, our assistant will meet you outside the secure area, and they will take you to the hotel by private van transfer. Transfers can also be arranged with the advice of our concierge.

Check into the hotel and relax. Your Host will be at the Millenium Hotel Ginza waiting for you to arrive. We will have a ‘Welcome Dinner’ this evening in Zen House, the hotel’s restaurant. This is a perfect opportunity to meet each other and discuss the upcoming week's adventures.

Note: If you need more time to acclimate to the large time zone change, we suggest you arrive one day earlier. Our concierge can help you book the same hotel room. 

This morning, we taxi to Tokyo Station and board our shinkansen to Kyoto. This is about a 2-hour journey. We will travel in a First-Class carriage. *We will grab a Bento Box at the station before we board for our lunch.

We grab some taxis, and transfer to our hotel and check-in. We're staying in the. heart of the city at the stylish Granbell Hotel complete with Onsen Bath and a welcoming restaurant and bar. 

This afternoon, we go for a Guided Walk around the Gion area. Gion is Kyoto's most famous geisha district. It is filled with shops, restaurants, and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain. 

Right next to Gion, a paradise for collectors can be found. There are several quiet streets full of traditional Japanese arts and crafts boutiques. The streets of Shinmonzen, Furumonzen and Shinbashi have remained loyal to the purest Japanese traditions, a succession of small wooden households without so much as an electrical wire on show! We will wander Shinbashi-Dori, Kyoto’s most famous antique street, which runs straight to the Tatsumi Bridge.

Tonight, we'll enjoy a special Tempura dinner in the Gion district at one of Kyoto’s fabulous tempura restaurants. 

This morning, we visit the fabulous Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, perhaps Kyoto’s most iconic site. Originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun, after his death, it became a Buddhist temple at his request. It is now one of Kyoto’s most famous temples. 

From here, we visit the most famous Zen Garden in the world, the sublime Ryoan-ji temple which dates back to the 15th century. Here we’ll have time to sit and contemplate after our guide explains the significance of dry zen gardens and what the various elements are metaphors for.

After lunching on Shabu Shabu we will head over to an old machine house (protected as a registered cultural property by the Japanese government) in the Gion district. The Japanese tea ceremony, Chadō or “The Way of Tea”, is a tradition steeped in history. Beyond just serving and receiving tea, one of the primary purposes of the tea ceremony is for the guests to enjoy the host’s hospitality in an atmosphere distinct from the fast pace of everyday life. The Tea Master will demonstrate the process during the tea ceremony while explaining the significance behind it, the steps, and the tools. You will learn about tea ceremony history and etiquette. During the tea ceremony, you will observe how to make matcha green tea and be guided by the Tea Master on making it yourself. A selection of beautiful kimonos will be available for you to wear during the ceremony.

After this lovely ceremony, we return to our hotel. Your evening is free.

This morning, we travel to the scenic Saga Arashiyama area to amble through the Bamboo Grove, one of Kyoto’s top sights. Standing amid these soaring stalks is like being in another world.

We then visit Okochi-Sanso Villa, the former estate of actor Okochi Denjiro. The villa and its surrounding gardens exemplify traditional Japanese residential architecture. The teahouse is a wabi-sabi gem, and the gardens offer stunning views of the city and a Shinto shrine. Next, we visit the Zen Tenryuji Temple, head of Zen Buddhism's Tenryū-ji branch. It features one of Kyoto's finest gardens and mountain views. Ranked among Kyoto's great Zen temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we tour the temple and gardens before enjoying a shojin-ryori (Zen vegetarian cuisine) lunch on the grounds.

Afterward, we wander up Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street to Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, founded in the 9th century by monk Kobo Daishi. The temple grounds are covered with hundreds of stone statues, and a short path leads through a bamboo forest. We return to the hotel to rest and refresh before our evening.

We can meet in the hotel bar for a cocktail (own account) and then transfer to our Maiko evening. We will have dinner with a Maiko, an apprentice Geiko. Our kaiseki ryori (traditional multi-course dinner) includes opportunities to interact with the Maiko, ask about her craft, watch traditional dances, and play Japanese drinking games. After this unforgettable experience, we return to the hotel to wind down.

After breakfast, we transfer to the Kyoto Train Station for our Shinkansen to Okayama, where a Private Van takes us to Kurashiki (a 20-minute drive).

Kurashiki is famed for the centuries-old buildings and shops of the Bikan Historical Quarter, with Edo and Meiji period houses, shops, and warehouses lining the Kurashiki river, crossed by stone bridges. Small boats ferry passengers, creating a Venice-like landscape. This bustling area is filled with shops, cafes, restaurants, and local life.

In Kurashiki's Kojima area, the birthplace of Japanese denim, small workshops use traditional techniques, making it a must-see for denim enthusiasts. Shoppers can find unique jeans, jackets, and accessories on Kojima Jeans Street.

We stop for lunch at a café known for its amazing parfaits.

Next, we visit the Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum, Japan's second folk craft museum, housed in a late Edo period granary, showcasing 15,000 beautiful, durable folk crafts used worldwide.

We then transfer to our beautiful hotel overlooking the Seto Sea. Dinner is in-house with French Japanese fusion cuisine. The outdoor onsen is open until 9:30, perfect for a relaxing soak after dinner.

We'll have a good night’s sleep and prepare for our Naoshima adventure.

Today, we travel by ferry to Naoshima Island, famed for its blend of contemporary art, stunning architecture, and serene coastal landscapes.

We'll visit the Chichu Art Museum, designed by Tadao Ando, and the Chichu Garden, a homage to Claude Monet’s Giverny. At Benesse House Museum, we'll admire works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama, and David Hockney. We'll also visit the Hiroshi Sugimoto Gallery and ‘The Corridors of Time,’ as well as the Lee Ufan Museum, a tranquil space combining nature, architecture, and art.

Lunch will be at the Issen restaurant in Benesse House, known for its artfully crafted meals.

This afternoon, we'll explore the Art House Project in Honmura district, where artists transform empty houses into works of art, weaving in history and memories. This evolving project fosters positive interaction between urban and rural, young and old, residents and visitors.

We'll also see Yayoi Kusama’s famous giant pumpkin and the SANAA-designed Marine Station at Miyanoura Port.

We then return to My Lodge with its minimalist sea-view rooms. After a fabulous day, we'll dine in and prepare for tomorrow's explorations.

This morning, we board our ferry to Teshima Island.

Teshima is located just next to Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea. What once was a rural island suffering from depopulation has been revitalised by the Setouchi Triennale Art Festival and several museums built on Teshima. It offers stunning coastal views, rolling hills, and vibrant flora.

On arrival, our Private Van will pick us up, enabling us to traverse the tiny island and access its most special sites, including Yokoo House and Les Archives du Couer. , located in a small building along the beach in the eastern outskirts of Karato. It is one of multiple locations worldwide where visitors can make recordings of their heartbeats and listen to the recorded heartbeats of other people.

We eat lunch at Shima Kitchen, a truly local place where the entire staff have been hired from people living on the island. Shima was reconstructed into a restaurant from a vacant house by the work of Architect Ryo Abe during Setouchi International Art Festival 2010.

One of the main highlights of Teshima is the Teshima Art Museum, a remarkable architectural and artistic creation nestled within a hillside. Designed by Ryue Nishizawa and Rei Naito, the museum combines the natural environment with innovative design. Standing amongst terraced rice fields, the simple concrete structure stimulates its visitors' senses with the play of water drops on a concrete surface.

We return to Naoshima by ferry and then to our hotel. This evening, we dine together locally on homemade Udon noodles.

The tour ends after breakfast for those who have just signed up for the core itinerary. We'll ferry to the Uno Port (even the ferry has Yayoi's iconic red polka dots) and transfer to Okayama Station for onward journeys*. Or continue onward with us for our Arima Onsen extension for two nights of relaxing bliss in the Kobe region of Japan.

*Note: We have not included the train ride because some people might want to go onwards and explore other parts of Japan from here. Our concierge will help you purchase any train tickets you might need.

After a very lazy breakfast and check out, we transfer to Arima Onsen, Kobe. This will take us approximately 2.5 hours. Arima Onsen is a serene hideaway and local hot springs favourite located in the heart of Kobe near Osaka. Arima is one of Japan's top three ancient hot spring resorts. Documents stretching all the way back to the 8th century mention Arima Onsen and the city centre is still home to some small, weaving roads and traditional wooden buildings, giving the area a quintessentially Japanese atmosphere. The waters of Arima come in two flavours: the Gold Spring (金泉 Kinsen) is yellow-brown thanks to iron and salt, while the Silver Spring (銀泉 Ginseng) is colourless but mildly radioactive. *There are three public baths (admission is between 500-700 yen) and several private ones.

After travelling to Kobe, we’ll check in to our charming traditional Onsen Inn, Tosen Goshobo. Founded in the 12th century and beloved by Junichiro Tanizaki and other Japanese novelists, Tosen Goshobo is the oldest of the hot-spring inns at Arima. The inn and its traditions and history take you back in time to a more genteel time. Note: The Japanese rooms have traditional futon beds.

*A ryokan, or a Japanese inn, is a traditional Japanese-style inn that is more than just a hotel and a place to sleep. Ryokans are a way to experience pure Japanese tradition, lifestyle, and hospitality. Many of the ryokan have been family-owned for generations. Each one values the importance of Japanese tradition and takes pride in sharing these traditions with their guests. The traditional ryokan rooms are known for being beautifully simple and elegant. The floors are covered with tatami mats and furnished with a low table and floor cushions for seating.

Once we check in, it is time to relax.  Get changed into your Yukata, book your Private Bath session, relax in your gorgeous room and prepare for dinner. During your two days in Arima, you’ll relax and soak up the minerals and walk away healthy and refreshed.

Dinner this evening is in-house. The evening course is a multi-course meal that includes appetisers, a variety of dishes, sashimi, grilled dishes, fried dishes, meat dishes, and desserts. The menu changes with the seasons to make the most of seasonal ingredients.

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, we will walk through the small city centre. The city has sake and beer stores, gift shops, and a local soda cracker tansan senbei shop. I’s a great area to buy some souvenirs to take home.

Along the way, we will pass by several public hot spring bathhouses. What sets Arima Onsen apart from other hot springs is its fascinating golden springs, known as Kinsen (金泉), or gold spring. These springs are formed as the water rises from bedrock, carrying salt and iron. As it oxidizes, it takes on a distinctive golden hue. 

Hot Springs are a great way to soak and relax your body, especially after a long day of travel. The hot springs in Arima Onsen are particularly beneficial for your skin and overall health. The iron deposits in the Kinsen are said to help with skin ailments and muscle pain, while the Ginsen is said to cure various muscle and joint ailments. If you’re feeling a little sore, these are the onsens for you.

Your afternoon is to simply relax, and tonight we enjoy our final meal together in Japan. Yes it will be special!

Today is our final day in Japan, but I suspect it will not be the last time you visit. Once you've experienced this unique country, with its rich history, culture and traditions, you'll be thirsting for more. 

But for this visit, we'll bid each other goodbye, but Japan and new friends and memories will stay with us forever!

Note: Departure transfer not included. Some may want to train to Osaka and spend a night or two there before flying home.