Japan Private Tour, the Lynch Family Way!
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Why You Should Go
Bev, Zen, and I freely admit Japan is our favorite destination in the entire world! During our most recent Lynch/Compton/Hilfman travel to Japan in July 2024, we reflected more about what makes this country so special: its unique, service-oriented culture, or “omotenashi.”
The Japanese hospitality/service concept of “omotenashi” is difficult to describe to those who have never traveled to Japan. Omotenashi represents an almost intangible sense of personal service that is extended with grace & sincerity, with no expectation of acknowledgement or compensation.
The spirit of omotenashi permeates all aspects of Japan society, from street cleaners, taxi drivers and SHINKANSEN/Bullet train service workers to all ramen eateries/restaurants, ryokans/hotels/guides. Singular & unique to any other culture we have experienced, elements include paying attention to the small details, anticipating the needs of others and striving to go above & beyond to meet expectations. We believe omotenashi is a microcosm of Japan itself, representing an aesthetic/mindset as one’s sincere self-desire to provide happiness to those they serve. Bowing, an expression of omotenashi, is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, a way to show respect, humility, gratitude.
The following itinerary follows the exact day-to-day schedule of our July 2024 Japan private tour. Please enjoy our meticulously detailed, expansive Japan private tour itinerary–the Lynch family way.
Another Japan travel perk: no visas, no shots, no pills necessary!
Best Travel Time: Spring Summer Fall
*All of our comprehensive private tour itineraries are inclusive of all luxury accommodations, private guide/driver throughout, daily meals as specified, INTERNAL flights/rail /private transfers as needed, & all taxes/service fees.
Sample Itinerary
18 Days
Each private luxury tour is custom to the wishes of each client. This itinerary is a sample. Partnering with our long-established relationship with United Airlines, our sister company, TRAVNET, may provide competitive Polaris/Business Class international airfare, along with mileage points conversion.
Day 1
Fly to Tokyo
Through our sister company, premium air provider TRAVNET, we may assist with your international airfare, as well as with mileage points conversion.
Day 2
Arrive Tokyo
Upon arrival in Tokyo, you will be privately transferred to The Peninsula Tokyo. While in Tokyo, you may be able to catch a sumo wrestling match or a baseball game! Click on the link to read our blog posts on Sumo: Japan’s National Sport and Japan’s Unique Baseball Culture.
Accommodations: The Peninsula Tokyo
Day 3
Afternoon Tokyo Private Tour
Enjoy the morning at your leisure to recover from jetlag. In the afternoon, your tour begins on Tokyo’s public transit system (the largest in the world)! Click the link to read our blog post on the Tokyo Transit System. Then, enjoy a leisurely stroll through Tokyo’s neighborhoods, sampling ramen from various stalls and visiting small shops!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The Peninsula Tokyo
Day 4
Tokyo Private Tour
Your tour today will begin with a visit to Tokyo Imperial Palace Plaza, the current residence of the Japanese Imperial family. You will continue to Tsukiji Outer Market, deemed Japan’s “Food Town.” We agree that the Outer Market is an ideal stopover for all foodies, shoppers, and culture enthusiasts alike. Next, you will visit Yasukuni Shrine, which was established in 1869 in honor of the Kami (spirits) who fell in the Boshin War that restored the Meiji Emperor to power in 1868-9. This is controversial due to its enshrinement of Japan’s wartime leader General Hideki Tojo, and 13 other Class-A war criminals (found guilty of war crimes by the Allied forces after World War II).
We LOVED Yanaka Nostalgic Street/Yanaka Ginza, a unique and retro postwar town featuring small, boutique shops selling handmade crafts, trinkets, and souvenirs, as well as traditional sweets and street foods. You will also visit the bustling district of Akihabara, the #1 hotspot for all things anime!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The Peninsula Tokyo
Day 5
Tokyo Private Tour
Your tour today will begin with a visit to Kichijoji Town, known as one of the “most desirable places to live” in Tokyo! Here, you’ll find maze-like shopping stalls that are divided into three sections —Sunroad, Harmonica Yokocho, and Daiyagai. Next, head to Capyneko Café, one our favorite Tokyo stopovers, to pet capybaras! Though they are the world’s largest rodent, these animals reminded us of large, coarse dogs.
Meiji Shrine is next, where, based on Shinto tradition, you may write your prayer on a wooden block just outside of the shrine. You will also visit the Harajuku and Omotesando Street shopping areas (pop culture vs luxury shopping!) before continuing to Shibuya Crossing, the “world’s busiest pedestrian crossing,” where as many as 3,000 people can cross at any one time.
Young adults and gen z will enjoy the private batto (Japanese swordsmanship) samurai experience. With the instructions of a sensei, guests can slice rolled tamami with a single stroke. As a proud parent, Randy was very impressed and wary to see Zen wielding a sharp blade.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The Peninsula Tokyo
Day 6
teamLab Borderless Tokyo
Enjoy a day at the iconic teamLab Borderless Tokyo, an iconic/”must-see” sensory experience like no other! This is an immersive digital art museum that fuses art, technology, and nature to create multi-sensory, FUN installations. All in all, a highly engaging experience–it makes perfect sense why even Beyonce stopped here!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The Peninsula Tokyo
Day 7
Private Transfer Tokyo/Hakone + Hakone Private Tour
Following breakfast, you will be assisted by our representative in boarding the Shinkansen (Bullet train) from Tokyo to Hakone. Upon arrival at Odawara Station, you will be met by our representative for a Hakone area private tour, including the Hakone ropeway ride for views of Lake Ashinoko and Mt. Fuji, a visit to Owakudani Valley (AKA “Great Boiling Valley”), an active, sulfuric hot spring volcanic valley famous for black-boiled eggs, and an optional Lake Ashi Cruise, though due to crowding, we do not strongly recommend.
Make sure to see Hakone Shrine, the vibrant red orange torii gate that juts out from Lake Ashinoko, before visiting the Hakone Open Air Museum! Set amidst a mountain setting, the museum balances art with nature. The indoor gallery’s most compelling feature is the museum’s significant Picasso collection. We were most excited to visit Tokaido Old Street, a path that served as the main gateway Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo Period. En route back, stop at Amazake Chaya, a 400-year-old chaya (teahouse) that has remained in the hands of the same family for centuries. Incredibly interesting!
Following Hakone exploration, you will be privately transferred to Gora Kadan ryokan for check-in and traditional Kaiseki dinner.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodations: Gōra Kadan
Day 8
Mt. Fuji Private Tour
Today, you will travel to the Mt. Fuji visitor’s station and be guided to the fifth station on the mountain for the opportunity to hike the Ochudo Trail. The Ochudo Trail, also known as the “boundary between heaven and earth”, is a walking path that circles Mt. Fuji halfway up the mountainside. Taking approximately two hours to trek the 2.5-mile duration, please be warned this was very slippery and somewhat difficult for us!
Next, take a leisurely walk along Kawaguchiko Lake at Oishi Park, which offers unobstructed Mt. Fuji views. The ice cream shop here is delightful! Finally, head to the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, celebrating the life and art of famous Japanese textile artist Ichiku Kubota. The movie here is A+!
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodations: Gōra Kadan
Day 9
Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Odawara/Kyoto + Kyoto Private Tour
Following breakfast and check-out at Gora Kadan, you will be privately transferred to Odawara Station for your Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Kyoto.
Upon arrival at Kyoto Station, you will be met by your private guide and driver to embark on a Kyoto private tour. Your tour includes the Nishiki Food Market (AKA “Kyoto’s Kitchen”) with its 300-year old food stalls, lunch at the quick but delicious Honke Owariya noodle shop, and (our favorite!) Ippodo Tea Company, a multifaceted historic shop producing and selling highest quality Japanese green tea for three centuries.
Following Kyoto exploration, you will be privately transferred to Hiiragiya ryokan for check-in and traditional Kaiseki dinner.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodations: Hiiragiya
Day 10
Kyoto Private Tour
Based on the pent up demand and spectacular growth and demand for travel to Japan, our favorite shrines and temples (Fushimi Inari, Ryoan-ji, Kinkakuji, Kiyomizu-dera) have become inundated with mass tourism. We now suggest early morning visits to each of these remarkable sites to avoid the selfie-driven crowds. Early morning visits make for a much more engaging, self-reflective experience. The only exception during the day is our beloved Saihoji “green moss temple,” which requires an appointment by the senior monk who allows two small group visits per day. As such, before breakfast, we recommend a visit to visit the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, perhaps our favorite shrine in all of Japan. Dating back to the eighth century, the shrine includes a wandering pathway around three miles up the mountain lined with hundreds of beautiful red torii, now faded to look orange.
Following breakfast and check-out at Hiiragiya, explore Kyoto with your private guide including a walk along the Philosopher’s Walk, a two-kilometer-long path that covers five temples and two shrines, paralleling a beautiful canal/stream. Though crowded during the daytime, we also enthusiastically suggest visits to Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion), Kiyomizu-dera (Pure Water) Temple, and Heian Shrine. Continue to a walk through the ancient cobblestone streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. This is a great place to experience old Kyoto, especially between Kiyomizudera and Yasaka Shrine, where the narrow lanes, wooden buildings and traditional merchant shops evoke a feeling of the old capital city.
Following Kyoto exploration, you will be privately transferred to The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto for check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
Day 11
Kyoto & Arashiyama Private Tour
Your full day tour in Kyoto and Arashiyama begins at Ryoan-ji Temple with its Zen Rock Garden (a UNESCO World Heritage Site!). While the layered metaphors of the rock placement remain up to interpretation, we believe that each rock represents the endless perfection of wabi-sabi! Then, head to the always-beautiful Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), covered in thick, golden leaves. Arashiyama stopovers include the surreal Sagano Bamboo Forest, Togetsu-kyō Bridge, Tenryū-ji Temple, Gio-ji Temple, and a walk around the lush, green Okochi Sanso Villa & Garden.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
Day 12
Nara Private Tour with Wazuka Tea Plantation Stopover
Your full day tour begins with a 1.5-hour drive to Nara — more chill and less crowded than Kyoto! Stopovers include Todaiji (Great Eastern Temple), which was constructed in 752 and contains Japan’s largest Buddha statue, and the beautiful Nara Park, which is noted for hundreds of freely roaming deer. You may also choose to witness Mochi “pounding” at Nakatanidou, a famous mochi shop crafting traditional Japanese rice cake snacks!
Our favorite part of this day (and perhaps our trip) was a stopover to the nearby town of Wazuka, known for producing a large percentage of Japan’s tea and cultivating high-quality green tea leaves with a signature umami flavor. We were astounded by the lush green tea fields and the excellent ancient tea selection at Wazukacha Café.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
Day 13
Limited Express Train Kyoto/Tsuruga/Kanazawa + Kenroku-en Garden Stopover
Following breakfast, you will be assisted by our representative in boarding your Limited Express train via Tsuruga to Kanazawa.
Upon arrival at the architecturally striking Kanazawa Station, you will be met by our representative for a tour of the Kenroku-en Garden. Considered one of Japan’s three most famous gardens, Kanazawa’s verdant, lush Kenroku-en Garden makes a stopover in this coastal city certainly worthwhile. Compared to our beloved Saiho-ji in Kyoto, Kenroku-en is a relatively “new” garden, initially created as the outer garden of Kanazawa-jo in the 17th century. Additional stopovers include Kanazawa Castle, the former epicenter of the Maeda Clan’s political stronghold built in 1583, and Nomura Samurai House, a restored Edo Period house serving as a great representation of the samurai household in an age of feudal lords.
Following Kanazawa exploration, you will be privately transferred to Auberge Maki no Oto for check-in and kaiseki dinner.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodations: Auberge Maki no Oto
Day 14
Ainokura Gassho-Zukuri House Village Private Tour
Today you will tour the UNESCO World Heritage village of Ainokura, home to the architectural marvels that are Gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Sitting upon valleys surrounded by verdant rice patties, these houses symbolize the deep bond with nature and the harmonious coexistence of the local community with their environment.
Unlike the major villages of Gokayama and Shirakawago, we recommend the less touristy Ainokura, which offered a much more intimate overview of village life. The drive to Ainokura offers a beautiful glimpse into the richest agriculture region in all of Japan, home to the country’s highest quality rice production adorned with beautiful rice fields.
In the evening, enjoy a private geisha experience at an ochaya (teahouse). We would like to extend many thanks to the proprietor and owner of Auberge Maki no Oto, Mr. Yamamoto san, for arranging this private two-hour experience with one of the three remaining Geisha houses in Kanazawa. Please note: Geisha is a term used in Kanazawa, while Geiko is used in Kyoto.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodations: Auberge Maki no Oto
Day 15
Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Kanazawa/Nagano + Limited Express Train Nagano/Nakatsugawa + Nakasendo Trail
Following breakfast, you will be assisted by our representative in boarding your Shinkansen (Bullet train) to Nagano, and onto Nakatsugawa via Limited Express train. Upon arrival at Nakatsugawa Station, you will be met by a private guide and driver for a hike on the iconic Nakasendo Trail from Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku.
Following Nakasendo hiking, you will be transferred to Byaku Narai ryokan for check-in and a traditional Kaiseki dinner.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodations: Byaku Narai
Day 16
Nakasendo Trail
Following breakfast, enjoy a full day to continue the Nakasendo Trail at leisure. The Nakasendo Trail is a historic path that winds through the picturesque Kiso Valley and spans approximately five miles. The section from Magome-juku to Tsumago-juku is a popular hiking trail, known for its picturesque landscapes, traditional post towns, and Edo-period architecture.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodations: Byaku Narai
Day 17
Limited Express Train Shiojori/Tokyo
Following breakfast, you will be assisted by our representative in boarding your Limited Express Train from Shiojori to Tokyo. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo Hotel for check-in, with the remainder of your evening at leisure.
We enthusiastically recommend a trip to The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo for the Clé de Peau Beauté Spa Experience (click the link to read our blog!). Clé de Peau is the premier skin care and makeup brand, founded in 1982 with a mission to forge new findings on skin and cell science. As part of a collaboration between Clé de Peau and The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, The Ritz features a menu of luxury skin and beauty treatments incorporating Clé de Peau’s Synactif line products.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Tokyo
Day 18
Fly Tokyo/Home
Following breakfast and check-out, you will be privately transferred to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport for your onward flight home.
Through our sister company, premium air provider TRAVNET, we may assist with your international airfare, as well as with mileage points conversion.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotels
Though we are big fans of Aman in China and Southeast Asia, we initially felt a bit ambivalent about the 84-room Aman in a noisy, urban environment like Tokyo. Located in the 40-story Otemachi Tower, within walking distance of Ginza shopping and dining and the Otemachi Forest (Marunouchi’s Naki-Dori tree-lined avenue), perhaps the most impressive sight of the Aman Tokyo is its magnificent 33rd-floor lobby entrance featuring huge floor to ceiling windows with a view of the Imperial Palace grounds and even Mt. Fuji on clear days! The Shoji-lanterned area is centered on a large garden and a washi-like ceiling that gives the area a Zen-like Japanese feel. Many clients feel the views from the lap pool to be among the best in the world! Unlike Aman’s in most parts of the world that ban TVs in the rooms, the Aman Tokyo includes a flat-screen TV for those of us who need a daily BBC fix!
Aman Tokyo
Though we are big fans of Aman in China and Southeast Asia, we initially felt a bit ambivalent about the 84-room Aman in a noisy, urban environment like Tokyo. Located in the 40-story Otemachi Tower, within walking distance of Ginza shopping and dining and the Otemachi Forest (Marunouchi’s Naki-Dori tree-lined avenue), perhaps the most impressive sight of the Aman Tokyo is its magnificent 33rd-floor lobby entrance featuring huge floor to ceiling windows with a view of the Imperial Palace grounds and even Mt. Fuji on clear days! The Shoji-lanterned area is centered on a large garden and a washi-like ceiling that gives the area a Zen-like Japanese feel. Many clients feel the views from the lap pool to be among the best in the world! Unlike Aman’s in most parts of the world that ban TVs in the rooms, the Aman Tokyo includes a flat-screen TV for those of us who need a daily BBC fix!
We consider the 24-story Peninsula to be the ideal location in Tokyo. The Peninsula is directly across from enchanting Hibiya Park (founded in 1903 as the first Western park in Tokyo!), Imperial grounds, and adjacent to the amazing Ginza shopping district. Envisioned by architect Kuzukiyo Sato to look like a giant Japanese stone lantern, the freestanding Peninsula combines subtle Japanese hospitality with the Peninsula tradition of understated luxury. The 314 rooms are among the largest in Tokyo, starting at 544 sq. feet. Amenities range from bedside consoles controlling drapes to Lavazza espresso machines. The rooms even offer a personal nail dryer! For our jogging friends, Hibiya Park is ideal for AM walks! Zen rates the hot chocolate and the Peninsula’s amazing “vitality” pool as the best in Japan!
Congratulations to Peninsula Manager, Meret Brunner for a great job engendering a pervasive sense of omotenashi among the young, spirited staff.
The Peninsula Tokyo
We consider the 24-story Peninsula to be the ideal location in Tokyo. The Peninsula is directly across from enchanting Hibiya Park (founded in 1903 as the first Western park in Tokyo!), Imperial grounds, and adjacent to the amazing Ginza shopping district. Envisioned by architect Kuzukiyo Sato to look like a giant Japanese stone lantern, the freestanding Peninsula combines subtle Japanese hospitality with the Peninsula tradition of understated luxury. The 314 rooms are among the largest in Tokyo, starting at 544 sq. feet. Amenities range from bedside consoles controlling drapes to Lavazza espresso machines. The rooms even offer a personal nail dryer! For our jogging friends, Hibiya Park is ideal for AM walks! Zen rates the hot chocolate and the Peninsula’s amazing “vitality” pool as the best in Japan!
Congratulations to Peninsula Manager, Meret Brunner for a great job engendering a pervasive sense of omotenashi among the young, spirited staff.
Gōra Kadan is a superb ryokan (traditional inn) that has managed to compromise gracefully with the modern Western world. Proprietress Mikawako, the third generation of Fujimotos to run Gōra Kadan, has blended traditional Japanese ryokan hospitality with modern, Western elements such as an ensuite bathroom, a television, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth capability — all rare features in ryokans as these stays emphasize a disconnect from technology. The Gōra Kadan’s original building dates back 300 years and was the summer home of the Kan’in-No-Miya imperial family. The fusion of repurposing a former imperial structure into a luxury accommodation creates a lavish, restful ryokan spa experience. The Bettei suite is our absolute favorite here. The suite features not only a traditional tatami sleeping room, but also a living room, sitting room, private Japanese garden, and a private open-air stone bath for soaking.
Gora Kadan is part of our A-list for high-touch ryokans in Japan, with its airy, East-West fusion details, its wonderful Kaiseki multi-course dining experience, and total relaxation spa. Not to mention a sighting of a real-life A-lister, supermodel, Kate Moss, on our last visit to Gora Kadan!
Gōra Kadan
Gōra Kadan is a superb ryokan (traditional inn) that has managed to compromise gracefully with the modern Western world. Proprietress Mikawako, the third generation of Fujimotos to run Gōra Kadan, has blended traditional Japanese ryokan hospitality with modern, Western elements such as an ensuite bathroom, a television, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth capability — all rare features in ryokans as these stays emphasize a disconnect from technology. The Gōra Kadan’s original building dates back 300 years and was the summer home of the Kan’in-No-Miya imperial family. The fusion of repurposing a former imperial structure into a luxury accommodation creates a lavish, restful ryokan spa experience. The Bettei suite is our absolute favorite here. The suite features not only a traditional tatami sleeping room, but also a living room, sitting room, private Japanese garden, and a private open-air stone bath for soaking.
Gora Kadan is part of our A-list for high-touch ryokans in Japan, with its airy, East-West fusion details, its wonderful Kaiseki multi-course dining experience, and total relaxation spa. Not to mention a sighting of a real-life A-lister, supermodel, Kate Moss, on our last visit to Gora Kadan!
Like Tawaraya Ryokan (just across the alleyway), Hiiragiya is considered among the most noteworthy and famous ryokans in all of Japan. A stay at Hiiragiya represents a complete immersion into traditional Japanese culture. Enclosed in a traditional sukiya-style wooden structure, Hiiragiya was conceived in 1818 when Hiiragiya, a seafood dealer, began providing accommodation to traveling merchants. Later, Hiiragiya welcomed many members of the imperial family including writers, governing officials, and international celebrities. Proprietess Akami Nishimura only modestly acknowledges the many celebrities and world leaders who have stayed here (including Charlie Chaplin many decades ago). We give an A+ to both the Tawaraya and Hiiragiya, although we feel Hiiragiya is more accommodating and open to Western eccentricities.
Hiiragiya Ryokan
Hiiragiya Ryokan
Like Tawaraya Ryokan (just across the alleyway), Hiiragiya is considered among the most noteworthy and famous ryokans in all of Japan. A stay at Hiiragiya represents a complete immersion into traditional Japanese culture. Enclosed in a traditional sukiya-style wooden structure, Hiiragiya was conceived in 1818 when Hiiragiya, a seafood dealer, began providing accommodation to traveling merchants. Later, Hiiragiya welcomed many members of the imperial family including writers, governing officials, and international celebrities. Proprietess Akami Nishimura only modestly acknowledges the many celebrities and world leaders who have stayed here (including Charlie Chaplin many decades ago). We give an A+ to both the Tawaraya and Hiiragiya, although we feel Hiiragiya is more accommodating and open to Western eccentricities.
We feel the 134-room luxury Ritz-Carlton Kyoto to be our favorite Western 5-star property in Kyoto. Though we are not always fans of The Ritz-Carlton brand (preferring a less-pretentious, more understated style of luxury), the property’s rectangular, low-slung property has definitely piqued our interest. Ideally situated along the Kamogawa River, The Ritz features glass floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Higashiyama Mountains. The property was built on a site adored by 17th century Japanese nobility and replicates the aesthetics of a traditional Meiji House, making its design quite impressive (including a French Haute Patisserie!). Amenities and facilities include four onsite restaurants and bars (including Michelin-starred Tempura Mizuki!), a sleek indoor pool, a serene stone and bamboo pathway, a sweets shop, and a spa offering traditional Japanese wellness treatments as well as Western facial and body massage treatments. Make sure to check out the 409 modern Japanese art pieces displayed around the hotel and take in the peaceful essence of the bonsai tree and garden!
The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
With the Hyatt Regency Kyoto having been the only Western 5-star luxury hotel in Kyoto for quite some time, we were excited about the February 2014 opening of the 134-room The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto. Living in a Mies van der Rohe high-rise in Chicago, we feel a particular affinity to the Hyatt Regency’s simple, clean, architectural design. Nevertheless, The Ritz-Carlton’s rectangular, low-slung property ideally situated in the Kamogawa River has definitely piqued our interest. Replicating the aesthetics of a traditional Meiji House, the design and amenities of The Ritz are quite impressive (including a French Haute Patisserie!). Though we are not big fans of the Ritz global brand (prefer AMAN/Peninsula/Mandarin/Four Seasons), we feel the Ritz to be currently the highest quality luxury “western” hotel in Kyoto.
Situated in the old entertainment district of the Higashi Chaya neighborhood (widely known as “Little Kyoto”), Maki no Oto Kanazawa is a cozy, contemporary-yet-traditional ryokan. The recently opened property mirrors Japanese history and has won awards for its architectural contribution to the neighborhood’s aesthetic atmosphere! Offering only four rooms (!), guests of the ryokan can expect complete mindfulness, warm hospitality, and total privacy/serenity. Enjoy nightly dinner at the on-site restaurant, where chefs prepare several courses of Japanese seafood cuisine. Make sure to walk through the surrounding district and explore authentic historical homes, tea houses, gardens, and traditional handicraft shops. Dry cleaning and laundry services available!
Auberge Maki no Oto
Situated in the old entertainment district of the Higashi Chaya neighborhood (widely known as “Little Kyoto”), Maki no Oto Kanazawa is a cozy, contemporary-yet-traditional ryokan. The recently opened property mirrors Japanese history and has won awards for its architectural contribution to the neighborhood’s aesthetic atmosphere! Offering only four rooms (!), guests of the ryokan can expect complete mindfulness, warm hospitality, and total privacy/serenity. Enjoy nightly dinner at the on-site restaurant, where chefs prepare several courses of Japanese seafood cuisine. Make sure to walk through the surrounding district and explore authentic historical homes, tea houses, gardens, and traditional handicraft shops. Dry cleaning and laundry services available!
Byaku Narai is located in the small town of Narai-juku, one of the 69 post towns of Japan. Narai-juku was considered the halfway point between Kyoto and the center of Edo (present-day Tokyo). Also located along the Nakasendo Trail, Narai-juku’s status was cemented as an integral post town due to its advantageous location. Today, Narai-juku still largely preserves its appearance from the Edo period and its 400+ year history. Aptly located in the middle of the Naksendo route sits the 16-guest room Byaku Narai. Repurposed from a nearly 200-year-old building, Byaku Narai features an inn and six facilities, including a restaurant, tasting bar, art gallery, and freshwater bath. Each guest room preserves the historical Edo period structure while incorporating earthenware elements of black lacquer, clay, and wood sources from five types of trees in the Kiso region. San-sen is Byaku Narai’s onsite public bath which draws water from the Shinano River, ideal for relaxing your muscles and joints after a long hike along the Nakasendo trail.
Byaku Narai
Byaku Narai is located in the small town of Narai-juku, one of the 69 post towns of Japan. Narai-juku was considered the halfway point between Kyoto and the center of Edo (present-day Tokyo). Also located along the Nakasendo Trail, Narai-juku’s status was cemented as an integral post town due to its advantageous location. Today, Narai-juku still largely preserves its appearance from the Edo period and its 400+ year history. Aptly located in the middle of the Naksendo route sits the 16-guest room Byaku Narai. Repurposed from a nearly 200-year-old building, Byaku Narai features an inn and six facilities, including a restaurant, tasting bar, art gallery, and freshwater bath. Each guest room preserves the historical Edo period structure while incorporating earthenware elements of black lacquer, clay, and wood sources from five types of trees in the Kiso region. San-sen is Byaku Narai’s onsite public bath which draws water from the Shinano River, ideal for relaxing your muscles and joints after a long hike along the Nakasendo trail.
Located in Tokyo’s bustling business district of Nihonbashi, the 5-star Mandarin Oriental Tokyo comprises 157 luxury rooms and 22 suites. Though we freely admit the interior design is somewhat closer to that of a 4-star property, we can assure that 5-star service is guaranteed. Additionally, the panoramic views of Tokyo skyline access all throughout the hotel makes a stay here worth it.
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
Located in Tokyo’s bustling business district of Nihonbashi, the 5-star Mandarin Oriental Tokyo comprises 157 luxury rooms and 22 suites. Though we freely admit the interior design is somewhat closer to that of a 4-star property, we can assure that 5-star service is guaranteed. Additionally, the panoramic views of Tokyo skyline access all throughout the hotel makes a stay here worth it.
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Location
Overview
| Temperature |
|---|
| Highs: High 70’s |
| Lows: Mid 60’s |
| Area |
|---|
| 377,864 SQ KM |
| 145,894 SQ MILES |
| Capital |
|---|
| Tokyo |
| Population |
|---|
| 125.9 Million |
| Language |
|---|
| Japanese |
| Currency |
|---|
| Japanese Yen |
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