Luxury Japan: what to see, eat and book ahead
Kyoto, haute cuisine, dream ryokans and the private access that changes the trip.
Japan is probably the destination that most rewards a well-designed trip. The difference between tourist Japan and deep Japan lies in access: temples before opening, artisan workshops, tables impossible to get without contacts.
The essentials
Kyoto for culture and spirituality; Tokyo for the avant-garde and gastronomy; the Japanese Alps and onsen ryokans for rest. In winter, Hokkaido's powder is among the world's best. Spring (cherry blossoms) and autumn (maples) are the most beautiful seasons, and the most in demand.
Book early
The best ryokans and starred restaurants are booked months ahead, and many won't accept foreigners without an intermediary. A geisha dinner in a Kyoto ochaya, for instance, isn't booked online. We open those doors and design the pace so the trip flows between culture, gastronomy and rest.