Japan Luxury Vacation with Taketomi

Itinerary

• Day 1: Tokyo, Arrival

  Welcome to Japan, the land of the rising sun.

  Meet our representative at the airport and be directed to your driver eager to ease your travel fatigue and strain on this strange country with world-famous hospitality and efficiency. In the city center, the Capitol Hotel Tokyu will provide a retreat far from the hustle and bustle.

  
  Accommodation: The Capitol Hotel Tokyu (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

  • Tokyo

• Day 2: Tokyo, Meiji Shrine and Senso-Ji Temple

  Get to know the nation by exploring the revered Meiji Shrine dedicated to the first emperor of modern Japan and joining the endless stream of pilgrims in the time-honored Senso-Ji Temple. The rest of the day is at your disposal with the guide and driver at your service. You may discover the youth culture in the Akihabara district or glance at the earthly part, like Golden Gai, hidden in the neon-lit Shinjuku.

  
  Accommodation: The Capitol Hotel Tokyu (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

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  • Tokyo

• Day 3: Tokyo, Cooking Class

  Join in a cooking class this morning to learn about the varied, delicious elements of Japanese culinary culture. Over three hours, guided by an expert and in a casual atmosphere, you will get an introduction to Japanese cuisine, from appetizers to desserts. Start with Accordion Cucumber Salad. Learn Dashimaki Tamago and Umeboshi rice with Mitsuba leaves. A light dashi soup precedes Shinodamaki, tofu skin with seasonal vegetables. The highlight is sukiyaki, wagyu simmered in sweet soy sauce. Complete the experience by crafting Shiratamadango, sticky rice dumplings with matcha syrup.

  Have the afternoon to relax in your hotel or to stroll around Ueno Park, watching people enjoying hanami parties if in cherry blossom season or delving into one of the many museums on its ground.

  
  Accommodation: The Capitol Hotel Tokyu (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

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  • Tokyo

• Day 4: Shinkansen Green Seat from Tokyo to Kyoto

  Have breakfast and enjoy some free time until being transferred to the railway station to hop on a speedy Shinkansen towards Kyoto. Arrive in about three hours and move on to the luxurious and isolated Carrya Nijo Castle Kyoto setting in Japanese beauty adopted from traditional samurai residence.

  
  Accommodation: Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

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  • Kyoto

• Day 5: Kyoto, Nijo Castle and Tea Ceremony

  As Japan's spiritual, cultural, and historical heart, Kyoto gets its charm in every corner. Our exploration starts from the Nijo Castle, a UNESCO-listed site that witnessed the rise and fall of the powerful Tokugawa family.

  The next is Kyoto's Kitchen - Nishikidori Market, a great place to explore Kyoto specialties and food-related wares. Following it is a relaxing walk around Gion, a famous geisha district filled with teahouses and restaurants cloaked in traditional wooden merchant houses. Here, you will walk into a teahouse with antique charms, change into kimono, and sit down to enjoy an authentic Japanese tea ceremony presented by finically painted maiko.

  
  Accommodation: Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

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  • Kyoto

• Day 6: Kyoto, Golden Pavilion & Sake Tasting

  Have another day to take in the antique charms of Kyoto at your pace, with your guide and driver at your side. We can start with the gold leaf-covered Kinkakuji Temple to capture one of the most iconic pictures of Japan. For the afternoon, we suggest light hiking through the thousands of vermilion torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine. After descending from the mountain, find a small tavern to taste a variety of sakes.

  
  Accommodation: Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

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  • Kyoto

• Day 7: Escape to Taketomi Island

  Head to Osaka Kansai Airport this morning for a flight to Ishigaki Island, opening your luxurious beach vacation.

  Taketomi, a mere ten minutes by ferry from Ishigaki, is inhabited by just three villages, with bright white paths of coral sand, one-story houses with red-tiled roofs, and the Ryukyu traditions that have gone unchanged for centuries. The same configuration also exists in Hoshinoya Taketomi, as if it is just another village on the island, to ensure you enjoy the island as the islanders do.

  
  Accommodation: Hoshinoya Taketomi Island (Luxury 5-Star Resort)

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  • Taketomi Island

• Day 8: Taketomi Island, Moment as an Islander

  The following days are free for leisure. Slow down and relax to the rhythms of island time. Wake up in the chorus of birdsong, feel the brisk ocean breeze along the pristine white beaches, and then take part in activities involving the local arts. On a starry night, you can lie on a sofa by the sea and enjoy a romantic picnic with the Milky Way in the background.

  
  Accommodation: Hoshinoya Taketomi Island (Luxury 5-Star Resort)

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  • Taketomi Island

• Day 9: Taketomi Island, Leisure Day

  Another day in Taketomi. Whether exploring the island via a water buffalo-drawn cart or relaxing in the resort, time with your special one is always sweet.

  
  Accommodation: Hoshinoya Taketomi Island (Luxury 5-Star Resort)

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  • Taketomi Island

• Day 10: Taketomi Island, Leisure Day

  As a deeper exploration, make a short journey to the neighboring Ishigaki or Iriomote Islands. Each island has its unique charm: the Ishigaki boasts a breathtaking seascape while the Iriomote covered with lush mangrove forests appeals to nature lovers.

  
  Accommodation: Hoshinoya Taketomi Island (Luxury 5-Star Resort)

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  • Taketomi Island

• Day 11: Taketomi Island - Ishigaki Island - Osaka

  After a blissful vacation on Taketomi Island, time to return to the modern world. Via ferry, taxi, and airplane, you will reach Osaka in the afternoon. On arrival, a private vehicle will escort you to your hotel.

  
  Accommodation: InterContinental Hotel Osaka (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

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  • Osaka

• Day 12: Osaka - Himeji - Osaka, City Highlights

  Like a white heron about to fly, the UNESCO-listed Himeji Castle features its brilliant white exterior and peaks in Japanese castle architectural techniques. Today, we will drive about 1.5 hours out of Osaka to marvel at this architectural wonder. Take another way when return and stop at Kobe to taste the tender and flavorful Kobe beef.

  
  Accommodation: InterContinental Hotel Osaka (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

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  • Osaka

• Day 13: Osaka, Free Day for Leisurely Exploration

  Have a leisurely day for exploration on your own. Explore its lively market, trendy malls, and top-class restaurants, or have a time journey back to the Edo Period while strolling the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living.

  
  Accommodation: InterContinental Hotel Osaka (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

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  • Osaka

• Day 14: Osaka, Departure

  Bid farewell to your driver at the airport and conclude your memorable Japan tour today.

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  • Osaka