Itinerary

Day 1 – Tokyo Arrival • Welcome Izakaya Night
Arrive in Tokyo and be greeted with assistance before your private transfer whisks you to your centrally located boutique hotel in the Shinjuku or Shibuya area. After check-in, you’ll receive a short etiquette mini-brief covering how to order, chopstick norms, and basic train manners to help you feel confident from the start. In the evening, enjoy a curated welcome dinner at a lively izakaya featuring a multi-plate tasting of yakitori, karaage, seasonal small plates, and grilled fish or vegetables, paired with sake or tea. After dinner, you can join an optional night walk through neon-lit lanes with a sweet stop for taiyaki or a soft-serve swirl before returning to your hotel for a well-earned rest.

Day 2 – Toyosu/Tsukiji Markets • Sushi/Wagashi Class • Asakusa & Senso?ji
Begin the day with an optional early-morning visit to the Toyosu tuna auction, where limited viewing slots offer a rare window into Tokyo’s high-stakes seafood trade. Afterwards, enjoy a chef-led exploration of the Tsukiji outer market, sampling tamagoyaki, premium tuna cuts, uni(seasonal), and mochi while stopping at a renowned knife shop for a live sharpening demonstration. Midday, take part in a hands-on class whereyou’ll choose between sushi rolling (nigiri and maki) or wagashi confectionery, learning the finer points of rice and vinegar balancing or bean-paste artistry over a satisfying lunch. In the afternoon, wander Asakusa’s historic streets, visiting the iconic Senso-ji temple, passing through the lantern gate and Nakamise shopping street for snacks, before a riverside stroll and optional tea-and-sweets break; you’ll have time for hotelrest or an onsen-style foot spa before turning in for the night.

Day 3 – Shibuya/Harajuku Food Walk • Depachika Hunt • Craft Cocktails/Mocktails
This morning begins in the calm oasis of Meiji Shrine, where a cedar-lined approach and gentle rituals introduce you to the basics of shrineetiquette and prayer. From there, dive into a playful food walk through Shibuya and Harajuku, tasting signature crepes, joining an onigiri schoolto learn hands-on shaping, and sampling specialty coffee while exploring a bustling depachika (department-store food hall) with a treasure-huntstyle challenge and tasting tokens. In the afternoon, stroll Omotesando’s architectural avenues, pausing for elegant desserts and people-watching at stylish cafés. As evening falls, take part in a craft cocktail workshop featuring Japanese botanicals—or opt for a creative, non-alcoholic mocktail lab—followed by the option to join a guided hop through Golden Gai’s tiny alleyway bars and story-filled nooks beforereturning to your hotel.

Day 4 – Tokyo  Hakone • Lake Ashi, Ropeway & Onsen Ryokan Kaiseki
After breakfast, depart Tokyo aboard the Romancecar or an express train bound for Hakone, enjoying changing views of valleys and forestedhills as you leave the city behind. Upon arrival, cruise across Lake Ashi for postcard-perfect vistas of the lakeshore and, weather permitting,glimpses of Mt. Fuji framed by the iconic torii gate. Continue by ropeway up to Owakudani, Hakone’s dramatic volcanic valley, where you’ll learn a bit of local folklore as you sample the region’s famous black eggs and receive a brief safety overview. Time permitting, you may visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum, where large-scale sculptures are set against a backdrop of mountains and woods, before checking into yourtraditional onsen ryokan. Settle into tatami rooms and savor a restorative soak in the baths—private rotenburo upgrades are available—before indulging in a multi-course kaiseki dinner showcasing seasonal ingredients, with thoughtful sake or tea pairings.

Day 5 – Hakone  Kyoto • Gion & Pontocho at Twilight
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the ryokan followed by a short stroll through the surrounding countryside, taking in fresh air and village views. You’ll then board a reserved-seat shinkansen service, connecting via Tokyo toward Kyoto, with guidance on selecting a seasonal ekiben bento lunch at the station (own expense) to enjoy on board. Upon arrival in Kyoto, check in to your centrally located boutique hotel and have time to refresh before evening exploration. As twilight falls, join a guided walk through the atmospheric lanes of Gion and Pontocho, where lantern-litalleyways, ochaya stories, and glimpses of traditional tea houses set the scene; cap the evening with a sweet treat such as warabi mochi or alayered parfait before returning to your hotel.

Day 6 – Kyoto Temples • Tea Ceremony in Machiya • Nishiki Market Chef Crawl
Begin the day at Kiyomizu-dera, exploring its sweeping wooden terraces and panoramic city views before wandering down through the atmospheric Higashiyama lanes lined with pottery shops and local pickle vendors. Next, step into a beautifully restored machiya townhouse fora private tea ceremony led by a tea master, learning the choreography, symbolism, and etiquette of preparing and enjoying matcha along side seasonal wagashi sweets. Around midday, head to Nishiki Market for a chef-guided culinary crawl, sampling tofu donuts, artisan pickles, grilledeel skewers (with yuba and other vegetarian alternatives), and fragrant yuzu items while gaining an insider’s introduction to essential ingredients like dashi. The afternoon is left free for personal pursuits—whether that’s browsing textiles, visiting serene gardens, or simply returning to the hotel to rest and recharge.

Day 7 – Arashiyama Dawn Bamboo • River or Rail • Ramen Flight • Farewell Kaiseki
Set out before sunrise for the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, enjoying its ethereal paths in the quiet hours before the crowds arrive, then stroll through the tranquil gardens of Tenryu-ji. By mid-morning, you’ll choose between a Hozu River boat ride through a forested gorge—with gentle rapids and scenic rock formations—or the nostalgic Sagano Scenic Railway, riding retro carriages that trace the valley’s curves. In the afternoon,dive into a ramen tasting flight where you’ll compare different broth styles such as shoyu, miso, tonkotsu, and vegetable-based options,accompanied by a mini talk on noodle craft and regional variations. As the journey draws to a close, sit down to a memorable farewell dinner featuring either a traditional kaiseki or contemporary kyo-ryori tasting menu, highlighting seasonal produce, artisanal ceramics, and thoughtful plating, capped with a closing toast and photo recap of the week’s highlights.

Day 8 – Depart
For those who wish, the final morning offers an optional dawn excursion to Fushimi Inari’s iconic torii gates for an early-access atmosphere, or a seasonal snapshot visit to the tea fields of Uji. Afterwards, private transfers are arranged to Kansai (KIX), Itami (ITM), Kobe (UKB) airports, orKyoto Station depending on your onward travel plans. Your guide will help ensure a smooth departure, from timing to baggage logistics, so youcan relax and savor your last moments in Japan. Before you go, enjoy a quick kissaten-style espresso or matcha latte on the go—just like a local—carrying the flavors of your journey into the trip home.

Includes

Return Flights 
Accommodation (7 nights)
• Tokyo (3 nights) in a centrally located boutique hotel
• Hakone (1 night) in an onsen ryokan
• Kyoto (3 nights) in a boutique hotel
All stays are based on twin-share rooms, with a single supplement available on request.

Meals – 7 Breakfasts / 2 Lunches / 3 Dinners
• Daily breakfasts (7)
• Welcome Dinner on Day 1 at a curated izakaya
• Hands-on class lunch on Day 2 (sushi or wagashi)
• Nishiki Market chef-guided lunch crawl on Day 6
• Farewell Kaiseki or kyo-ryori dinner on Day 7
All dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice, including vegetarian and pescatarian preferences.

Transport
• Private airport transfers on arrival and departure
• Tokyo Hakone regional transfer
• Shinkansen from Tokyo area to Kyoto with reserved seats
• Local transit and IC card top-ups for scheduled group use

Guided Activities & Admissions
• Guided tastings at Toyosu/Tsukiji markets and knife-shop demonstration
• Hands-on sushi or wagashi workshop
• Craft cocktail or mocktail lab experience
• Traditional tea ceremony in a historic machiya
• Visits to Meiji Shrine, Asakusa/Senso-ji, Lake Ashi, Hakone ropeway and Owakudani, Gion and Pontocho, Kiyomizu-dera, Arashiyama andTenryu-ji
• Shibuya/Harajuku food walk with depachika treasure hunt
• Ramen tasting flight
• Onsen ryokan soak and kaiseki dinner experience
• English-speaking foodie guides, tea masters, culinary instructors, and welcoming ryokan hosts
• Drinking water during tours, safety briefings, and 24/7 on-trip support