Japan

Meet your guides, the group, and enjoy dinner together before getting settled in at the hotel.

Today we’ll explore our own neighborhood, a local fave, with vintage and vinyl shops, high quality lattes, and more. Here, you’ll find those amazing one-of-a-kind souvenirs you can’t wait to take home. Afterwards we will visit the working studio of a renowned artist. Spend the evening exploring on your own or with your new friends.

From our local neighborhood, we’ll head out to get hands on and learn how to make sushi from a local chef in her home studio. Keep the creative energy going as we get up close and personal with kintsugi by making our own! After a day of exciting adventures, you'll have the option to enjoy some solo time before reconvening with your new travel companions for a delicious final dinner in the bustling Shinjuku district — where the salarymen go for shmoozing — followed by a lively and fun night of karaoke, a rite-of-passage for anyone who visits Tokyo. Don’t stay up too late though! Day 3 is an early start.

Grab a bento box and hop onto the bullet train for a trip into the mountains! Wander a small town with a castle built in the 1500s, then head up to our ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) for the evening. Spend the evening dining with the group.

Make our way into Chubu Sangaku National Park, our entrance point into the Northern Japanese Alps. Take a short hike into the mountains and stay at a family owned lodge that has been passed down for generations. Enjoy an intimate dinner with the group.

Head up the mountain for a day-hike, and take in the glory of being surrounded by snowy peaks at the top of a magnificent valley. Stay in a traditional Japanese mountain hut for the night, most commonly used by mountaineers, backpackers passing through. Dine with the group for dinner.

Return to the lodge in the valley to relax, soak our achy muscles, and feast like family.

Today begins with taking a train ride South to Kyoto. Upon arrival, we will check-in to our boutique hotel, where you can relax and unwind or do a little solo exploration of the city's famous shrines, temples, and historic architecture.

Later in the evening, we’ve arranged a special surprise guest performer to join us for dinner. You will have the opportunity to connect with them as they provide an unforgettable experience.

Take in historic Kyoto through its temples, shrines and gardens, with a private, guided tour. Learn the history of how buddhism and shintoism shape current day Japan, get crafty with a guided art lesson, and taste a specialty cuisine. Take some time to explore on your own in the evening and dine in one of Kyoto’s many incredible restaurants.

Savor our last day in Kyoto as we visit a monastery of tea with a historic private tea ceremony, and connect with a gold leaf artisan. Share a bittersweet final dinner as a group, reflecting on an incredible 10 days.

Say your goodbyes to the group before we depart the hotel. Airport transfer included.