Treasures of Japan with Ashley and Racheal

Start your Tokyo discovery at Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine wrapped in a calm, forested sanctuary right in the middle of the city. It is a striking contrast to the urban energy waiting just beyond the trees, and a fitting way to open a trip built around quiet beauty and considered design. From there, the day leans into Tokyo’s most style-forward neighbourhoods, where modern architecture, creative studios, and beautifully curated streetscapes line up one after another.

Settle in for a refined tea experience at either Haute Couture Cafe Omotesando or Shorakuen Tea Salon & Boutique, both celebrated for elegant interiors and exquisitely presented seasonal sweets (at your own expense). The afternoon is yours to drift through Tokyo’s vintage stores and lifestyle boutiques, uncovering hidden finds and one-of-a-kind pieces as you wander the endlessly browsable streets of Harajuku and Daikanyama. For those who want to cover more ground, an optional guided bike tour rolls through design-rich areas across these neighbourhoods: a blend of high-end design, vintage culture, and inventive retail that makes for a brilliant afternoon on two wheels.

🏨 Accommodation

• The Gate Hotel Ryogoku by HULIC or Similar, Tokyo

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo
• Afternoon Free to Explore Harajuku, Daikanyama, and Surrounds
• Optional: Guided Bike Tour, Tokyo (minimum 2 pax, US$122 per person approx)
• Suggestion: Tea Experience at Haute Couture Cafe Omotesando or Shorakuen Tea Salon & Boutique (own expense)

Your morning begins at the Oedo Antique Market, one of Japan’s largest and most atmospheric outdoor markets. This is the treasure hunt design lovers dream about: stalls heaped with vintage kimono, ceramics, woodblock prints, lacquerware, and decorative pieces you won’t find anywhere else. Markets like this run to their own rhythm, so the schedule can shift depending on the month, but the thrill of the browse is always the same.

From there, make your way to the Tsukiji Outer Market for a guided food experience, sampling fresh seafood and a string of traditional Japanese snacks as a relaxed late brunch. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace: dive deeper into the surrounding streets, track down a hidden cafe, or continue the shopping adventure wherever your curiosity leads.

🏨 Accommodation

• The Gate Hotel Ryogoku by HULIC or Similar, Tokyo

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Brunch (Tsukiji Outer Market Snacks)

✅ Activities

• Oedo Antique Market Visit, Tokyo
• Guided Food Experience, Tsukiji Outer Market
• Afternoon Free to Explore at Own Pace

This morning you’ll board the Shinkansen, Japan’s iconic high-speed rail, and glide through the countryside from Tokyo to Kyoto. Arrival brings an immediate change of pace. Step into the timeless atmosphere of Old Kyoto and start exploring the beautifully preserved Higashiyama district, where narrow lanes are lined with traditional wooden townhouses, artisan studios, and carefully curated craft boutiques: the perfect hunting ground for vintage textiles, handcrafted ceramics, and design-led pieces that reflect Kyoto’s deep artistic heritage.

The afternoon turns quietly ceremonial, with a traditional tea ceremony in an intimate and serene setting, guided by a local host through the rituals, symbolism, and unhurried beauty of this centuries-old practice. There’s also the option to dress in a kimono for a deeper connection to Japanese culture and aesthetics, a calm and grounding way to spend your first afternoon in the old capital.

🏨 Accommodation

• Hotel Intergate Kyoto Shijo Shinmachi or Similar, Kyoto

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto
• Exploration of Higashiyama District, Kyoto
• Traditional Tea Ceremony, Kyoto
• Optional: Kimono Dressing Experience
• Optional: Private Karaoke Room, 2 Hours (approx. JPY 2,000/person, approx. US$15; alcoholic drinks not included)

🧳 Luggage Transfer

• Suitcases will be sent ahead to Kyoto today. Please pack a light overnight bag for 1 night. One suitcase per person is included; your guide will assist you in the morning.

Begin your morning at Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of Kyoto’s most iconic shrines and famous for the thousands of vivid red torii gates that wind up the forested hillside. Take your time along the scenic pathways, find photographs around every turn, and settle into the peaceful atmosphere of this historic spiritual site. From there, continue to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where towering stalks filter the light into something soft and otherworldly, with the surrounding area offering traditional streets, riverside scenery, local cafes, and charming shops.

The afternoon turns hands-on at Ryosokuin in Gion, where you’ll create your own omamori, a personalised charm, while learning about its significance and meaning. Afterwards, lose yourself in the cultural streets around Gion, Ninenzaka, and Sannenzaka, some of Kyoto’s most beautiful historic lanes: artisan boutiques selling vintage kimono, handcrafted accessories, and design objects, with colourful interiors and tucked-away cafes inviting you to slow down between finds.

🏨 Accommodation

• Hotel Intergate Kyoto Shijo Shinmachi or Similar, Kyoto

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast

✅ Activities

• Visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto
• Omamori Charm-Making Workshop at Ryosokuin, Gion
• Exploration of Gion, Ninenzaka, and Sannenzaka, Kyoto

The morning takes you on a half-day excursion to Nara, where the city’s famous free-roaming deer wander the expansive Nara Park, perfectly happy to greet you as you pass. Visit Todai-ji, home to the awe-inspiring Great Buddha statue and one of Japan’s most iconic cultural landmarks, then spend time in the charming streets around the park, where artisan shops and local food stalls serve up traditional snacks and unique souvenirs.

In the afternoon, the group continues on to Osaka. As evening falls, join your leader for a vibrant street food walking tour through the lively Dotonbori district: neon lights blazing overhead, crowds buzzing through the lanes, and the scent of sizzling street food setting the scene as you sample local favourites like takoyaki and okonomiyaki. It is a delicious crash course in the bold, generous flavour Osaka is famous for.

🏨 Accommodation

• Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka or Similar, Osaka

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Dinner (Street Food Walking Tour, Dotonbori)

✅ Activities

• Half-Day Excursion to Nara Park and Deer Encounter
• Visit to Todai-ji (Great Buddha), Nara
• Train from Kyoto to Osaka
• Street Food Walking Tour, Dotonbori, Osaka

🧳 Luggage Transfer

• Suitcases will be sent ahead to Osaka today. Please pack a light overnight bag for 1 night. One suitcase per person is included; your guide will assist you in the morning.

Today is yours to explore Osaka’s creative scene at your own pace. Those drawn to vintage fashion, colourful interiors, and design-led spaces will want to wander through Shinsaibashi, Amerikamura, and Nakazakicho: an eclectic mix of boutique stores, vintage clothing shops, artisan studios, galleries, and character-filled cafes that hum with energy and inspiration. There’s no wrong direction here.

The afternoon brings a highlight that you’ll take home in your hands: an included weaving workshop with local artisans, where you’ll learn traditional textile techniques and create your own small woven piece as a personal souvenir. As the trip draws to a close, gather one last time for a farewell dinner, celebrating everything shared over Osaka’s vibrant food culture and the lively atmosphere of the city that made the perfect final chapter.

🏨 Accommodation

• Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka or Similar, Osaka

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast
• Dinner (Farewell Dinner)

✅ Activities

• Free Morning to Explore Shinsaibashi, Amerikamura, and Nakazakicho
• Weaving Workshop with Local Artisans, Osaka
• Farewell Dinner, Osaka

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and make your own way to the airport for your onward flight. Your suitcase of vintage finds, handmade charms, and woven keepsakes is all the proof you need of a trip spent looking closely and travelling well.

Japan has a way of staying with you, in the details you noticed and the beauty you collected along the way. Safe travels until next time.

🍽️ Included Meals

• Breakfast