10-Day Luxury Japan Itinerary

For first-time luxury travellers to Japan: Tokyo for design and dining, Kyoto for craft and ritual, Hakone for the ryokan experience — all at the highest level.

Route overview

Fly into Tokyo Haneda for three nights of city luxury, take the Shinkansen to Hakone for a two-night ryokan reset, then continue to Kyoto for four nights of temples and craft. End with one final Tokyo night before flying out.

At a glance

Best for: Discerning couples and design-led families

Trip length: 10 nights

Ideal budget: A$28,000–A$55,000 (couple, all-in)

Best time: Late March–April (cherry blossom) or November (autumn)

Style: City hotels + traditional ryokan

Day 1 — Arrival Tokyo, Aman check-in (Tokyo)

Morning: Arrive Haneda. Pre-arranged airport limousine (40 minutes) to the hotel. Use Haneda not Narita if at all possible — the difference is meaningful.

Afternoon: Check in at Aman Tokyo (32nd floor of the Otemachi Tower). Settle in. The Aman pool is the best urban hotel pool in the world — use it.

Evening: Quiet first dinner at Musashi by Aman, the in-house omakase counter. A controlled introduction to Japanese fine dining without venturing out exhausted.

Where to stay: Aman Tokyo

Insider tip: Skip Narita Express on arrival — it's 90 minutes vs 40 by car. After a 10+ hour flight, the car is worth every yen.

Day 2 — Tokyo neighbourhoods with a private guide (Tokyo)

Morning: Private cultural guide (English-speaking, deeply knowledgeable) for a half-day in Yanaka and Nezu — the Tokyo most visitors miss.

Afternoon: Lunch at a quietly excellent kaiseki place in Kagurazaka, then teamLab Borderless or the National Museum of Modern Art depending on interest.

Evening: Reservation at Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi or Sushi Saito if you can secure it — both require a hotel concierge with real relationships.

Where to stay: Aman Tokyo

Insider tip: Top sushi reservations are made through your hotel concierge 60–90 days in advance. Do not assume same-week availability.

Day 3 — Tsukiji breakfast & Ginza shopping (Tokyo)

Morning: Early breakfast at Tsukiji outer market with a private guide who actually knows the stallholders. Tamago, uni, fresh wasabi.

Afternoon: Ginza for serious shopping. The Wako and Mitsukoshi flagships are theatre. End at Hermès Ginza for the architecture alone.

Evening: Dinner at Den (three-star, modern Japanese) — book through Aman concierge minimum 60 days ahead.

Where to stay: Aman Tokyo

Insider tip: Tsukiji outer market is fully recovered post-relocation. The inner market moved to Toyosu, but the outer market is where the food experience lives.

Day 4 — Shinkansen to Hakone, ryokan ritual (Tokyo → Hakone)

Morning: Private car to Tokyo Station, Shinkansen Green Car to Odawara (35 minutes), private transfer up the mountain to Hakone (25 minutes).

Afternoon: Check in at Gora Kadan or Hakone Ginyu. The ryokan ritual is a key part of the trip — yukata, tea, in-room bath introduction.

Evening: Multi-course kaiseki dinner served in your suite. This is the moment everyone remembers. Pace it slowly.

Where to stay: Gora Kadan

Insider tip: Choose a room with a private onsen (rotenburo) — the public baths are excellent, but the private pool is the luxury.

Day 5 — Hakone slow day & Hakone Open-Air Museum (Hakone)

Morning: Long, slow breakfast in your suite. Private bath. Most guests rush this; the point of a ryokan is to not rush.

Afternoon: Hakone Open-Air Museum (the Picasso pavilion is genuinely world-class) and a tea ceremony in a traditional pavilion.

Evening: Second kaiseki dinner — the chef will vary the menu meaningfully from night one. Pair with junmai daiginjo.

Where to stay: Gora Kadan

Insider tip: If the weather is clear, ask the concierge for a Mt Fuji viewpoint at sunset — it's not always advertised but available.

Day 6 — Shinkansen to Kyoto, Higashiyama walk (Hakone → Kyoto)

Morning: Private transfer to Odawara, Shinkansen to Kyoto (2 hours, Green Car). Private car to Aman Kyoto or Four Seasons Kyoto.

Afternoon: Settle in. Late afternoon walk in Higashiyama — Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka. Quiet at this hour, magical at golden hour.

Evening: Kaiseki dinner at Hyotei (350 years old, three Michelin stars) or Kichisen, the chef-owned alternative many locals prefer.

Where to stay: Aman Kyoto or Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Insider tip: Aman Kyoto is in the secret garden of an old textile collector, 20 minutes from the centre. Four Seasons is more central. Choose based on whether you want refuge or convenience.

Day 7 — Temples & a private tea ceremony (Kyoto)

Morning: Pre-opening private access to Kinkaku-ji or Ginkaku-ji (your hotel concierge can arrange one or the other in season).

Afternoon: Private tea ceremony with a tenth-generation tea master in a traditional machiya. The most luxurious thing you'll do all week.

Evening: Pontocho dinner — book a kaiseki room at Issen or a quietly excellent kappo counter.

Where to stay: Aman Kyoto or Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Insider tip: Pre-opening temple access is real but limited. Book through your hotel three months ahead, not on arrival.

Day 8 — Arashiyama bamboo grove & Hoshinoya Kyoto (Kyoto / Arashiyama)

Morning: Private boat transfer up the Hozugawa River to Hoshinoya Kyoto for a long lunch (you don't have to stay there to dine).

Afternoon: Bamboo grove walk early evening when day-trippers leave. Tenryu-ji garden, Okochi Sanso villa. Slow.

Evening: Return to your hotel for a quiet in-room dinner. Eight days in, the body wants rest.

Where to stay: Aman Kyoto or Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Insider tip: The Hozugawa boat transfer to Hoshinoya is one of the more beautiful 30 minutes you'll spend in Japan. Arrange both directions.

Day 9 — Nishiki Market & craft galleries (Kyoto)

Morning: Nishiki Market with a chef-led food tour. Tsukemono (pickles), wagashi (sweets), the best knife-makers in Japan.

Afternoon: Craft gallery hopping in Gion — ceramics, textiles, lacquerware. Have your concierge arrange shipping for any larger purchases.

Evening: Final Kyoto dinner — try Gion Karyo for an exquisite kaiseki experience in a 100-year-old machiya.

Where to stay: Aman Kyoto or Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Insider tip: Most quality Kyoto craft galleries close by 6pm. Plan the afternoon, not the evening, for shopping.

Day 10 — Return to Tokyo, departure (Kyoto → Tokyo (Haneda))

Morning: Late morning Shinkansen to Tokyo. Drop bags at Aman or The Tokyo EDITION for the day if you have an evening flight.

Afternoon: Last lunch — Sushi Tou or a final teppanyaki at Ukai-tei. Final Ginza walk for any forgotten gifts.

Evening: Private car to Haneda. Pre-clearance through ANA or JAL First Class lounge. Sleep on the plane.

Where to stay: Day-use suite at The Tokyo EDITION Toranomon

Insider tip: Day-use suites at top Tokyo hotels are bookable at roughly 50% of the night rate — far more civilised than airport lounges for a long layover.

Where to stay

Aman Tokyo — Sky-borne calm above the city. Cathedral lobby, the best urban hotel pool in the world, and Aman's signature service rigour. Best for First-time luxury travellers to Tokyo. From A$2,200 per night.

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto — Built around a 800-year-old garden, with the most consistent service in Kyoto's luxury market. Perfect for first-time visitors. Best for Couples wanting central Kyoto with five-star reliability. From A$1,400 per night.

Hoshinoya Tokyo — An entire ryokan vertical in central Tokyo — onsen on the top floor, tatami throughout. A genuine cultural experience. Best for Repeat Tokyo visitors wanting something different. From A$1,600 per night.

Gora Kadan, Hakone — A former imperial summer villa turned ryokan. The kaiseki here is among the best in Japan; the rooms with private onsen are essential. Best for Couples wanting the definitive ryokan experience. From A$1,800 per night (incl. dinner & breakfast).

Where to eat

Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi (Tokyo, Edomae sushi) — The Jiro lineage at the most accessible (and excellent) of his counters.

Den (Tokyo, Modern Japanese) — Three Michelin stars, playful, joyful. The most fun fine-dining room in Tokyo.

Hyotei (Kyoto, Kaiseki) — 350 years old. The breakfast service in the garden pavilion is unforgettable.

Kichisen (Kyoto, Kaiseki) — Three stars, less famous than Hyotei, often considered Kyoto's best by locals.

FAQs

When is the best time for a luxury Japan trip?

Late March to early April for cherry blossom and November for autumn foliage. Both seasons book out a year ahead at top properties.

How long should a first-time luxury Japan trip be?

Ten nights is the sweet spot — three nights Tokyo, two Hakone, four Kyoto, one final Tokyo. Less than a week feels rushed.

Is the Shinkansen comfortable enough for a luxury trip?

Yes — Green Car or Gran Class is excellent. Many luxury travellers prefer it to charter flights for the city-to-city legs.

Do we need a private guide?

For Kyoto temples and Tokyo neighbourhoods, yes. The depth and access are dramatically better with a serious guide.

How far ahead should we book?

Six to nine months for top hotels and three months for top restaurants. Earlier for sakura season.