10-Day Luxury Japan Itinerary

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.