Japan: slow cities and a ryokan
Tokyo, a ryokan in the hills, and Kyoto with mornings left open.
Japan · Private journeys
Japan private journey
Private guides, trains booked, and a plan light enough to wander.
Japan is best when the plan is light and the guide is good. We book the trains, the ryokan, and the tables, then leave mornings open.
A first visit is Tokyo, a ryokan, and Kyoto. A second visit goes further: the Alps, the art islands, or Kyushu.
Where we go
Tokyo, Kyoto and the places in between for a first visit; a thread through the country for a second: the art islands of the Seto Inland Sea, the mountain shrines of Nikko, the pilgrim paths of the Kumano Kodo, Hiroshima and Miyajima, the snow and food of Hokkaido. The country rewards depth more than breadth.
How the week runs
Rail passes, reserved seats, forwarded luggage and the right guide on the right days. Each stop is two or three nights, long enough to settle. Ryokan nights are paced around dinner; city nights are free. Fourteen nights is a comfortable length; ten is the minimum for two cities and a ryokan.
Who it suits and when
Travellers who want a plan that works without feeling organised, families with teenagers, and anyone returning for a second look. Spring and autumn are the showpieces; winter is excellent for food, snow and empty temples.
- Best time
- Late March to April for blossom; October to November for colour. May, June, and September are quieter and still excellent.
- Suits
- Travellers who want a guide rather than a group · Culture-led trips with time for food and walking · Return visitors who have done the obvious route
- Also see
- Japan overview · Private journeys everywhere
Example journeys
Private journeys itineraries in Japan
Where to stay
Stays for private journeys in Japan
Kyoto machiya
A restored townhouse with a courtyard garden.
Hakone ryokan
A private onsen bath and a kaiseki dinner.
Good to know
Questions about private journeys in Japan
Do we need a guide every day?
No. Two or three days in each city is enough.
Is this a live booking?
No. It is a starting point. A specialist writes a private proposal and availability is confirmed then.
Plan private journeys in Japan
A specialist replies personally with a first private proposal: stays, pacing, and a guide price. No obligation for the first conversation.