Pure Japan

Welcome to Osaka – Japan’s foodie capital and a city that feels quintessentially Japanese thanks to its bright lights and bustling streets. Landing in the afternoon, you’ll transfer to your boutique hotel in the heart of the city. Having met and gotten to know your group here, with each of you buzzing on that ‘first day in Japan’ adrenaline (it’s a thing, trust us…) you’ll then be taken on a real under-the-skin food tour. Led by a local who knows exactly where to find authentic, age-old dishes, you’ll visit small restaurants and food carts alike – trying everything from okonomiyaki to wagyu beef. Osaka is a city that really comes to life at night, so you might be tempted to stay out exploring once your immersive tour is over. Your personal guide will be on hand to let you know exactly where the locals are going to party the night away.

Today, the extent of Japan’s multifariousness will come to life as you swap the loud, brash modernity of Osaka for quiet natural beauty in Koyasan. Forested and mountainous, Koyasan is considered one of the holiest sites in the country thanks to its endless temples and monasteries. You’ll be spending the night here at a temple, dining and praying with the temple’s resident monks, as well as bathing in a Shukubo communal hot water bath (if you’re willing…nakedness is mandatory, and each bath is single-sex). Your time here will be back to basics in that you’ll be sleeping on a traditional tatami mat and encouraged to seek out the simple pleasures to be found in nature and prayer. Expect simple yet delicious vegetarian food, cooked for you by the monks, with all ingredients changing with the seasons.

Wake early and join your generous hosts at their morning prayers, learning how to meditate properly and all about their way of life. Then, it’ll be on to Kyoto. Kyoto is a world of its own, where lamp-lit alleyways offer glimpses of geisha disappearing into hidden doorways and ancient townhouses open onto carefully curated gardens. Your first experience here will be a beautiful private tea ceremony. Enchanting and meditative, the whole experience feels very mindful, a perfect continuation of your stay in Koyasan. Later, you’ll sit down to your private kaiseki (traditional multi-course dinner) at the atmospheric Ganko Nijoen. An old house turned restaurant with huge windows overlooking a zen garden, Ganko Nijoen feels deeply authentic. As course after course come out, be entertained by your own Maiko (trainee geisha), who will play games with your group, dance, and perform music.

Today you’ll spend some time west of Kyoto in the stunning countryside district of Arashiyama. First up, you’ll board a traditional wooden boat on the Hozugawa River. Your private boat would have once been used for log haulage and is now captained by expert boatmen who will guide you past quiet and picturesque natural scenes with bamboo poles. From here, you’ll explore the famous Bamboo Forest, wandering down lesser-taken paths to avoid the crowds and appreciate the quiet beauty of this natural wonder. Back in Kyoto, it’ll be time for your private Ramen masterclass. Led by an expert chef, you’ll be guided through the intricacies of this iconic dish, learning how you make the perfect noodle and broth, before getting to eat the deliciousness you’ve created. Now for the best way to end a day in Kyoto: karaoke.

This morning you’ll spend some time at Fushimi Inari, perhaps Japan’s most iconic Shinto shrine, where you’ll find thousands of vermilion torii gates winding a path over a wooded mountain. Climbing to the top of this sacred complex can take around three hours (well worth it, and you’ll leave the larger groups of tourists behind) but if you’d prefer to dip in and out, there is a quaint shopping street selling traditional sweets and lots of tofu. Afterward, you’ll be boarding the bullet train to Tokyo. Having checked into your hotel, you’ll make your way to neon-lit Shibuya for your first taste of Tokyo madness. Take some time to explore at your own pace before dinner at a local izakaya restaurant, joining young locals and salarymen as they feast on simple yet delicious fare.

Today is a special one. Your group will be granted entry to a secretive sumo stable, where you’ll watch a series of sumo wrestlers in their morning training. So exclusive is this experience, your guide won’t know until the very day which stable is willing to open its doors to the group – meaning no two trips will ever be the same. Having watched these giant athletes at practice, you’ll get to sample a traditional, very rich (very high calorie) Chanko Nabe lunch eaten by sumo athletes when training. For the rest of the day, you’ll enjoy some much-needed free time to explore. From cat cafes to giant arcades; temples and shrines to Samurai museums, there are endless sights to uncover in this city of contrasts.

On your last day, you’ll forgo Tokyo’s best-known areas in exchange for the undeniably trendy East Tokyo neighbourhood of Fukagawa. Laid-back and artistic, you’ll get deep into the recesses of the area on a backstreet cycling tour with an expert local guide. Discover coffee shops and art galleries hidden in garages down unassuming residential streets, as well as small wineries, breweries, and craft workshops. After lunch, you’ll have the afternoon at leisure, then you’ll be off for your private lesson in sushi making. With every ingredient you could need laid out before you, watch as your sushi chef shows you the art of preparing, rolling, and seasoning your sushi. Finally, it’s time for a farewell drink on a rooftop downtown. With sweeping views across the endless lights of the city – make a toast with your new friends to eight ultimate days in Japan.

It’s time to bid farewell to your guide and your group. If you’ve got time, we thoroughly recommend staying a few extra days – we’ll be on hand to give you some tips on where to go, too.