Begin your Japanese adventure with a journey north to Niseko's tranquil forests, where Zaborin ryokan awaits like a secret tucked into the mountains. Your private villa comes with its own indoor and outdoor onsen baths—imagine soaking in therapeutic waters while gazing at Mt. Yotei (often called "the Fuji of the North"). This is slow travel at its finest: no rushing, no schedules. Just you, nature, and the kind of peace that makes you forget what day it is.

Tokyo hits different when you know where to look. With your private guide, you’ll skip the typical tourist destinations and dive into the real Tokyo that most visitors never discover. Try your hand at taiko drumming (louder and more therapeutic than you'd expect), explore cutting-edge architecture with a local architect, and lose yourself in the mesmerizing digital worlds of teamLab.

Here's where things get magical: Visit Naoshima and Teshima, islands in the Seto Inland Sea that have become a bucket-list pilgrimage for contemporary art-lovers the world over. You'll stay at Benesse House, a hotel that's also a museum (more on the hotel below), where you can literally wake up next to world-class contemporary art. Hunt down Kusama's iconic polka-dotted Pumpkin sculpture, explore underground galleries, and ferry-hop to nearby Teshima art island if the mood strikes. It's the kind of place that makes every other museum experience feel ordinary.

Your final Tokyo chapter is all about getting your hands dirty (literally). Learn the ancient art of indigo dyeing at a traditional atelier in Asakusa—the squeeze technique means your final pattern is a surprise until you unfold the fabric. Master the art of sushi-making from a chef who's been perfecting his craft for decades. Then tour Tokyo's legendary depachika (department store food halls) where locals shop for the city's finest delicacies.