**Day 1 – Welcome in Kyoto**

Arriving in Kyoto, the former imperial capital, you’re welcomed into a city where refinement, tradition, and quiet vitality converge. After settling into your hotel, your guide greets you and shares the outlook for the journey ahead—ten days rich in discovery and connection. In the evening, we enjoy your first *washoku* dinner, where fine Japanese ingredients meet subtle Western touches. It’s an elegant and understated introduction to the timeless rhythms of Kyoto.

**Stay:** High-end Hotel Kyoto

**Day 2 – Walking Kyoto's Living History**

Today, your guide leads you on foot through Kyoto’s quieter corners: temple paths winding through bamboo groves and forested hills, each step echoing with centuries of devotion and artistry. The day is shaped around the group’s curiosity and pace—perhaps a stroll along the Path of Philosophy, connecting the Silver Pavilion to the gardens of Nanzen-ji temple, or a walk into Gion’s time-worn alleys and the fleeting beauty of the young timeless *Maiko* geishas. For those drawn to wilder horizons, a stint into the surrounding hills offers peaceful vistas over the city.

**Stay:** High-end Hotel Kyoto

**Day 3 – Ride Through Ancient Nara**

This morning, we venture out by bicycle in Nara, where Japan’s early spiritual roots still pulse beneath the surface. Pedaling along quiet trails at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, you discover iconic landmarks such as the towering Buddha of Tōdai-ji and encounter sacred deer roaming freely. As the ride carries us south past former emperors’ *kofun* tombs and centuries-old pagodas, a deeper sense of Japan’s ancient heartland emerges. In the evening, we return to our accommodation in Kyoto.

**Stay:** High-end Hotel Kyoto

**Day 4 – Kōyasan and the Monastic World**

This morning, driving further into the mountains we reach Mount Kōya the spiritual heart of Shingon Buddhism. Hiking along the women’s Nyonindō trail and strolling through the vivid halls of Danjōgaran, your guide unpacks the deep history of this living temple complex. At dusk, lanterns guide your silent walk through the moss-lined Okunoin Cemetery—an experience of quiet awe. Tonight, we reside in a buddhits temple, where vegetarian *shōjin ryōri* and monastic routines invite reflection and calm.

**Stay:** Buddhist Temple

**Day 5 – Kumano Kōdō and the Grand Shrine of Hongū**

Our journey leads deeper south into the Kii Peninsula, following a revered section of the Kumano Kōdō pilgrimage route. From the forest gate of Hosshinmon Ōji to the graceful rooflines of the Hongū Taisha shrine, each step carries echoes of faith and renewal. In the afternoon, we descend further towards the Pacific, where a seaside onsen inn in Nachi-Katsuura offers a gentle close to the day.

**Stay:** Seaside Onsen Hotel

**Day 6 – Waterfall Spirits and Coastal Stillness**

This morning, we trace the stone steps of the Daimonzaka giant cedar alley, ascending toward Nachi Shrine and Japan’s tallest waterfall. Here, nature and sacred architecture meet in harmony, and your guide shares the layers of legend that still linger. The afternoon is ours to enjoy the coastal setting—quiet time by the sea, a walk along the harbor, or simply rest.

**Stay:** Seaside Onsen Hotel

**Day 7 – Coastal Trails to Ise-Shima**

Our journey veers northeast today, pausing along the rugged Kumano coastline for a guided walk through the pine-framed pass of Matsumoto-tōge and the sculpted cliffs of Onigajō. These geological forms hold myth and memory in equal measure. By afternoon, we arrive in the tranquil inlets of Ise-Shima, where island-speckled bays and pearl-diving traditions define the region.

**Stay:** Ise-Shima’s Aman Resort (or similar)

**Day 8 – With the Ama of the Inland Sea**

Today is devoted to the sea and its guardians. You meet the Ama—Japan’s iconic women free-divers—and through your guide, listen to their stories and age-old practices. For those who wish, there’s the chance to enter the water and admire them evolving in their favorite environment. This is a rare and humbling exchange: a glimpse into a vanishing way of life held with grace and resilience.

**Stay:** Ise-Shima’s Aman Resort (or similar)

**Day 9 – The Ise Grand Shrine on the way to Kiso**

On the morning of your final full day on the Kii Peninsula, we head to the Ise Grand Shrine (or Ise Jingū), Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine. Its unadorned architecture and 20-year renewal tradition offer a powerful meditation on impermanence. We then follow the waterways used to carry the logs for Ise Jingū and drive through Nagoya’s sprawling urban region (home of the infamous Toyota automaker) and reach the Kiso valley in the afternoon. We settle in our exclusive Expedition Resort, the Zenagi.

**Stay:** Exclusive refined mountain lodge in Kiso

**Day 10 – Slow Craft and Timeless Paths**

Our day begins with a walk along the old Nakasendō, the Edo-period route between Kyoto and Tokyo. We visit local artisans—lacquerware makers, paper craftsmen, and woodworkers—whose dedication preserves centuries-old techniques. These encounters, guided and translated by a local expert, invite us into a world where time slows and hands speak. We return to Zenagi in the afternoon for a peaceful evening.

**Stay:** Exclusive refined mountain lodge in Kiso

**Day 11 – Matsumoto’s Living Heritage and Arrival in Tokyo**

Today we descend to the historic city of Matsumoto, cycling through picturesque countryside and stopping for an educational stop at a wasabi farm along the way. In Matsumoto, we pass its feudal castle—one of Japan’s oldest original keeps, known for its black-and-white façade and commanding donjon. The historic Nakamachi-dōri, once a bustling merchant street, preserves traditional storehouses now home to sake breweries, cafés, and artisan shops. After enjoying the charming atmosphere of this mountain town, we head on to Tokyo. Once settled in, we gather for a final dinner to celebrate the rich experiences shared throughout the journey.

**Day 12 – Farewell and ongoing travel to Tokyo**

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the mountainous prefecture of Nagano and board the Star Trek inspired express train to Tokyo.

There, the options for our undertakings are limitless: frantic shopping streets, towering buildings, interactive performances, sprawling galleries and museums to name a fee.. or why not even take a tour of the “Tokyo Toilets”? A conceptual rethinking of 17 public toilets recently developed by the world’s top architect in a cunning to showcast Japan’s hospitality culture.

This journey has carried you across spiritual peaks, coastal villages, and ancient paths—always with intention, always close to the soul of Japan. You return not just with memories, but with a quiet understanding gathered step by step.

**Stay:** Luxury Hotel Tokyo