THE SHORT VERDICT
Plan it, don’t improvise it
Japan is the trip that looks easy on Instagram and is fiddly in real life. We build a route that has air in it — not Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, a shrine, a train, repeat.
Our view
Reservations, ryokan etiquette, which city hotel is actually in the right neighbourhood, whether Okinawa belongs on this itinerary or is its own holiday: these are the decisions that shape the trip.
Come if you like precision and food. Don’t come if you want to improvise every morning.
What the days look like
A city that has a point. A ryokan that has a bath and a dinner worth dressing for. An island if you have the nights. Trains, not domestic flights, unless the island requires it.
Hotels to know
- Hoshinoya Taketomi: when the trip needs an island and a slower clock.
- City hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto: chosen per trip. We’d rather name the right neighbourhood than lock a chain on a webpage. Our hotel guides cover The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, Aman Tokyo and Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo.
Worth knowing
Cherry blossom and Golden Week are not “a nice bonus.” They are a different trip, priced and crowded accordingly. We plan around them, or we pick another month.
Questions worth asking
When should we avoid going?
Cherry blossom and Golden Week are a different trip, priced and crowded accordingly. We plan around them, or pick another month.
Should Okinawa be part of the same trip?
Only if you have the nights. An island like Taketomi wants a slower clock; otherwise it is its own holiday.
Details, operating policies, fares and inclusions can change. We verify the exact property, itinerary and terms for your dates before you book.