Immerse yourself in the nature and culture of Japan through the lens of art, architecture, design, cuisine, and gardens.

Our journey begins in the bustling capital of Tokyo, where we will immerse ourselves in art and nature as we visit sacred Shinto shrines, dazzling gardens, and vibrant contemporary neighborhoods. We then travel to Odawara, the site of Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Enoura Observatory, where architecture, art, and astronomy align with the seasonal path of the sun. In the ancient capital of Kyoto, we will explore Buddhist monasteries to experience rock gardens, temple architecture, the way of tea, a traditional vegetarian lunch, an artist studio visit, and dinner at a private home with a performance by a “geisha in training.” Our next destination is the Benesse Art Site (Naoshima and other nearby art islands), home to unforgettable museums, site-specific installations, and a contemporary art hotel. We conclude with final days back in Tokyo, focusing on the vibrancy of new art and architecture. We’ll travel via taxi, private van, ferry boats, and trains, including the “shinkansen” bullet train.

The Japanese cherish nature, and our late march visit is the usual start of cherry blossom time -- the quintessential Japan seasonal celebration. We'll also visit rock- and strolling gardens, view ancient, modern, and contemporary renderings of the landscape, and learn how Japanese cuisine connects so strongly to the earth and sea. Culinary experiences include food shopping (in traditional markets, shops, and department stores), an elegant seasonal kai-seki banquet in a private home, a vegetarian shōjin ryōri Buddhist lunch at a temple, and more.

The 10-night/11-day immersion tour has been designed by and will be led by Mark Holzbach and Dana Friis-Hansen. Having lived in Japan for five years during the 1990s, and since then having organized exhibitions and written extensively about Japanese art, their insights, experiences, and insider connections will make this a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. Our focus will include Japanese culture, artists, architects, food, and nature.

DRAFT ITINERARY

DAY/NIGHT 1: MONDAY, APRIL 6: ARRIVAL IN JAPAN / TOKYO HOTEL

Welcome to Japan! 日本へようこそ！

The rich variety of your Japanese experience commences as the jet coasts to the runway, with vistas of rice fields, temple compounds, the shoreline, residential neighborhoods, highway spirals, speeding trains, and bold, colorful signage. The moment your flight lands in Japan, the modern systems kick in, as you move through the Japanese International arrival Airport, with its efficient arrival formalities, and eventually to your reserved, private transfer that will bring you to your Tokyo hotel. As you are driving, start to take notice of the things many that make Japan unique.

For our first days in Tokyo, the tour will be based in a comfortable hotel in the historic Ginza district (central location in the historic city center), now a hub of contemporary life, fusing cutting-edge architecture with traditional Japanese aesthetics. Please plan to arrive in Tokyo on this day—or consider arriving a day or two earlier to adjust to the time difference and get a head start exploring parts of the city that we won’t otherwise have time to include. We will gladly arrange pre-tour activities based on your interests, for a modest fee.

In the early evening, we will gather in the hotel lobby for an optional “get-to-know-your-neighborhood” stroll; otherwise no official group activity is planned this day in order to allow you to acclimate to the new time zone after your long flight.

DAY/NIGHT 2: TUESDAY, APRIL 7: TOKYO

We gather in the hotel lobby and travel a short distance via pre-arranged transport. Our visit to the peaceful Meiji Shrine will serve as our introduction to Shinto, Japan’s ancient indigenous spiritual belief.  Within the compound we’ll stroll dramatic tree-lined paths to the compound where we will likely see couples in kimono for weddings or blessings, priests preparing for ceremonies, and Japanese from across the country coming to visit this important monument.

We’ll continue on foot along the tree-lined Omotesando street, the “Champs-Elysees of Tokyo,” to see dramatic contemporary retail architecture and we will enjoy lunch at a nearby neighborhood restaurant.

Afterward, you can return to the hotel to rest,, or join us for other options. There will be free time to shop and explore together on your own in Omotesando, with suggestions and assistance from your leaders. This is an especially lovely neighborhood for people watching, and for viewing cherry blossoms, if the timing is right…

Another option is to visit the Nezu Museum, renowned for its exquisite traditional Japanese art. The signature building, recently redesigned by architect Kengo Kuma, and the renowned Japanese strolling garden await our leisurely exploration.

After this immersion in Japanese traditions, we’re planning a celebratory welcome group dinner at a notable restaurant nearby.

DAY/NIGHT 3: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8: TOKYO

This morning we will take taxis to the bustling district of Ueno, known for its important museums, a handsome park, an important transportation hub, and shopping, as well as its history as part of Tokyo’s shitamachi (“low city”), the historically working class area. We will head directly to the Tokyo National Museum, to be there when it opens.

Our visit will be focused on a “highlights tour” of Japanese cultural history at this tremendous museum, filled with masterpiece “National Cultural Treasures” from pre-history to early modern times. We will discuss a wide spectrum of objects, including prehistoric pottery, early Buddhist art, tea ceremony utensils, folding screens, calligraphy, lacquerware, ceramics, and ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

After lunch in Ueno, we may visit contemporary art galleries and museums in the colorful Roppongi district, including dramatic architecture, public spaces, museums, contemporary crafts, and high technology including 21_21 DesignSight, a cutting edge design museum conceived by Issey Miyake in a architecturally spectacular building designed by Tadao Ando. 

Evening on your own (with recommendations).

DAY/NIGHT 4: THURSDAY, APRIL 9: ENOURA - KYOTO

This morning, after an early breakfast, we’ll depart our hotel for a drive along the rugged coast of Sagami Bay to the town of Odawara when we’ll briefly visit the historic castle, then on to the Enoura Observatory, to see Japan through the eyes of artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. The noted photographer has shaped a very special experience of land, water, nature, and Japanese cultural objects which connect with his primary subject, time exposed.

After Enoura Observatory, we’ll head directly to the train station, taking time to shop for our lunch, enjoying the Japanese tradition of ‘eki-ben” or bento boxes prepared to enjoy on the train. We’ll board the modern, miraculous Shinkansen (bullet train) which will whisk us to Kyoto in just under three hours, passing by Mount Fuji along the way.

After check-in and a short break at our comfortable, well-located hotel, we’ll head out for the evening for yozakura, or cherry blossom viewing at night, starting at Kiyomizu Temple. A renowned site founded in 780, its name derives from the pure waters of the neighboring waterfall. Noteworthy is the wooden stage, extending 13 meters from the main hall, providing breathtaking views of the city.

We will celebrate our arrival to Kyoto with the chef’s dinner at The Sodoh Higashiyama restaurant, serving Italian cuisine with a sophisticated Japanese spin, in a lovely 1920s home of a noted author, surrounded by atmospheric grounds filled with lush greenery and serene water features.

DAY/NIGHT 5: FRIDAY, APRIL 10: KYOTO

This morning we will try to be among the first visitors to Ryoan-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the late 15th century, it is renowned for its iconic rock garden and its influence on the development of Zen Buddhist gardens throughout Japan and the world. We encourage you to take a moment to sit on the deck, gaze upon the rocks, let your mind wander, and allow yourself to be fully present in this moment.

We continue to Daitokuji (Temple of Great Virtue), an awe-inspiring temple complex noted for its unique architecture and gardens. Our visit will start at Obai-in temple, open to the public for limited days in the spring, noted for its famed moss-covered garden, and a dry landscape designed to lead to enlightenment. Our visit to the nearby Zuiho-in will provide the platform for an experience of the Way of Tea, guided by the delightful Abbott Maeda at Zuiuo-in. We end the morning with a Zen style shojin-ryori (Buddhist vegetarian) lunch, a traditional, seasonally-focused multi-course meal served in carefully arranged lacquerware and ceramics. Each course is a meditation in balance—of taste, color, texture, and even temperature. After this feast, we return to our hotel for a break.

This afternoon and evening will be left open to respond to opportunities and interests, either with the guides or on your own. We encourage you to return to explore, shop, and dine in some of the fascinating areas of Kyoto we’ve already visited, or to investigate new neighborhoods. Dinner is on your own (We can help with suggestions).

DAY/NIGHT 6: SATURDAY, APRIL 11: KYOTO

Our first stop will be the remarkable Sanjusangen-do Temple, originally built in the 12th century. It houses 1001 identical carved wooden statues of Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, each adorned with twenty arms. An expression of the beliefs of “Pure Land Buddhism,” it explores the concept of infinite time and boundless capacity of the Kannon. In this space Hiroshi Sugimoto created a 48-image series, Sea of Buddha.

We continue our morning journey at Ginkaku-ji temple. With its moss covered gardens, bamboo groves, and richly sculpted dry-sand garden, Ginkaku-ji stands as a testament to the intrinsically Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, and lives up to the phrase “simple is beautiful.” Built in 1482 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (grandson of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, builder of Kinkaku-ji/The Golden Pavilion), Ginkaku-ji was originally a retirement villa from which Yoshimasa propagated a surge of cultural pursuits that would later be referred to as “Higashiyama Culture.”

From there we will stroll along the narrow canal of The Philosopher’s Path, noted for its dramatic cherry blossoms, as it winds through the northern Higashiayama district to the neighborhood of Nanzenji. We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch at a traditional udon noodle shop in the area. We will head back to the hotel for a break, or make a visit to a noted gallery focused on traditional and contemporary ceramics, or time for other shopping or exploring more of Kyoto on your own.

In the early evening we’ll head to the edge of the city for an immersion in contemporary and traditional art, architecture, cuisine, and geisha culture at the home and studios of our guide Masa Fujiwara, an architect and tea master, and Sarah Brayer, a renowned American Japanese paper (washi) artist. After a studio visit and tour of the garden, tea house, and home, we will enjoy an introduction to Kaiseki cuisine made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. We will be joined by a Maiko (young Geisha-in-training) to perform and speak with us about her traditional training and life.

DAY/NIGHT 7: SUNDAY, APRIL 12 : NAOSHIMA MUSEUMS, ART HOUSE PROJECTS, AND OUTDOOR SCULPTURE

After our hotel breakfast and check out, we will take the shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto to Okayama. From Okayma station we ride a bus, then a ferry, to Naoshima island, the base of the internationally-recognized, Benesse Art Site. We are staying at the Benesse Park Hotel, where every room has ocean and island views and original art. For the next two days here you’ll have time to explore the art in the hotel’s public spaces, the grounds, and the shoreline. After a moment to refresh in your hotel room, we’ll gather in the lobby for today’s art explorations. We start with the dramatic Chichu Museum, where works by James Turrell, Walter De Maria, and Claude Monet are featured in dazzling underground spaces.

The Lee Ufan Museum offers a dramatic installation of paintings and sculpture by the Korean-born artist who co-founded the “Mono-Ha” minimalist school. Dana will lead a tour of the many commissioned public artworks by a wide range of international artists installed across the landscape and within hotel buildings at the center of the island.

We’ll spend the afternoon exploring the Art House Project in Honmura Village, including works in re-purposed traditional buildings by Sugimoto, Turrell, Suda, Miyajima, Naito, and Senju. Some may want to have a relaxing soak at I Love Yu, Shinro Ohtake’s art installation that is also a public bathhouse.

We will return to the Benesse Park Hotel in the afternoon for a rest. Our Naoshima Welcome dinner will be a modern version of kaiseki at the restaurant “Issen” inside the nearby Benesse House Hotel.

A Note on Benesse House Accommodations:

As part of our itinerary, we will stay at Benesse House—a remarkable integration of museum and hotel designed by Tadao Ando, located on Naoshima Island. Guests have the rare opportunity to live with world-class contemporary art in an environment shaped by natural light, quiet, and intention.

Benesse House has a very limited number of rooms and is known for booking out far in advance. For this tour, we’ve already secured a small block of accommodations, including two of their highly sought-after beach suites (if interested, please inquire about their availability and additional charge). These reservations make possible an experience that is otherwise difficult to access and reflect the kind of intentional planning that underlies the entire journey.

DAY/NIGHT 8: MONDAY, APRIL 13: NAOSHIMA and TESHIMA

After breakfast we will travel by private ferry to nearby Teshima Island, with its numerous commissioned site-specific art projects.

The most magical is the mesmerizing Teshima Museum, an immersive experience by artist Rei Naito and architect Ryue Nishizawa. Located in the corner of a hilltop rice terrace, this dome-like structure with openings to the sky was conceived to resemble a water droplet at the moment of landing.

We will have lunch on Teshima Island and then return to Naoshima for you to have the option to explore more or relax on your own.

In the late afternoon, join an optional island walk to enjoy and discuss the impressive art international contemporary art collection dramatically installed in the Benesse Museum, as well as highlights of the public art collection sited around the campus. We will enjoy dinner together tonight at the Terrace Restaurant, Benesse Park Hotel.

DAY/NIGHT 9: TUESDAY, APRIL 14: NAOSHIMA and MURE to TOKYO

Our time here will start with an evening walking tour of the neighborhood’s key historical sights, newest architecture, public art, and shopping highlights Dinner is on your own.

DAY/NIGHT 10: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15: TOKYO

Today we will head to one of the newest destinations for art and architecture,  Azubudai Hills district, a “modern urban village” designed by Pelli, Clarke & Partners architects, and Heatherwick Studio and featuring public art by Yoshitomo Nara, Zhan Wang, and Yutaka Sone. We’ll learn about the design principles of this mixed-use destination, and how it relates to the history of Tokyo.

Experimental art plays a key role in the vision for Azubudai Hills. In February 2024, teamLab, an interdisciplinary group consisting of artists, programmers, designers, and scientists founded in Japan in 2001, launched a re-imagined, expanded version of one their most acclaimed projects, Borderless at the relocated Mori Building Museum of Digital Art. It will be fun to explore the immersive, three-dimensional digital works together and consider how their unfolding images relate to other Japanese art we’ve seen already.

We’ll offer options for lunch on your own in the area as well as museums and gallery visits we haven’t yet seen, including the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Musuem of Modern Art, Tokyo Museum of Photography, the Suntory Museum, Watarium, among others.

To celebrate our last night together we hope to enjoy sunset at the Shibuya Sky Observation Deck, with its dramatic vistas of Tokyo and its surroundings…and maybe even Mt. Fuji!) and then head off to a festive dinner together.

DAY 11: THURSDAY, APRIL 16: DEPART JAPAN (or extend your visit)

The tour ends after our hotel breakfast this morning. We will arrange your airport transfer according to your flight schedule. Please ask if you are interested in options for extending your time in Japan (e.g. an additional night or two in a traditional Japanese ryokan, or a temple stay.)

Tour Highlights

This small group tour will especially be for you if you enjoy the following:

• Exploring Japan’s stunning spring landscapes, including cherry blossoms in bloom (nature permitting)

• Visiting iconic sites in Tokyo and Kyoto through the lens of art, architecture, and design

• Experiencing the art islands of the Inland Sea, including Naoshima, with its world-class museums and installations

• Staying at Benesse House—an acclaimed integration of museum and hotel designed by Tadao Ando, and other luxury accommodations

• Attending specially arranged tours of Enoura Observatory and contemporary art spaces designed by well-known Japanese architects

• Discovering traditional Japanese gardens, temples, and shrines, blending nature with art

• Enjoying hands-on cultural experiences, such as tea ceremonies

• Savoring authentic Japanese cuisine, from kaiseki dining to street food, curated to enhance your journey

• Meeting local artists and cultural figures, offering unique insights into Japanese traditions

What’s Included

• Expert-guided 10-night/11-day tour through Tokyo, Kyoto, and the Inland Sea art islands

• Accommodations in luxury hotels with western beds and Japanese style elements

• Daily breakfast, plus additional meals as specified in the itinerary

• All ground transportation within Japan, including private transfers and local trains

• Entrance fees to all included cultural sites, museums, and gardens

• Private tours of Enoura Observatory and the art islands of Naoshima and Teshima

• Guided visits to Tokyo and Kyoto's iconic gardens, temples, and contemporary art spaces

• Exclusive meetings with local artists and cultural figures

• Personalized service from knowledgeable local guides and your tour leader

• Assistance with checking international flight options

• Advice on optional travel insurance, including CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) policies

• Guidance on extending your stay with additional hotel nights or further travel in Japan before or after the tour

What’s Not Included

• International airfare to and from Japan

• Travel insurance (especially recommended for anyone with specific concerns…please inquire for advice)

• Meals not specified in the itinerary

• Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, snacks, etc.)

• Optional activities or excursions not listed in the itinerary

• Beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) outside of included meals

• Costs for additional hotel nights or extended stays before or after the tour

Salient Tour Details:

• Tour Cost: $10,500 per person, double occupancy

• Estimated Single occupancy charge: $2,500 (only for single travelers requiring their own private room if available…please inquire if you are a single traveler seeking a roommate to avoid this charge)

• Minimum Participants: 6

• Maximum Participants: 14 (This ensures an intimate experience for all travelers)

• Tour Go/No-Go Decision Date (when it is determined if there are enough refundable deposit-paying registrants to meet the minimum): 1 January 2026

• If our minimum number is not met by our tour go/no go decision date, the tour will be cancelled and full refunds issued, or those still wishing to proceed may have the option for a modified itinerary with increased costs possible.

• Payment in full due date: 1 January 2026*

  * for tax accounting reasons we request payment on this date and not before

• This trip begins and ends in Tokyo which is conveniently served by many airlines (both Haneda and Narita Airports).

• Tour Design: Tiny World Tours (Mark & Dana), Masa Fujiwara, and Ayumi Ohsaki

• Tour Leaders: Tiny World Tours (Mark & Dana) with Masa Fujiwara

Physical Activity and Expectations:

• This is a moderately active tour with average walking 2-4 miles per day in both urban and rural settings (and possibly even more if you enjoy walking).

• You’ll need to be able to climb up and down multiple flights of stairs (indoors and out)

• Occasional sitting on the floor (e.g. cross legged or legs stretched) and/or getting up and down from the floor.

• You’ll encounter uneven cobblestone streets, sidewalks, and trails.

Please Note:

• This itinerary is a sample and is subject to change. The final schedule will be determined approximately 30 days prior to departure to allow for the inclusion of special opportunities which may arise.  In the event that a requested visit is not available, a similar visit will be substituted.  A finalized itinerary and Travelers’ Notes document will be sent to all participants about two weeks prior to tour departure.

• An optional trip insurance policy such as a “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) policy may reimburse you for unforeseen cancellations or itinerary changes.

• Although we do our best to accommodate allergies and food preferences, Japanese cuisine, both traditional and contemporary, is unique and a key part of this tour.. Please inform us of any dietary needs at the time of booking. We regret that we cannot provide gluten-free, vegan, or fish-free meals.

• We also offer bespoke custom tours for groups. Contact us for more information.

• We strongly recommend arriving at least one or two days early to recover from the long flight and adjust to time zone and have a little extra time to explore, or stay longer at the end to deepen the experience. Tiny World Tours can arrange pre-trip and post-trip accommodations and local experiences based on your interests.

Optional Pre-Tour Stay in Tokyo

If you’re considering arriving before the official start of the tour (and/or staying after the official end of the tour), we recommend Onyado Nono Asakusa Bettei, a newer Japanese-style ryokan in the historic Asakusa district of Tokyo. Rooms typically run around $300 per night (including a great breakfast). This neighborhood, while somewhat touristy, is rich in atmosphere and well-equipped to welcome international visitors—making it a gentle and engaging entry point to Japan.

Staying in the Asakusa district would give you time to explore parts of Tokyo not included in our main itinerary, such as Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise-dori, and the nearby Sumida River promenade. We’d be happy to assist with reservations or suggest activities tailored to your interests. Of course, you may also choose to book any additional pre-tour nights at our tour hotel in the Ginza district (TBD), and avoid the necessity of changing hotel rooms.

For those arriving early, we’re also offering an optional pre-tour day excursion on Sunday, 5 April, exploring Asakusa’s historic streets, enjoying a Sumida River boat ride, and visiting the tranquil Hama Rikyū Gardens, with lunch at a traditional Edo-period restaurant. The $150 fee includes guiding, transit, lunch, and admissions. This gentle introduction to Tokyo’s layered history and urban contrasts is a rewarding way to begin your journey. On the morning of Monday 6, April we’ll also offer an optional pre-tour sushi breakfast at the Tsukiji Outer Market that will connect you to a long-standing Tokyo tradition, where early-opening stalls and seasoned vendors serve ultra-fresh seafood within the wholesale market historically at the heart of Japan’s fish trade.

On any free evening in Tokyo (except when the theater is dark), we’d be glad to help arrange tickets for a single-act performance at the historic Kabuki-za Theater in Ginza. These reasonably priced same-day tickets offer upper-level seats with a clear, elevated view of the stage, and guests are free to leave quietly at any point. To enhance the experience, English audio guides are available for rent. If you’re interested, please let us know at least two days in advance so we can try to secure your ticket.

Reserve Your Space Now!

Scroll down to make a refundable $1,000.00 USD deposit for each participant.

If you have questions, or if you’re interested in a private group itinerary similar to the one described above (minimum 6 participants), please enquirer via mark@tinyworldtours.com

(this page was last modified on 2025.05.24)