Art, Gardens and Temples: A Luxury Cultural Tour of Japan

Explore the small streets of the ancient Asakusa District, one of Tokyo’s oldest and best-preserved districts, with a brief stop at Sensoji Temple, with its huge lantern. Your driver can also take you to Tokyo’s fashionable neighbourhoods of Omotesando, Harajuku and Aoyama, with lunch in the Shibuya area.

After lunch, take part in your choice of either a calligraphy workshop or a traditional tea ceremony. More than just an art form, calligraphy (“shodo” in Japanese) is thought to cultivate your inner self – particular emphasis is placed on the combination of the strokes, the movement of the brush and the shades of the ink. Tea ceremonies encompass not only the making of tea, but also tea-room architecture, the appreciation of tea utensils and bowls and Zen Buddhism. After this peaceful experience, enjoy a walk in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, a verdant oasis covering 115 hectares.

Visit the National Art Center, Tokyo, (NACT) interesting both for its architectural design and its rotating exhibits, and the Tokyo National Museum (TNM), the oldest and largest museum in Japan holding over 110,000 pieces of art including Japanese National Treasures. Your driver can also take you to the Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art to see ukiyo-e (woodblock prints), paintings and beautiful old books.

Visit the ancient Higashiyama Geisha District. Built in 1820, it is reminiscent of feudal times with wooden lattice fronts on the old geisha houses. Visit the teahouse at Kaikaro to learn more about the history and traditions surrounding geishas.

Visit the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, an architecturally striking building and one of the most successfully-run museums in Japan. The museum focuses on integrating the design of its space with the program and features many up-coming Japanese artists, as well as permanent installations by renowned international artists, such as Leandro Ehrlich and Anish Kapoor.

Visit the Kinkaku-ji ‘Golden Pavilion’ temple, built in 1397 to serve as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Kinkaku-ji served as the inspiration for the Ginkaku-ji ‘Silver Pavilion’ which was built by the Shogun’s grandson. We then continue to the serene Ryoan-ji Temple which is celebrated for its rock garden, comprised of nothing but clay walls, raked sand and 15 rocks.

Today, enjoy a full day at leisure on Naoshima Island. Visit the island’s numerous museums and art installations which are mostly accessible on foot or with your hotel’s shuttle bus service. Museums and galleries include Ping Pong Gallery; Chichu Museum; Lee Ufan Museum; and the Art House Project.

Take a trip to the nearby island of Teshima to visit Les Archives du Coeur; Teshima Art Museum; Particles in the AIR by Noe Aoki and Storm House. We recommend lunch at Shima Kitchen, where local women collaborate with chefs from Marunouchi Hotel.

The Hakone Open Air Museum has sculptures in perfect harmony with views of the surrounding valley and mountains, but don’t miss the indoor galleries, including works from world famous artists including Rodin, Bourdelle and Miro and one of the largest collections of British sculptor Henry Moore.

Take a cable car and ropeway ride to Owakudani Valley and its sulphurous fumes, hot springs and rivers. Board a boat for a lake cruise while enjoying the magnificent views of Mount Fuji in the background.

Soak up the benefits of Hakone’s mineral-rich waters, before enjoying a delicious traditional kaiseki dinner of between 12 and 15 dishes made with fresh seasonal ingredients and carefully presented on beautiful plates.