Twelve Days, Kyushu, Kyoto and Tokyo

Name: Twelve Days, Kyushu, Kyoto and Tokyo
Brand: Haven Japan
SKU: twelve-days-kyushu-kyoto-tokyo
Availability: InStock

Begin where few journeys go: the castle of Kumamoto, the islands of Amakusa, the caldera of Aso and the hot spring towns of Yufuin and Beppu. Then Kyoto and Tokyo.

12 DaysSuggested Length

¥960,000Price From

Overview

The south first, then the classics

Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's main islands, is volcanic and green, and it rewards a slow pace. Five days there, by car, take you from Kumamoto to the coast of Amakusa, the grasslands of Aso and the steaming towns of Yufuin and Beppu.

The Shinkansen then carries you to Kyoto for three full days, and on to Tokyo to finish. The same guide is with you from the first evening to the last morning.

A small counter restaurant on a Tokyo side street

The black keep of Kumamoto Castle above its stone ramparts

Calm blue sea with two small rocky islets off the coast of Kumamoto

Open grassland and mountains in the Aso caldera

Lake Kinrin with an inn at its edge in Yufuin

Steam rising from the hot springs of Beppu

A Shinkansen bullet train at the platform

The vermilion torii gates of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto

Twelve days from Kyushu to Kyoto and Tokyo

Five days in the south by car, from Kumamoto and Amakusa to the caldera of Aso and the hot spring towns of Yufuin and Beppu, then three days in Kyoto and a last stop in Tokyo.

The Shinkansen carries you from Beppu across to Kyoto and on to Tokyo, with every connection arranged. Days can be added or removed under each destination.

Why Travel With Haven Japan?

Private days shaped entirely around your pace, with a guide on the days you choose.

Ryokans, boutique hotels and design-forward properties.

A deeply knowledgeable, English-speaking guide on every day you choose.

Private transfers door to door, to and from the airport included.

Round-the-clock support from our Japan-based team.

Highlights

Kumamoto CastleA great black castle, rebuilt with care after the 2016 earthquake.

The Amakusa islandsBridges, bays and the fishing village church of Sakitsu.

The Aso calderaOne of the largest calderas in the world, and the grassland of Kusasenri.

Yufuin's hot springsA quiet hot spring town below a twin-peaked mountain.

The hells of BeppuSteaming pools of every colour, and a sand bath by the sea.

Three days in KyotoGion, the north and the south of the old capital.

A day in NaraThe Great Buddha of Todai-ji and the deer of the park.

Tokyo to finishA last full day in the city before you fly home.

The Itinerary

12 Days, One Route

The map stays with you as the days unfold — tap a stop to jump ahead.

This is the order we recommend, the one that works best on the ground, but nothing here is fixed. Add or remove days with the + and − under each destination (up to 4 days in one place), or change the destinations and their order in our builder, with this itinerary already selected. The price follows your version: we quote it when you send it to us.

1 DAY

2 DAYS

1 DAY

3 DAYS

1 DAY

2 DAYS

TOKYO · ARRIVAL

Day 01 | A First Evening in Tokyo

Your private driver takes you from the airport to your hotel by Alphard, with time to settle in. Then a first, unhurried evening in the city: the side streets of Ebisu and dinner at a small counter nearby. A late landing simply means rest.

Your Experiences

1 of 39

✓ Included Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

TOKYOPrivate Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

Your Hotels

1 of 6

SETAGAYA, TOKYO

TOKYO → KUMAMOTO

Day 02 | The Black Castle

A flight of under two hours to Kumamoto, with your guide beside you. Kumamoto Castle, restored stone by stone after the 2016 earthquake, then the stroll garden of Suizen-ji, its hills a miniature of the road to Edo.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Kumamoto yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

1 of 6

KUROKAWA ONSEN, KUMAMOTO

KUMAMOTO · AMAKUSA

Day 03 | Islands and a Village Church

By car across the five bridges of Amakusa, about two hours, to the islands of the hidden Christians. The village of Sakitsu, its church standing among the fishermen's houses on the bay, and the coast road back as the light lowers.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Kumamoto yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

1 of 6

KUROKAWA ONSEN, KUMAMOTO

KUMAMOTO → ASO

Day 04 | Inside the Caldera

About an hour by car to Aso, one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world. The grassland of Kusasenri, where horses graze below the smoking crater, and the old shrine of Aso. A hot spring bath in the evening.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Aso yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

ASO, KUMAMOTO

ASO → YUFUIN

Day 05 | The Highland Road

Across the highlands on the Yamanami road, with a stop to bathe at Kurokawa Onsen, a valley of wooden inns. In the afternoon, Yufuin, a quiet hot spring town, and Lake Kinrin below the twin peaks of Mount Yufu.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Yufuin yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

YUFUIN, OITA

YUFUIN → BEPPU

Day 06 | Steam and Sand

Down to Beppu on the coast, the hot spring capital of Japan. The hells, pools of boiling water in blue, red and white, then a sand bath by the sea, buried in warm volcanic sand. The evening is for the bath at your inn.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Beppu yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

BEPPU, OITA

BEPPU → KYOTO

Day 07 | Across Japan by Shinkansen

By car to Fukuoka, about two hours, then the Shinkansen to Kyoto in under three. If the timing allows, a first walk through Gion and to Hanamikoji in the evening. A short flight from Oita is possible instead.

Your Experiences

1 of 35

✓ Included Matcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

KYOTOMatcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

Your Hotels

1 of 6

Your hotel for 4 nights, including your days in Nara.

KYOTO

KYOTO · ARASHIYAMA TO KINKAKU-JI

Day 08 | Bamboo, Gardens and Gold

Arashiyama in the morning: the garden of Tenryu-ji, the bamboo grove and the hillside villa of Okochi Sanso. After lunch, the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, then Nijo Castle and its nightingale floors, or the long covered lanes of Nishiki Market.

Your Experiences

1 of 35

✓ Included Matcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

KYOTOMatcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

Your Hotels

1 of 6

Your hotel for 4 nights, including your days in Nara.

KYOTO

KYOTO · FUSHIMI TO HIGASHIYAMA

Day 09 | Gates, Stage and Tea

Climb through the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari, higher than most visitors go, then on to Kiyomizu-dera and its wooden stage above the city. Walk down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, and close the day with a private tea ceremony, the quiet counterpart to the morning.

Your Experiences

1 of 35

✓ Included Matcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

KYOTOMatcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

Your Hotels

1 of 6

Your hotel for 4 nights, including your days in Nara.

KYOTO

KYOTO → NARA

Day 10 | The First Capital

By train to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital. Kofuku-ji and its pagoda, the Great Buddha of Todai-ji, the view from the balcony of Nigatsu-do, then the stone lanterns of Kasuga Taisha. The deer of the park follow you all day, and your guide brings the crackers.

Day trip from Kyoto. Same stay tonight.

Your Experiences

1 of 4

✓ Included Plant-Dyed Silk Scarf in Nara

NARAPlant-Dyed Silk Scarf in Nara

Where you sleep

We recommend sleeping in Kyoto and coming back each evening, so Nara needs no hotel of its own. If you would rather stay overnight in Nara, tell us when you send your itinerary and we will arrange it.

KYOTO → TOKYO

Day 11 | Back to the Capital

The Shinkansen reaches Tokyo in a little over two hours. The afternoon in the west of the city: Shibuya Crossing, the cedar forest of Meiji Jingu and the long avenue of Omotesando, ending in Shinjuku as the evening lights come on.

Your Experiences

1 of 39

✓ Included Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

TOKYOPrivate Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

Your Hotels

1 of 6

SETAGAYA, TOKYO

TOKYO · DEPARTURE

Day 12 | Old Tokyo, Then Home

A last morning in old Tokyo: the Tsukiji Outer Market, then Senso-ji and the stalls of Nakamise-dori in Asakusa, at your pace. Your guide then drives you to Narita or Haneda airport, with your luggage in the car.

A lane of stalls in the Tsukiji Outer Market

Your Experiences

1 of 39

✓ Included Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

TOKYOPrivate Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

Your Hotels

1 of 6

SETAGAYA, TOKYO

Where You'll Stay

Choose Your Stay in Every Destination

KYOTO

A traditional machiya reimagined with contemporary comfort, in a quiet Kyoto neighbourhood. Natural wood, washi textures, and unhurried rest.

KAMOGAWA RIVER, KYOTO

Set directly on the banks of the Kamogawa River, with views over the water to the Higashiyama mountains, and Michelin-starred dining just off the lobby.

HIGASHIYAMA, KYOTO

Woven into Kyoto's best-preserved historic district, beside a 19th-century teahouse, with views of Yasaka Pagoda from just 70 rooms in total.

ARASHIYAMA, KYOTO

Reached only by a short private boat ride up the Katsura River, this riverside ryokan in Arashiyama pairs tatami suites with total seclusion from the city.

TAKAGAMINE, KYOTO

A secluded former textile-museum garden in the northern hills, with just 26 rooms, suites, and pavilions — widely considered Kyoto's most serene stay.

HIGASHIYAMA, KYOTO

Built around a 800-year-old pond garden near Sanjusangendo, blending a traditional Kyoto landscape with spacious, thoroughly modern rooms.

SETAGAYA, TOKYO

A serene retreat in Setagaya blending minimalist Japanese design with an open-air onsen, a short ride from Shibuya's energy.

ROPPONGI, TOKYO

Occupying the top nine floors of Tokyo Midtown, roughly 250 metres above the street, with some of the highest hotel views anywhere in the city.

MARUNOUCHI, TOKYO

Facing the Imperial Palace gardens across the moat, with the brand's signature in-room technology and a rooftop restaurant looking straight down Hibiya-dori.

SHINJUKU, TOKYO

Perched on the top 14 floors of the Shinjuku Park Tower, with the New York Bar's skyline views made famous by Lost in Translation, and a wood-panelled calm throughout.

NIHONBASHI, TOKYO

Set on the top floors of a Nihonbashi tower, with sweeping views over the city and Mount Fuji on a clear day, and three Michelin-starred restaurants downstairs.

OTEMACHI, TOKYO

Occupying the top six floors of Otemachi Tower, with a 30-metre atrium lobby and vast rooms built around a minimalist, washi-paper calm above the city.

YUFUIN, OITA

Tucked into the forested hills of Yufuin, tatami rooms open onto mossy gardens, with kaiseki dinners built around Ōita's seasonal ingredients.

ASO, KUMAMOTO

Set in the volcanic landscapes of Aso, this historic ryokan has welcomed travellers for over a century, pairing rustic charm with mineral-rich hot spring baths.

BEPPU, OITA

Perched on a clifftop above Beppu Bay, with an onsen spa built into the hillside and ocean views from nearly every room — Kyushu's hot-spring coastline at its grandest.

KUROKAWA ONSEN, KUMAMOTO

An adults-only ryokan in the centre of Kurokawa's onsen village, with indoor and private hot-spring baths and a dining room built around an open kitchen.

KUROKAWA ONSEN, KUMAMOTO

A traditional ryokan tucked along the Tanoharu River in Kurokawa, with hot-spring baths and a slower, quieter pace than the village's busier addresses.

KUROKAWA ONSEN, KUMAMOTO

One of Kurokawa's oldest ryokans, credited with starting the village's onsen-hopping tradition, with riverside outdoor baths carved into the natural rock.

KUMAMOTO CITY

A modern base a short walk from Kumamoto Station, with the castle, tram lines, and the rebuilt city centre all easily reached on foot.

SUIZENJI, KUMAMOTO CITY

A boutique ryokan five minutes on foot from Suizenji Jojuen, one of Japan's finest strolling gardens, with its own onsen bath and kaiseki dining.

KUROKAWA ONSEN, KUMAMOTO

One of Kurokawa Onsen's most celebrated ryokans, known for its large, beautifully landscaped open-air baths and private kaiseki dining rooms.

Add-On Experiences

Shape Your Journey by Adding the Experiences That Move You

No ready-made experiences are listed yet in Kumamoto, Aso, Yufuin, Beppu. We arrange private experiences there on request.

✓ Included Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

TOKYO, JAPANPrivate Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

A private tea ceremony in Tokyo hosted by an Urasenke tea master: taste koicha and usucha with sweets and learn the thinking behind the ceremony.

✓ Included Toyosu Market Tour and Sushi Making

TOKYO, JAPANToyosu Market Tour and Sushi Making

Walk Toyosu Market with a master sushi chef, visit the wholesaler he buys from, then learn to make Edomae nigiri at his restaurant.

✓ Included Omotesando Architecture Walk

TOKYO, JAPANOmotesando Architecture Walk

Walk Omotesando and Harajuku with an architecture expert and see how western Tokyo went from rice fields to skyscrapers.

✓ Included Geisha Entertainment in Asakusa

TOKYO, JAPANGeisha Entertainment in Asakusa

Dine at a ryotei in Asakusa's old entertainment district with geisha and rare male hokan entertainers.

✓ Included Matcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

KYOTO, JAPANMatcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

In Uji, home of matcha, grind tencha on a millstone in a rarely opened tea room and taste thin tea made with your own matcha.

✓ Included Maiko Dance and Tea in Kamishichiken

KYOTO, JAPANMaiko Dance and Tea in Kamishichiken

A private teahouse visit in Kamishichiken, Kyoto's oldest geisha district: watch a maiko dance, share matcha and sweets, and play a banquet game.

✓ Included Private Toji Temple Tour with a Monk

KYOTO, JAPANPrivate Toji Temple Tour with a Monk

A monk guides you round Toji Temple and a subtemple, including areas usually closed to the public, then you copy sutras and receive a temple stamp.

✓ Included Plant-Dyed Silk Scarf in Nara

NARA, JAPANPlant-Dyed Silk Scarf in Nara

Extract colour from seasonal plants and dye your own silk scarf with the master dyer of a Nara workshop.

✓ Included Matured Sushi and Sake Pairing

TOKYO, JAPANMatured Sushi and Sake Pairing

A fully private dining session at a two-Michelin-star sushi restaurant in Futako-tamagawa: matured sushi made in front of you, paired with four sakes.

✓ Included Kintsugi in Minami-Aoyama

TOKYO, JAPANKintsugi in Minami-Aoyama

Practise kintsugi in a Minami-Aoyama gallery space: mend a vessel with lacquer and gold or silver powder and take it home the same day.

✓ Included Noh Masks and a Private Stage Session

TOKYO, JAPANNoh Masks and a Private Stage Session

On a Noh family's private stage in Tokyo, meet the head of the family, see his collection of masks and costumes, and watch two shimai dances.

✓ Included Shamisen Lesson and Lunch in Akasaka

TOKYO, JAPANShamisen Lesson and Lunch in Akasaka

A shamisen master performs and guides you in playing, in a private tatami room at a long-established Akasaka restaurant, followed by a seasonal lunch.

✓ Included Ikebana Lesson in Akasaka

TOKYO, JAPANIkebana Lesson in Akasaka

A private ikebana lesson with a master-rank instructor in an Akasaka school headquarters designed by Kenzo Tange: make two arrangements.

✓ Included Incense Blending in Ginza

TOKYO, JAPANIncense Blending in Ginza

Blend your own incense pouch from over a dozen fragrance ingredients at a 440-year-old incense shop in Ginza, and take seasonal incense home.

✓ Included Sumi-e Ink Painting in Minami-Aoyama

TOKYO, JAPANSumi-e Ink Painting in Minami-Aoyama

Learn classical Edo Rimpa ink-painting in a private Minami-Aoyama atelier, reproduce a masterpiece by hand and take your painting home as decor.

✓ Included Private Zazen at an Asakusa Temple

TOKYO, JAPANPrivate Zazen at an Asakusa Temple

Sit zazen at an Asakusa Zen temple founded in 1611, guided by a monk and the head priest, then take matcha and sweets.

✓ Included Chopstick Making in Kuramae

TOKYO, JAPANChopstick Making in Kuramae

Make your own chopsticks in a Kuramae workshop with a century of Edo woodworking history: choose a fine wood, shave it and finish it with oil.

✓ Included Yukata and Mizuhiki Accessory Making

TOKYO, JAPANYukata and Mizuhiki Accessory Making

In a 100-year-old Japanese residence in Ueno-Sakuragi, learn to wear a yukata, make a matching mizuhiki accessory and keep both.

✓ Included Whetstone Making and Knife Sharpening in Kameoka

KYOTO, JAPANWhetstone Making and Knife Sharpening in Kameoka

In Kameoka, process a natural whetstone, sharpen a Japanese knife, then tour a whetstone museum privately. Take home the stone and an engraved knife.

✓ Included Washi Papermaking and Journal Craft

KYOTO, JAPANWashi Papermaking and Journal Craft

Make washi paper by hand with fourteen-century-old techniques, beginners coached, then use it for the cover of a temple-stamp journal.

✓ Included Ikebana and Tea in a Kyoto Machiya

KYOTO, JAPANIkebana and Tea in a Kyoto Machiya

Learn the basics of ikebana in a 130-year-old Kyoto machiya near Shijo Karasuma, hear about its household customs, then take tea and sweets.

✓ Included Incense Appreciation Overlooking a Temple Garden

KYOTO, JAPANIncense Appreciation Overlooking a Temple Garden

Learn kodo, the art of incense, in the Mishina Oheryu tradition, seated at a counter in a temple-owned space overlooking a Kyoto garden.

✓ Included Private Zazen at a Kodaiji Subtemple

KYOTO, JAPANPrivate Zazen at a Kodaiji Subtemple

Sit zazen in Gesshin-in, a Kodaiji subtemple usually closed to the public, then stroll its garden beside Nene-no-michi.

✓ Included Pottery Wheel Class in Higashiyama

KYOTO, JAPANPottery Wheel Class in Higashiyama

Throw two pieces on the wheel in a family pottery studio with a folk kiln, in the Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki traditions; they are fired and delivered to you.

✓ Included Wagashi and Warabi-mochi Making

KYOTO, JAPANWagashi and Warabi-mochi Making

Shape seasonal wagashi and warabi-mochi with a 300-year-old confectioner, then taste them.

✓ Included Private Kendo Training in Kyoto

KYOTO, JAPANPrivate Kendo Training in Kyoto

A private kendo introduction at a Kyoto dojo: hear the history from an instructor of a long martial lineage, learn the basics, then try a bout in armour.

✓ Included Rock Garden Tour and Meditation in Iwakura

KYOTO, JAPANRock Garden Tour and Meditation in Iwakura

A private after-hours tour of Jissoin, an 800-year-old temple in northern Kyoto: meditate in a usually closed room, take matcha and see the rock garden.

✓ Included Ukiyo-e Stencil Dyeing Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANUkiyo-e Stencil Dyeing Workshop

Colour a Hokusai Mount Fuji motif with a brush in a Nihonbashi gallery, guided by a kataezome artist.

✓ Included Pure Silver Bangle Making in Asakusa

TOKYO, JAPANPure Silver Bangle Making in Asakusa

Spend a day as an apprentice in Asakusa: shape your own bangle from 99.9% pure silver with a silversmith whose family has worked silver for twelve generations.

✓ Included A forge fire with glowing coals and a smith's tongs and tools, as used to forge a small katana

TOKYO, JAPANSmall Katana Forging in Ome

Forge a small katana from tamahagane steel with a husband-and-wife team of bladesmiths on the edge of Tokyo.

✓ Included A soba master rolling out noodle dough

TOKYO, JAPANSoba Noodle Making Workshop

Roll and cut soba by hand the way it was made four centuries ago, taught by a leading soba master.

✓ Included Shojin Ryori Cooking with a Monk

TOKYO, JAPANShojin Ryori Cooking with a Monk

Learn Buddhist vegetarian cooking from a temple monk in Akasaka, then eat your meal in the temple's main hall.

✓ Included Kabuki Workshop with a Professional Actor

TOKYO, JAPANKabuki Workshop with a Professional Actor

Learn kabuki acting and training techniques from a professional actor, at a prestigious traditional restaurant with a kaiseki meal.

✓ Included Sake Brewery Tour in Ome

TOKYO, JAPANSake Brewery Tour in Ome

Tour a brewery with over 300 years of history in the hills of western Tokyo and taste five sakes with paired snacks.

✓ Included Mount Mitake Shrine Hike

TOKYO, JAPANMount Mitake Shrine Hike

A guided day hike up Mount Mitake in western Tokyo to the 'Shrine in the Sky', with lunch at a temple lodging.

✓ Included Nihon-ga Painting in Minami-Aoyama

TOKYO, JAPANNihon-ga Painting in Minami-Aoyama

Paint in the classical Rimpa tradition with a nihon-ga artist, using brush and, if you wish, gold and silver leaf.

✓ Included Kumihimo Silk Braiding in Ueno

TOKYO, JAPANKumihimo Silk Braiding in Ueno

A private tour, limited to six guests a day, of a 360-year-old kumihimo silk-braiding workshop in Ueno, then make a braided accessory with master artisans.

✓ Included Wagasa Parasol Making

KYOTO, JAPANWagasa Parasol Making

Make a traditional Japanese parasol from bamboo and coloured paper at Kyoto's last remaining wagasa shop.

✓ Included Kana Calligraphy on a Fan

KYOTO, JAPANKana Calligraphy on a Fan

Learn Japan's own kana script from a Kyoto family of calligraphers and write your choice of words on a traditional fan.

✓ Included Red urushi lacquer bowls and trays

KYOTO, JAPANUrushi Lacquer Pen Workshop

Tour a lacquer workshop that has traded since 1909 and decorate a fountain pen with urushi.

✓ Included Dashi Tasting & Cooking Class

KYOTO, JAPANDashi Tasting & Cooking Class

Learn how dashi, the base of Japanese cooking, is made at a Kyoto dashi store founded in 1903.

✓ Included A sake flask and small cups on a lacquer tray

KYOTO, JAPANKoji Making & Sake Pairing in Umekoji

Make koji in a traditional koji room a short walk from Kyoto Station, then taste fermented snacks with seasonal sake.

✓ Included Antique Gallery Tour & Tea in Gion

KYOTO, JAPANAntique Gallery Tour & Tea in Gion

Handle Edo-period art with an expert in tea-ceremony art, then drink tea and sake from antique vessels.

✓ Included Curator-Led Museum Tour in Arashiyama

KYOTO, JAPANCurator-Led Museum Tour in Arashiyama

A private curator-led tour of an Arashiyama art museum on TIME's 2023 list, with works by Ito Jakuchu and Hokusai, before opening or after hours.

✓ Included Edo Woodblock Printing Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Woodblock Printing Workshop

Print ukiyo-e patterns on washi paper at a woodblock workshop with 160 years of history, and turn them into a bamboo-handled fan.

✓ Included Edo Glass Cutting Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Glass Cutting Workshop

Cut a pattern into an 8-ounce cup of two-colour Edo overlay glass with a seasoned glassmaker.

✓ Included Edo Paper Lantern Making

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Paper Lantern Making

Paint your own Edo paper lantern at a shop that has been in business for over a hundred years, and take it home.

✓ Included Edo Komon Tenugui Dyeing

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Komon Tenugui Dyeing

Stencil-dye a tenugui hand towel at a studio that has kept the Edo komon tradition alive for over a century.

✓ Included Maki-e Lacquerware Decoration

TOKYO, JAPANMaki-e Lacquerware Decoration

Decorate a piece of lacquerware with maki-e metallic powder at the main store of a century-old lacquerware shop in Nihonbashi.

✓ Included Mizuhiki Knots & Washi Wrapping

TOKYO, JAPANMizuhiki Knots & Washi Wrapping

In a Yoyogi studio, learn basic mizuhiki knots with an artist and practise wrapping with handmade tesuki-washi paper, including gift envelopes.

✓ Included Japanese Scent Making in Kudan

TOKYO, JAPANJapanese Scent Making in Kudan

Blend your own natural fragrance from Japanese plants with a scenting designer at a historic house in Kudan.

✓ Included Bonsai & Tea at a Bonsai Museum

TOKYO, JAPANBonsai & Tea at a Bonsai Museum

Tour a garden of over a thousand bonsai, shape a tree yourself, and finish with tea ceremony.

✓ Included Katana Polishing Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANKatana Polishing Workshop

Polish a real katana on a whetstone with one of Japan's professional katana polishers in Setagaya.

✓ Included Beer Museum Tour & Tasting in Ebisu

TOKYO, JAPANBeer Museum Tour & Tasting in Ebisu

Go behind the story of one of Japan's best-loved beers at a brewery museum in Ebisu, with a tasting and food pairings.

✓ Included Japanese Dance at a Ryotei in Akasaka

TOKYO, JAPANJapanese Dance at a Ryotei in Akasaka

Watch a private nihon-buyo performance and learn its movements from a master instructor, followed by kaiseki.

✓ Included Kanji Calligraphy with a Master

TOKYO, JAPANKanji Calligraphy with a Master

Learn kanji calligraphy at a ceramics shop in Yanaka from a calligrapher who draws on a background in psychology.

✓ Included Bean Paste Flower Wagashi Class

TOKYO, JAPANBean Paste Flower Wagashi Class

Make modern wagashi flowers from sweet bean paste, free of dairy and gluten, and enjoy them with tea.

✓ Included Dyed Flower Making in a Couture Atelier

TOKYO, JAPANDyed Flower Making in a Couture Atelier

Cut, dye and layer silk and lace into a flower in the atelier of a renowned couture flower artist.

✓ Included Mount Takao Hike & Shojin Lunch

TOKYO, JAPANMount Takao Hike & Shojin Lunch

Hike sacred Mount Takao with a certified guide, then eat shojin cuisine made from local vegetables.

✓ Included Organic Tea Plantation Tour in Ujitawara

KYOTO, JAPANOrganic Tea Plantation Tour in Ujitawara

Tour a pesticide-free tea plantation in the birthplace of Japanese green tea with its 21st-generation head.

✓ Included Kyo-Yuzen Silk Painting

KYOTO, JAPANKyo-Yuzen Silk Painting

Visit the Nakagyo workshop of a Kyo-Yuzen kimono dyer who trained under a Living National Treasure, see demonstrations and try silk painting yourself.

✓ Included Kyoto Roof Tile Kiln Tour

KYOTO, JAPANKyoto Roof Tile Kiln Tour

See how the roof tiles of Kyoto's temples and teahouses are made at a long-running kiln, and take a tile home.

✓ Included Arashiyama Houseboat & Bamboo Flute

KYOTO, JAPANArashiyama Houseboat & Bamboo Flute

Drift along the Oi River on a houseboat to the sound of the shinobue bamboo flute, as aristocrats did a thousand years ago.

✓ Included Folding Fan Painting in a Machiya

KYOTO, JAPANFolding Fan Painting in a Machiya

Paint your own Kyoto-made folding fan in a historic machiya townhouse, with a tour of the house, tea and wagashi.

✓ Included A shamisen player in a bamboo grove

KYOTO, JAPANShamisen Lesson at a Kyoto Temple

Learn a traditional melody on the shamisen in a private room at a Buddhist temple, then hear your teacher play.

✓ Included The red pagoda of a Kyoto temple rising above the city rooftops

KYOTO, JAPANTemple-Stamp Journal with Kyo-Karakami

Make a goshuin temple-stamp journal using Kyo-karakami, Kyoto's decorative paper printed with old woodblocks.

✓ Included Make Your Own Miso in Kyoto

KYOTO, JAPANMake Your Own Miso in Kyoto

Tour a century-old Kyoto miso brewery with its fourth-generation owner, then make 1 kg of miso by hand to take home and taste miso with cooking tips.

✓ Included Noh at Kamigamo Shrine

KYOTO, JAPANNoh at Kamigamo Shrine

Explore Kamigamo Shrine through the Noh play it inspired, followed by a private performance.

✓ Included Kabuki Lecture & Premium Seats at Minamiza

KYOTO, JAPANKabuki Lecture & Premium Seats at Minamiza

Take a private lecture from a kabuki actor, then watch him perform from premium seats at Minamiza Theatre.

✓ Included Kinsai Gold Leaf Gilding Workshop

KYOTO, JAPANKinsai Gold Leaf Gilding Workshop

Gild a fabric panel with a kinsai artisan after touring the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design.

✓ Included Pilgrimage to Kasagidera

KYOTO, JAPANPilgrimage to Kasagidera

Walk the ascetic Shugendo trail of Kasagidera, a mountain temple in southern Kyoto famous for its huge rocks, led privately by its vice head priest.

✓ Included Kogin-zashi Embroidery in a Machiya

KYOTO, JAPANKogin-zashi Embroidery in a Machiya

Make a kogin-zashi embroidered accessory in a historic Kyoto townhouse with a kogin-zashi artist.

✓ Included A hand-carved wooden statuette of a standing Buddhist figure

KYOTO, JAPANBuddhist Statuette Carving in Yase

Spend a day in verdant Yase carving your own palm-sized Warabe Jizo with a Buddhist sculptor.

✓ Included Suiboku-ga Ink Painting in Higashiyama

KYOTO, JAPANSuiboku-ga Ink Painting in Higashiyama

Learn suiboku-ga ink painting from a ninth-generation Maruyama-Shijo school artist in a restaurant reserved just for you.

✓ Included Shimabara Walk & Kyoto Lunch

KYOTO, JAPANShimabara Walk & Kyoto Lunch

Stroll through Shimabara, one of Kyoto's three historic entertainment districts, with a local restaurateur, and have lunch.

✓ Included Tea Whisk Making in Ikoma

NARA, JAPANTea Whisk Making in Ikoma

Watch a 20th-generation master make a tea whisk and weave the threads yourself, in a 500-year-old workshop.

✓ Included Sake Brewing Experience in Yamato Koriyama

NARA, JAPANSake Brewing Experience in Yamato Koriyama

Take part in the main steps of sake brewing at a 170-year-old microbrewery, four minutes by train from Nara Station.

✓ Included Sutra Copying & Buddhist Painting at Taima-dera

NARA, JAPANSutra Copying & Buddhist Painting at Taima-dera

Visit one of Japan's oldest temples, try sutra copying and painting, and have matcha in a famous tea room.

Reviews

Hear From Travellers Who Have Journeyed
With Haven Japan

4.9·Based on 487 guest reviews

“Our guide Joshua was amazing, loved his job, and it showed as he toured with us. We loved our day, and all we experienced.”

Dori E.19 Oct 2026

Top Rated Certificateverified by Trustindex Read our guest reviews

Inclusions

Private guide on the guided days, in English or French
Private transfers by Toyota Alphard or equivalent, and wherever the road is not the best way, a private car, a taxi or reserved Shinkansen seats, all arranged for you
Entrance fees and activities listed in the itinerary
Accommodation chosen to your taste and booked for you
A local SIM card with unlimited data, if you would like one
Luggage forwarding between hotels, if you would like it
Round-the-clock support from our Japan-based team

Pricing

2027

Prices in JPY, per person, for two travelling together, with accommodation included. Every Haven journey is quoted individually, once we know your dates, party size and preferences.

One team plans and books your whole journey, so you have a single person to speak to from the first call to the last morning. Your quote sets out everything that is included, day by day.

¥0Price From

¥0Deposit From

Questions About This Journey

How many days is Twelve Days, Kyushu, Kyoto and Tokyo and where does it go?

Twelve Days, Kyushu, Kyoto and Tokyo runs 12 days and visits Tokyo, Kumamoto, Aso, Yufuin, Beppu, Kyoto and Nara. The day-by-day route, with a map, is shown above.

Is this journey private, and can it be changed?

Yes. Every Haven journey is private, just you and your party, and tailor-made. This route is an example of how a journey can unfold: tell us your dates, interests and pace and we will adapt the days, the places and the stays.

How much does it cost?

Prices start from ¥960,000 (see the pricing section above). The final price depends on your dates, the hotels you choose, the experiences you add and the size of your group, so we confirm an exact quote after your enquiry.

What is included?

The inclusions are listed in the pricing section above. Unless stated there, entrance fees and meals are not included, and our guides are happy to recommend restaurants. An all-inclusive package is available for a custom Japan journey.

Where do we stay?

You choose your stay in each destination from the hotels and ryokan shown on the page. If you prefer another property, tell us and we will look at it.

When should I book?

Japan is a country where travellers plan well ahead, so we recommend contacting us about 6 months before your ideal departure date, especially for spring and autumn. Last-minute requests may be possible with some limits.

What languages do your guides speak?

Our tours are conducted in English, French and Japanese. If you need another language, tell us in advance and we will do our best to arrange it.

How do I pay?

We accept payment in Japanese yen and major international credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

What is the cancellation policy?

If we receive your cancellation 91 days or more before the first day of service, only the deposit is kept. It is 50% of the price 61 to 90 days before, and 100% 60 days or less before. Cancellations are made by email to contact@havenjapan.com. The full policy is in clause 5 of our Terms and Conditions.

Can I add experiences such as a tea ceremony or an onsen stay?

Yes. The experiences section above lists what you can add, from tea ceremonies and craft workshops to private onsen. Each day can also include free time to explore on your own.

Begin Your Journey

What you've just explored is a starting point, the beginning of a journey that's entirely yours to shape from here. Every detail can move: your pace, your interests, your Japan.

Make an
Enquiry

Send us the itinerary as you have shaped it, with your dates and who is travelling. A first call and a short exchange by email are free. When we design your full proposal, a fee of ¥30,000 applies, and it is deducted from your deposit when you book.