Tokyo & Kyoto Culture Week: A Guided Small-Group Tour of Japan

The first four nights are in Tokyo, based at The Okura Hotel in Minato, the city's business district. Guests stay in Prestige Rooms on the upper floors of the 41-floor Prestige Tower — double rooms have two twin beds, singles have a king. Bathrooms come with both a shower and a separate bathtub set beside a large window looking out over the city. The hotel has an indoor pool, an art museum, a spa, a fitness centre and seven restaurants and bars. From here the group does daily tours around Tokyo, including Tsukiji Market, the Sumida River boat cruise, sake tasting, and visits to the Shinjuku and Shibuya neighbourhoods, plus temples and historical sites.

There's a full day trip out of the city to the national park near Mt. Fuji. Back in Tokyo, the group also does a Japanese cooking class and a traditional tea ceremony at a teahouse.

Midweek the group transfers to Kyoto by ground transport, arranged as part of the trip, and checks into The Celestine Hotel for the final three nights. The 175-room hotel sits in the Gion neighbourhood, the historic district where geisha still live. It has a restaurant, a bar, and its own Japanese onsen public bath that hotel guests can use free of charge, plus a complimentary shuttle to and from Kyoto Station. In Kyoto the schedule includes the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Fushimi Inari Shrine, a guided walk through Gion to learn about geisha history and culture, and temple visits. The onsen experience is part of this leg.

What separates this from a standard Japan package is the guide. Roko stays with the group all week, so you're not joining a different coach tour each morning — the same person leads everything and gets to know the group. Jane Robertson and Stacey Nolan host throughout, handle the group dynamic, and are on hand the whole time. It's also a small group; the retreat runs with a limited number of spaces only.

Both hotels are shared with other guests, so this isn't a private buyout — you're staying in two working five-star city hotels rather than a retreat centre. Breakfast is included every day, along with the majority of lunches and dinners, with two lunches and two dinners left free so you can pick your own restaurants. Free time is built into both cities for shopping, dining and nightlife.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation (4 at The Okura Hotel, Tokyo; 3 at The Celestine Hotel, Kyoto) - Hosting throughout the week by Jane Robertson and Stacey Nolan - Daily tours in Tokyo and Kyoto with Japanese guide Roko - Breakfasts each day - Majority of lunches and dinners - Day trip from Tokyo to the Mt. Fuji area - Japanese cooking class - Sumida River cruise - Onsen bathhouse experience at The Celestine Hotel - Traditional tea ceremony at a Japanese teahouse - Guided visits to temples and historical sites in Tokyo and Kyoto - Visit to Tsukiji Market in Tokyo - Sake tasting - Visit to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove - Tour of the Gion neighbourhood in Kyoto (geisha history and culture) - Visit to the Shinjuku and Shibuya neighbourhoods in Tokyo - Visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine - Ground transportation from Tokyo to Kyoto - Round trip transportation to all group activities and excursions - Gift box - Taxes

What's not included

- Airfare to and from Japan - Arrival transfer from Tokyo's airport to The Okura Hotel - Alcoholic beverages other than what is included in the retreat - Two lunches and two dinners during the retreat - Optional activities or spa treatments - Gratuities for guides