Itinerary Highlights
    • A great trip to cultivate 'the art of Zen', in a Japanese garden or Polynesian lagoon


    • From imperial Kyoto to futuristic Tokyo, essential urban Japan


    • Polynesian sweetness & life on stilts


    • Private guides, special encounters & well-functioning logistics are all part of the itinerary


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The art of living, the yukata & the pareo

Your journey takes you from the Land of the Rising Sun to the archipelago of breathtaking sunsets.. Zen means as much in Japanese as in Polynesian. In Japan, you'll find it in a Japanese garden, in a cup of tea served according to strict rules, at the top of a tower at the edge of a panoramic pool, in the hidden alleyways of a dizzying city in the company of a knowledgeable guide, in the privacy of a ryokan (traditional inn) in the Japanese Alps, and the heat of an onsen (hot spring bath). In Polynesia, the Zen can be found in the islands' gentle rhythms. Time goes by peacefully, between naps in the hammock, snorkeling trips among multicoloured fish and corals, lunches on the sand and aperitifs at sunset.
And then there's the dress-code, an invitation to be lazy: a pareo (traditional sarong), swimsuit, straw hat, and sunglasses. Designed for couples, this great journey is an invitation to really think, and to take time as a couple in some truly beautiful locations.

In your itinerary

Roadmap - First, Japan in three acts. Three acts to take the pulse of this country unlike any other. Kyoto, the cradle of the Japanese soul, where one constantly switches between the 18th and 21st centuries. Then Japanese Alps and Takayama, to get some fresh air and experience the Japan of another era. Finally Tokyo, a confusing mix of genres and eras but one that weaves its magic. In Japan, you travel by train and public transport. Expect efficiency, punctuality, comfort, and that special something that the train always adds to the journey. And then in French Polynesia, swap trains for boats and planes. Moorea is your first stop. From above, it looks a bit like a heart. Swim with dolphins, dive with rays, hike on the mountainside and in the forest. A hop, skip, and a jump and you land on Bora Bora, the perfect embodiment of the Polynesian dream, set in the centre of its lagoon fringed with white sand and coral gardens beneath the waves. With its Tahitian gardenia necklaces, ubiquitous smiles and many shades of blue: Tahiti wraps up this journey to a soundtrack of soft ukulele notes. In the itinerary - Because this trip is a two-part trip, we have selected hotels with character in Japan - a boutique hotel, a ryokan (traditional inn) and a large, prestigious brand hotel - and then intimate bungalows in Polynesia. As for the high points, we've planned days with knowledgeable private guides in Kyoto, Tokyo and Bora Bora, an introduction to chanoyu (the Japanese tea ceremony), and a car to tour Moorea. There's always the possibility to complement your itinerary with bespoke experiences and other tailor-made pleasures; not forgetting that our on-site local concierges can help you meet any last-minute needs and wishes.

En route, you'll love...

Spending the day with a private guide in Kyoto and an expat guide in Tokyo: immersion in the Japan of the Japanese - attending a tea ceremony in a traditional house - outside the big cities, indulging in the pleasure of the onsen (traditional hot spring bath) - tasting the local cuisine of the Japanese Alps - traveling to the village of Shirakawago for a journey through time - losing yourself in a depato, a uniquely Japanese department store - gazing over Tokyo from your room and from the hotel pool, perched atop of a new tower in the business district - donning a straw hat and a colourful pareo to go for a stroll at the Papeete market - stopping at a street vendor for some raw Tahitian fish - a picnic for two on an isolated motu (islet) - moving nonchalantly from a towel on the beach to the lounge chair by the pool - relaxing in the spa: Tahitian gardenias, a Polynesian massage with monoi oil or vanilla aromas - swimming with dolphins or rays and diving with colourful fish - life on stilts: opening your shutters to the ocean, enjoying a nap in a hammock, going from your bed to the lagoon.

Route

Everything is 100% tailored to you
DAY 1

International flight to Osaka

Overnight flight, arriving the next day.

DAY 2

OSAKA - KYOTO

Arrival in Osaka. Train to Kyoto from the airport. Four-night stay in a very beautiful hotel with a warm, comfortable, contemporary design, whose discreet, efficient and considerate service is particularly pleasant. Its central location is another asset; its Zen garden is another.

DAYS 3 to 5

KYOTO

Spend the next few days discovering the city with a private guide. Recommended tours during your stay in Kyoto include: the Philosophers' Path, the Ginkaku-ji, Kyomizu-dera, Sanjusangen-do, Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji temples, the Kawai Kanjiro Memorial Hall (pottery) museums, the Fureai-kan Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts, Hosomi Art Museum (Shinto and Buddhist Art), the Nomura Museum (paintings, tea ceremony utensils, ceramics), the Kampo Museum (traditional arts), the Hashimoto Kantetsu Memorial Museum (painting), the Costume Museum, the traditional quarters of Gion and Pontocho, the picturesque streets of Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka. Also Fuka stores (specialising in the production and sale of fu or wheat gluten for 130 years), Iriyama Tofu (tofu), Nishimura (Ukiyo-e art), Ippo-cho (tea), Nakanishi Toku Shoten (antique dolls) or the gardens of the temples that can be found everywhere in the city.

Take part in a private introduction to chanoyu, a tea ceremony, in a traditional house. The art of tea is one of the aspects of Japanese culture that often appeals most to Western travellers, a ritual that seeks to create a moment of harmony and calm. We can also arrange for you to visit one of Japan's oldest sake distilleries, including a production demonstration and tasting.

DAYS 6 & 7

KYOTO - TOKYO

Head to Tokyo aboard the Shinkansen Nozomi high-speed bullet train. We’ll take care of transferring your luggage to your Tokyo hotel, while you enjoy the scenic views between the two Japanese cities (we recommend sitting on the left to catch the best views of Mount Fuji passing by) . Upon arrival, stay in a stunning hotel perched in the new Toranomon Hills tower in the business district for four nights. In addition to stunning views of the city - the panorama from the rooftop pool is particularly impressive - the hotel offers impeccable service and quality cuisine. Inside, common areas and guest rooms feature elegant and modern design. The concept is a very successful blend of modern art and Japanese style.

So that you don't get lost - literally or figuratively - we've planned a day with a private guide, who will be at your disposal with no pre-planned route, so you can discover their city as you wish.

DAYS 8 & 9

TOKYO

Recommended tours during your visit to Tokyo: The Tower of Winds, the Spiral Building, the Edo-Tokyo Museum, the Tokyo International Forum, the Odaiba district, Roppongi Hills; also the Asakusa Temple, the Meiji-jingu Shinto shrine and garden, the Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, the Mori Art Museum, the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, the Ginza, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ueno districts, Ameyoko Market and the Tsukiji fish market (get there in the early morning!).

DAY 10

FROM JAPAN TO POLYNESIA

Catch a train to the airport for your flight to Tahiti. Once you arrive at Papeete Airport, you will be privately transferred to the port. Then catch a short ferry ride (around 30 minutes) to Tahiti's sister island of Moorea. Spend three nights at one of the best beaches in the world on the edge of a crystal blue lagoon. Bungalows on stilts look out onto the ultramarine blue of the Pacific ocean and the island of Tahiti. Special mentions go to the architecture, which is all wood, woven bamboo and pandanus, as well as to the fantastic spa, with fragrances of tiare flowers (Tahitian gardenias).

DAYS 11 to 13

MOOREA

Moorea’s gentle way of life has always attracted painters, sculptors, writers and poets. Spend a few days enjoying Moorea, Tahiti's sister island, combining the pleasures of the lagoon with eco-tourism.

Included in your itinerary is an authentic dinner at the home of a Polynesian couple living in the village of Haapiti. This offers the opportunity to discuss daily life in Polynesia and to share a slice of life with a couple passionate about their island. Optional activities include a unique and unforgettable encounter with the Dolphin Centre's dolphins, with a guide, or a quad bike tour of the island's back roads, complete with spectacular views. For the rest of your time, enjoy a mahi-mahi on the beach, attend traditional dance shows, nap on the sand or by the pool, snorkel to see the multicoloured reef fish, take a catamaran ride, have a flower treatment in the spa, take a cycle ride around the island or embark on a romantic getaway at sunset.

DAYS 14 & 15

RETURN FLIGHT

Transfer by boat to the airport and fly to Papeete, where you can catch the first of your international flights home, arriving the next day.

DAYS 16 & 17

BORA BORA

Bora Bora: home to a majestic mountain, an idyllic lagoon and a splendid hotel in an almost surreally beautiful spot. Spend two days exploring Bora Bora and enjoying time peacefully passing by. Included in the itinerary is a day with a private guide spent on a 4x4 safari through the island's interior, swimming with rays, black-tipped sharks and multicoloured fish, and lunch with your feet in the sand at a renowned island restaurant. Other options can include a private helicopter ride to discover the island and its lagoon from the sky, or a private half-day boat tour of the lagoon, punctuated with stops to observe the majestic rays or dive among the colourful corals and tropical fish. During your remaining time, you can take a snorkelling trip to a coral reef, indulge in an open-air Polynesian massage on the beach cooled by the calm trade winds, try parasailing to admire the spectacular scenery from above, go kayaking or take a ride in an outrigger canoe.

A la carte

Kyoto - the secrets of sake

In Fushimi, in the south of Kyoto, the Matsumoto Shuzo Distillery is one of Japan's oldest. It's a place that opens its doors to a few privileged visitors to allow them to learn some of the secrets of Japan's national tipple. Housed in several listed buildings surrounding a garden, the distillery makes various types of sake using both traditional and more modern methods. The tour is accompanied by a guide and includes a brewing demonstration and a tasting of sake and green tea.

Optional



Moorea - with dolphins

Not far from your hotel, the Moorea Dolphin Centre offers a special encounter with a long-beaked (spinner) dolphin. The centre was set up by specialists, biologists and veterinarians to preserve the quality of life for its residents. As you cling to his fins, he drags you into a snorkelling dive to play with him, caress him, and watch him swim about in the open water. An experience reserved for good swimmers and a great opportunity to discover and share the world of spinner dolphins.

Optional - With a staff member who speaks your language



Bora Bora - Lagoons & coral reefs

The island still has many preserved coral reefs that are home to exceptional marine life. This comfortable private boat ride includes a complete tour of the lagoon with several stops to see majestic manta rays or leopard rays, as well as diving among hundreds of tropical fish living among the colourful corals.

Optional - Half-day, with a diving instructor



Tahiti - 4x4 safari

Guided tour through the heart of the Papenoo Valley, an exceptional and unique site in Polynesia, starting with a stop at the Taharaa pass. Then discover this magnificent valley, home to vibrant flora and rivers punctuated by huge waterfalls, as well as numerous archaeological remains. This getaway with a guide also includes a local lunch in a friendly restaurant nestled in the valley.

Optional - Day trip

A Rough Idea of Price

Dependent on season, accommodation and activities
The estimated cost for this trip starts from £7,945 to £10,000 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote. The average starting price for this trip is £8,660 per person.
  • International flights by commercial airline (outbound flight to Osaka, return from Papeete)
  • International flight from Tokyo to Papeete
  • Airfare taxes and fuel surcharge
  • Train trips between your Japanese destinations
  • Baggage transfer between Kyoto and Tokyo
  • Inter-island air pass in Polynesia
  • Ferry between Tahiti and Moorea
  • Private vehicle or boat transfers between hotels, airports, and docks in Polynesia
  • Three-night stay in Kyoto in a double room with breakfast
  • Three-night stay in Tokyo in a double room with breakfast
  • Three-night stay in Moorea in a room with half board
  • Three-night stay in Bora Bora in a double room with half board
  • Two-night stay in Papeete in a double room with breakfast
  • Day with a guide in Kyoto and a private tea ceremony
  • Day with an expat in Tokyo, discovering the informed Tokyo life
  • Reception and assistance at Papeete airport
  • Dinner at home in Moorea in a Haapiti village
  • Day with a private guide discovering Bora Bora on land and sea
  • Our on-site Concierge services
A few of the benefits of travelling with us
Get in touch
Our experts have the inside track on the destinations they sell and will tailor-make a holiday to your unique requirements.
Contact one of our Japan specialists