A Trip with Boutique Japan

If you’re looking for the Japan trip of a lifetime, you’re in the right place.

Japan is one of the most fascinating countries in the world, but getting beneath the surface can be a challenge for even the most experienced travelers. Our specialty is curating unique, memorable experiences — not just sightseeing or checking items off a list.

The truth is, whether you usually plan your own trips or normally work with a destination expert, planning a trip to Japan can seem overwhelming at times. At Boutique Japan we make the process as fun and effortless as possible, so you can simply relax and savor every moment of your experience.

Not ready to plan? Find insightful Japan travel information and inspiration in the Boutique Japan blog.

Doris Finch Boutique Japan Testimonial

Doris Finch, California

First off, the trip beautifully fulfilled our very demanding expectations. Given our many areas of interest, prior experience and particular needs, I can’t imagine anyone else meeting all that so well. Our guides were all excellent. That was maybe our greatest apprehension because we have met our share of ho-hum as well as very good… Read More

luxury ryokan Gora Kadan in Hakone Japan

Daniel Weinand, Canada

Thank you so much for arranging our travel! It was such a wonderful time and I can't wait to go back to Japan. It wouldn't have been this amazing experience without your help. Everything worked out perfectly and the schedule was spaced out and paced in a way that allowed us to explore some things… Read More

Kobe Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Japan

Rachel K., Brooklyn, NY

We really had an amazing time. We loved Japan, and the experience was made incredibly special by the thoughtfulness and care that went into the planning. Each place was so different and wonderful in its own way. We felt we got a good sense of the country, even though we were there for such a… Read More

Susan and Smiler Boutique Japan review

Susan & Smiler, Palo Alto, CA

Nothing could have made this three-week, first time trip to Japan better. Andres and Piper's planning made it perfect. The level of thought and attention to detail they put into curating our experience in Japan was something I'd never experienced in many years of travel. I'm smitten, with Japan and Boutique Japan.

Sample Japan Itineraries

The sample trips below are here to inspire you. These are not fixed itineraries, and can be customized or altered in almost any way. We can use them as a foundation for your bespoke Japan trip, or design your itinerary completely from scratch.

8 DaysJapan Essentials:
Tokyo, Kyoto & Hakone11 DaysLuxury Japan:
Art, Culture & Cuisine13 DaysLuxury Ryokans & the Japanese Countryside12 DaysJapan Cities, Mountains & Art

Unique Japan Experiences

Japan offers an incredible array of cultural and culinary experiences, from the sublime to the exhilarating. We don’t believe one size fits all, and design your trip just for you whether your interests lie in:

  • Modern design, art, fashion, and architecture in Tokyo (and the art island Naoshima)
  • Traditional culture, unique shrines and temples, and impeccable gardens
  • Historic village-to-village hikes, and the chance to soak in remote rural onsen (hot springs) deep in the Japanese countryside
  • Centuries-old crafts shops, and private artisan studios, in the backstreets of Kyoto

We meticulously arrange your trip around your interests, ideal travel pace, accommodation preferences, and personal travel style.

CLASKA Hotel Tokyo tatami room

Kellie T., Wisconsin

I just want to thank everyone at Boutique Japan, because this was truly a trip of a lifetime! I could not have done it without all your help. I just can’t believe how meticulously coordinated everything was and the incredible thoughtfulness and kindness from all of you, my guides, hotel/ryokan staff, and everyone I met… Read More

luxury ryokan Gora Kadan in Hakone Japan

Daniel Weinand, Canada

Thank you so much for arranging our travel! It was such a wonderful time and I can't wait to go back to Japan. It wouldn't have been this amazing experience without your help. Everything worked out perfectly and the schedule was spaced out and paced in a way that allowed us to explore some things… Read More

Testimonial for Boutique Japan from Jennifer and Ray, Australia.

Gary & Shiona, Australia

We are just settling back after a truly wonderful trip during which every aspect was quite special. The itinerary was full of highlights, superbly structured and finely organized – even down to the ‘comfortable’ 4-minute train change in Nagoya. Boutique Japan brought the team's deep knowledge of Japan to bear to develop a range of… Read More

Boutique Japan Testimonial Eric Washington DC

Eric K., Washington, DC

We had a terrific trip and are thankful to you and the team for a fantastic job. We loved your approach to everything, the attention to details, the responsiveness to our requests and the excellent trip that resulted from all of that. We’ll be very happy to refer friends to you, as we have several… Read More

What’s Included in a Trip with Boutique Japan?

A Japan itinerary with us typically includes all of the following. As we design your bespoke trip completely from the ground up, the exact details will be reflected in your personalized itinerary.

  • A tailor-made itinerary crafted just for you, based on our in-depth Japan expertise, relationships, and firsthand experience
  • All of your accommodations, in boutique and luxury hotels and ryokans thoughtfully selected based on your taste and priorities
  • Unique private tours and experiences with engaging experts, and as much or little free time as you’d like
  • In-country transport and expertly-planned logistics for peace of mind and convenience
  • Meals at accommodations and during culinary outings
  • Recommendations for authentic, memorable experiences, including essential highlights and hidden gems
  • Extensive pre-departure information, including expert advice on Japanese etiquette, food, packing, Wi-Fi, language, tipping, and more
  • A Japan specialist to answer your questions, and extraordinary customer service (including 24/7 assistance during your trip)
Omotesando backstreets near Harajuku Tokyo

Brett & Kirsten, California

My wife and I just got back from our Boutique Japan trip, and it was fantastic. Andres has excellent attention to detail, and the information they put together was tremendously helpful along the way. Some say Americans will never feel as foreign anywhere in the world as they do when they're in Japan, but all… Read More

Snow Monkeys Japanese Macaques Jigokudani Yaen Koen Nagano Alps Japan

Judy Lau, Australia

Boutique Japan has made our trip to Japan brilliant and totally unforgettable. I have been to Japan many times, even studied there for some time. The experience from this trip is still right at the top of my list, in terms of accommodation, arrangement (everyone's happy!), and food (two thumbs up!!). Thank you very much… Read More

wooden teapot in a luxury ryokan in Japan

Laurel Skarbinski, New York City

Boutique Japan helped us plan the trip of a lifetime. They made excellent suggestions, taking into account our interests. The itinerary, the accommodations, and the guides they arranged for us were all superb. Everything went smoothly thanks to their careful planning. We really benefitted from their detailed knowledge of and passion for Japan. We highly… Read More

Ally Vain and Chris Tillotson Boutique Japan testimonials

Ally Vain & Chris Tillotson, Dallas

Boutique Japan brought our dream Honeymoon Trip to life. My husband and I visited Japan to celebrate our Honeymoon and the experience Boutique Japan provided for us was more than we could have imagined. I cannot reiterate enough, we could not have done this without them! The staff was extremely responsive, professional and accommodating every… Read More

Pricing for a Trip with Boutique Japan

Trips with us typically fall into the price ranges outlined below. These are guidelines meant to give you an approximate sense of pricing (rather than hard-and-fast categories), and many travelers seek elements of more than one.

For example, some travelers prioritize unique experiences above all, others love splurging on luxury accommodations, and many simply want the best of everything.

Classic

Trips in the Classic range feature a carefully selected mix of upper mid-range and boutique accommodations, wonderful private guides (with plenty of time to explore independently), transport between all your destinations (primarily via rail), and more. Expect pricing around US $700-$900 per person per day based on 2 or more travelers.

Boutique

Trips in the Boutique range feature an optimal mix of boutique and luxury accommodations, wonderful private guides and exclusive experiences (with as much free time as you would like), transport between all your destinations (via rail and private vehicles where appropriate), and more. Expect pricing around US $900-$1,200 per person per day based on 2 or more travelers.

Luxury

Luxury trips feature Japan’s most incredible luxury hotels and ryokans, wonderful private guides and exclusive experiences (with as much free time as you would like), transport between all your destinations (via first-class rail and private vehicles where appropriate), and more. Expect pricing around US $1,200-$1,800 per person per day and up based on 2 or more travelers.

A Japanese woman purifies herself before entering Fushimi Inari Taisha

Based on our years of experience planning bespoke Japan trips for travelers from around the world, we’ve found the above guidelines to be very helpful in predicting expected pricing, but how is the price of your trip determined?

We begin with the goal of putting together the best possible itinerary, taking both your priorities and our firsthand expertise into account (as outlined in our process). This includes painstakingly selecting accommodations (down to thinking about which room type or suite you’d personally appreciate most), organizing your itinerary to include immersive private tours and experiences around your interests (balanced with as much or little free time as you would like), arranging seamless transport logistics in line with your preferences, and all the other small but essential details involved in expertly coordinating a seamless trip.

The price of your trip is based on the itinerary itself, and all that is included, along with factors such as your travel dates (for example, during peak seasons pricing may be higher) and the number of travelers in your party.

We typically require a small preliminary itinerary design fee, which allows us to dedicate our time and efforts to each of our clients, and give each trip the personal love and attention it deserves. The amount varies depending on various factors (such as trip length, itinerary intricacy, etc.) and is fully applied to the final cost of your trip.

Please note that each of our tailor-made trips is offered as a completely customized package, just for you, and itemized price breakdowns are not provided. While some travelers don’t have a particular budget in mind, if you are working around a specific range or desired limit, just let us know and will be more than happy to discuss the possibilities.

Because we design trips exclusively for travelers directly (we don’t work with travel agents or other intermediaries, who charge extra markups), the price of our service ends up being remarkably reasonable in relation to the premium, personalized nature of our trips. Our fresh, customer-centric approach is a key reason Condé Nast Traveler selected us as a Top Travel Specialist for Japan in 2020.

Aman Tokyo resort guest room japan

Casey & TJ, New York City

Boutique Japan designed the perfect luxury honeymoon. Organizing a trip can be a challenging task, so we were thrilled to find someone as knowledgeable and easy to work with. We were consistently impressed with the attention to detail in each element of the journey. Boutique Japan exceeded our expectations. From booking truly impressive accommodations to… Read More

Owen R in Naoshima Boutique Japan Testimonials

Owen R., Morristown, New Jersey

Our trip was truly a great experience planned by a very professional group. My family and I are frequent travelers. We've been to all continents and about 70 plus countries (much on pleasure, but some on business). We have used many travel companies to help plan trips, including the high end well known groups. My… Read More

Buddhist monk in front of temple in Kyoto, Japan

Tessa Scher, Cape Town

We have just returned from an outstanding 19-day holiday in Japan thanks to Boutique Japan. I cannot recommend this travel company highly enough. From the beginning to the end their service, attention to detail, advice and support were incredible. We have traveled extensively but Boutique Japan is by far the best travel agency that we… Read More

Women summer yukata Japan

Keri and Marvin, Los Angeles

We really had a terrific trip! Can't thank you enough for the thoughtful planning and recommendations along the way. From Naoshima for the guys (a huge highlight), to the magical Kyoto of temples, bamboo forests and geishas, to sumo in Osaka, through the restful ryokan and walking around Shuzenji Onsen on a rainy day, and… Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most common questions we get, but if you don’t see the information you’re seeking please contact us here and we’ll be happy to help.

I’m worried about coronavirus (Covid-19).

We hear you.

For more on what to expect — and our flexibility guarantee — please see Planning a Trip to Japan in the Time of Covid.

There are so many companies. Why should I travel with Boutique Japan?

We believe in fewer clients and richer experiences, as described in more detail on our About page.

As Condé Nast Traveler puts it, “Boutique Japan is a small company that eschews volume and spends more time customizing each trip to offer travelers a fresh, creative approach to Japan.”

If our approach resonates with you, we’d be honored to help.

How does your service work?

It’s simple. We begin by listening and learning about your interests, priorities, and travel style.

Then we provide expert input to make sure you’re aware of special places and experiences you may not have considered. Finally, we design a completely customized Japan trip just for you, taking your feedback into account along the way.

Read more about our process.

I don’t often enjoy tours. How do you select your guides?

We hear a lot from travelers who have had lackluster, unsatisfying tours in the past.

While some of our clients enjoy having a guide from start to finish, most commonly our travelers enjoy a mix of guided time along with free time for independent exploration and relaxation (in our experience, the optimal balance is quite different for everyone).

When it comes to private guides and local experts, we have unusually high standards (few things in travel are more disappointing than a mediocre guide), and through constant travel and exploration we’ve personally developed a network of wonderful guides and insightful experts throughout Japan.

For us, it’s about far more than just having knowledge: we seek out the truly engaging individuals who are not only bright and knowledgeable, but also flexible and quick-thinking. Perhaps above all, they must be fun, interesting people you’ll actually want to spend your valuable time with.

Who are your trips for?

Our travelers are based around the world, in the Americas, Australia, Europe, and beyond.

The majority of our clients are small groups of friends, couples (including honeymooners), and families.

When is the best time of year to visit Japan?

Japan is a year-round destination and we normally suggest taking advantage of any chance to visit. Each season is great in its own way.

If your dates are very flexible we recommend our in-depth article, When is the best time of year to visit Japan?

Please bear in mind that, especially for peak seasons, advance planning is essential.

What about places not mentioned in the sample trips?

Our sample trips above are simply meant to inspire you. There are many other places in Japan we absolutely love, and we’ll provide personalized suggestions in the course of planning your custom trip.

Who are you?

A small and passionate team of Japan travel experts. Please say hello here, or on Instagram or Facebook!

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