Since 2013, our award-winning team has been designing unique, original Japan itineraries for discerning travelers from around the world.
Find inspiration in our sample trips below, but let us create your trip completely from scratch (if you’re still in the early planning stages, go down the rabbit hole in our information-filled blog).
My wife Alison and I found Boutique Japan while researching and planning our 20th anniversary trip. We are experienced travelers, but between busy work lives and kids, it had been a while since we had the chance to take a special trip together alone. We have wide-ranging interests and from the beginning realized that our… Read More
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
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.
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
When it comes to your itinerary, the possibilities are endless. The sample itineraries below include some but far from all of our favorite destinations in Japan.
For more inspiration, also see our 9-day sample itinerary, and our favorite off-the-beaten-path places in Japan.
Japan offers an incredible array of cultural and culinary experiences, from the sublime to the exhilarating. Look forward to the following on a trip with us:
Enjoy boutique and luxury hotels and ryokans with character, chosen to match your taste and priorities.
Enjoy the best of Japanese food with local experts, from casual ramen shops and izakayas, to exquisite kaiseki and sushi.
Sample beverages — from tea and coffee, to sake, whisky, wine, and shochu — and marvel at Japan’s refined culture of cocktails.
Gallery hop in Tokyo, visit the art island Naoshima, and meet master artisans and traditional craftspeople in Kyoto and rural Japan.
Find inspiration in Japan’s spectacular architecture, renowned culture of design, and pioneering fashion — not to mention some of the world’s best shopping.
Stroll through impeccable gardens, visit remarkable temples and shrines, and experience the high energy of sumo or a traditional matsuri (festival).
Get outdoors and off-the-beaten-path with vigorous hikes, historic village-to-village walks, and the chance to soak in remote rural onsen (hot springs) deep in the Japanese countryside.
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
I hardly have the words to say how wonderful the trip was. My time on Naoshima, Teshima and Shikoku were wonderful and I had many experiences that I don’t have enough superlatives for. The guide and driver were so nice and fun to be with and the people I met along the way were memorable.… Read More
Boutique Japan planned our honeymoon in February 2016. Our overall experience with them was absolutely exceptional, I could not recommend them more. My husband and I love to travel but had never used a travel agent before (truth is we’ve always been skeptical). We found an article written by Boutique Japan on the best sushi… Read More
My wife and I cannot say enough great things about Boutique Japan. They planned the greatest trip for us, with special attention to our particular interests and desires. If you're looking for a full service trip planning team, where every single aspect is curated perfectly, you need to work with Boutique Japan.
Each Japan trip we design is unique, but our trips typically include all of the following:
We take personalization seriously. Not only do we really listen to you, our profound expertise and extensive connections mean your trip will be both completely unique and authentically special.
A trip to Japan offers the chance to stay in stunning boutique and luxury hotels and ryokans. We’ll make thoughtful recommendations based on our personal expertise and your taste and priorities.
When it comes to private guides and local experts, we have unusually high standards (see why in the FAQ below). Your trip will include unique private tours and experiences, curated around your interests — and as much free time as you’d like.
We meticulously arrange your in-country travels around your preferences and priorities. Getting around Japan is an absolute pleasure thanks to the comfort and efficiency of its various modes of transport, from impeccable trains and the shinkansen to courteous white-gloved drivers.
Your trip includes meals at your accommodations — breakfast at hotels, plus amazing dinners and breakfasts at ryokans — and any meals included as part of your guided culinary experiences, such as private izakaya outings, intimate sushi dinners, ramen crawls, whisky tastings, and more.
Essential advice as you prepare for your trip, including key tips on Japanese etiquette, packing, money, language, Wi-Fi, and more.
We are here to answer any questions that may come up at every stage of the process, and provide thoughtful service to our travelers from start to finish.
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 = Perfect Trip. We could not have been happier with the itinerary and service provided by Andres and his staff at Boutique Japan. From the very first interaction, it was clear that their goal was to craft a personalized experience that we would never forget. Expectations were high as my lifelong dream trip… Read More
We had a truly wonderful time in Japan. Lots of people have asked what was the highlight and it really is hard to pick one, or even a few. We really enjoyed the Tsukiji market, the visit to Yanaka, the Kiyosumi Garden, all the gardens in Kyoto, the evening in Osaka, the lunch with the… Read More
Boutique Japan planned our honeymoon in February 2016. Our overall experience with them was absolutely exceptional, I could not recommend them more. My husband and I love to travel but had never used a travel agent before (truth is we’ve always been skeptical). We found an article written by Boutique Japan on the best sushi… Read More
The pricing guidelines below are intended to help you estimate the cost of your trip.
However, please keep in mind that these are not fixed categories. For example, some travelers love small boutique hotels, others prefer top-end luxury properties — and many like a mix of both.
The main factors that determine the price of each trip include:
A Boutique trip includes a thoughtful selection of boutique accommodations, a mix of unique private experiences and independent exploration, and transport throughout the country primarily via Japan’s fantastic rail system.
A Luxury trip includes a thoughtful selection of luxury accommodations, a mix of exclusive private experiences with local experts (along with as much free time as you would like), and transport throughout the country via Japan’s fantastic rail system and private vehicles where appropriate.
A Premier trip simply includes the best of the best, with boundless possibilities.
Please note that we specialize in trips of one week and longer.
The prices above are per person per day and based on double occupancy. We love working with solo travelers, but even though we do not charge a single supplement per se, some services do cost more (on a per-person basis) when not shared with other travelers.
In the course of planning your trip, we typically require a small itinerary design fee. This enables us to dedicate truly personalized attention to each of our travelers. The amount varies depending on factors including trip length and the nature of your request, and is fully applicable to the final cost of your trip.
Your personalized itinerary is offered as a completely bespoke package, and we don’t include itemized pricing. Some travelers don’t have a specific budget in mind, but if you have a preferred range or limit please just let us know and we’ll be happy to work with you.
For any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Boutique Japan = Perfect Trip. We could not have been happier with the itinerary and service provided by Andres and his staff at Boutique Japan. From the very first interaction, it was clear that their goal was to craft a personalized experience that we would never forget. Expectations were high as my lifelong dream trip… Read More
My experience with Boutique Japan couldn’t have been any better. From my initial conversation with Andres, through the back-and-forth about the itinerary with Piper, to the last-minute changes because of a typhoon hitting Japan, they were well-informed, thorough and responded quickly to questions and requests. They really listened when my husband and I described the… Read More
My wife Alison and I found Boutique Japan while researching and planning our 20th anniversary trip. We are experienced travelers, but between busy work lives and kids, it had been a while since we had the chance to take a special trip together alone. We have wide-ranging interests and from the beginning realized that our… Read More
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
These are some of the most common questions we get from travelers. If you have any other questions, we’ll be happy to help so please contact us.
No, at Boutique Japan we specialize in completely private itineraries, designed around you.
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.
Next, we design a completely customized Japan trip just for you, taking your feedback into account along the way. Throughout the process, we make things as easy and enjoyable as possible for you. See more details in Planning Your Trip with Boutique Japan.
We offer private itineraries throughout all of Japan. Our sample trips above are here to provide inspiration, and there are also many other places in Japan we absolutely love.
When it comes to your itinerary, we’ll provide personalized suggestions in the course of planning your trip.
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. In Japan, even more so than most elsewhere, trust is established only over long periods of time. Our tours are based on valuable relationships carefully cultivated over many years, and we’re extremely fortunate to work with remarkable people around the country.
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.
As points lovers ourselves, we completely understand wanting to use them. However, because accommodations form such an integral part of each trip we design, we arrange all accommodations as part of our service. This helps us ensure a truly seamless experience for all our clients, from start to finish.
For nearly all of our travelers, Japanese food is a high priority. As part of your trip, we can include special culinary experiences such as private market tours with local experts, as well as intimate guided dining experiences at unique and wonderful restaurants.
Apart from these thoughtfully curated experiences, please note that we don’t offer restaurant reservations or meal-planning as part of our service. However, like most of our travelers, we are passionate about Japanese cuisine, and a few months before your trip we’ll send you a selection of restaurants we recommend (plus cafes, bars, shops, and more), along with helpful information and resources on making dining reservations in Japan.
These can be wonderful places, and are especially popular with families traveling to Japan, but in the interest of being upfront please note that we are far from theme park experts. Because of this, we can’t provide any special insight when it comes to visiting theme parks or obtaining tickets.
This being said, we do have many clients visit on their own, and we’re more than happy to build free time into your itinerary for you to self-arrange any theme park visits of interest.
Some travel companies tout their access to discounts, but the main reason travelers book through us is to gain access to our profound Japan expertise and extensive network throughout the country.
Not only will we help you dream up a completely unique itinerary through our in-depth knowledge of Japan and extraordinarily personalized trip-planning process, we’ll also save you countless hours expertly coordinating the nitty-gritty logistics of your trip.
Our service is ideal for travelers who appreciate expert assistance and meaningful, personalized experiences.
Our travelers are based around the world, in the Americas, Australia, and beyond. The majority of our travelers are couples, families, small groups of friends, and solo travelers.
We are accredited Japan Travel Specialists, and maintain active memberships with respected organizations including IATAN and ATTA.
Perhaps more interestingly, unlike most travel companies we intentionally work with fewer travelers. This lets us take an extraordinarily personalized approach when it comes to your trip. Along with our expertise and creativity, our low-volume approach is one reason Condé Nast Traveler magazine considers Boutique Japan founder Andres Zuleta a Top Travel Specialist for Japan:
“Zuleta’s 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 – something that discerning travelers seek out after learning of Zuleta’s deep immersion into the Japanese language and culture from years of living in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.”
If you’re as obsessed with the details as we are, chances are we’ll be a good fit — see what our travelers say here and on Google Reviews.
Boutique Japan did an excellent job of orchestrating our two-week trip. Their intake process for new clients is thorough and thoughtful. Once on the trip it was clear that our itinerary was customized to meet our interests. When a typhoon derailed our original itinerary, Boutique Japan was quick to suggest and help book an alternative.… Read More
We worked with Boutique Japan for a 12-day whirlwind trip to Japan in November for my husband and myself. I am actually someone who loves to research and plan trips, but knew I didn't have the time to do it as thoroughly as this once-in-a-lifetime warranted. They helped us create an incredible trip that revolved… Read More
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
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