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).
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
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
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
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
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, our 6-day Tokyo and the Japanese Countryside trip, 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, 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.
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
We absolutely loved our trip. I fell in love with Tokyo and am secretly hoping I can convince my sister or friend to visit soon so I can go with them to see more of the neighborhoods we missed this time around. Each guide was very, very well-matched with the type of tour they gave.… Read More
Our trip was so perfect from initially working with Roni and then Piper and the rest of the team. The travel arrangements were awesome and communicated so very clearly. The Axus app was terrific. Every time I thought about what to do somewhere (when there was time) the answer came (as if you knew that's… Read More
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
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 additional culinary experiences based on your priorities. This can include 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, including 24/7 assistance during your trip.
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
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
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
Our trip was so perfect from initially working with Roni and then Piper and the rest of the team. The travel arrangements were awesome and communicated so very clearly. The Axus app was terrific. Every time I thought about what to do somewhere (when there was time) the answer came (as if you knew that's… Read More
The price of your trip ultimately comes down to your priorities. For example, some travelers love small boutique hotels, others prefer top-end luxury properties — and many like a mix of both.
Your trip’s price is based on factors including your travel dates (pricing is higher during peak seasons) and the number of travelers in your party, along with the specifics of your unique itinerary. In other words, a trip featuring suites at Japan’s top hotels and a full-time private guide would be higher in price than a trip including stylish boutique hotels and a mix of guiding and free time.
The pricing categories below — Classic, Boutique, and Luxury — are designed to help you estimate the approximate cost of your trip, based on your preferences and priorities. They’re not hard-and-fast categories, and many travelers seek a blend.
Please note that the prices below are based on double occupancy. While we don’t charge a single supplement, for solo travelers some services do tend to cost more on a per-person basis when not shared with other travelers. For any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
A trip that falls within the Classic range of pricing (see a sample itinerary) generally includes a considered mix of mid-range/boutique accommodations, all of your in-country transport (via rail), and wonderful private guides (plus plenty of time to explore independently).
A trip that falls within the Boutique range of pricing (see a sample itinerary) generally includes a lovely mix of boutique/luxury accommodations, all of your in-country transport (via rail and private vehicle where appropriate), and wonderful private guides (plus as much free time as you’d like).
A trip that falls within the Luxury range of pricing (see a sample itinerary) generally includes top-end accommodations, all of your in-country transport (via first-class rail and private vehicle where appropriate), and wonderful private guides (plus as much free time as you’d like).
We typically require a small preliminary itinerary design fee.
This helps enable 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.
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
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
We absolutely loved our trip. I fell in love with Tokyo and am secretly hoping I can convince my sister or friend to visit soon so I can go with them to see more of the neighborhoods we missed this time around. Each guide was very, very well-matched with the type of tour they gave.… 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
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.
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.
No, these are completely private itineraries.
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. Additionally, with 24/7 emergency assistance during your trip, you can simply relax and enjoy your adventure.
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.
For nearly all of our travelers, Japanese food is a very 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 throughout the country. It’s important to note that we don’t make additional restaurant reservations as part of our service. However, like virtually all of our travelers we are very passionate about Japanese cuisine, and will go out of our way to ensure you have the information you need to make any reservations of interest as easily as possible.
To start, well before your trip we’ll provide you with a short list of remarkable restaurants to consider. These days, most high-end restaurants in Japan prefer to take reservations directly from hotel concierges (for a variety of cultural reasons, it’s less of a headache for the restaurants), and for convenience we can connect you directly with the concierge at your hotels. In some cases, we also recommend using a reputable reservation service such as TableAll. As part of the booking process, we’ll also provide insight on when you should be starting to think about reservations and other essential details.
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 named 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.
My amazing husband worked with Boutique Japan (behind my back!) to help put together the most amazing surprise birthday trip ever. Having had the benefit of not doing any of the work but only enjoying the experience, I have to say there could not have been a more perfectly planned trip. Boutique Japan was incredibly… Read More
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
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
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