As you sip steaming macha in a tea house on a small island on a serene lake within an intricate Edo Period Japanese garden, the 21st-century skyscrapers that rise from the neighboring Shiodome district seem like a far-off alien landscape.
This is the exciting contradiction of modern-day Japan, where the ultra-modern cityscapes of Tokyo and the busy contemporary lifestyles of its residents are juxtaposed with the country’s deep respect for its ancient cultural traditions and precise arts. Explore the ancient temples, shrines and charming traditional architecture of Tokyo’s old town, cruise the Sumida River, and reenter the 21st-century with a shopping tour of the flagship designer boutiques of Omotesando Street. In Kyoto, you’ll discover the many elaborate castles and Buddhist temples of the former imperial capital, including a visit to the Ginkakuji Zen temple in Kyoto’s stunning eastern mountains.
From the centuries-old traditions of Kyoto’s kimono-clad geishas to Tokyo’s trendy costume-obsessed teens, this tour provides an immersive experience that spans centuries of Japan’s cultural traditions. From an impossibly precise tea ceremony and the generations-old techniques of sushi chefs, to carefully manicured Zen gardens and the fine art of flower arrangement, you’ll experience Japan’s obsessive attention to detail in all its glory. And the same preoccupation with supreme quality is also on show at your selection of luxury hotels.
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