Luxury Travel in Japan: A Journey Through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka

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The latest multi-destination itinerary from Four Seasons explores Japan, past and present.

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Japan is a land of contrasts: subtropical islands and snow-capped mountains, sprawling urban landscapes and ancient forests, a drive to embrace the future and a deep connection to tradition.

The best luxury Japan itineraries lean into the country’s points of duality, giving you the opportunity to experience its multitudes in ways that dive far deeper than your average sightseeing tour. And that’s exactly what the new [Japan: The Art of Old & New trip from Four Seasons](https://www.fourseasons.com/exclusive-itineraries/japan/?utm_source=native&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fs-xjap-cor-mid-digitalmag-na&utm_content=na-na&utm_term=na) has in store for travellers.

The nine-day Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka itinerary has been handcrafted by local experts to dive deep into the distinct worlds of the country’s most iconic cities. Here, we share a taste of the kind of immersive experiences—and classic Four Seasons hospitality—you’ll encounter as you make your way across the Land of the Rising Sun.

A view of Tokyo from Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi

There’s no place in the world where tradition and innovation come together quite like they do in Tokyo. As JK Lee, Chief Concierge at [Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi](https://www.fourseasons.com/otemachi/) (where guests will be staying in the city), puts it, “While \[Tokyo\] is often celebrated for its energy and innovation, traditions remain deeply woven into everyday life.” He recommends balancing trips to Shibuya or Shinjuku with early morning visits to Toyosu Fish Market and the sumo stables as “an opportunity to slow down, connect with the local culture in a meaningful way, and \[experience\] the contrast that makes Tokyo so fascinating.”

Cuts of the freshest tuna for auction at Toyosu Fish Market

While the Toyosu Fish Market itself opened in 2018, replacing the historic Tsukiji market, mornings here carry on a tradition that stretches 400 years back to the Edo period. Then, tuna was sold in the shadow of Edo Castle each morning. Today, the city’s top chefs descend on the floor of the market for the Toyosu tuna auction, jockeying for the day’s best cuts.

Guests of Four Seasons get a front-row seat to the fast-paced auction with a private tour of Toyosu Fish Market—one of the largest fish markets in the world—that is well worth the 4:00 a.m. wake-up call. The experience includes exclusive access to areas of the market few visitors ever see, including 1F: the sanctum within the market where sushi masters make their first and finest selections. While there, they’ll watch as the day’s best tuna is bought, and later, they’ll get to learn the art of sushi making alongside master sushi chefs.

Morning practice at Tokyo’s sumo stables

An invitation to morning practice at one of Tokyo’s premier sumo stables is another experience that connects Four Seasons guests to the city’s history. In the stable, each day unfolds as it has for centuries. The sport was first professionalized by Tokyo’s leaders during the Edo period, when proceeds of tournaments were used to raise funds to construct the shrines and build infrastructure. (Some of which guests will get a closer look at on a private tour of the city following the stable visit.)