Mount Fuji rising behind the red Chureito Pagoda above a Japanese town

Japan · Custom Vacations

Luxury Japan Travel & Custom Vacations

Neon Tokyo and timeless Kyoto, Mount Fuji, hot-spring ryokans and some of the best food on earth, planned end to end by our Japan specialists, from bullet-train seats to luggage sent ahead to your next hotel.

  • 2 hrs 15 Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train
  • Late Mar cherry blossom season
  • No tipping, ever

Hassle-Free Dream Travel!

Google ★★★★★ 5.0 · 601 reviews
Stewart Logan
★★★★★
Mikaila from The Travel Byrds put together a fantastic trip for us to Vancouver. Everything was arranged to fit our preferences including experiences I would never have known how to navigate myself. What a great way to travel, no stress, all fun — because a professional does the hard part for you.
Karen Terry
★★★★★
Amazing family vacation to Italy * can't wait to go back!
Brandie Penrose
★★★★★
We used CeCe as our travel advisor for our European trip, and she was amazing! She was able to work with a very tight deadline, listened to all of the things we asked for, and executed the trip perfectly. It was exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommend her services for anyone looking to plan a trip!
Loida Martinez
★★★★★
I cannot speak highly enough about my experience with Christina Gaspari and The Travel Byrds! She made sure to ask plenty of questions at the beginning, kept in touch while planning to make sure the things she was going to book for us were what we wanted, and made sure we had all info we might need and more before our trip. The trip itself was incredible thanks to her! Not having to worry about anything and having a full itinerary ready full of amazing experiences and even relax time accounted for was wonderful! She really put in so much work for our trip which was to multiple countries! Thanks Christina! <3
Steven Alsip
★★★★★
We have traveled with Travel Byrds 5 times and we love their service, last trip to Costa Rica was amazing. Our every concern was addressed/ all needs were met. Our agent's advice and expertise are much appreciated and we will not travel again without them!
Stephanie Fitzgerald
★★★★★
Paige planned my week-long trip to Greece. From my very first call with her to discuss my vacation “must-haves”, I was impressed with both her knowledge and her enthusiasm. She listened to my wants, made suggestions based on our discussion and then perfectly planned my trip… from the islands we visited to the hotels to the excursions. As my trip got closer, she brought in another team member to do any final bookings and modifications. It was so reassuring to know that she and her team had everything covered. I worried about NOTHING. I cannot recommend her enough.
Alexa johnson
★★★★★
If I could give Sylvie more than 5 stars, I would! Planning our honeymoon to Paros, Greece and Rome and Florence, Italy felt a little overwhelming at first, but Sylvie made the entire process so easy and stress-free. She truly thought of every single detail, and I honestly couldn’t have dreamed up a better trip or a more perfect way to start our marriage. Every hotel, transfer, flight, and excursion was seamless. On top of that, the travel app she created for us was incredible. It had every piece of information we could possibly need all in one place, so even traveling somewhere completely new felt easy and organized. We never had to wonder what was next or worry about missing anything because she had already thought of it. Not only is Sylvie incredibly organized and knowledgeable, but she genuinely cares about creating an unforgettable experience for her clients. Our honeymoon exceeded every expectation, and we made memories we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives. I cannot recommend Sylvie enough. If you’re thinking about booking a trip, do yourself a favor and let her handle it. It was hands down one of the best decisions we made, and we’re already looking forward to planning our next adventure with her!
Todd Brydges
★★★★★
Our trip to the Rockies and National Parks was the second adventure Sylvie planned for us, and once again she knocked it out of the PARK! 🙂 Her recommendations and family excursions were spot-on and perfectly matched our interests and family dynamic. She handled all the details, taking the stress and anxiety out of the planning process. We highly recommend reaching out to Sylvie for your next trip—she’ll make sure you have an amazing experience.
Stewart Logan
★★★★★
Mikaila from The Travel Byrds put together a fantastic trip for us to Vancouver. Everything was arranged to fit our preferences including experiences I would never have known how to navigate myself. What a great way to travel, no stress, all fun — because a professional does the hard part for you.
Karen Terry
★★★★★
Amazing family vacation to Italy * can't wait to go back!
Brandie Penrose
★★★★★
We used CeCe as our travel advisor for our European trip, and she was amazing! She was able to work with a very tight deadline, listened to all of the things we asked for, and executed the trip perfectly. It was exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommend her services for anyone looking to plan a trip!
Loida Martinez
★★★★★
I cannot speak highly enough about my experience with Christina Gaspari and The Travel Byrds! She made sure to ask plenty of questions at the beginning, kept in touch while planning to make sure the things she was going to book for us were what we wanted, and made sure we had all info we might need and more before our trip. The trip itself was incredible thanks to her! Not having to worry about anything and having a full itinerary ready full of amazing experiences and even relax time accounted for was wonderful! She really put in so much work for our trip which was to multiple countries! Thanks Christina! <3
Steven Alsip
★★★★★
We have traveled with Travel Byrds 5 times and we love their service, last trip to Costa Rica was amazing. Our every concern was addressed/ all needs were met. Our agent's advice and expertise are much appreciated and we will not travel again without them!
Stephanie Fitzgerald
★★★★★
Paige planned my week-long trip to Greece. From my very first call with her to discuss my vacation “must-haves”, I was impressed with both her knowledge and her enthusiasm. She listened to my wants, made suggestions based on our discussion and then perfectly planned my trip… from the islands we visited to the hotels to the excursions. As my trip got closer, she brought in another team member to do any final bookings and modifications. It was so reassuring to know that she and her team had everything covered. I worried about NOTHING. I cannot recommend her enough.
Alexa johnson
★★★★★
If I could give Sylvie more than 5 stars, I would! Planning our honeymoon to Paros, Greece and Rome and Florence, Italy felt a little overwhelming at first, but Sylvie made the entire process so easy and stress-free. She truly thought of every single detail, and I honestly couldn’t have dreamed up a better trip or a more perfect way to start our marriage. Every hotel, transfer, flight, and excursion was seamless. On top of that, the travel app she created for us was incredible. It had every piece of information we could possibly need all in one place, so even traveling somewhere completely new felt easy and organized. We never had to wonder what was next or worry about missing anything because she had already thought of it. Not only is Sylvie incredibly organized and knowledgeable, but she genuinely cares about creating an unforgettable experience for her clients. Our honeymoon exceeded every expectation, and we made memories we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives. I cannot recommend Sylvie enough. If you’re thinking about booking a trip, do yourself a favor and let her handle it. It was hands down one of the best decisions we made, and we’re already looking forward to planning our next adventure with her!
Todd Brydges
★★★★★
Our trip to the Rockies and National Parks was the second adventure Sylvie planned for us, and once again she knocked it out of the PARK! 🙂 Her recommendations and family excursions were spot-on and perfectly matched our interests and family dynamic. She handled all the details, taking the stress and anxiety out of the planning process. We highly recommend reaching out to Sylvie for your next trip—she’ll make sure you have an amazing experience.

Your first trip, perfected

Japan’s Golden Route

Most first visits follow the classic route from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. Here’s how we pace it so it feels effortless.

Days 1–4

Tokyo

Shibuya and Shinjuku, Meiji Shrine, Asakusa and a day trip to Kamakura or Nikko.

Days 5–6

Hakone & Mount Fuji

Lake Ashi, the Hakone ropeway and a night in a hot-spring ryokan with views of Fuji on clear days.

Days 7–10

Kyoto

Fushimi Inari, the Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama’s bamboo and an evening in Gion.

Day 11

Nara

Friendly deer and the giant bronze Buddha of Todai-ji, an easy day from Kyoto or Osaka.

Days 12–13

Osaka

Street food in Dotonbori, Osaka Castle and a final night out in Japan’s kitchen.

Add on

Hiroshima & Miyajima

The Peace Memorial and the “floating” torii of Itsukushima Shrine, by bullet train.

Prefer the snow, the islands or the countryside? We’ll design the route around you.

Design My Japan Route

Why Japan

Need a reason to experience Japan?

Futuristic cities, ancient temples, mountain hot springs and unforgettable food, all connected by the world’s best trains. Tap through to see what’s waiting for you.

Neon signs glowing above a busy Tokyo street at night

The world’s most exciting city

Tokyo is a city of neighborhoods: the neon of Shinjuku, the fashion of Harajuku, the old temples of Asakusa and the calm of the Imperial Palace gardens.

It’s also one of the world’s great food cities, from tiny counter bars to some of the highest concentrations of Michelin stars anywhere.

  • Private guides for each neighborhood
  • Sushi, ramen and izakaya experiences
  • Easy day trips to Kamakura, Hakone and Nikko
The Yasaka Pagoda rising above Kyoto’s Higashiyama rooftops at sunset

A thousand years of tradition

Kyoto was Japan’s imperial capital for more than a thousand years. It has around 1,600 temples, plus shrines, gardens and wooden teahouse streets.

Walk through the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari, see the Golden Pavilion and spot a geiko or maiko in the lanes of Gion at dusk.

  • Early-morning visits before the crowds
  • Tea ceremony and kaiseki dining
  • Gion and Higashiyama by lantern light
A bullet train passing a golden field with snow-capped Mount Fuji behind

Japan’s sacred mountain

At 3,776 m, Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site. Some of the best views come from the Fuji Five Lakes and from Hakone.

Hakone pairs mountain scenery with volcanic valleys, art museums and some of Japan’s most beautiful ryokans.

  • Lake Ashi cruise and Hakone ropeway
  • Ryokan stays with private hot-spring baths
  • Clear-day views of Fuji, best in winter
A bowl of ramen with egg, pork and spring onions

Eat your way across Japan

Japanese food is far more than sushi. Try ramen in Tokyo, kaiseki in Kyoto, street food in Osaka and wagyu wherever you can.

We book the hard-to-get counters and pair them with food tours, sake tastings and cooking classes.

  • Private food tours with local guides
  • Hard-to-book sushi and kaiseki counters
  • Sake and whisky tastings
A traditional ryokan room with tatami floor opening onto autumn trees

The art of Japanese hospitality

A night in a ryokan, a traditional inn, is one of Japan’s great experiences: tatami rooms, yukata robes, multi-course dinners and hot-spring baths.

We’ll choose ryokans with private open-air baths and English-speaking staff, so you can relax completely.

  • Ryokans with private onsen
  • Seasonal kaiseki dinners
  • Hakone, Kyoto and the Japanese Alps

Exceptional places to stay

Japan’s Most Memorable Hotels & Ryokans

From sky-high Tokyo hotels to riverside ryokans in Kyoto, these are the kinds of places we love to build a Japan journey around.

Tokyo

Skyline sanctuaries

Aman Tokyo and The Peninsula Tokyo pair serene rooms with views over the city and the Imperial Palace gardens.

Tokyo

A ryokan in the city

Hoshinoya Tokyo brings the calm of a traditional inn, including a hot-spring bath, to the heart of the financial district.

Kyoto

By the river

The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto sits on the Kamo River, while Hoshinoya Kyoto in Arashiyama is reached by private boat.

Kyoto

Forest calm

Aman Kyoto hides in a secret garden at the foot of the northern mountains, close to the Golden Pavilion.

Hakone

Classic ryokan

Gora Kadan, once an imperial family retreat, is one of Japan’s most celebrated hot-spring ryokans.

Hokkaido

Powder snow luxury

Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono offers ski-in, ski-out access to some of the world’s best powder snow.

We’ll match each stay to your style, and secure the room upgrades and perks our partners offer.

Plan My Stays

Why book with us

Benefits of using a Travel Agent

Expert Planning

Personalized recommendations

Insider Knowledge

Expert advice from people who’ve actually been there.

Killer Perks

Hotel upgrades, spa credits, and more – we got you.

The Travel Byrds app

Tech that Makes Life Easy!

With our travel agency, you don’t need to search your inbox to find the details of your trip. All your travel reservations, tickets and activities are all in The Travel Byrds app – along with a direct chat with your travel agent!

Download on the App Store
Mobile phone displaying The Travel Byrds app with trip details

Work with One of Our Travel Experts

The average person takes over 11 hours researching their vacation. Take that time back and let us handle the nitty gritty of reading reviews, asking questions, comparing hotels and more.

Mount Fuji rising behind the red Chureito Pagoda

After a true deep dive into your requests, your travel agent will come back with a variety of suggested hotels, activities, and surprise experiences. You tell us which ones fit you best and we'll work through the logistics!

The vermilion gate of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto

You'll be equipped with an itinerary complete with the details of your trip. If anything happens along the way, you can relax knowing your travel agent will take care of everything!

The vermilion torii of Itsukushima Shrine standing in the water at Miyajima

Your Dream Japan Getaway

Japan is a feast of culture, scenery and food. Tell us about the trip you’re dreaming of, and one of our Japan specialists will start designing it with you.

  • A tailor-made itinerary, designed around you
  • Bullet trains, guides and luggage forwarding handled
  • Hand-picked hotels and ryokans with exclusive perks

Start Planning Your Tailor-Made Trip by Contacting One of Our Japan Specialists

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