Day two then begins with a transfer to Shin-Osaka Station where you will board the Bullet Train to Himeji in First Class. While here, visit the elegant Himeji Castle, Japan’s most famous white castle. Then take a peaceful walk through Kokoen Garden. Later, take the ferry onward to Shodoshima Island, an island in the Seto Inland Sea.

On day three, enjoy a full day of exploring the island with your private English speaking guide. The island's highlights include soy sauce production, mountain scenery, and coastal views. Therefore, you will visit a traditional soy sauce factory to witness age-old fermentation methods.

Also take a ride on the Kankakei Gorge Cable Car for sweeping views across the island. Drive along Angel Road, and wander the rice terraces of Nakayama Senmaida. Finally, stroll through Meiro no Machi, the charming “Maze Town.”

You will even enjoy a special dinner highlighting Shodoshima’s renowned olive-fed Wagyu beef, a regional specialty.

Next, continue your Seto Inland Sea Japan Private Tour on Naoshima Island. But first, take the ferry from Shodoshima to Teshima for a day trip to the Teshima Museum. Pair this poetic space shaped by nature and light with the colorful Teshima Yokoo House. Then, take the ferry to Naoshima, the Seto Inland Sea’s most celebrated art island.

Upon arrival, meet your guide for a private visit to the Chichu Art Museum, designed by architect Tadao Ando. Watch the sunset through its iconic Open Sky installation before checking in at Benesse House, a premier Naoshima Island hotel. Indeed, it serves as the answer to anyone wondering where to stay on Naoshima Island.

The next day, your trip to Japan allows you to explore Naoshima’s art scene. Visit the Benesse House Museum, where contemporary art meets sea views. In addition, explore Ando Tadao House to learn more about the architect’s influence on the islands.

Wander the Art House Project in Honmura, where abandoned homes have been transformed into site-specific installations. Finally, visit the Lee Ufan Museum, a serene collaboration between the artist and Tadao Ando. 

Your Seto Inland Sea journey then continues in Kurashiki. Along the way, stop in Okayama for a tour of Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle. You will eventually travel to the charming Ryokan Kurashiki, which offers a peaceful retreat amid the hot springs.

Your guide then meets you for a full-day Kurashiki tour. Stroll the Bikan Historical Quarter, known for its white-walled merchant houses and willow-lined canal. As part of the tour, you will also enjoy a peaceful canal cruise and visit the Ohara Museum, Japan’s oldest museum of Western art.

Finally, participate in a hands-on workshop to learn traditional Japanese Bizenyaki pottery, glassmaking, or another traditional craft tailored to your interests. You will of course enjoy plenty of time to explore Kurashiki’s atmospheric streets at leisure.

Finally, your Japan private tour concludes in Kobe. As such, begin your Kobe tour with a visit to a Kobe beef farm. Also stop a traditional sake brewery in the famed Nada district and a master craftsman’s workshop in Miki. Here you can participate in a Japanese knife-making experience--a favorite experience in this region.

Traveling to Japan should always include a stop at Yodoko Geihinkan, a summer villa designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Stroll the historic Kitanocho district, once home to foreign merchants and diplomats. And explore Ikuta Jinja Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines. Enjoy free time in the afternoon for shopping or additional sightseeing before returning to your hotel for your final night in Japan.

You will eventually transfer to Kansai Airport or board the Bullet Train to Tokyo for your international departure.