JAPAN - Spring in Slow Motion
Japan in spring is more than cherry blossoms - it's quiet rituals, timeless homes, and moments that teach you to notice what truly matters.
Japan, Between Tradition and Breath
You think you know Japan. The temples, the gardens, the trains that run on time, the manga (comics) that's travelled further than most travellers. Stay a little longer and another Japan appears. The one where a tea master shows you how to pour water at exactly the right temperature, and a family in a 100-year-old machiya (traditional wooden townhouse) keeps their house standing because the land, the light, and the neighbourhood hold them
In Kyoto, lanterns glow in narrow alleys and cherry blossoms turn every street into a watercolour. A shrine keeper tells you why the vermillion gates face east, and you understand that nothing here is accidental.
Head towards the mountains and the rhythm changes. Bamboo sways in Arashiyama, deer wander freely in Nara's sacred forests, and you reach villages where only the sound of water and wind break the silence.
That's the Japan we travel for. Not the one that performs for visitors, but the one you discover when you stay long enough to notice.
Signature Experiences
Cherry Blossoms at Dawn in Maruyama Park
Walk through Kyoto's most sacred blossom garden as the city wakes. Petals drift past stone lanterns, and for a moment, the park feels like yours alone.
Tea Ceremony with a Master
Sit in a wooden house that's watched over centuries. Learn why each movement matters, why silence is part of the ritual, why a single cup of tea can be a meditation.
Arashiyama's Bamboo Forest at Sunrise
A quiet walk through rustling green, where light filters through stalks and the world feels ancient and immediate at once.
Onsen in Hakone
Soak in mineral-rich thermal pools (hot springs) framed by cherry trees and mountain air. Kaiseki (multi-course Japanese haute cuisine) dinners, soft nights, the kind of slowness that heals.
Nara's Sacred Deer Park
Wander freely among deer that bow for treats, beneath towering Buddha statues and forested temples wrapped in blossoms.
The Philosopher's Path
A canal-side walk through Kyoto lined with cherry trees and temples. The kind of beauty that makes you forget to check the time.
Our first Japan journey launches March 30, 2025. Ten nights moving slowly through cherry blossom season, not chasing blooms, but understanding their fleeting beauty. Matcha ceremonies in Kyoto, a ryokan stay, the Philosopher's Path at dawn. Small group, thoughtfully paced.
When to Visit
Japan
Spring: March to May
Cherry blossom season. Mild weather, gardens in full bloom, temples glowing under pink canopies. Ideal for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) picnics and traditional festivals.
Summer: June to August
Warm, humid, alive with festivals and fireworks. Mountain retreats and coastal escapes offer cool refuge.
Autumn: September to November
Crisp air, golden light, maple leaves turning crimson. Perfect for temple walks, mountain hikes, and quiet contemplation.
Winter: December to February
Quiet temples, snow-dusted mountains, hot springs, and the intimacy of smaller crowds. Ideal for onsen retreats and winter illuminations.
A journey shaped around you
Whether you are drawn to ancient sites, local flavours, or landscapes off the usual route, we craft journeys that match how you want to travel, not how everyone else does.
An eight-day family journey through Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, blending culture and nature at a gentle pace designed for shared discovery without rushing and with elegance
An eight-day journey through Shikoku and Naoshima, blending contemporary art, pilgrimage routes, river valleys, living crafts, and refined architecture which is designed for repeat visitors seeking Japan beyond the Golden Route.
A ten-day journey through Japan’s spring centres: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka. Expect a measured pace with a mix of guided days and open evenings.
Why Travel the Unhotel Way?
Because travel should feel personal, not prescribed.
Crafted, Not Packaged
No fixed routes. No rushed days. We build each journey from scratch around your pace, your curiosities, and the kind of comfort you actually enjoy.
Local, Not Performative
We work with people who live the place, not just sell it. The best meals, stories, and small moments rarely sit on a brochure.
Calm, End-to End Planning
Behind an easy day is deep research and trusted partners. We handle the moving parts, so you stay present and travel without friction.
Our Gallery
Real experiences, real places - captured along the journey.
What Our Clients Say
Journeys remembered not in miles, but in moments.
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