JAPAN The Pursuit of Beauty: Gardens, Temples and Cutting-edge Architecture in Japan

12 days | £9195 per person | 15 - 26 November 2026

The Pursuit of Beauty: Gardens, Temples and Cutting-edge Architecture in Japan

Japan is a country of exhilarating contrasts, where hyper-pop culture abuts ancient tradition, a country at the cutting edge of technology with a great admiration for traditional craftsmanship, a nation with the deepest reverence for nature that has built some of the world’s most futuristic cities. For many Western travellers, it beckons inexorably and yet it remains a mystery. Perhaps this can be explained by the fundamental difference between Western and Japanese pursuits of beauty; where the West is perhaps preoccupied with the final product, the Japanese ideal concerns itself far more with the process, to the extent that aesthetics are an integral part of daily life.

The theme of our tour will take as its starting point this devotional approach to the pursuit of beauty. In gardens from Nara to Tokyo we shall see how some 1,600 years of gardening tradition has evolved to highlight and express nature through the seasons in a deeply symbolic and almost painterly way. We will also encounter a kaleidoscope of architectural styles, from a 7^th-century timbered temple, to the contemporary ingenuity of I.M. Pei’s Miho Museum. There will, of course, be ample opportunity to sample Japan’s exquisite cuisine, an art form in its own right. This new tour is an unmissable chance to journey deep into the heart of a culture that can, at times, seem dauntingly different. In the company of an expert guide and tour manager, allow Art Pursuits to reveal the magic and beauty of this captivating country.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Depart London. Nonstop flight to Tokyo.

Day 2

Flight to Osaka. Transfer by private coach to Nara, Japan’s ancient capital. Time for a traditional Shokado Bento Lunch before checking in to the Marriott Nara, our base for the next three nights. Later we visit Nara Park, with its free-roaming deer, to visit the world’s largest and most magnificent surviving wooden structure, the 7^th century temple of Tōdai-ji with its great bronze Buddha effigy. Return to the hotel for our first group dinner.

Day 3

Short journey by private coach to Hōryū-ji Temple. Built in the early 7^th century, it is Japan’s oldest temple complex and contains some of the earliest examples of wooden buildings in the world, as well as a fine collection of artworks. After an included lunch together close to the temple, we return to Nara for a brief rest. In the afternoon, visit two important early temples in the surroundings of Nara: Tōshōdai-ji and Yakushi-ji, which is dedicated to the healing buddha, Yakushi. Depart hotel in the evening for dinner together in the market area.

Day 4

Our day begins at Shin-Yakushi-ji Temple, founded in 747 by Empress Kōmyō, to see its powerful wooden sculptures. After a coffee break, walk into the park to visit the Kasuga-Taisha Shinto Shrine. We continue our walk to the picturesque zen temple of Kaidan-In, and our first visit to a traditional garden, the exquisite and compact Yoshiki-en. After an independent lunch we view the Kōfuku-ji for its magnificent example of pagoda architecture. Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure. Final night in Nara.

Day 5

Bid farewell to Nara in the morning and transfer by private coach to the Miho Museum, a masterpiece of choreographed architecture and design by architect I.M. Pei (who also conceptualised the Louvre pyramids), to view the small but exquisite art collection. The design was inspired by the ethereal utopia described in the ancient Chinese fable Taohua Yuan Ji (The Peach Blossom Spring), written by Tao Yuanming, and a visit is certainly a breath-taking experience. After included lunch in the museum cafe, continue to the temple of Byōdō-In, set on the edge of water, to visit its impressive 11^th-century Phoenix Hall and famous Amida image. Travel on to Kyoto and check in to our hotel in the city’s heart. After some time to settle in, enjoy a twilight walk through the streets of the traditional Gion area. The rest of the evening is independent. First of four nights in Kyoto.

DAY 6

Transfer by private coach to Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion) and its justly famous ‘moon-viewing’ garden. We begin the long ‘Philosopher’s Path’ below the Eastern Hills of Kyoto, a pedestrian walk that follows a cherry-tree-lined canal, named for the 20^th-century Kyoto philosopher, Kitaro Nishida, who would walk along it on his way to university. Along the way, we will visit the temple of Hōnen-in and the important Nanzenji Temple complex, famed for its unusual aqueduct. After an included tofu lunch, continue by foot to the Chion-in temple complex. Return to the hotel where the rest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.

DAY 7

By coach to the shore of the wide Katsura river at Arashiyama – frequently drawn and painted by the Japanese masters. We will visit one of Kyoto’s most important gardens at the Temple of Tenryū-ji, which incorporates elements of distant landscape or ‘borrowed scenery’ to enhance its beauty. Afterwards, a walk in the impressive bamboo grove and, if time permits, a visit to Jojakkoji temple and garden nearby. Independent lunch and shopping time in Arashiyama. After an independent lunch, we visit gardens and some special windows in the north of the city: the garden of Daisen-in, one of the most succinct and meaningful of all Zen gardens, and the great monumental buildings of Daitoku-ji Monastery. Continue to the garden of Entsu-ji, one of Kyoto’s least known, least-visited, but simplest gardens with a particularly fine ‘borrowed’ landscape. We finish with the ‘Infinity window’ at Genkō-an, perfectly designed for quiet contemplation. In the evening, there will be a Japanese fine-dining experience at Izuyasu Ryokanin Gion.

DAY 8

After preparing luggage to be sent ahead to Tokyo, free time in central Kyoto for independent visits, shopping and exploring. For those who wish to join a curated visit, there will be the opportunity to depart the hotel early to visit the tiny and very famous Zen garden of Ryōan-ji. Reconvene in the late afternoon to travel by coach to the dramatic Tōfuku-ji monastic complex of gardens, temples and parkland. Independent evening. Last night in Kyoto.

DAY 9

Check out of our hotel after breakfast and transfer to Kyoto station where we board the Shinkansen ‘Bullet Train’ and travel east and north to the coastal city of Atami. Private transport will meet us and take us to our next state-of-the-art museum (reached by seven escalators with varying light effects and works of art): the MOA Museum of Art, with a fascinating and eclectic collection of Japanese art. Independent lunch at the museum cafe. Transfer to Okada Museum via Moto-Hakone. On the way our drive into the mountains takes us to a potentially very good viewing point for Mt. Fuji, weather permitting! Arriving in Hakone, situated in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, we will enjoy an afternoon visit to the stunning collection of the recently opened Okada Museum, where a large assortment of East Asian sculptures, paintings and ceramics make for fascinating viewing. Continue to Tokyo, arriving in the early evening, and check in to our hotel in the heart of the fashionable Ginza district. Independent dinner.

DAY 10

A first Tokyo tour, with our own vehicle, to include a whole panoply of fabulous art. Our first visit is to the Toyko National Museum, located in Ueno Park, which holds one of the best and most extensive collections of art and archaeological artefacts in Japan. Continue to view the Gallery of Horyu-ji Treasures in Yoshio Taniguchi’s serene 1999 building, which is part of the same museum. The collection consists of some 300 pieces donated to the Imperial Household in 1878 by Horyuji Temple in Nara. After an independent lunch, transfer to the Sumida Hokusai Museum, where the glorious works of Katsushika Hokusai and his disciples are exhibited within a remarkable building designed by Sejima Kazuyo. Afterwards, take in the Asakusa Shrine at Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple and the popular ‘heart’ of the city. Our day concludes at ‘team Lab Borderless’ in Koto City for a sensational and completely different experience of contemporary art in Tokyo. Independent dinner.

DAY 11

A second tour of Tokyo, this time with a focus on the western side of the city. We begin at the Meiji Jingū (National Shinto Shrine) and its surrounding park, a lush oasis of forest in the heart of Tokyo. Continue to the fashionable area of Omotesandō for window-gazing and shopping, a good chance to spot examples of Tokyo’s famed street style. Next stop is the beautiful Nezu Museum, with its private collection – a diverse selection of Japanese and Asian premodern art – and serene garden. Independent lunch at the Nezu Museum before an afternoon free for your own explorations. Meet in the evening for cocktails at the famous Imperial Hotel, followed by a delicious tempura dinner, an elegant way to mark our final evening in Japan.

DAY 12

Today we bid farewell to Japan and transfer to Tokyo Haneda Airport. Due to the early departure, a breakfast box will be provided to be eaten on the way to the airport

JW Marriott Hotel, Nara

The JW Marriott Hotel in Nara is a luxurious and elegant hotel in Nara, Japan, blending modern sophistication with traditional charm. Located near historic attractions such as Todaiji Temple and the Nara deer park, it offers spacious rooms, gourmet dining, a spa, and a fitness centre. Experience exceptional luxury and tranquillity in the heart of Nara.

Hotel Granvia, Kyoto

The Hotel Granvia is set within the contemporary Kyoto Station complex, this grand hotel features modern art and a vast selection of restaurants for guests to indulge in local delicacies. Each room includes a variety of carefully selected amenities, complimentary Wi-Fi and room service.

The Blossom Hibiya, Tokyo

The Blossom Hibiya is a modern and stylish hotel in Tokyo's fashionable Hibiya district. With chic rooms and convenient amenities, it offers a comfortable retreat near popular attractions, shopping destinations and dining options. Guests staying at The Blossom also have access to privileged views across the vibrant city of Tokyo.

Join Direct: £9195

Single Supp: £995

Deposit: £550

Departure Dates:

15 - 26 November 2026

Duration:

11 nights / 12 days

Your Holiday Includes:

Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the JW Marriott Hotel Nara
Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the Hotel Granvia Kyoto
Three nights’ bed and breakfast at The Blossom Hibiya
Private coach transfers and excursions
Four evening meals and four lunches
Guided visits to the sites and monuments listed in the programme
Services of the tour lecturer and a tour manager
Detailed programme and study notes
All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff

Tour Lecturers

Nigel McGilchrist

Living and teaching in the Mediterranean area (Italy, Turkey and Greece) for over forty years, Art Historian Nigel McGilchrist began work with the Italian Ministry of Arts in the field of wall painting conservation. He has taught for universities both in the USA and in Italy, and now lectures independently for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and for a number of other cultural organisations.. He has accompanied over eighty art and architecture tours in both Europe and Asia. With a particular interest in Buddhism and its art, and a family connection with Japan, he has taken groups to Bhutan, India, Cambodia, Thailand and Japan. He is the author of a 20-volume series of books on the art, history and architecture of the Greek Aegean Islands; and his most recently published book on Pythagoras (When the Dog speaks, the Philosopher listens) draws on the deep connections between Greek and Eastern philosophy.

Travel Information

The price does not include extras at the hotels or travel insurance.

Flights are not included for this tour, however, we are happy to assist clients with selecting flights. We can also book these on your behalf, please contact us for further information.

Please note that Art Pursuits use hotels of character featuring a variety of rooms & styles.

Stamina

Please note that some of our tours can involve a fair amount of walking, sometimes across uneven ground. Please contact us if you would like more information.