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I fell in love with Japanese cuisine when I was nine years old. My dad was working a lot in Japan, and he took me to a sushi bar in Los Angeles in the 1980s. The experience sparked a lifelong obsession with Japanese cuisine and culture.
My passion for the culture led me to Japanese culinary school in L.A. and then to an apprenticeship in Japan. My wife, Katina, and I moved our entire family—two young daughters and six suitcases—to the rural island of Hokkaido to work and study. We moved back to the States in 2012, leased a five-acre farm in Sonoma County, and started designing a restaurant and inn in downtown Healdsburg.
Now we have the opportunity to share our Japan with you. Together, we’ll explore Japan’s history, design, architecture, ceramics—all shown in ways that reveal how these different threads are connected. We'll experience Japanese cuisine and culture, dine at family homes and in some of Japan’s greatest Michelin-star restaurants. We're so honored that you've decided to take this journey with us.
-Kyle & Katina Connaughton
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day-by-Day Itinerary
DAY 1: OSAKA
Arrivals throughout day on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in Oasaka, Japan
Car service from KIX airport to hotel (see Arrival & Departure)
Meet in hotel lobby at 6:45pm
Private dinner at Michelin star Noguchi Taro
Lodging: Conrad Osaka
DAY 2: OSAKA
Tea ceremony at Sen no Rikyū Museum
Knife-making at workshop of Tadashi Enonami
Sake brewery visit and tasting
Dinner at farm-to-table Mikune-Teifamr
Lodging: Conrad Osaka
DAY 3: OSAKA > KYOTO
Akashi Bay fish market & auction
Transfer to Kyoto
Dinner at three Michelin star Kikunoi
Evening walk through Kyoto's Gion temple district
Lodging: Hiiragiya Ryokan in Kyoto
DAY 4: KYOTO
Nanzen-ji Temple walk with Chef Yoshihiro Takahashi of Hyotei
Robert Yellin Gallery visit
Tenkyu-in temple lunch
Dinner at three Michelin star Hyotei
Lodging: Hiiragiya Ryokan in Kyoto
DAY 5: KYOTO
Ohara market tour with Chef Jacob Kear of Lurra
Foraging lunch at two Michelin star Miyamasou
Afternoon to explore Kyoto on own
Dinner at Michelin star Lurra
Lodging: Hiiragiya Ryokan in Kyoto
DAY 6: KYOTO > TOKYO
Nagatani-en pottery workshop visit
Private lunch with Nagatani family
Bullet train to Tokyo
Private dinner at members-only Wagyu Mafia
Lodging: Aman Tokyo
DAY 7: TOKYO
Morning on own
Sushi lunch at Hakkoku with Chef Hiroyuki Sato
Optional shopping in Kappabashi and Akomeya
Dinner at two Michelin star DEN
Lodging: Aman Tokyo
DAY 8: TOKYO
Private access at Toyosu Fish Market
Lunch at Yakumosaryo
Afternoon to shop or explore
Farewell izakaya dinner at Tama
Cocktails and karaoke
Lodging: Aman Tokyo
Our Accommodations
Our Accommodations
CONRAD OSAKA
CONRAD OSAKA
3 Chome-2-4 Nakanoshima, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0005, Japan
Tel. +81 6-6222-0111
This is one of the newer luxury hotels in Osaka, on par with the most premium hotels in the world. It sits atop a tall tower on Nakanoshima island in the heart of the city; on arrival, exiting the elevators at the 40th-floor lobby, you're greeted by huge contemporary art installations and sweeping views across the city. The service and amenities are impeccable, from the indoor pool to the ultramodern spa.
HIIRAGIYA RYOKAN
HIIRAGIYA RYOKAN
604-8094 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward
Tel. +81 75-221-1136
Founded six generations ago in 1811, this family-run ryokan channels centuries of art and tradition into flawless luxury. Each room follows its own motif and deft nuances of craftsmanship tie it all together—reed ceilings, hand-carved transoms and Koyamaki (Japanese Umbrella pine) bath suites all seem to naturally drift toward the inn’s breathtaking garden. This is a home away from home for artists of great renown and members of the Imperial Family.
AMAN TOKYO
AMAN TOKYO
The Otemachi Tower, 1 Chome-5-6 Ōtemachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
Tel. +81 3-5224-3333
It's one of Japan's iconic luxury properties, an urban sanctuary drawing design inspiration from traditional Japanese residences. The elegant rooms have views over the Imperial Palace Gardens and (on clear days) Mt Fuji on the horizon. It's a serene place to end our trip, with a Zen calm that captures your heart and soothes your spirit.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions & Exclusions
INCLUSIONS
Paragon experiences are fully curated by our exceptional travel teams, and include all of the details to ensure a smooth experience on the ground. Included are luxury boutique accommodations, private dining experiences and delicious local food and drink, private transport between destinations, expert local guides, and so much more. Here’s what’s included:
Eight nights at exclusive five-star accommodations including some of Japan’s top properties
Exclusive VIP access, culinary experiences and tastings
Private access with local guides and cultural experts
Private travel and transportation from beginning to end
Daily breakfasts, most lunches and dinners including Michelin-star dining at some of Japan’s most iconic kitchens
Airport transfers
All entrance fees
Gratuities for local guides
EXCLUSIONS
International roundtrip airfare to Japan
Travel insurance (see Essential Info A to Z)
Activities not included in the trip itinerary
Hotel incidentals including room service, laundry service and hotel bar tabs
Food and beverages not included in itinerary
Gratuity for your Paragon trip leader
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