Trip Overview & Itinerary

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 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

DAY 9: TOKYO


Our Accommodations

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

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

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

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