Arrive into New Chitose Airport (Sapporo) and transfer privately to Niseko, approximately two hours by road through Hokkaido’s winter landscape. Check in at Higashiyama Niseko Village, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, positioned at the base of the resort with direct ski-in access. The remainder of the day is unstructured for settling in and recovery.

Spending at least five days in Niseko allows conditions to work in your favour. Overnight accumulation, wind direction and visibility influence where the best snow will hold. Your private guide studies those patterns each morning and adjusts accordingly, moving between Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village and Annupuri to access the strongest terrain available on any given day.

Some days begin early to take advantage of fresh snow. Others unfold more gradually, allowing light to improve or legs to recover after deep powder. The emphasis is on accessing the right terrain at the right time, whether that means lift-accessed lines, protected tree skiing or carefully selected side-country routes.

Afternoons and evenings are built for recovery. Onsen bathing either onsite at Higashiyama or at other local hot springs becomes part of the daily cycle, alongside massage and unhurried downtime. Dining reflects Hokkaido in winter, from crab and uni to regional dairy and long-standing local kitchens.

Your time in Niseko is shaped around prevailing conditions and personal preference. While skiing is a primary focus of the region, the Hokkaido chapter can be refined to prioritise wellness, dining and winter landscapes beyond the slopes.

Depart Niseko mid-morning with a private transfer to New Chitose Airport for your flight south to Tokyo, continuing by car to Hakone. The journey spans most of the day and is coordinated end-to-end. Arrival at Gora Kadan is timed for check-in and orientation, before settling into ryokan life.

Hakone is a deliberate pause in the journey. This full day at the ryokan is structured around recovery rather than activity. Morning bathing gives way to rest, followed by further immersion in mineral hot springs. Time is left open. Meals are served in-suite as multi-course kaiseki. The focus is physical restoration and mental stillness, allowing you to arrive in Tokyo recalibrated rather than depleted.

After breakfast in Hakone, depart mid-morning for Tokyo by private transfer. Arrive in Otemachi where Aman Tokyo occupies the top floors of the Otemachi Tower. The afternoon is kept light, allowing time to settle into the suite and recalibrate before the city begins in earnest.

Today is shaped around what interests you most. Accompanied by a private guide, the day is planned in advance and adjusted as it unfolds, whether your focus is food, architecture, contemporary art, history, design or technology. Time is concentrated within a small number of neighbourhoods, allowing for specialist introductions where appropriate and space to linger. Lunch is arranged to suit the day’s direction.

The day is at leisure. Spend the morning enjoying Aman Tokyo’s 30-metre indoor pool or its expansive spa overlooking the city. In the evening, a private omakase reservation awaits at one of Tokyo’s most respected counters, secured in advance. The schedule is kept light to give the meal the attention it deserves.

Your final full day in Tokyo is deliberately open, but not incidental. It provides space to deepen an interest uncovered earlier in the week or to pursue something more specific: a private museum visit outside public hours, time with a specialist guide in architecture or craft, or a second counter reservation secured in advance. The day concludes with tomorrow’s departure in mind, ensuring the journey closes with clarity rather than compression.

After breakfast at Aman Tokyo, your private driver will transfer you to Narita or Haneda Airport for your onward flight, concluding the journey.