Highlights for bikers include cycling among fishing villages in the remote Noto Peninsula and along the Ohashi suspension bridges over the Seto Inland Sea. For hikers, the Nakaseno or Kumono Kodo multi-day trails are iconic journeys. For more urban but no less adventurous fare, in Tokyo, you can kayak the canals of Tokyo, immerse yourself in three-dimensional art at Team Labs, dine with a geisha, join an ancient Taiko drumming workshop, take in world-class art at the Hakone Open Air Museum or boat on Lake Ashi.

Aman Tokyo, from the heights of the Otemachi Tower

Many of Tokyo’s top places to stay are located close to the Imperial Gardens: The Four Seasons Otemachi is among the newest high-end additions, joining the Aman, Peninsula and Imperial hotels.

Tranquil pond at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

In Kyoto, the larger top-notch Park Hyatt and Four Seasons are contrasted by the more intimate Genji Boutique Hotel and luxe but authentic ryokans. The islands of the Seto Inland Sea are best explored aboard the luxury yacht Guntu. For a more traditional experience, stay in a ryokan on the island of Miyajima, celebrated for its floating Torii gate and serene Daisho-in temple.

Guntu hotel floating on the Seto Inland Sea