Tokyo, Mount Fuji, the waterfalls of Oirase. Japan is a land of breathtaking natural beauty, where modernity and tradition sit side by side. If you are looking for your next journey of a lifetime, discover the delights that await on our Majestic Japan luxury tour.

Majestic Japan

We invite you to take the journey of a lifetime to Japan. See the majesty, curated for you with our 11-day Majestic Japan luxury guided tour. Explore Osaka and learn the delicate art of sushi making with a masterchef in Tokyo. Admire the geishas and Buddhist temples in Kyoto. Among the waterfalls and forests of Oirase, a rare invitation from a Sake brew master will share the secrets of his trade.

Ride the Bullet Train and cruise the sublime waters of Matsushima Bay. On a poignant visit to Hiroshima, meet with a survivor of the 1945 atomic bomb that changed the course of world history. From dramatic skylines to mountain views, stay in magnificent hotels and embark on the most tantalizing culinary journey you have ever experienced.

Discover this on: Majestic Japan

Meet a Saki brewmaster in Oirase

Oirase Gorge boasts some of the most picturesque surroundings you will have the delight to ever experience. The picturesque river valley in Northern Japan runs for 14km between Yakeyama and Nenokuchi, on the shore of Towada-ko (Lake Towada). Drawing visitors from far and wide, Oirase is one of Japan’s most-revered nature havens.

With an exclusive VIP invitation, meet a master brewer and discover the magic of sake. On a special guided brewery tour, learn the history and importance of this unique drink to Japanese culture. Entwined with many of the country’s traditions and customs, sake is inherent to the Japanese way of life, from the religious rites of thousands of years ago to the dinner table today.

Pay respects in Hiroshima

The name Hiroshima holds a pivotal and harrowing place in world history. Pay a somber visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Peace Memorial Park and Museum, the only structure left standing after the first atomic bomb was dropped during World War II on August 6^th, 1945. Here you will meet with a survivor who will openly share insights into this dark chapter in world history. A privileged and poignant encounter.

The geishas of Kyoto

Often referred to as Japan’s most beautiful city, Kyoto is packed full of temples, shrines and traditional gardens. Visit in March and April and the most spectacular display of cherry blossoms will greet you. Kyoto is also world famous for its Geishas, a fine art evolved over many centuries.

Travel to Japan with Luxury Gold and enjoy a performance by a Maiko, an apprentice geisha. Highly skilled entertainers and central to Kyoto culture, geishas are specializing in classical music, dance, conversation and games. Whilst the Maiko entertains, savor traditional Kyo-Kaiseki cuisine made of seasonal ingredients.

Read more: In 2022, why do we crave the golden era of travel more than aver before?

 The delicate art of sushi in Tokyo

The world’s most populous metropolis. A city where innovation meets tradition. Tokyo is known for its temples, bustling streets and cuisine. Highlights include the Senso-ji Buddhist Temple, the oldest and most-visited temple in Japan, Nakamise Street and Kappabashi, a local back-street known as Tokyo’s foodie hub.

We invite you to join an exclusive cooking class with a sushi masterchef to learn the delicate art of sushi making. Using the highest quality fish, discover why it takes ten years to become a Master Sushi Chef. Then savor a lunch of exquisite creations.

Read more: The world’s friendliest cities

Exceptional cuisine

Prepare for a culinary journey like no other. Honed over the centuries, the preparation of Japanese food is refined and elegant. Flavours are pure and delicate, celebrating the textures and colours of seasonal produce.

Travel to Japan and discover why Osaka is known as the kitchen of Japan. Stroll along Dotonbori Street with a Local Expert. Your taste buds will come alive as you sample specialties such as Takoyaki. This local favorite is made of wheat flour-based batter and is filled with minced or diced octopus. At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Fuji, enjoy spectacular views of one of the most recognisable landmarks of Japan as you enjoy lunch made of fresh, seasonal ingredients at a local restaurant. Meet the owner of a traditional Inn in Matsushima Bay to dine on local seafood and, at a traditional teahouse, prepare the perfect cup of Matcha Green Tea.

Read more: From London to Tokyo: Where to sample the world’s best street food

Exquisite hotels

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A country famous for its architecture, stare-of-the-art technology and exceptional service, we have hand selected some of the most magnificent hotels for the ultimate in Japan luxury travel. The grand Imperial Hotel Tokyo has welcomed royalty, heads of state and celebrities for over 120 years. Stay within walking distance of Tokyo’s most iconic attractions and enjoy award-winning dining, flawless Japanese hospitality and five-star facilities. The luxurious Imperial Hotel Osaka places you along the Okawa River in the heart of vibrant Osaka, one of Japan’s best cherry-blossom-viewing locations.

More than an exceptional hotel, the Hotel Granvia Kyoto features over a thousand modern and traditional artworks by local, Kyoto-based artists. And the Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel, exclusively situated on the banks of the Oirase Gorge, provides a stunning nature retreat.

Read more: 7 ways Luxury Gold makes your travel experience completely stress free

It you are looking for the ultimate vacation, why not book a luxury escape to Japan and make Majestic Japan your next journey of a lifetime?

The exquisite Ashford Castle hotel majestically presides over a 350-acre estate in County Mayo, Ireland. Home to landscaped gardens, ancient woodland and an emerald lake, the lands are also a sanctuary for the Irish native black bee.

A key part of the hotel’s sustainability strategy, we caught up with Ashford Castle beekeeper Steve Watson Oughterard to learn more about the hives and their residents.

Ashford Castle

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Quaint in size but grand in character, the pretty village of Cong in County Mayo houses the famous Ashford Castle. Formerly home to the Guinness family, this luxury hotel boasts sumptuous rooms, antique furniture and unique historic features at every turn. Set upon an idyllic 350-acre estate, making it a dreamy location for a relaxing and picturesque retreat.

Travel with Luxury Gold and on arrival a lone piper escorts you over the drawbridge. Dine like royalty in Ashford Castle hotel’s esteemed George V Dining Room. Built specially for King George V in 1905, this room bestows a grand sense of occasion. During your stay, choose to take part in a unique falconry experience at the oldest established falconry school in Ireland. And enjoy the spa. And buy and eat honey for your breakfast.

Discover this on: Castles & Kingdoms, Ultimate Ireland

Read more: Ashford Castle: An idyllic country escape

Honey, hives and sustainability

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Ashford Castle is a Red Carnation Hotel, a family-run collection of 19 exceptional properties around the world. Unique and special, The Red Carnation Hotels share a strong commitment to sustainability. As part of the TTC Family of brands they work together with the Treadright Foundation to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®.

Seeking to minimise environmental impact, hives are installed across Red Carnation hotels. Not only preserving the precious honeybee, this contributes to the pollination of surrounding ecosystems. Each hive enriches an area of up to three miles around it, in turn dramatically reducing  food miles. The hives are part of the hotels’ commitment to using local ingredients and to preserving the environment.

The beehives of Ashford Castle are buzzing with activity. Here the bees of Ashford Castle Estate have been busy making fresh Irish honey from the nectar of Cong’s local flowers and plants. Hives of native black bees have been encouraged to make the castle grounds their home, and are taken care of by beekeeper Steve Watson Oughterard and a dedicated team.

Related content: Geneva’s Hotel d’Angleterre is a hotel committed to positive change

Meet the native Irish black bee

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“There are 100 bee species native to Ireland,” Steve explains. “Twenty-one of these are bumblebees and 78 species of solitary bees. However, there is only one Honey bee native to Ireland and that is the native Irish black bee. It is believed that the native Irish black bee was established in Ireland between 4,000 to 10,000 years ago.

“The native Irish black bee has a number of characteristics and adaptations that contribute to it being an ideal fit to its Irish environment. Firstly foraging. They will fly at temperatures as low as 5.5°C (46°F) and even in drizzle or light rain (particularly important in Ireland!). Secondly overwintering. The bees are efficient thermo-regulators and are built for effective heat retention during long winters.

“Thirdly there is thriftiness. The queen attunes her egg-laying to the weather patterns. She pauses earlier in autumn to ensure there are no unnecessary mouths to feed overwinter, so the winter cluster has plenty to survive on until the following spring. And lastly, Propolis. The native black bee is an avid producer of this dark brown, resin-like material. It is used for structural stability and protection of the colony from the elements. It also has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.”

Planting a bee paradise 

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 “In Ireland the importance of bees as pollinators of crops and native plant species cannot be overstated,” Steve tells us. “It is estimated that almost three quarters of our Irish wild plants rely on insect pollinators, of which bees are most important.

“Around Ashford Castle some of the most important forage plants for the Honey bees include dandelion early in the year, bramble and clover mid-summer and ivy in the autumn. However, a wide variety of flowers and trees in the area are foraged for their nectar and pollen. The Castle’s sustainability, conservation and re-wilding policies have contributed immensely to the success of our Honey bee hives, along with all pollinators and general biodiversity on the estate.”

Read more: The 10 most beautiful villages and small towns in Britain & Ireland

On become a beekeeper

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 “I became interested in beekeeping when I returned to Ireland after working throughout Australia for 15 years,” Steve explains.  “I took an introductory course to beekeeping and started off with two hives, which grew to five by the end of that year, 15 the following year and so on….. suffice to say I was hooked and now manage in excess of 100 hives.

“It is a challenging and particularly interesting pursuit, as every day with the bees is a learning day. Even in winter when there is no direct work with the bees, I am busy as I am currently studying for a diploma in apiculture.

“My role as beekeeper at Ashford Castle hotel is to manage the hives in our apiary throughout the year. The vast majority of my time is spent there between mid-spring and early autumn. I will typically check each hive every 7-10 days. This involves checking the queen is present and/or laying, ensuring there is adequate stores and room in each hive and looking for any evidence of disease.

“Early summer can be particularly busy with swarm control measures. Usually, the honey crop is taken off towards the end of August and I take it back to my purpose-built honey room for extraction and bottling. I don’t remove all the honey and leave the bees with adequate stores for the winter; however, they will also continue to store ivy honey up until November.”

The secret to delicious Ashford honey?

@ashfordcastle

“There is no secret to the delicious Ashford honey” Steve tells us. “It is 100% from the flowers and trees in the area. I do not feed the bees any sugar syrup at any point in the year. I also practice a natural method of beekeeping where I do not treat with any chemicals for disease, instead use integrated pest management, re-queening and brood break techniques amongst others.”

Related content: The Roaming Boomers on traveling to Ireland with Luxury Gold

Ensuring the future of the native Irish black bee

@ashfordcastle

“Preservation of our native Irish black bee is of great importance,” Steve emphasizes. “Aside from its significance as a pollinator, it is our only native Honey bee and uniquely adapted to our climate and conditions. It is threatened by hybridization with imported strains of non-native Honey bee, which also carries the risk of introducing foreign pathogens and parasites that could devastate our honey bee (and other bee) populations.”

How you can help

“One third of our bee species are threatened with extinction from Ireland,” Ashford Castle beekeeper Steve explains. “This is due to reduction in the number of trees, flowers and safe nesting sites in our landscapes.

“As a beekeeper, however, I like to keep it simple. Stop using pesticides and herbicides, sow more native plant species in your garden and allow some areas of garden to re-wild. In the end, I believe, measures that benefit Honey bees tend to benefit pollinators in general and so we all win.”

Related content: How your travels with Luxury Gold help conserve nature for future generations

Spend two nights at Ashford Castle on our Castles & Kingdoms and Ultimate Ireland luxury guided tours. Taste the delicious honey for yourselves and maybe purchase some to take home as a treat for family and friends. And know through your visit that you are helping preserve nature for future generations.

Crystal waters, sumptuous cuisine and exquisite islands, there are so many reasons to visit Croatia. But don’t just take our word for it, hear what one of our expert Travel Concierges has to say.

We caught up with Sharon who specializes in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. With a deep love and knowledge of Croatia, she shares her wisdom here for Luxury Gold guests.

Visit Croatia and revel in natural beauty on our Croatia & The Dalmatian Coast luxury guided tour. Enjoy Michelin-starred dining, exquisite hotels and VIP after-hours access to the Museum of Apoxyomenos. The ultimate luxury Croatia travel experience, board a week-long cruise along the Dalmatian Coast, discover the cities of Zadar and Dubrovnik and explore the stunning Plitvice Lakes National Park.

 Sharon’s love for Croatia

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Originally from New Zealand, Sharon came over to Europe to work as a tour leader and planned to stay for two years. 27 years later she is still in Europe, a specialist in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and in love with Croatia. Her love affair with the country began in 2000 when she first visited. She tells us: “Croatia quickly became one of my favorite destinations, it knocked Italy off the top spot!”

Famed as having the most beautiful shoreline in Europe, Sharon agrees this is an apt accolade. “You have the Adriatic Sea where the water is stunning. It is crystal clear and wonderful for swimming. Then the geography is fascinating with the mountains in the background and the villages and vineyards scattered all over. It is truly a very beautiful destination.”

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Sensational cuisine

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“If you ask me my favorite Croatian foods, the immediate thing that comes to mind for me is octopus salad, oysters and crisp white wine. These are my instant go to,” Sharon tells us with a smile. “When it comes to cuisine, Croatia is like Italy in a lot of ways, in that it is very regional. So in the north, we eat very different things to what we do on the coast.

“In the north they do an amazing meat under the bell,” she says, describing Peka, a traditional Croatian method of preparing food. Here meat is roasted over open flames using a clay or wrought-iron baking vessel, a must-try when you visit Croatia. “It is really juicy and tender and accompanied by roasted vegetables, cooked in the juices for a unique taste.

“In the south it is all about delicious seafood. And some of the best olive oil I’ve ever tasted in Europe. You can also enjoy great wines. The thing about Croatian food is the simplicity, simple grilled fish and greens, but it’s super tasty.”

Travel with Luxury Gold and in the picturesque fishing village of Mali Ston you will meet Tomislav, a local oyster farmer. Here you will see the floating oyster beds and savour an exquisite mouthful of oysters straight from the sea, one of the most naturally decadent things to do in Croatia.

Read more: 5 Michelin star chefs celebrating local culture through food

Zadar

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As you walk the streets of Zadar, Dalmatia’s ancient capital, you will feel like you have stepped back in time. With its remains of a 1st century Roman Forum, the 9th century St. Donatus Basilica, and the 16th century Venetian city walls, you will be captivated.

“Zadar is quite surprisingly historic,” Sharon tells us. “I think when most people think of the Croatian coast they think of beaches and sun and cruising the waters. But a lot of the cities have an amazing history. In Zadar the Romans are still very evident there, and it offers a great combination of historical sights but then contemporary history as well.

“Zadar also has a really interesting sea organ which is quite unique. The water rushes in and, as it goes out, it makes different noises as well. It’s very subtle so you kind of have to just sit there and then you’ll hear the music. It is one of the fun things to do in Croatia, and at sunset it is pretty amazing.”

Read more: 9 reasons to visit Croatia & the Dalmatian Coast

Plitvice Lakes National Park

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At Plitvice walk amongst cascading falls and colorful lakes and marvel at one of the world’s great natural wonders. The lake system of Plitvice Lakes National Park is comprised of 16 named and several smaller unnamed lakes, each one cascading into the next, and ending with the impressive Sastavci Waterfalls.

“Plitvice is a great treasure, very unique,” Sharon described one of the great Croatia attractions. “The area is quite quiet and you can hear the birds tweeting. Most of the lakes are very calm and then you come into these pockets where you’ve got waterfalls everywhere and you can hear the rushing water.”

“The lovely thing about Plitvice is the opportunity to go into a National Park and have a walk. It makes a great contrast to the cities. Your local expert brings it all alive and tells all of the little snippets about the nature and the history and personal stories as well.”

“And for me, as well as being mesmerizingly beautiful, Plitvice is quite amazing in that they’re very focused on sustainability. So it’s organized very well.”

Travel with Luxury Gold and join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to learn all about the Park’s invaluable research and conservation work.

Read more: How your travels with Luxury Gold help conserve nature for future generations

Dubrovnik

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Regarded as the most picturesque city on the Dalmatian Coast, the moment you see Dubrovnik you understand why it is known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik’s beautiful Old City is surrounded by magnificent defensive walls and forts, running for nearly 1.25 miles. You may well recognize Dubrovnik as the main filming location for Kings Landing, in the hugely popular television series Game of Thrones.

“I would say Dubrovnik is probably the most unique city in the world. It is the fantastic treasure.  Walking the city walls is one of the essential things to do in Croatia, especially if you can get some quiet time like towards the end of the day or earlier morning. There’s nothing quite like it.

“For me the city is a lot like a Venice. The history is quite amazing, the lifestyle, the culture and the traditions. I would put Venice and Dubrovnik as probably the two most unique cities in Europe because of their maritime history. Their beauty. Everything,” she enthuses.

Read more: 6 of the world’s most beautiful walled cities and towns

Sound like a local

Before we let her go, we asked Sharon for the phrase everyone should learn before they visit Croatia and she tells us: “Pomalo – this is a saying in Dalmatia that means slow down, relax, take it easy.”

If you are feeling inspired to visit Croatia & the Dalmatian Coast then why not treat yourself to a luxury guided tour. Enjoy exclusive experiences, stay in exquisite hotels and taste culinary excellence every step of the way.