Dive into beauty straight away after a short train trip from Tokyo
Around noon meet the guide at your hotel in Tokyo and be prepared to board shinkansen bullet train bound for Odawara station – the journey only takes about half an hour if you are on time for your planned train.

Eat your lunch or brunch when riding the superexpress train – many Japanese will be doing the same. Later in the afternoon you might be too busy to eat enjoying the beautiful site. Alternatively, ask your contact at Saiyu Travel to arrange for a restaurant reservation or a boxed lunch for you (conditions apply, and we need three full days of notice and full information on any food allergies or food restrictions first).

Mini-Naoshima: modern art, ancient architecture and Japanese gardens’ fengshui all in one fascinatingly beautiful place
After boarding off the train, visit a unique art site created by one of Japan’s most famous modern artists and world-famous photographer, mixing ancient and modern architecture and art with feng-shui of Japanese gardens amidst ocean panorama. A photogenic, ulrtra-instagrammable spot, its vast grounds and strict reservation-only policy ensure it never gets too crowded.

Take in the panoramic view and unique combination of modern art and ancient architectural objects, breath in the beauty of bamboo grove, massive ancient stones and stone lanterns, lush colors of tangerine trees and ultra-modern elements like glass steps in the tea house. Sense the tranquility of the ocean and beauty of nature on the hills that Hiroshi Sugimoto (no less famous in Japan than Yayoi Kusama) has selected for his signature project. It is easy to spend a couple of hours here absorbing the beauty and tranquility of the place, especially in the season when sakura cherry trees start to bloom.
You will get to keep the well-illustrated booklet that you will receive upon entering the site grounds. It is up to you to explore the site with the guide, or roam from one art installation to another on your own.

Leave “mini-Naoshima” by 5pm using a private vehicle.

Walk in sunset spotting blooming sakura near samurai castle, or go for a dip in a hot spring
On your way back stop by Odawara Castle grounds, famous sakura-viewing spot loved by samurai class - this will make for a memorable a walk in this time of the year. If you had enough of sakura by then, go for a quick dip in a hot spring resort nearby, famous for its alkaline thermal water. Amenities like towels and soap are provided at the spot for extra fee.

The guide will assist you getting to the nearest JR train station to take shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo (which takes half an hour using shinkansen bullet train), or you can wait for your onward shinkansen at Odawara station, exploring its shops and cafes with most open until late evening. The tour ends at Odawara station at 7 PM (extensions are subject to availability and extra charges).