Named for the 7th year in a row to the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler "Greatest Travel Pros on Earth" list, Esprit Travel is your best choice for planning a rewarding and thoughtfully crafted trip to Japan. Perhaps touring with a group isn't your style. Or maybe you've built confidence by traveling with a tour group and now you're ready to head out on your own. Whatever draws you to the idea of an independent trip, Esprit's travel planners are ready to create a memorable journey in Japan for you.

We have learned over the years that the one thing all independent travelers want is a smooth, easy journey. To that end, we are meticulous (some might say obsessed) in planning every detail, so you can enjoy the people, places, experiences, learning and adventures you travel to find. We make sure you have information, introductions, guides, interpreter, reservations, plans and support when and where you need them — effortlessly. Our Kyoto office is there to offer assistance with reservations, tickets to cultural events and to answer questions. Our Japanese guides are deeply knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with.

We start by finding out what is important to you, from where you want to go to what you want to see, experience and remember from this trip. Whether helping a couple get married in a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, arranging an overnight stay and private viewing at the Benesse House and Contemporary Museum of Art, or getting reservations at a special inn during the festival in Takayama, we make dreams come true. Our deep expertise in Japanese culture, built over years of studying, living and working in the East, and our mastery of the Japanese language allow us not only to craft the journey you want, but find innumerable ways to make it rich and memorable.

Finally, we will send you to Japan with introductions to our friends — the artists, craftspeople, artisans, cultural experts and sensei we have had the good fortune to share friendship with for years. Each of these introductions is a special gift and is made to open a unique door on your interests. We have arranged access to private workshops in Kyoto's weaving district, cooking classes, a workshop in indigo dying, shakuhachi flute lessons, introductions to Japanese artists for collectors and much more. In some cases, an interpreter is required and we will arrange for that too.