Japan

Old and new, cities and mountains, and some of the best eating anywhere on earth.

Best for: Food, culture, ski, and first timers who want it handled properly.

When to go: Late March into April for the cherry blossom, November for the autumn colour, January and February for the snow. Each is a genuinely different trip. The blossom is impossible to time to the day, so we plan around it rather than promise it.

Where to go: Tokyo and Kyoto as the anchors, Hokkaido or the Japan Alps for skiing, Naoshima and Teshima for the art islands. Aman and Hoshinoya for the stays, plus the odd ryokan worth a detour for a night.

Good to know: The best omakase counters and ryokans take bookings months out and rarely a walk in. That is the part we handle, along with rail passes and guides who get you past the language barrier. Once it's set up, the bullet train makes moving around simple. Our Tokyo guide has the dining shortlist.

Tell us the season and we'll build the route around it.