WHY JOIN DAMDAM EXPLORATIONS?

Explore with like-minded travelers on a bespoke journey rooted in ritual, craft, design


A brand trip unlike any other, this is a rare cultural experience where discovery unfolds in the rituals and beauty that shaped DAMDAM. Curated for the design-conscious and culturally curious traveler, every moment is deeply personal. From serene rituals to private experiences, DAMDAM Explorations grants rare access to experiences far away from tourist traps.

STEP INSIDE

Rare Access Beyond the Public Eye

This is not a tour. It's a curated journey that's immersive, personal, and offers rare access to people and places off the beaten path.

Our inaugural trip is on 2025 December 5 - 15, with only seven guests to explore Tokyo, Kyoto, the seaside village of Miura, and the quiet mountains of Hyogo as autumn shifts into winter.

Along the way, travelers will share meals with the founders, artists and artisans, and experience Japan with intimacy and depth.



Dates December 5–15, 2025

Group Size 7 guests

Chic Stays K5 Tokyo, Ace Hotel Kyoto, Nipponia Sasayama Hyogo

Price $7,000 per guest (double occupancy)
$8,500 per guest (single occupancy)

Intimate Encounters

Join founders Giselle Go and Philippe Terrien for moments usually reserved for friends: a seaside brunch at their home overlooking Mt. Fuji, a private skin kaiseki ritual at the DAMDAM flagship, and encounters with seasonal ingredients that inspire the brand’s formulations.

Culinary Discoveries

Savor rare dining experiences, from a historic townhouse restored by artist Hiroshi Sugimoto to Michelin-starred cuisine in Kyoto. Private sake tastings, seasonal treats, and hidden neighborhood favorites reveal the spirit of Japanese hospitality at the table.

In Kyoto, step inside Tsuki no Katsura, one of Japan’s oldest sake breweries founded in 1675, for a private tasting and tour guided by the Masuda family. Both encounters reveal Japan at its most profound: layered, timeless, and rarely seen.

From Kyoto, travel to Uji, the birthplace of matcha and home to the tea fields that are contained in the bottles of DAMDAM. Walk the farm for a rare glimpse into Japan’s centuries-old tea tradition, where nature, craft, and ritual converge.

Heritage Spaces, Private Access

Explorations will open doors rarely available even to locals. At Enoura Observatory, designed by contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto, guests will experience art and architecture as a living dialogue with nature and time — in private, contemplative quiet. In Kyoto, travelers will be welcomed to Jojuji Temple, guided personally by a member of the Hamuro family, whose lineage is deeply connected to this sacred site. Jojuji offers a contemplative space where centuries of ritual and tradition unfold in rare intimacy. These experiences offer profound access into Japan’s living heritage.

Chic Stays, Rooted in Place

Our accommodations are chosen as much for their story as for their style. In Tokyo, the K5 Hotel, a former bank reimagined as a design-forward boutique hotel, blends history with modern creativity. In Hyōgo, Nipponia Sasayama offers a stay within a preserved 400-year-old castle town, where architecture and nature live in harmony. And in Kyoto, Ace Hotel Kyoto, a collaboration with Kengo Kuma, serves as a creative hub steps from temples and gardens. Each stay reflects a different face of Japan: urban, rural, and contemporary.

Our accommodations are chosen as much for their story as for their style. In Tokyo, the K5 Hotel, a former bank reimagined as a design-forward boutique hotel, blends history with modern creativity. In Hyōgo, Nipponia Sasayama offers a stay within a preserved 400-year-old castle town, where architecture and nature live in harmony. And in Kyoto, Ace Hotel Kyoto, a collaboration with Kengo Kuma, serves as a creative hub steps from temples and gardens. Each stay reflects a different face of Japan: urban, rural, and contemporary.

Explore Japan Like An Insider

DAMDAM Tokyo Explorations is limited to 7 guests.

This curated journey is offered exclusively as a paid experience — designed for intimacy, access, and ritual.

BOOK HERE

Meet Your Guides

  • Yoritoshi Hamuro

    Descending from the noble Hamuro family from Kyoto, he will guide you through rare cultural encounters that bridge Japan’s living heritage with modern life. From private temples (including the historic Jojuji Temple in his family) and experiences rarely available to the public.

  • Ryan Bukstein

    Ryan helped grow Ace Hotel from a single property in Seattle into a global design and hospitality brand. Instrumental in the creation of Ace Hotel Kyoto, where you will stay for the Kyoto leg, his expertise in cultural hospitality will shape the contemporary lens of your journey.

  • Sophia Hatchitt

    Founder of Komasa Collection, Sophia designs immersive, design-forward journeys across Japan. With a decade of experience in luxury travel, she curates thoughtful pacing and insider access with sensitivity and style, allowing you to navigate this special exploration.

FAQs

If you have any further questions or need help with booking or preparing for the trip, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the DAMDAM team at explorations@damdamtokyo.com

  • How do I book this trip?

    Please fill out the booking form above and a member of our team will be in touch with the next steps!

  • How big is the group? Can I bring a friend?

    If you'd like to share the experience with a partner or friend, you’re absolutely welcome to book together. It’s a wonderful way to travel—especially if you’d like to room together under double occupancy.

    This is an intentionally small group experience, designed to feel personal, immersive, and low-impact. We’ll be traveling with a maximum of 7 guests, accompanied by 2 dedicated trip leaders who will be with the group throughout the journey.

    Before the trip, we’ll also host a pre-trip video call for all participants. It’s a chance to meet your fellow travelers, ask any last-minute questions, and get a better feel for the experience ahead.

  • What are the room configurations?

    • Single occupancy guarantees you a private room throughout the trip. This option comes at a higher rate and is ideal for guests who prefer more privacy or personal space during their travels.
    • Double occupancy means you’ll be sharing a room with one other guest. You can sign up with a travel companion or request to be paired with another participant of the same gender (based on availability).

    If you're unsure which option is best for you or have questions about rooming, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help clarify. Room types are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Is there free time on the trip?

    Yes. This experience is thoughtfully designed to balance group activities with independent exploration. While participation in group excursions is optional, please note that these are included in the trip cost and are non-refundable if you choose not to join.

  • Are meals included?

    Although some group meals will be provided, unless specifically stated in the itinerary, meals are not included . We encourage participants to enjoy Japan’s rich culinary culture at their own pace.

  • Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

    We’ll do our best to accommodate dietary needs and preferences—including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and food allergies—whenever possible. However, due to the nature of Japanese cuisine and certain rural or traditional dining experiences, options may be limited in some locations.

    Please be sure to inform us of any dietary restrictions or allergies at the time of booking. The earlier we know, the more likely we can make suitable arrangements.

  • Are airport transfers included?

    We will provide two scheduled group transfers on arrival and departure days. To take advantage of this, we recommend planning your flights to align with these shared transfer windows. Details will be shared in advance.

  • Are flights included?

    Participants are responsible for booking their own flights to and from Japan.

  • What is the payment policy?

    • A 20% non-refundable deposit is due within one week of confirming your spot.

    • Remaining balance is due 45 days before arrival in Japan.

    Payment methods:

    • Wire transfer (please ensure any bank or administrative fees are covered by the sender).

    • Credit card (please note a 3.8% processing fee applies).

  • What is the cancellation policy?

    • All cancellations must be made in writing.

    • The initial 20% deposit is non-refundable.

    Cancellation penalties:

    • 44–31 days prior to arrival: 50% of total trip cost

    • 30–1 day prior to arrival: 100% of total trip cost

    • No show: No refund