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DISCOVER JAPAN THROUGH A NEW LENS WITH SCOTT DUNN

October 10thJapan

“As Japan gears up to welcome individual travellers again for the first time in over two years, we’re excited to share several new itineraries and a curated collection of experiences that reveal a different side of this alluring country, going beyond the typical tourist attractions to showcase untouched landscapes, immersive local experiences and authentic regional fare, all while guiding our guests through the intricacies of etiquette that are essential when travelling through Japan. It’s been a long wait, but we’ve already seen a recent surge in enquiries and bookings from guests who are eager to secure their bucket-list trip to Japan for 2023 and beyond.  In particular, adventurous families with teens are heading to Japan next year for an unforgettable family trip, making up almost 50% of our future bookings to the destination.”  Kate Samuels, Head of Tailormade Product at Scott Dunn

BEST FOR: EPICUREANS 

DEVOUR JAPAN’S CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH WORLD-RENOWNED CUISINE WITH THE BRAND-NEW ‘TASTE OF JAPAN’ ITINERARY

Deserving of its UNESCO accolade, Japanese food is both an art form and an integral part of the country’s heritage. Guests can experience the rituals and exquisite presentation of kaiseki dining, enjoy a private sushi masterclass, delight in vibrant street food and sample Japan’s famous sake as part of this gastronomic trip of a lifetime. The journey begins in Tokyo, where gourmands will enjoy a food tour of the lively Shinbashi district – packed with izakaya, bars and small eateries. Here, guests will live like a local sampling regional delicacies such as savoury okonomiyaki pancakes. After exploring the city with an expert local guide, next on the agenda is mastering the art of sushi making during a private masterclass with a sushi master boasting over 45 years of experience. Onwards by bullet train to the next destination – Kanazawa. Located on Honshu’s northern coast and known as ‘Little Kyoto’, this region is renowned as the source of some of Japan’s highest quality seafood, in particular emperor crabs. Staying at a traditional Japanese ryokan inn – which is a member of Relais & Chateaux – the gourmet journey continues with an incredible kaiseki dinner using locally sourced seafood. From here guests can enjoy the best of this historic city boasting samurai and geisha districts, beautifully landscaped gardens and a lively fish market all with a private guide. Along with traditional tatami mat flooring and low furniture, each room has a private onsen for natural spring bathing. Kyoto – Japan’s cultural capital – is the next stop on this foodie adventure, with the first evening comprising a sake and whisky tour in the atmospheric district of Gion. The world-famous spirits will be paired with regional dishes and snacks. Additional highlights include a Nishiki market food shopping and cookery experience – working through the mile-long market and venturing into the less crowded backstreets with an expert guide to scout out the best local ingredients. Guests will take the market ingredients to a traditional wooden townhouse to create classic Japanese dishes under the guidance of locals.  Foodies will end this trip in Osaka, the food capital of Japan, affectionately known as ‘the nation’s kitchen’. Epicures can indulge in a guided evening tour of Dontonbori, the focus of Osaka’s street  food culture and a pedestrian-only restaurant street. Here, they will enjoy local specialities including the famous takoyaki and kushikatsu, served from hole-in-the-wall restaurants and streetside ramen bars.
HOW: Scott Dunn offers a 9 night ‘Taste of Japan’ itinerary from £9,600 per person based on two people travelling and includes accommodation, return flights from the UK and transfers by car and train throughout. For more information, please visit www.scottdunn.com or call 020 8682 5080. 

BEST FOR: INTREPID TRAVELLERS

STEP OFF THE BEATEN TRACK TO DISCOVER THE COUNTRY’S INCREDIBLE SCENERY ON THE ANCIENT NAKASENDO WALKING TRAIL WITH THE ‘EXCEPTIONAL JAPAN’ ITINERARY

This itinerary showcases a different side to Japan, taking the best of the country’s most inspiring cities and combining them with an ancient postal route through wild forests, and the beautiful surrounds of Miyajima and Lake Kawaguchi. The trip begins in Tokyo – the ultimate urban jungle – where guests can feel at total ease with a private driver and guide to accompany them around the city. From here, guests will venture off the tourist trail to Magome where they will begin the Nakasendo Walking Trail. Taking just the essentials, Scott Dunn will organise the transfer of luggage to Kyoto where it will meet guests at the end of their trek. Over the next two nights and three days, explorers will venture from Magome to Narai staying in small guesthouses in Tsumago and Kiso-Fukushima along the way. This route follows the ancient road that Samurai used when travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto, and today provides a beautiful trail through the mountains and preserved villages, giving a unique and authentic taste of the country. At the end of the walk, guests will board the bullet train to Kyoto to explore the cultural city with a private guide. Highlights include a traditional tea ceremony to truly immerse in Japanese culture. The next stop is Miyajimaguchi, where guests can indulge in total relaxation and soak tired muscles at their luxurious ryokan. A short boat trip away lies Miyajima Island – famed for the most beautiful views in the country and home to the famous ‘floating’ Tori Gate. The final destination on this incredible itinerary is Lake Kawaguchi where travellers will enjoy a totally unique and luxurious camping experience with plenty of outdoor activities such as horse-riding, canoeing and trekking all with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and Mount Fuji.
HOW: Scott Dunn offers an 11 night ‘Exceptional Japan’ itinerary from £9,700 per person based on two people travelling and includes accommodation, return flights from the UK and transfers by car and train throughout. For more information, please visit www.scottdunn.com or call 020 8682 5080. 

BEST FOR: ADVENTUROUS FAMILIES

COMBINE CONTRASTING LANDSCAPES AND CULTURAL CITIES ON AN EPIC FAMILY ADVENTURE WITH THE BRAND-NEW ‘FAMILY FUN IN JAPAN’ ITINERARY

Offering something for both adults and teens alike, this epic itinerary takes in the neon-lit metropolis of Tokyo, cycling in the Japanese Alps, a stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan inn and cooking in Kyoto. Beginning in Tokyo, families will enjoy a private guide to experience the best of the city. Highlights include the Ginza district home to Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Akihabara – the anime capital of Japan bursting with anime-themed cafes, manga comics and video games – as well as the Harajuku district, the focus of Japan’s youth culture. The following day, enjoy a photography tour through the streets of Tokyo with a professional photographer capturing the array of vibrant local street life. The adventure continues with a bullet train ride to Takayama, transporting guests to the snow-capped peaks of the Japanese Alps. Here, families will stay in a traditional ryokan inn where they can immerse themselves in Japanese culture. Guests will enjoy a unique experience combining food, culture and cycling, starting with a walking tour of Takayama to sample local delicacies before cycling through the scenic rice fields and farming villages of Hida. The next stop is Kanazawa where attractions include the bustling fish market, the Ninja Temple Myouryuji and the samurai museums of the Nagamachi district.  district. The city also boasts a historic arts and crafts scene with plenty of artisans displaying local handmade crafts. Guests will end their trip in Kyoto to enjoy all the cultural capital has to offer with a private guide. Kyoto is home to an impressive 17 UNESCO-listed attractions, including some of Japan’s best examples of traditional architecture, landscaped gardens and the red tori gates of the hillside shrine of Fushimi Inari-Taisha. Guests can also opt to explore the city by bike on a privately guided tour starting at the famous golden temple Kinkaku-Ji before a visit to the serene Ryoan-ji Zen Garden and the incredible bamboo groves of Arashiyama. The journey concludes on a high with a Nishiki market food shopping and cookery experience – a true sensory adventure – taking sourced market ingredients to a traditional wooden townhouse to create classic Japanese dishes under the guidance of locals.
HOW: Scott Dunn offers an 11 night ‘Family Fun in Japan’ itinerary from £6,800 per person based on a family of four travelling and includes accommodation, return flights from the UK and transfers by car and train throughout. For more information, please visit www.scottdunn.com or call 020 8682 5080. 

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For PR inquiries, please contact Perowne International:
[email protected] / +44 (0)20 7078 0295

Scott Dunn is one of the world’s most experienced luxury tour operators, voted the No.1 Best Travel Specialist in the world in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2022. With offices in the UK, the US and Asia, its global team of travel specialists offer guests round-the-clock support, arranging bespoke holidays and honeymoons designed to elevate travel out of the ordinary. With an insatiable appetite to discover the world pivotal to the company’s ethos, Scott Dunn relish the planning and revel in the detail – knowing it’s the smallest touches that make the biggest difference. As well as creating tailor-made itineraries filled with unique experiences, Scott Dunn also operate their Explorers Kids Clubs for children aged 4 months to 11 years in select destinations throughout the world. The tour operator launched an exclusive, ‘invitation-only’ platform for its most discerning travellers, Scott Dunn Private, at the start of 2021.

More News

A New Chapter for Italian Hospitality: Perowne International Partners with Aldo Melpignano

March 12th

A New Chapter for Italian Hospitality: Perowne International Partners with Aldo Melpignano

A New Chapter for Italian Hospitality

Perowne International Partners with Aldo Melpignano

Italy

Perowne is delighted to announce its partnership with Aldo Melpignano – the visionary force behind Borgo Egnazia and one of the most compelling voices in contemporary Italian hospitality.

Across Italy, a group of independent hotels have been brought together under Aldo’s creative and strategic direction, each carrying a distinct identity shaped by its own culture, traditions and landscape. These are not properties united by brand – they are united by a shared belief that the finest hospitality is rooted in place. In 2023, Aldo formally established Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana to extend his family’s three-decade hospitality legacy and support this growing network of exceptional independent hotels across the country.

With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics drawing global attention and new direct US flight routes launching to Milan, Naples, Bari and – for the first time ever – Sardinia, there has never been a better moment to discover what each of these remarkable places has to offer.

La Tiara di Cervo | Porto Cervo, Sardegna New Opening, May 2026
Opening just above Porto Cervo, La Tiara di Cervo introduces a quieter, more intimate side to the celebrated Costa Smeralda. Set within a protected three-hectare private estate, the property offers 26 impeccably designed one, two and three-bedroom apartments, each with expansive sea views and the support of a dedicated concierge team. It blends the privacy of a standalone residence with the attentiveness of a refined hotel – a genuinely new hospitality concept for this gilded coastal destination.

Santavenere | Maratea, Basilicata Celebrating 70 Years
Marking its 70th anniversary in 2026, Santavenere occupies a rare stretch of the Tyrrhenian coast in Basilicata – one of Italy’s most quietly treasured and largely unspoiled regions. Its 26 rooms carry the charm of decades of coastal heritage, while terraced Mediterranean gardens fall gently toward a fully equipped private beach. A gateway to the soul of Southern Italy.

Castel Badia | San Lorenzo di Sebato, South Tyrol First Full Season, 2026
Unveiled at the end of 2025, Castel Badia reawakens a thousand-year-old former Benedictine convent in the Puster Valley. With 28 rooms and suites plus a private three-floor chalet, the restoration carefully balances preservation and reinvention – honouring original stonework and sacred architectural details while introducing refined modern design. A spa carved into natural rock, seamless access to Plan de Corones and a contemplative atmosphere make it a quietly unconventional gateway to the Dolomites, year-round.

Hotel Ancora | Cortina d’Ampezzo, Veneto Celebrating 200 Years and Thoughtful Design Transformation
Now under the ownership of Renzo Rosso and managed in partnership with Aldo Melpignano, Hotel Ancora has reclaimed its place at the beating heart of Cortina’s social scene. Interiors by Vicky Charles layer contemporary sophistication over Alpine heritage across 38 beautifully curated rooms. With a destination terrace restaurant, spa, gym and an exclusive invite-only club, Ancora is both a landmark and a living hub – celebrating 200 years while breathing new energy into Cortina’s renaissance.

Hotel de Len | Cortina d’Ampezzo, Veneto
A certified 22-room ClimaHotel and one of the region’s most forward-thinking wellbeing destinations, Hotel de Len is architecturally designed to enhance sleep and recovery. Its biocompatible construction, advanced sleep-support technologies and panoramic rooftop spa make it a natural fit for Cortina’s Olympic moment – and a compelling destination long beyond it. Built with local wood and Dolomitic craftsmanship, it sits at the centre of town with the slopes within easy reach.

Borgo Egnazia | Savelletri di Fasano, Puglia
One of Italy’s most influential hospitality benchmarks, Borgo Egnazia is deeply rooted in the architecture, traditions and rural heritage of Puglia. Regeneration sits at the heart of its philosophy: the property maintains fully regenerative gardens, biodiversity corridors and agricultural practices supporting a self-sustaining ecosystem. In 2026, it becomes the first hospitality destination in Italy to host the full seed cycle on site through The Seed House, its pioneering seed-to-soil initiative. At flagship restaurant Due Camini, regional cuisine is not only celebrated but actively safeguarded through a fully vegetarian menu rooted in the land.

Masseria San Domenico | Savelletri di Fasano, Puglia Celebrating 30 Years
Where the story began. Transformed in 1996 from a fortified masseria, distinguished by its 15th-century Knights of Malta watchtower, Masseria San Domenico is one of the pioneers of luxury hospitality in Puglia. Set within 40 hectares of ancient olive groves, it offers a secluded retreat defined by its renowned thalassotherapy spa, longstanding coastal traditions and cuisine rooted in genuine regional flavours. Thirty years on, it remains as essential as ever.

INTRODUCING BALLYFIN

March 9th

INTRODUCING BALLYFIN

INTRODUCING BALLYFIN

Six hundred acres of stillness and history.

Ireland

Set at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, just over an hour from Dublin, this is a family-owned masterpiece that feels less like a commercial enterprise and more like a private invitation. After eighty years as a boys’ school, Ballyfin was acquired in the late 1990s by the Krehbiel family. Their goal was simple but ambitious: to restore the house as a living home to a standard Ireland had not yet seen.

It took ten years. Supported by historians and master craftsmen, the project was an act of preservation. Today, the house is filled with museum-quality Irish and European art, Chippendale antiques, and the iconic Richard Turner conservatory — a glass-and-iron anchor that connects the interior to the 614-acre estate.

With just 21 rooms and suites, the house remains intimate. Each room tells a different chapter of the estate’s history:
The Sir Christopher Coote Suite: Features 18th-century Chinese panels once owned by the Prince of Hanover.
The Sir Charles Coote Room: Conceals a Roman marble sarcophagus bath beneath a cantilevered staircase.
The Tapestry Room: Hung with 17th-century Flemish tapestries overlooking the lake.

Ballyfin’s character is shaped by its people. Many of the team, from butlers to landscapers, first knew these halls as students during the school years. They have returned not as staff, but as custodians. This continuity lends a rare authenticity to the house – a sense of stewardship that guests often cite as its most defining quality.

At the center of daily life is the eight-acre walled garden. In early 2025, the kitchen’s commitment to this land was recognised with a Michelin star. Executive Chef Richard Picard-Edwards works with the seasons, serving dinner in the candlelit State Dining Room and lunch in the Turner Conservatory.

The house sits within 614 acres of parkland and woodland, arranged around Ireland’s largest man-made pleasure lake. Guests move through the grounds on foot, by horse-drawn carriage, or by boat.The pursuits here – falconry, clay pigeon shooting, archery – are intrinsic to the estate. For those seeking the theatrical, an extensive collection of period costumes from the Lyric Opera of Chicago is available for exclusive-use guests to host dress-up evenings, nodding to the house-party spirit of the 19th century.

INTRODUCING EXPLORA JOURNEYS: LEADERS IN ULTRA-ELEGANT OCEAN TRAVEL

March 1st

INTRODUCING EXPLORA JOURNEYS: LEADERS IN ULTRA-ELEGANT OCEAN TRAVEL

EXPLORA JOURNEYS

A New Standard in Maritime Luxury

Explora

Explora Journeys is the privately owned luxury ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, defined by space and privacy. At the heart of the brand is the Ocean State of Mind – a philosophy shaped by time at sea, thoughtful design, and the freedom to choose how each day unfolds. Immersive itineraries pair celebrated destinations with lesser-travelled ports, allowing for deeper exploration and a more fluid style of travel.
Across the fleet, Explora Journeys delivers an all-oceanfront experience, with spacious suites, penthouses and residences conceived as refined homes at sea. Floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces, and residential-style interiors create a strong sense of openness, while an abundance of space and privacy is a defining hallmark of the Explora Journeys experience, with more open-air deck space per guest. The ships also offer an industry-leading host-to-guest ratio, with almost one host per guest, supporting an unhurried onboard rhythm.

Culinary experiences span multiple dining environments, from elegant restaurants to relaxed all-day venues, complemented by a collection of bars and lounges designed for different moments throughout the day. Wellness is fully integrated into life on board through dedicated spa and fitness facilities, outdoor decks and a holistic programme that reflects the brand’s deep connection to the ocean. Service is intuitive and discreet, informed by Mediterranean sensibilities and Swiss hospitality standards.

The fleet currently comprises EXPLORA I, launched in July 2023, and EXPLORA II, launched in September 2024. Expansion continues with EXPLORA III launching in summer 2026, followed by EXPLORA IV and EXPLORA V in 2027 and EXPLORA VI in 2028.

The next chapter for the brand arrives with EXPLORA III, launching in July 2026. An ultra-elegant expression of ocean travel, that benefits from LNG-powered technology, EXPLORA III will introduce a standout Owner’s Residence designed by internationally acclaimed architect Patricia Urquiola, as well as new culinary concepts, enlarged spa and fitness facilities designed for a more immersive wellbeing experience, and elevated onboard retail, including Chopard’s first boutique at sea. EXPLORA III will sail an exclusive Mediterranean Prelude before heading to Northern Europe, Iceland, and Greenland later in 2026.

Perowne International celebrates expansion into Latin America with Mexico City Launch

February 27th

Perowne International celebrates expansion into Latin America with Mexico City Launch

Perowne International celebrates expansion into Latin America

Mexico City Launch

Mexico

Perowne International has officially expanded its global footprint into Latin America, marking the milestone with a series of launch events in Mexico City. The move follows a period of significant growth for the consultancy, strategically linking its flourishing Milan and Madrid operations with the rising influence of the Spanish-speaking luxury market.

INTRODUCING SANDFONTEIN, NAMIBIA’S HIDDEN WILDERNESS

February 12th

INTRODUCING SANDFONTEIN, NAMIBIA’S HIDDEN WILDERNESS

INTRODUCING SANDFONTEIN

NAMIBIA’S HIDDEN WILDERNESS

Namibia

Beyond the classic safari trail and set within 97,000 hectares of privately protected land in southern Namibia, Sandfontein is a vast wilderness reserve and exclusive-use lodge positioned along the Orange River, cutting through sweeps of mountains, basalt outcrops and desert plains.

 

This is a landscape with deep geological time and human history layered into its terrain. River terraces and volcanic rock formations speak to millennia of tectonic change, while archaeological traces reveal early hunter-gatherer communities who relied on the Orange River as a corridor for trade and survival. In the early 20th century, the area became a strategic site during the Nama-German conflicts and the opening stages of the First World War, with battlefields and graveyards still preserved within the reserve today.

 

Available exclusively for private use, Sandfontein Lodge accommodates up to 18 guests across five suites, each with private outdoor living spaces and star beds, alongside the remote Lost Poet Villa, perched on a hilltop with uninterrupted 360-degree views. Locally sourced materials were used throughout the eco-conscious construction of the lodge and villa, minimising environmental impact while blending with the surrounding landscape. With no neighbouring properties, minimal infrastructure and zero light pollution, Sandfontein is recognised by Quiet Parks International for its profound silence and dark skies, offering complete seclusion.

 

Days unfold with guided hikes tracking wildlife on foot – from oryx and springbok to ostrich and giraffe – or historical explorations that reveal stories etched into the terrain. Along the Orange River, time slows further: kayaking, fishing, or drifting quietly downstream offering a different perspective from the banks. Conservation shapes every experience; in recent years, Sandfontein has expanded its boundaries and reintroduced native species, allowing the wilderness and its wildlife to flourish. As daylight fades, the reserve’s silence deepens. Guests can camp beneath the stars or retire to the lodge’s iconic outdoor StarBeds, immersed in the desert’s stillness and vast, starlit skies.

 

This is African travel stripped back to its raw essence, where the luxury is space itself. No crowds, no neighbouring lodges, just access: to land, to history, and to a rare and enduring sense of place, with the freedom to move through it at an unhurried pace.

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

February 2nd

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

A REGENERATIVE FARM STAY SHAPED BY SEASONS, FRIENDSHIP AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

Sweden

Sibbjäns began quietly, the combined dream of Jonas Nordlander and Sanna Rönn, who with close friends and many meaningful couples Pontus and Kina Zeidler share a life between Stockholm and Gotland. Over the past four years, they have steadily transformed this former horse farm into a regenerative stay that feels singular to anywhere else in Scandinavia.

After a soft opening in 2025 for friends and family, the farm stay now enters 2026 as its first full season, opening more intentionally to a like-minded global community drawn to nature, food, and thoughtful design.

 

A PLACE TO REST

 

22 individually designed rooms sit across the Hotel and ‘The Bunkhouse,’ each named after important women in the family and among their friends. Adorned with classic Scandi touches of sheepskin throws, limewashed walls, soft palettes, and contemporary art, the spaces are designed for comfort.

Buildings are framed by wildflowers and constructed using traditional methods, much of the work completed by hand, with local craftsmanship central to the process. Architect Maja Berg has been a key contributor, working alongside Erik Larsson, a Master of Gotlandic Craft Heritage, who built some of the original buildings himself and continues to pass on traditional building knowledge to the next generation.

THE KITCHEN FOLLOWS THE FARM

At the heart of Sibbjäns is a working farm home to hens, Mangalitza pigs, horses, and sheep, with agriculture guiding both the kitchen and the guest experience.

In the gardens, lead gardener and local Karin Winarve brings a quiet hand to what thrives here across meadows, vegetable beds, and fruit-growing plots. Produce is grown on-site and harvested seasonally, forming the backbone of a true farm-to-table approach—one that pauses entirely during the winter months when the land rests.

 

EXPERIENCES & ‘VIKING WELLNESS’

New for the 2026 season, wellbeing at Sibbjäns is restorative rather than prescriptive. Inspired by Nordic traditions and the physicality of outdoor life, the evolving wellness offering includes:

  • A hand-built yoga barn

  • A wood-fired sauna

  • An outdoor gym

  • Recreational spaces

  • The beginnings of what will become one of the world’s most beautiful tennis courts.

The surrounding landscape invites guests to engage with nature on its own terms, from cycling or horse riding across open farmland to kitesurfing along Gotland’s windswept coastline (widely regarded as one of the finest spots in Europe for the sport). This is ‘Viking wellness’ in spirit—elemental, grounding, and quietly transformative.

 

SWEDEN’S ‘SUNSHINE ISLAND’

Gotland is Sweden’s sunniest destination, known for its distinctive light, limestone landscapes, and strong ‘right to roam’ ethos. Open from Easter through to Christmas and closed entirely during the dark winter months, Sibbjäns follows the natural calendar rather than resisting it.

Reaching it is part of the journey:

  • A short flight from Stockholm to the island’s capital of Visby, followed by a drive across the island.

  • A ferry crossing that reinforces the sense of arrival somewhere distinct and deliberately unhurried.

  • For those preferring a more direct approach, arrival by helicopter is also possible.

At its core, Sibbjäns remains a place for friends old and new built slowly, grounded in nature, and designed to endure.