9
Tour Highlights ~ Fashion
Trip led by The Coutureman, LaMar Wright
Private hair and make-up each morning
VIP Access to Tokyo Fashion Week Runway Shows and Events
Special Behind-the-Scenes Buying Opportunities with top Brands
Access to Fashion Week evening events and parties
Private Sessions with leading Japanese make-up artists
Meetings with top Kimono designers and experts
FALL FASHION TOUR JAPAN OCTOBER 12 ~ 26
Tour Leader Profile: Trip led by The Coutureman, LaMar Wright
…. Insert
FALL FASHION TOUR JAPAN OCTOBER 12 ~ 26
As Founder of The Coutureman LLC (“TCM”), LaMar Wright wears many “hats”. LaMar
remains grounded in the trenches of TCM, personally involved in all branding and
marketing materials, corporate due diligence, and creative direction. As a freelance
makeup artist, celebrity stylist, and Life Style Expert Allure works diligently to create
opportunities for his team, incessantly encouraging them towards their individual
personal and professional goals. Mr. Wright has created the vision that moves TCM
forward. His many accomplishments and endeavors include: Fashion Director for
lifestyle tv series Anolan Luxeworld (luseworldtv.com) and go to makeup artist and
personal shopper to the New York City Concierge Association, TCM shows that artistry
reaches far beyond the lengths of a photo shoot. The client base includes notable lead
video vixens in 50 Cents, Jim Jones, Jamie Foxx and other rapper super star videos.
TCM associates with editorial photographers, TV personalities, NYCFashion Week,
model agencies, top hair salons and high networth clients
Paula Caldwell’s love for travel started as a young child. Her love of travel took her to Honolulu Hawaii and that is where her
career in the travel industry began. Paula’s first job in the industry was with Outrigger Hotels Hawaii. She worked for
Outrigger Hotels for several years, in both their FIT and wholesale reservation departments. She also worked for Trase Miller
in their Tulsa Oklahoma office. While at Trase Miller, she worked first worked for the FlyAAWay Vacations desk and shortly
thereafter transferred to the Hawaiian Air Vacations desks, where she quickly became the lead sales agent and destination
trainer for Hawaii.
In 1997, she got her start as an ttravel agent, where she worked for a time as an outside agent for a local travel agency. In
2001, Paula opened Dioduet Travel, in which she started focusing on the luxury market. In 2012 Dioduet Travel ventured into
creating luxury bespoke tours, with tours to Fashion Week Paris & Milan and wine/safari tours to South Africa.
Dioduet travel is affiliated with Avoya Travel, an American Express travel agency.
*******
In 2013 The Couture Man & Dioduet Travel formed a partnership to create a platform for the luxury market. From this, they
merged their love for fashion and travel into a new niche for the HNW market.
Out of this partnership has come a new focus on tourism from a fashion perspective. From this synergy was born Luxe
Experience NYC., which focuses on providing bespoke arrangements into the high end fashion world of New York, while
allowing the client to experience the city from a unique perspective.
Because of their extensive connections, they have started to develop very exclusive tours., with a very personal touch Their
bespoke tours enable the client to experience things that the public could not on their own. From private shopping events, t o
driving a Ferrari on a race track in Italy, to a private tour of Coco Chanel’s apartment, they strive to ensure that the c lient’s
experience is out of the ordinary.
Tour Organizer Profile: Bodhi Fishman
Bodhi first came to Kyoto in 1990, drawn by a love for Japan's traditional "arts of practice": tea ceremony, calligraphy, flower arrangement, Noh drama, and martial arts. Starting as director of the Oomoto School of Japanese Arts, Bodhi has spent decades working with many of Japan's leading masters to introduce these traditions to visitors from around the world. Over 20 years spent collaborating with author and conservationist Alex Kerr on the translation of his book Lost Japan, producing the follow-up Dogs & Demons, art collecting, and townhouse & rural conservation projects, have served to deepen Bodhi's passion for the preservation and transmission of Japan's rich cultural heritage.
Bodhi is an artist and art collector himself, and his company Bodaiju (“Bodhi Tree”) Travel & Arts speaks to his belief that Japan is a place where myriad glimpses of enlightenment may be gained through encounters with the many masters here. Bodhi's tour arrangement focuses on bringing travelers together in deep and meaningful hands-on meetings with these local sensei – the artisans, artists, chefs, art collectors, gardeners, Zen monks, tea teachers, martial arts masters, and more – with which Japan is blessed.
FALL FASHION TOUR JAPAN OCTOBER 12 ~ 26
Tour Highlights ~ Cuisine
Japanese cuisine – recently recognized as a Unesco world heritage – is remarkable in its breadth
and depth. We’ll be enjoying the best that the country has to offer, from spectacular Michelin -
starred contemporary fusion cooking in Tokyo, to the finest traditional kaiseki of Kyoto.
FALL FASHION TOUR JAPAN OCTOBER 12 ~ 26
Tour Highlights ~ Traditional Culture
Our itinerary is filled with numerous private, meaningful hands-on experiences with leading
masters of Japan’s rich traditional art forms ~ from Noh drama to Zen meditation, Tea
Ceremony to traditional weaving and dyeing
FALL FASHION TOUR JAPAN OCTOBER 12 ~26
Met at Narita arrivals by guide and driver with private van
Transfer to Andaz Toranomon Hills (new Hyatt luxury property)
VIP In-room check-in
Optional: half-day Tokyo city tour for early arrivals
Welcome cocktails this evening on rooftop terrace of hotel
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL
OCTOBER 12
Get ready for your day with your hair and make up team
Breakfast
Private van transfer to Meiji Grand Shrine for special welcome Shinto Ceremony
Lunch in Harajuku
Pop Culture and Architecture tour of Harajuku & Omotesando with local expert
Curator’s tour of the Issey Miyake 21/21 Design Sight Museum
Welcome Dinner at Ryugin
Evening Fashion Week kick-off party (TBC)
DAY 2
OCTOBER 13
Get ready for your day with your hair and make up team
Breakfast
Private van transfer to morning runway shows, VIP access to brands & showrooms
Lunch in Shibuya area
Attend afternoon runway shows with select brands
[Option to visit Nezu & Tomo museums]
Dinner at Narisawa (or TBC)
DAY 3
OCTOBER 14 TOKYO FASHION WEEK
Get ready for your day with your hair and make up team
Breakfast
Private van transfer to morning runway shows, VIP access to brands & showrooms
Lunch in Shibuya area
Afternoon runway shows, VIP access to brands & showrooms
Cocktails and make-up demo with Japan’s leading make-up artist (TBC)
Dinner at Takazawa or TBC
Attend evening Fashion Week party
DAY 4
OCTOBER 15 TOKYO FASHION WEEK
Get ready for your day with your hair and make up team
Early breakfast at hotel
Special tour of Tsukiji market with sushi chef
Private van transfer to morning runway shows, VIP access to brands & showrooms
Lunch TBC
Attend afternoon runway shows
Private sushi-making experience with leading chef in Nishi-Azabu
Dinner at Sushi Yu
Attend evening Fashion Week party /
or alternative activity (cocktails, Jazz, harbor cruise, etc.)
DAY 5
OCTOBER 16 TOKYO FASHION WEEK
Get ready for your day with your hair and make up team
Breakfast
Private van transfer to morning runway shows, VIP access to brands & showrooms
Lunch TBC
Afternoon runway shows, shopping with local experts
Private Noh drama workshop and performance with Japan’s leading master
Dinner TBC (La Sora Seed?)
Attend evening Fashion Week party /
or alternative activity (cocktails, Jazz, harbor cruise, etc.)
DAY 6
OCTOBER 17 TOKYO FASHION WEEK
Get ready for your day with your hair and make up team
Breakfast
Tailored Tokyo shopping with fashion savvy guides
Lunch TBC
Continue Tokyo shopping with guides
Final Tokyo farewell dinner (TBC)
Attend Fashion Week closing party
DAY 7
OCTOBER 18 TOKYO FASHION WEEK
Get ready for your day with your hair and make up team
Breakfast
Check-out of hotel ~ 2nd half of itinerary begins
Private van transfer to Kamakura (or airport for returning guests)
Lunch in Kamakura
Kamakura sightseeing – Daibutsu
Wine and conversation at famous art collector’s home, overlooking Kamakura harbor
Private vans to Hakone, check-in to Kai Hakone
Dinner at Kai Hakone
Relax in the natural hot spring baths
DAY 8
OCTOBER 19 KAMAKURA & HAKONE
Breakfast at Ryokan
Private van transfer to Hakone Open Air Sculpture museum
Lunch on way to Kubota museum , local specialty hotpot
Special curator’s tour of the Ichiku Kubota museum – the most beautiful kimono in the world
Return to Kai Hakone
Demonstration of Yosegi wood inlay by local craftsmen
Dinner at ryokan
Enjoy the natural hot spring baths
DAY 9
OCTOBER 20 HAKONE
Breakfast at Ryokan
Private van transfer to Odawara Station
Bullet train to Kyoto (First class )
Lunch on arrival at Honke Owariya, Kyoto’s oldest restaurant
Visit the workshop and home of the Hosoo family, who are blending traditional weaving techniques with
cutting edge fashion and design. Chance to special order furniture and items from Hosoo’s partners
Check-in to Ritz Carlton – Kyoto’s first true luxury hotel, opening February 2014
Dressed by local experts in elegant kimono for welcome dinner party
Private dinner party with geisha entertainment at Tempura Yoshikawa
DAY 10
OCTOBER 21 HAKONE ~ KYOTO
Breakfast at Ritz
Private van transfer to Sanjusangendo temple
Private van transfer to Miho Museum, designed by I.M. Pei. An architectural tour de force,
with a world-class collection of Silk Road and Japanese art.
Lunch at the Miho
Curator’s Tour of Miho Museum
Return to the Ritz Carlton to relax
Dinner at Kanga-an ~ exquisite Zen vegetarian (Shojin) cuisine in a temple setting
After dinner drinks at the Kanga-an bar
DAY 11
OCTOBER 22 KYOTO
Breakfast at the Ritz
Visit Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine
Sake Tasting at brewery in Fushimi district
Lunch TBC
Private Chabana flower arranging class in machiya townhouse
Enjoy afternoon Kabuki performance at Minami-za Theater
Dinner at Soushoku Nakahigashi (or at Sou / Mikaku for finest Kobe beef teppanyaki)
After dinner drinks in restored machiya bar
DAY 12
OCTOBER 23 KYOTO
Breakfast at Ritz Carlton
Private van transfer to Higashiyama (“eastern mountain”) area
Traditional Japanese sweet-making experience at one of Kyoto’s oldest sweet shops
Private tea ceremony experience in temple tea room
Lunch on own (guides will recommend)
Option for authentic Maiko henshin (full make-up and dress as a geisha), with photo shoot
Optional: tour of Kiyomizu-dera temple, fine ceramics shopping in neighborhood
Dinner on own (guides will recommend)
Free evening
DAY 13
OCTOBER 24 KYOTO
Breakfast at Ritz Carlton
Van transfer to Kodai-ji temple
Private lecture and instruction in Zen meditation by abbot
Lunch at O-men Higashiyama, or on own
Option for guided shopping at Kyoto’s many fine crafts shops ( lacquerware, fans, silk, indigo, paper, etc.)
~ Or option to visit temple highlights with guide (Golden Pavilion, Ryoan-ji)
Return to hotel to be dressed in kimono for dinner, make-up by LaMar
Final gala dinner at Yoshida Sansou, a former prince’s palace, with geisha entertainment
DAY 14
OCTOBER 25 KYOTO
Breakfast at Ritz Carlton
Private van transfers to Kanku airport for flights home
DAY 15 - DEPARTURE
OCTOBER 26 KYOTO
A similar itinerary is being made available to coincide with the Spring 2015 Tokyo Fashion Week.
Tentative tour dates are March 16 ~ 30, 2015 and a deposit of $5,000 are being accepted to hold
space.
This land only package is nonrefundable and is based on a minimum of 8 people per departure
This itinerary is subject to change. Substitutions may occur, if venue or events are not available.
Travel insurance is also available and advisable (Not available for citizens of Pakistan, Russia &
Nigeria).
Air inclusive price is available at an additional cost.
NOTES