2026 Sondered Journeys

In celebration of nature, craft, and quiet beauty, Sonder, in collaboration with the Indo-Japanese Association, invites you on TWO soulful journeys—each a tribute to the art of seeing deeply and feeling fully. Contact us to get the detailed itinerary curated for you and YOUR Sondered moments woven in.

We’re launching Sonder with a limited Cherry Blossom Tour across Tokyo, Hakone, and Kyoto, timed precisely to peak sakura. This is Japan at its most beautiful — fleeting, seasonal, and impossible to replicate.

Led by artist and influencer, Hiroko Sarah who has homes both in Mumbai and Tokyo and a trusted voice on Japanese culture and everyday life, this journey goes beyond sightseeing. Hiroko brings local context, access, and insight that transforms famous places into meaningful experiences.

Designed as an intimate group experience, this tour follows the blossoms while uncovering food, culture, and quiet moments most travelers miss. Limited seats. One season. One chance to experience Japan in bloom — the Sonder way.

Designed around you

Every Sonder journey begins with a conversation. Before we talk numbers, we sit down with you to understand what you’re truly seeking from Japan, the moments you want to linger in, the experiences that matter to you. These are your Sondered moments, and they shape how the journey is designed.

Because our trips are crafted around people, timing, and access — and because we travel in intimate groups only — our pricing reflects that depth and care. This is not mass travel. It’s considered, personal, and limited by design.

Prices for the Cherry Blossom Tour start from ₹3,75,000 onwards, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Limited seats. One season. A journey built around you.

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"Itadakemasu" - Japan centered around Food

Food is Japan’s most honest language. It speaks through season, restraint, ritual, and generosity. Itadakimasu is Sonder’s immersive food journey through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, curated and led by Lakhan Jethani of Mizu.

Lakhan travels with the group throughout, guiding you across Japan’s culinary spectrum — from Michelin-starred kitchens to humble street counters and late-night izakaya hops. Every meal is intentional, every stop a lesson in culture, context, and craft. Tokyo reveals range and innovation, Kyoto teaches seasonality and precision, Osaka brings warmth, humor, and soul.

All meals are included, from refined tasting menus to market lunches and comfort dishes locals return to week after week. A few dinners are left open by design, giving you the freedom to follow your appetite, revisit a favourite, or explore on your own.

Food is the spine of the journey, but not the only one. Cultural and sightseeing stops are woven in naturally — local markets, historic neighbourhoods, everyday rituals, and places that explain why the food tastes the way it does. Local guides join at key points, adding depth to attractions and anchoring each experience in place.

We travel in intimate groups only, so tables stay small, conversations stay open, and meals feel shared, not staged. Because in Japan, food is a unifier — it brings people together, slows time, and turns strangers into companions.

Designed Around You | Pricing

Every Itadakimasu journey begins with a conversation. Before routes or reservations, we take time to understand what you want to experience through food — the flavors you’re curious about, the moments you want to linger in, and the kind of Japan you want to taste. These become your sondered moments, shaping the journey end to end.

This is a chef-led, fully inclusive experience. All meals are covered — from Michelin-starred dining to izakaya hops — along with curated food experiences, cultural and sightseeing stops, local guides, and seamless logistics. We travel in intimate groups only, allowing for access, flexibility, and depth that larger tours simply can’t offer.

Pricing is ₹4,50,000 all inclusive, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Limited seats. Shared tables. A journey designed with intent.

Upcoming Trips

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Mt. Fuji | Backpackers’ Ascent

This journey moves deliberately from Tokyo to Hakone and up Mt. Fuji, layering context before altitude. We acclimatise, prepare, and then ascend the Yoshida Trail together, guided by locals who know the mountain’s rhythms.

Each step is paced, thoughtful, and shared only with a small group — no crowds, no rush.Fuji doesn’t reveal itself on command. It appears when it chooses to. This journey is about earning that moment: carrying only what you need, moving step by step, and savoring the quiet effort of the climb. Along the way, we pause at local villages, tasting seasonal flavors, warm teas, and small-batch delicacies that connect us to the region.

These are your sondered moments: the hush of early mornings, shared smiles on the trail, and the stillness that only comes with altitude. This is Mt. Fuji experienced properly — intimate, local, and unforgettable.

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Japan through Stories

Step off the beaten path and into the pages of Japan’s contemporary literature. From bustling streets to quiet alleyways, from shimmering seaside towns to contemplative gardens, this journey lets you experience Japan as its storytellers do. Walk where characters pause, sip tea where moments unfold, and discover the country through its stories.

What You’ll Experience:

Intimate walks through the streets that inspired Mieko Kawakami, exploring Tokyo’s modern neighborhoods and hidden corners.
Café stops and atmospheric corners reminiscent of Banana Yoshimoto’s Tokyo, where everyday life becomes luminous.
Surreal, dreamlike walks in Haruki Murakami’s world — jazz bars, winding streets, and quiet parks that feel just out of time.
Hidden towns, traditional markets, and seasonal landscapes that echo the moods of contemporary Japanese writing.
Small-group experiences designed for reflection, conversation, and pause — no crowds, no rush.

Places We Visit:

Tokyo:

Shibuya & Shinjuku streetscapes — Kawakami’s urban pulse
Koenji & Shimokitazawa neighborhoods — Yoshimoto’s quiet, evocative corners
Jazz cafés, bookshops, and literary haunts — Murakami’s inspiration spots

Hakone & Fuji Region:

Lakeside walks, Onsen towns, and mountain trails — reflective landscapes in literature
Hot springs and local cuisine experiences connecting story to place

Kyoto & Nara

Garden temples and quiet streets that echo introspective narratives
Local artisan workshops and tea houses — tasting the Japan behind the prose