Japan & Thailand

• 5-10 Feb | Tokyo | Hoshinoya
  
• 10-13 Feb | Bangkok | The Sukhothai
  
• 13-16 Feb | Chiang Mai | Tamarind Village
  
• 16-19 Feb | Phuket | Andara
  
• 19-22 Feb | Yao Noi | Six Senses

Japan
In February, afternoon temperatures are about 10ºC~11ºC (42°F~50°F) while morning and evening temperatures fall to about 3ºC (37°F). Tokyo winters are sunny with little rain or snow. The air is dry, with the humidity around this time generally staying at a constant 30%.

Thailand
Dry conditions can also be expected in Bangkok, although temperatures will be warmer than further to the north due in part to the city's lower altitude. In the south, dry, sunny weather is the order of the day with plenty of blue skies and little chance of rain.

If you need urgent assistance while travelling, or need to make changes, reservations, or cancellations in Asia, contact these local contacts:

Japan

• Local Number in Tokyo: will be provided (office hours)

Note: This number is monitored Mon to Fri during business hours. For issues outside these hours, dial the number below.

• Emergency Number in Tokyo: will be provided

Note: You can also WhatsApp this number.

Important: If calling for issues in Japan, state your booking number, which is R18054

Thailand

• Local Contact for Thailand: will be provided
  
• Local Number for Thailand: will be provided
  
• Local Emergency Line for Thailand: will be provided
  
• Your Curator: will be provided or via scenset app chat
  
• scenset Emergency Line: will be provided

You can also contact us via the scenset app.

Important: For immediate assistance, contact your local contact first, as they are in the same time zone.

Japan

• US Passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Japan and can stay for up to 90 days.
  
• Please click here for full details.

Thailand

• Holders of US passports are among those not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period not exceeding 45 days on each visit.
  
• Click here for more details.

Japan

• As of October 2022, Japan has lifted the ban on entry and visa-free travel has resumed (where applicable).
  
• A valid vaccination certificate or a negative Covid-19 test certificate (taken within 72 hours before departure) is needed to enter Japan.
  
• Please click here for full details.

Thailand

• Travellers no longer need to show proof of vaccination or PCR/ATK test results.
  
• Please click here for any restrictions for entering Thailand, and ensure you are able to travel.

These guidelines are for reference only. Scenset holds no responsibility for travel restrictions. Travelers are responsible for ensuring the right documentation to travel.

Japan

• In general, tipping is not necessary in Japan. Guests do not have to tip restaurant staff, bellmen, taxi drivers, or housekeeping.
  
• While not expected, guides and drivers will always appreciate a tip for their services. Amounts are not fixed, but any number beginning with 4 should be avoided for superstitious reasons (4 is pronounced the same as "death" in Japanese). Tips should be passed along in a plain, white envelope with no markings/ribbons on it.

Thailand

• Guides and Drivers: The general guideline would be 10-20 USD (300 - 700 THB) for each day you were hosted by the guide. For the driver, 5-10 USD (150 - 300 THB) for each day they provided service. Tipping here is very much an extra sign of appreciation for exceptional service, so feel free to give what you think is fair.
  
• Restaurants: If you are dining at a simple street-side stand or food shop, you generally don’t tip. If you are at a casual sit-down restaurant, 10% will do it. If you are eating at an upper-market establishment check the bill as a 10% service charge is often added. Leaving extra is up to you, but you don’t need to leave a lot. Think of it as a generous rounding up if you were impressed with the service.
  
• Hotels: If you’re pleased with the cleanliness of your room and the maid service, leave 3 - 5 USD (100 - 150 THB) per day on the bedside table. For bellboys, 3 USD (100 THB) is a fair starting point, though again it’s up to your discretion and can be more.

We have designed a great playlist for you to enjoy before and during your trip to Asia!

• Japan is a curated selection of popular music from Japanese artists; straight off the streets of Tokyo!
  
• Thailand is full of popular Thai artists to discover.
  
• Summer Chill is perfect for days at the beach and unwinding in the sun.

If you're looking for some great Japanese movies to really get you in the mood for your trip, you may want to download for the flight:

• Tokyo Godfathers is an animated movie by the late anime auteur Satoshi Kon and is a touching love letter to the city of Tokyo.
  
• Adrift in Tokyo is filled with Japanese humour, plenty of cultural references and gentle moments; an enchanting examination of modern Japan through the streets of Tokyo.
  
• All About Lily Chou-Chou is a moving coming-of-age film documenting the struggles of two boys to cope with teenage life, while introducing the absurdity of Japan’s pop culture.
  
• Strawberry Shortcakes follows the ups and downs of four female friends in Tokyo looking for love and trying to cope with the responsibilities in their lives.

Independently make your way through customs & immigration, before collecting your luggage. You will meet your assistant in the arrivals hall.

After meeting your assistant in the arrivals hall, they will bring you to your driver and your private vehicle. It is about a 20-minute drive to your hotel.

Booked by scenset.

Hoshinoya | 5 nights

• Yuri Room
  
• Breakfast included
  
• Telephone number: will be provided

Booked by scenset.

Booking Number: will be provided

You're only a 20-minute walk away from the buzzing Akihabara district, why not head out for a stroll and explore the area? This area is synonymous with anime, manga, video games and youth-culture; it's great for people watching!

This is a recommendation - nothing has been booked.

Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby.

On your full day tour you will visit the old neighborhood of Asakusa, Sensoji Temple, and picturesque Nakamise Street. You'll also travel down Sumidagawa River on Tokyo's Water Bus, explore Hamarikyu Garden, and visit Meiji Shrine.

Finally, as the sunlight dims, take a walk down the sparkly Omotesando shopping street, a broad tree lined avenue home to the flagship stores of the world’s top fashion brands and some fantastic modern architecture.

• Duration: 8 Hours (travel by public transport)
  
• Guide name: will be provided
  
• Guide contact number: will be provided

This is a private experience.
Booked by scenset.

Hoshinoya | 5 nights

• Yuri Room
  
• Breakfast included
  
• Telephone number: will be provided

Booked by scenset.

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby.

This morning you will visit the contemporary Mori Art Museum, including a visit to the Sky Deck for excellent views of the city.

Explore Akihabara, Tokyo’s Electric Town.

Finally, stop off in a Bunny or Hedgehog Cafe, to experience the quirkier side of Japan (pay on the spot for food & drink).

• Duration: 5 hours (travel by public transport)
  
• Guide name: will be provided
  
• Guide contact number: will be provided

This is a private experience.
Booked by scenset.

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby.

Be sure to try Yakitori, Sashimi, Monjayaki, crispy Japanese fried chicken, braised vegetables, and seafood prepared in all different kinds of ways.

The tour will take place in either Shinjuku or Shibuya neighbourhoods.

• Duration: 3 hours (travel by public transport)
  
• Guide name: will be provided
  
• Guide contact number: will be provided
  
• Note: Please advise if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions.

This is a private experience.
Booked by scenset.

Hoshinoya | 5 nights

• Yuri Room
  
• Breakfast included
  
• Telephone number: will be provided

Booked by scenset.

Directions

• Please make your way to the venue (HiSUi Tokyo) at least 10 minutes prior to the tour start time in the late morning.
  
• Address: Koizumi building 5F, 4-3-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku
  
• From your hotel, take the Metro Marunouchi line to Ginza station.
  
• Take B4 Exit and you will see a GAP store on the corner of the street. Turn right and go down Namiiki Street about 25 meters. they are located on the 5th floor of the Koisumi Building. Currently, there is a boutique shop on the first floor of the building. Please go into the building entrance marked below and take the elevator to the 5th floor.
  
• Phone: will be provided

You will have the chance to get closer to the way of the sword for yourself and will learn to wield a Japanese blade in a manner befitting the Japanese way of life.

Batto is the art of drawing, cutting, and reheating the sword all in one quick, smooth movement. A master will first familiarize you to the basics of Japanese swordplay with a dummy sword, before moving on to cutting of a bamboo mat using a real sword. What may surprise you is how easily the sword cuts: strength is less important than dexterity, as women will often perform better than men. At the end of the experience, you will be adept at wielding it yourself!

• Duration: 30-45 minutes

This is a private experience.
Booked by scenset.

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby.

Tokyo is known as one of the world’s most fashionable cities, and this half day tour will show you how it got this reputation.

Ginza is Tokyo's most famous upmarket shopping, dining, and entertainment district, featuring numerous department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, and cafes. It is where you can find the infamous cups of coffee and where virtually every leading brand name in fashion and cosmetics has a presence.

A guide will take you around Ginza and assist you with shopping for anything you might desire, from designer clothes to souvenirs. You will also visit Mitsukoshi department store, one of Tokyo’s oldest, whose basement food floor is something to behold. To finish the day, you can choose to unwind in an elegant tea room for refreshing Japanese-style afternoon green tea and sweets.

• Duration: 4 hours
  
• Guide name: will be provided
  
• Guide contact number: will be provided

This is a private experience.
Booked by scenset.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at Bifutekino Kawamura.

• Website
  
• Cancellation Policy: Up to 2 days prior 100%
  
• Booked name: will be provided
  
• Dress code: Smart/Smart Casual
  
• Getting there: From your hotel, take the Metro Marunouchi line to Ginza station and take exit C3. From there, please refer to the below map - 3-minute walk.

Table booked - dinner will be paid locally.

Hoshinoya | 5 nights

• Yuri Room
  
• Breakfast included
  
• Telephone number: will be provided

Booked by scenset.

Why not head out tonight for some karaoke? Unleash your inner superstar and sing your heart out at one of the many bars across Tokyo specialising in the iconic karaoke-culture.

This is a suggestion only and no bookings have been made.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at BVLGARI.

• Website
  
• Cancellation Policy: Same day 100%, 50% the day before, 30% 2 days before
  
• Booked name: will be provided
  
• Dress code: Formal attire
  
• Menu: Menù Degustazione
  
• Address: 9th and 10th floor, Ginza Tower 2-7-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0061
  
• Directions: From your hotel, take the Metro Marunouchi line to Ginza station and take exit A13.
  
• Phone number: +81 3 6362 0555

Table booked by scenset - dinner is paid locally.

Hoshinoya | 5 nights

• Yuri Room
  
• Breakfast included
  
• Telephone number: will be provided

Booked by scenset.

You will be met by your driver at the hotel at the arranged pick-up time and transferred to the airport. If you can’t find the driver, please inform the hotel that you are waiting for a pre-arranged private transfer.

Transfer to Hanida Airport.

• Please show the front desk/concierge the following message in Japanese and the hotel staff will guide you to your car:
  
• ホテルのスタッフの皆様；お客様の車を予約しております。恐れ入りますが、車寄せまでお客様をご案内していただけますでしょうか？

Booked by scenset.

On arrival in Bangkok, Fast Track service has been organized to expedite you through the airport. An airport representative will meet you at the arrival gate with a welcome signboard to accompany you through immigration, baggage claim, and then to the Arrivals Hall.

Booked by scenset.

On arrival in Bangkok, Fast Track service has been organized to expedite you through the airport. An airport representative will meet you at the arrival gate with a welcome signboard to accompany you to immigration (if flying internationally) and baggage claim to the Arrivals Hall to meet your host who will then transfer you to your hotel by private vehicle.

Inclusions:
• Fast Track Service
• English-speaking host
• One-way transfer by private vehicle
• Drinking water, snacks and cold towels

• Guide name: will be provided
  
• Guide contact number: will be provided

Booked by scenset.

The Sukhothai | 3 nights

• Superior Room
  
• Breakfast included
  
• Telephone number: +66 2 344 8888

Booked by scenset.

Enjoy the day relaxing by the pool, enjoying a massage, or exploring on your own.

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby.

This is your chance to experience ‘One Night in Bangkok’. Typically the evening begins in the late afternoon and we’ll walk through various neighbourhoods, followed by some great local food, a cocktail in a unique place, and a nice visit through market areas and historic districts. The best way to do this is by using a variety of local transportation in order to be spontaneous and efficient.

The evening winds up at either one of the famous red-light market districts or at a riverside rooftop bar for a wonderful
illuminated view of Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), or even the Bohemian backpacker community of Khao San Road, depending on your hotel location and interests by that point in the evening.

The trip can be customized to suit your interests (such as more markets, less red-light, or more culture, less glitz, etc.).

• Duration: 6 hours
  
• Meeting point: Hotel lobby
  
• Dinner included
  
• Guide name: will be provided
  
• Guide contact number: +66 81 808 4963

This is a private experience.
Booked by scenset.

The Sukhothai | 3 nights

• Superior Room
  
• Breakfast included
  
• Telephone number: +66 2 344 8888

Booked by scenset.

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby.

Today's tour will introduce you to the dazzling city of Bangkok and its many forms of transportation. Move through the city like a local, traveling by foot, boat, tuk-tuk, and Sky Train. This is an innovative approach to urban exploration avoiding Bangkok's notorious traffic jams and providing a liberating way to see the city.

Highlights included:

• The Erawan Shrine and Central Business District
  
• Climbing up to the Golden Mount at Wat Saket for an overview of the most beautiful part of Bangkok
  
• The exquisitely beautiful Wat Pho temple and its famous statue of the Reclining Buddha
  
• A private boat ride in the canals of Thonburi's Bangkok Noi to see a quieter side of this bustling city.

Note: The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha are magnificent and some of Bangkok’s iconic sites. However, due to large crowds and long lines we generally recommend visiting alternative historic sites. We are happy to include the Grand Palace if it is a must-see for you.

• Duration: 7 hours
  
• Meeting point: Hotel lobby
  
• Guide name: will be provided
  
• Guide contact number: will be provided
  
• A local-style lunch is included today.

This is a private experience.
Booked by scenset.

A few of our favourite rooftop bars in Bangkok you may enjoy are:

• Brewski Rooftop Craft Beer Bar is the highest beer bar in Bangkok.
  
• ABar Rooftop offers the largest gin selection in Bangkok.
  
• CRU Champagne Bar is one of the hottest and most hyped rooftop bars in Bangkok and Asia.
  
• Vertigo offers an alfresco dining experience set atop a roof terrace overlooking the glittering cityscape of Bangkok.
  
• Sky is one of the original sky bars in Bangkok and has been featured in movies, as well as a plethora of awards.
  
• Sala Rattanakosin offers views of the river and a relaxing place for drinks!
  
• The Deck sits on the bank of the Chao Phraya and boasts a rare view of Wat Arun's Grand Pagoda.

Recommendations only.

If you're interested in seeing more of the (in)famous Bangkok nightlife you should head to Soi Cowboy, one of Bangkok’s signature red light districts. More lively than Patpong and more welcoming than Nana Plaza, Soi Cowboy has the atmosphere of a bygone Las Vegas, its streets flooded with visitors both local and international, flitting from bar to bar beneath the glow of neon signs.

Note: Soi Cowboy is very easy to reach via the skytrain, and you will also find an abundance of taxis on the main street of Sukhumvit. There are many bars & restaurants throughout this area.

Soi Cowboy

The Sukhothai | 3 nights

• Superior Room
  
• Breakfast included
  
• Telephone number: +66 2 344 8888

Booked by a scenset representative.

Your driver will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby to escort you to the airport by private vehicle. Take in the cityscape
passing by as you say your goodbyes to Bangkok.

Note: Please reconfirm the pick up time with your guide.

Booked by scenset.

Each passenger is allowed to check one piece of luggage weighing no more than 20 Kgs (44 Lbs). Additional weight can be purchased at check-in.

You can also carry on one piece of luggage weighing no more than 7 kg (15 lbs), along with a personal item.

On arrival in Chiang Mai, make your way through the airport to the Arrivals Hall to meet your host who will be holding a welcome signboard. They will then escort you to your hotel by private vehicle.

• Guide Name: will be provided
  
• Guide Number: will be provided

Booked by scenset.

Tamarind Village | 3 nights

• Lanna Room
  
• Meals Included: Daily Breakfast

Booked by scenset.

Travel Greener
Tamarind Village in Chiang Mai supports several organizations making a difference in Thailand, including Yuvabhadhana Foundation, Pan Kan Charity Store and Food4Good.

After checking into the hotel and dropping off your luggage, meet your host in the hotel lobby to begin exploring Chiang Mai.

Lunch will be at a local restaurant, featuring northern Thai cuisine.

Next, visit Wat Umong, a 700-year-old temple in a shaded forest, known for its tunnels. Afterward, travel to Doi Suthep, a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai. This important site offers scenic views, and the day will conclude with the evening monk chanting and city views before returning to the hotel.

The tour's pace is flexible.

• Time: Full-day (starting after hotel check-in)
  
• Inclusions: English-speaking host, transportation, snacks, soft drinks, and water
  
• Meals: Lunch
  
• Guide Name: will be provided
  
• Guide Number: will be provided

This is a private experience.
Booked by scenset.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at Kiti Panit.

• Website
  
• Booked name will be provided
  
• Dress code: Casual
  
• Getting there: The restaurant is less than 20 minutes from your hotel on foot, and the concierge can assist with directions. It's a nice walk through the Pratu Tha Phae Cityu Gate. Alternatively, a taxi or tuk tuk will get you there in about 7 minutes.

Table booked by scenset - dinner is paid locally.

A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, insect repellent, refillable water bottle

Enjoy a full day visit to Elephant Nature Park; a natural home and sanctuary for elephants, buffaloes, dogs, cats, birds and many other rescued animals. Your visit helps support the Foundation’s regional projects and offers an invaluable opportunity of helping elephant conservation. With no riding, the Elephant Nature Park experience is focused on taking your time and allowing the elephants to enjoy each moment of their freedom, scratching, rubbing, tossing dirt... so be patient, enjoy the view and take lots of pictures!

You will be picked up from your Chiang Mai hotel in the morning and driven north out of town to Elephant Nature Park nestled in the scenic Mae Teang river valley. The friendly and expert staff will introduce you to the resident herd of rescued and orphaned elephants and teach you their names and stories. You will be taken to a viewing platform and given the chance to feed the elephants. You will see that these gentle giants are perpetually eating!

Speaking of food, after the morning’s activities you will be treated to an indulgent buffet of varied Thai and international food.

In the afternoon, walk with the elephants to the river that skirts the park. You can head into the river with these gentle giants, and help them bathe. In the late afternoon, it's time for goodbyes to the elephants and to Elephant Nature Park before the hour-long drive back to Chiang Mai where you will be dropped off at your accommodations.

Note: there is no riding in this program. Park visits are about spending quality time observing and being with the herd. The schedule is flexible and may change depending on the mood of the elephants
that day!

• Meeting point: Hotel lobby
  
• Guide Name: will be provided
  
• Guide Number: will be provided
  
• Duration: 9 hours (including transfer time)
  
• Includes: Full-day Elephant Conservation program, roundtrip transportation, drinking water (but please bring your own refillable water bottle)
  
• Buffet lunch is included

Booked by scenset.

Enjoy a buffet lunch at the Elephant Nature Park.

Your visit helps support the program’s regional projects and offers an invaluable opportunity to help elephant conservation.

Tonight, or any night during your stay, take a short walk to the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. This is a sprawling assortment of food stalls, souvenir stands, and restaurants. There are also stands for foot massages (both by human and fish).

This is a recommendation only - no bookings have been made.

Tamarind Village | 3 nights

• Lanna Room
  
• Meals Included: Daily Breakfast

Booked by scenset.

In Thailand everyone learns to cook at home. Every mother is a "teacher" and a culinary guru. Family recipes are passed down from one generation to the next. Meals are always shared family affairs and are an important part of Thailand's cultural heritage. Chiang Mai's "Cooking at Home" cookery school, run by two passionate Thai cooks, offers a glimpse into these homegrown culinary traditions. Today's private class will allow you to learn, hands on, about the ingredients and steps in
preparation of some of your favorite Thai dishes.

After arriving at the Cooking School (located around 30 minutes outside of Chiang Mai), you will be taken to a local market where your chef and teacher for the day will describe the quintessential tastes
and smells of Thai cuisine ingredients.Then, straight to the kitchen to get started on cooking!

You can discuss with your cooking instructor directly, which dishes you would like to prepare. Some of our favorites include sour and spicy prawn soup with lemongrass (tom yum goong), Thai green curry with chicken (Gaeng khiew waan gai), stir fried chicken with cashew nuts (Gai phad med mamuang himaphan), and Mango with sweet sticky rice (Khao neow mamuang).

At the end your labours, step out of the kitchen to enjoy the dishes you just prepared in the picturesque setting of a charming roofed dining terrace, on the edge of the rice paddies. The ideal surroundings in which to delight your taste-buds as you savor the rewards of your culinary efforts!

• Meeting point: Hotel lobby
  
• Guide Name: will be provided
  
• Guide Number: will be provided
  
• Duration: 5 hours
  
• Includes: Cooking class with highly experienced, English-speaking teachers, food and all ingredients, roundtrip transfer, tea/coffee and drinking water
  
• Lunch is included

Booked by scenset.

On your way back to the hotel you can stop off at Wat Pha Lat. Whilst this temple doesn't feature in as many guide books as its neighbor Doi Suthep, it is very impressive in an understated way. Here you can find serenity, without the distraction of other tourists, as vendors trying to sell their wares.

This is a suggestion only.

Tamarind Village | 3 nights

• Lanna Room
  
• Meals Included: Daily Breakfast

Booked by scenset.

Your driver will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby to escort you to the airport by private vehicle. We hope you enjoyed
Chiang Mai!

Note: Please reconfirm your transfer time with your guide.

Booked by scenset.

Each passenger is allowed to check one piece of luggage weighing no more than 20 Kgs (44 Lbs). Additional weight can be purchased at check in.

You can also carry on one piece of luggage weighing no more than 7 kg (15 lbs), along with a personal item.

On arrival in Phuket, collect your luggage and head to the Arrivals Hall.

Look for the representative who will be holding a signboard displaying the resort name. Please inform them of your names, and they will transfer you to your resort.

Booked by scenset.

Andara | 3 nights

• Terrace Suite
  
• Meals Included: Daily Breakfast
  
• This suite features a private terrace

Booked by scenset.

Andara offers an abundance of experiences from which to choose, from private yacht charters to wellness experiences. We're on hand to assist with any reservations you may wish to make.

Andara | 3 nights

• Terrace Suite
  
• Meals Included: Daily Breakfast
  
• This suite features a private terrace

Booked by scenset.

You will be greeted by the driver at the hotel lobby for your private transfer to a marina where a private speedboat will complete the final journey to island paradise.

• Private car transfer - about 45 minutes
  
• Speedboat to Six Senses Yao Noi - about 45 minutes

Included.

Six Senses Yao Noi | 3 nights

• Hideaway Pool Villa
  
• Meals Included: Daily Breakfast
  
• This suite features a private terrace with sun loungers and alfresco dining

Booked by a travel agent.

Sustainability is the byword for every department at Six Senses. The farm-to-table initiative encompasses the Organic Garden, Mushroom Hut, Goat Farm, Chicken Farm and Duck Farm.

They also produce their own water and engage in natural waste water treatment.

Six Senses Yao Noi | 3 nights

• Hideaway Pool Villa
  
• Meals Included: Daily Breakfast
  
• This suite features a private terrace with sun loungers and alfresco dining

Booked by scenset.

Your resort will arrange check-out and a private transfer for you to Phuket International Airport for your onward flight, based on your flight departure time.

Booked by scenset.

Each passenger is allowed to check one piece of luggage weighing no more than 20 Kgs (44 Lbs). Additional weight can be purchased at check-in.

You can also carry on one piece of luggage weighing no more than 7 kg (15 lbs), along with a personal item.

Connect between flights. There are many shops, restaurants, and cafes at the airport. Express Spa Body and Foot Massage has locations at Concourses A & G.

Upon your arrival at Bangkok airport, claim your luggage and make your way to the 4th floor of the same building to check in for your international flight home.

Transit in Haneda and fly back home.