I had never been to Japan, but have long wanted to visit, so when Lexus invited me to join a trip marking its 35th anniversary in Australia, I couldn't say no. The five-day itinerary was shaped around the idea of synthesis — the meeting point between advanced technology and traditional craftsmanship — a belief at the core of the Lexus philosophy and one that runs deep in Japan. It also informed LANDMARK by Lexus at this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, but being here in person made it easier to understand: how thoughtfulness shows up in design, in hospitality, and in the smallest everyday moments.

Day one

After a 10-hour flight from Sydney, I arrived in Tokyo in the early evening, just as the city began to glow. Our driver was waiting for us as we stepped out into the (surprisingly humid) September air — a small detail, but it set the tone for the week ahead. Lexus calls it omotenashi: hospitality so intuitive, you never need to ask.

My home for the next two nights was Hoshinoya Tokyo, a modern ryokan in the city’s financial district. The noise of the streets fell away as soon as we stepped inside. You're asked to remove your shoes upon arrival, one of the many traditional hospitality relics that reign supreme here. It's a welcome request, given all the floors in the hotel are gently tatami-matted.

Some of the group opted for a visit to the rooftop onsen to recover from the flight, but after exploring my room (and discovering the iced tea left thoughtfully in anticipation of my arrival), I fell into the low-slung bed and immediately surrendered to sleep.

Day two

Breakfast here is akin to ceremony. A traditional bento box was the perfect fuel for a busy day, which began in the quiet hum of a Lexus LM, as we were chauffeured to teamLab Borderless.

In this immersive gallery, you don’t just look at the art, you become part of it. Digital flowers bloom across walls, oceans rise and dissolve at your feet. It’s a sensorial experience, and a reminder that boundaries are often of our own making.

The experience spilled over into lunch, which was a short drive away at MoonFlower Sagaya Ginza, where food and art intertwine. As we ate, teamLab’s projections unfolded across the table, in accordance with the dish being served — cherry blossoms in spring, gold leaves in autumn — transforming the dining room into a living canvas.

A stroll around the shops in Ginza served as the perfect post-lunch digestif, before an evening at Oryori Tsuji, a Michelin-starred restaurant that celebrates the traditions of Japanese cuisine. Ten courses followed, each one more beautiful than the last. And afterwards, we found ourselves at Studio Mule, a hidden listening bar in Shibuya. Owner Toshiya Kawasaki poured natural wine while spinning vinyl on a Mark Levinson system — the same sound technology featured in Lexus interiors.

Day three

There are few greater luxuries than breakfast delivered to your suite after a late night. I could have stayed cocooned in bed all morning, but our first stop called: INTERSECT BY LEXUS.

This is a space that resists definition — not quite a café, not quite a gallery — more an immersive expression of the brand's ethos. Bamboo lattices inspired by the Lexus spindle grille filter the light, while walls crafted from Lexus vehicle parts turn engineering into art. A café hums on the ground floor, while upstairs, guest are invited to stay a little longer, either over a proper meal, or perhaps getting lost in a good book (of which there are many).

Nearby, we visited Tangent Studio, where design engineer Hideki Yoshimoto introduced us to 'Inaho' — a golden light sculpture inspired by rice swaying in the wind. As you walk closer, the stems bend towards you, graceful and seemingly alive. It’s technology that feels both deeply human but also impossibly futuristic, rooted in the same spirit of craftsmanship and curiosity that defines Lexus.

In the afternoon, it was time to board Japan's famed Shinkansen bullet train. The journey was smooth and silent — the only real telltale sign that we were actually in motion was the city landscape blurring into green as we moved west, towards Kyoto. When we arrived, we checked into the Banyan Tree Higashiyama – one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever experienced, which is surrounded by lush greenery, and framed by bamboo. A warm matcha was waiting in my room when I arrived, which was the perfect pick-me-up before the rest of our itinerary.

We spent the evening with Takumi master Nobumi Miyake at his kimono workshop, where he has been perfecting the art of hand-painted silk for over 30 years. Watching him lay gold leaf across fabric was hypnotic — the kind of patience and precision that only comes with time.

Then, dinner was at Tsujifusa, a tiny Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurant. Every detail — from the placement of chopsticks, the eclectic assortment of sake vessels — was deliberate.

Day four

My final morning in Kyoto (and the morning of my 27th birthday) began before sunrise, with a drive through empty streets to the train station. We boarded the Shinkansen bound for Fukuoka — another smooth, almost meditative journey made even better by a hot drink and a breakfast bento.

Our first stop was the Lexus Miyata Plant, where craftsmen and robots work in tandem, with careful choreography bringing each Lexus vehicle to life.

Lunch followed at Soukatei, a small French-Japanese restaurant hidden inside a private home overlooking a garden. Each dish reflected the season, with much of the produce grown on-site. As with so many of the meals we'd enjoyed so far, many of the dishes more closely resembled art pieces than actual food.

By late afternoon we were back in Tokyo, checking into The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza. The hotel is sleek but soft, with warm lighting and low, expansive lounges. Over cocktails at the rooftop bar, we talked about how Brahman Perera has translated these Japanese ideals into the LANDMARK by Lexus pavilion for Melbourne: the tactile surfaces, the listening-bar ambience, the interplay of AI and craft.

Day five

My final day had no real agenda, which felt like a luxury in itself. We lingered over our final breakfast together, then I set out to explore the shops solo. I'd arrived in Japan with countless recommendations for both vintage and luxury shopping spots in Omotesandō, and it didn't disappoint.

I could've spent hours wandering through tiny shops, backstreets, and cafés, but my afternoon was punctuated by one final indulgence – a Lexus LM was waiting to deliver me to a full-body treatment at the Hoshinoya Tokyo spa, followed by a quick dip in their famed onsen. The perfect prelude to a 10-hour journey back to Sydney.