DAMDAM Explorations, a new small-group travel experience, enlightens the senses and offers an intimate glimpse into the many splendors of Japan
Courtesy of DAMDAM Explorations
Long lines. Crowded tourist sites. Selfie sticks. Luckily for us, there’s a more experiential way to travel and learn about a country. Enter DAMDAM Tokyo, a Japanese clean skincare brand, that took the off-the-beaten-path concept and teamed up with travel industry vets to curate a Japan trip like no other. DAMDAM Explorations, hosted by the brand’s co-founders Giselle Go and Philippe Terrien, launches its first edition this 5 to 15 December, 2025 with an intimate trip to explore Tokyo, Hyogo and Kyoto through a local lens.
Courtesy of DAMDAM Explorations
DAMDAM, along with travel pros Yoshitori Hamuro, Sophia Hatchitt and Ryan Bukstein, married their knowledge of Japan with the cultural rituals that inspire their products and transmuted it into a unique seven-person group trip. With stylish lodging at K5 Tokyo, Ace Hotel Kyoto and Nipponia Sasayama Hyogo and visits to private homes, tea farms, temples, intimate sake tastings, Michelin-starred meals and much more, the trip promises to immerse travelers in an unexplored side of Japan and what makes it such a special place.
Courtesy of DAMDAM Explorations
“We designed this trip to feel like traveling with close friends who open their own doors,” Go says. “Japan is often shrouded in mystery, and what makes Explorations special is the access we can provide like conversations with artisans in their ateliers, dining in spaces restored by artists like Hiroshi Sugimoto and meals at hidden gems. Many of these encounters are ‘if you know, you know’ moments made only possible through decades of relationships. We wanted to create a trip that feels both intimate and expansive at once.”
Courtesy of DAMDAM Explorations
The team’s combined expertise is impressive: in addition to founding DAMDAM Tokyo, Go and Terrien live on the Miura Peninsula with views of Mt. Fuji, Hamuro and Hatchitt have guided other group trips in the region and Bukstein played an integral role in on the development of Ace Hotel Kyoto and the Ace Hotel brand. Their deep connection to Japan’s cultural heritage, architecture and history distinguishes this Exploration from an average group tour.
Courtesy of DAMDAM Explorations
“I’m most excited to bring travelers to Hamuro san’s family temple,” says Hatchitt. “It’s such a rare opportunity to step into a deeply personal space that isn’t typically open to visitors. What makes it so special is that it’s not just a beautiful temple, but a living connection to his family history and heritage.”
Courtesy of DAMDAM Explorations
As for how the trip ties back to DAMDAM’s products and ethos, “the goal of DAMDAM Explorations is to share the people, the landscapes and the craftsmanship that inform everything we create,” Go says. In addition to a private kaiseki skin ritual experience at DAMDAM’s flagship store in Tokyo, each stop on the itinerary is inspired by the brand’s philosophy. “Uji’s tea farms and the sake distillery connect to the ingredients in our skincare, Jojuji Temple and Kokedera reflect the reverence for ritual that shapes our brand, design-forward hotels like K5 and Ace Kyoto mirror our love for creativity,” Go says.
Courtesy of DAMDAM Explorations
“There is something very special and emotional about a trip to Japan,” Bukstein says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to be a part of that experience for new travelers to Japan or frequent travelers that are looking for something unique for their next trip.” And if you can’t make the December edition, future DAMDAM Explorations will be in May and November 2026. Sign us up.
Visit DAMDAM Explorations to book the December 2025 or the May and November 2026 group trips.
Seeing Japan Through a New Lens
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