The Gateway of India in Colaba, Mumbai, the arch the Taj Mahal Palace faces

Signature Series · Travel

The Asian Grand Tour

Nine cities, from a raked garden in Kyoto to the Peace Hotel, which keeps its old name until 2027.

The old European tour ran through Rome, Paris, and Venice because each city changed what the next was allowed to be. This route does the same thing with nine cities a reader may already move between.

The guide is the longer version: the garden, the lunch, the name still on the door. This page is only the order. One or two cities is a trip. All nine is a year.

Why These Nine

One city should change the next

Kyoto makes the later cities feel loud. Shanghai puts a real room under the family stories. The order is a suggestion. The point is succession: one room altering what you expect from the room after it.

The Route

Nine Stops

What each city is for. The longer version is in the guide.

01
Kyoto
Tawaraya on its own site, Park Hyatt Kyoto beside Kodai-ji, and lunch at Kikunoi Honten.
02
Tokyo
Aman above Otemachi, a counter if you can get one, and teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills.
03
Seoul
Signiel in Lotte World Tower, then Bukchon only between 10 and 5.
04
Hong Kong
Dim sum at Lung King Heen, a Liaigre suite on Jervois Street, tea at LockCha in Hong Kong Park.
05
Singapore
Odette inside the National Gallery, or the EDITION at the Botanic Gardens end of Orchard.
06
Bangkok
Mandarin Oriental on the river, Jim Thompson off Rama I, fruit at Or Tor Kor.
07
Jaipur
The Gem Palace on MI Road, a night at Rambagh, Amer before the coaches.
08
Mumbai
The Taj facing the Gateway since 1903, and Indian Accent at the NMACC when you want the other dinner.
09
Shanghai
The Peace Hotel, still open, until the Raffles name arrives in 2027. Capella if you want a lane house.