In this episode of Maison Voyage: The Art of Luxury Travel, Vanessa sits down with Sequoia Armstrong — founder of Pueblo York and a specialist in immersive, off-the-beaten-path travel to Japan and Mexico. Together they unpack what luxury travel in Japan actually looks like for today's discerning traveler: why Tokyo is just the beginning, which lesser-known regions deserve far more attention (Kanazawa, Kyushu, the Hokuriku region, Gifu Prefecture), and how to build an itinerary that trades crowd-chasing for genuine cultural immersion. They dive deep into the traditional Japanese inn experience, including how to navigate communal onsen bathing as a Western traveler and why a private ryokan with in-room hot springs might be the most unexpectedly intimate luxury in the world. Sequoia also shares her favorite curated experiences — private sake tastings, ceramics workshops, wasabi farm visits, neighborhood walking tours — and gets honest about cherry blossom season hype, Japan's world-class ski scene in Hokkaido, the legendary luggage-forwarding logistics that make multi-city travel seamless, and why the Japanese yen makes now one of the best times in years to book. It's an episode that will make you see Japan in a completely different light — and probably start planning a trip you hadn't considered before.

Maison Voyage: The Art of Luxury Travel is the official podcast of the Maison Voyage brand, hosted by luxury travel advisor and founder Vanessa Kromer. With more than 16 years specializing in Italy, Europe, and bespoke international journeys, Vanessa sits down with the hoteliers, DMCs, destination experts, and industry insiders who are quietly defining what luxury travel looks like today — beyond the price tag, beyond the postcard, and beyond what you'll find on a typical influencer reel. Whether you're an affluent traveler researching your next unforgettable trip or a travel professional looking to sharpen your craft, each episode is designed to inspire, educate, and reveal the access, relationships, and intentional design that turn a vacation into something truly extraordinary.

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Puebla York: https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/

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