Art & Culture
Area
Season
-
Ritsurin Garden Premium Tea Ceremony
Ritsurin Garden boasts a history of nearly 400 years and is where the Takamatsu Matsudaira family, the samurai lords who ruled this area, entertained various guests. This dinner program recreates the family's unrivaled hospitality. There will be a guided tour of the garden by writer Alex Kerr, who will provide guests with insights into the garden's most famous and historic trees, the natural beauty of Japan exhibited throughout the garden, and the characteristics of Japanese culture from the Edo period onwards. The garden tour will be followed by apéritifs at the historic Kikugetsu-tei Tea House, during which a Living National Treasure lacquerware master artisan will discuss Kagawa lacquerware—a representative traditional craft of Kagawa Prefecture. This will be followed by a cha-kaiseki dinner, the highest form of hospitality within the tea ceremony.
-
A Traditional Japanese Autumn Festival in Hannan City, Right Next to Kansai International Airport!
Every year, in early October, the residents of Hannan City celebrate the autumn harvest with a traditional local performing art passed down over generations: the Yagura Parade.
Now, for the first time ever, VIP seating packages will be available at the Hannan City Yagura Parade on October 6 (Sunday). On the private guided tour package, interpreters will accompany participants as they experience the entire Yagura Parade up close. Highlights include "Yagura Miyairi," when the floats are carried up the stairs to the shrine, and "Mikoshi Togyo," when the portable shrine procession enters the sea at Ebinohama Beach. -
Dinner Show Featuring Gagaku Court Music by Hideki Togi and Japanese Cuisine with an Illuminated Mikazuki Falls
Kusu, Oita Prefecture, will host a special tour based around the theme of “The Legend of Mikazuki Falls,” a Heian-period tale of true love in Kyoto. This tour offers abundant attractions for international tourists seeking to experience what makes Japan unique.
For two days, there will be dinner shows featuring live performances of gagaku ancient court music by Hideki Togi at Arashiyama Taki Shrine during the mid-autumn Harvest Moon, when the full moon shines brightest in the clear night sky. The Togi family have passed down gagaku court music from generation to generation since the Nara period 1,300 years ago. Hideki Togi, who inherited this tradition, has performed at court ceremonies and gagaku concerts held at the Imperial Palace throughout his career. He has also played a large role in promoting traditional Japanese culture and encouraging international goodwill. Sushi Kappo Yamanaka, a famous restaurant frequented by food connoisseurs from all over Japan since its opening in 1972, provides the cuisine for dinner shows. The seafood used for their Hakata sushi is procured from the Genkai Sea and other nearby coastal waters and is carefully selected by the restaurant's owner. The chefs will spare no expense in preparing your meal for this gem of an event. The dinner will also feature local Kusu Rice, which is the same type of rice specially offered to deities at the Daijosai Festival.
This event, featuring Japanese-style lighting of Mikazuki Falls and Arashiyama Taki Shrine, gagaku court music accompaniments by Hideki Togi, and a collaboration with local restaurants in Kusu town, will continue for the next two months.
The beauty of Mikazuki Falls and Arashiyama Taki Shrine, lit up in a quintessential Japanese style, makes for the perfect view to enjoy with the gagaku court music by Hideki Togi in the background, and is sure to be a hit on social media! This event offers a precious opportunity to experience the true depths and beauty of Japanese culture. Centered around luxurious Japanese tradition and history, this special event will make for unforgettable memories. -
Kamuy Lumina: Lake Akan Forest Night Walk
Nighttime entertainment at Japan's first national park.
Kamuy Lumina: Lake Akan Forest Night Walk is an adventure tour pursuing the world of the Kamuy (spirit-deities) that were inspired by the yukar tale “The Tale of the Owl and the Jay Bird,” a legend of the Ainu people of Akan.
The setting is Lake Akan, located within Hokkaido’s Akan-Mashu National Park. Starting at dusk, this dream-like experience along the Bokke Walking Trail 1.2 kilometers from the lake’s shores will let you get in touch with Ainu culture.
You are invited to the national park’s natural forest to soak up the Ainu worldview of valuing coexistence with nature, but with a twist: this tour features cutting-edge digital art, including projection mapping, scenography (light and sound stage sets), and a unique musical experience with rhythm sticks.
A multilingual app has been developed so that people all around the world can deepen their experience and learn about Ainu culture. Additionally, there are special programs to help you feel at one with the Ainu people, such as a private event where you can don original Ainu hanten robes with patterns approved by the Akan Ainu community.
The Kamuy Lumina is one of a series of Lumina night walks developed around the world by Moment Factory, a cutting-edge multimedia entertainment company based in Montreal, Canada, and Lake Akan is the only location in the world where a national park is being used as the stage. -
FC TOKYO HOSPITALITY
FC TOKYO HOSPITALITY offers three special packages:
1. Special game experiences at a home game of FC TOKYO in the J1 League, including photo opportunities with coaches and players, a stadium tour, a pitch-side visit during the warm-up, and a meal at the stadium
2. Set package with special game experiences and a special one-hour lesson with an academy coach of (U13–18) FC TOKYO
3. Special game experiences & exclusive participation in the (U6–12) FC TOKYO school
Options 2 and 3 include an interpreter-assisted Q&A session with the coaches, as well as photo opportunities for children. -
Ascetic Training, Senchado Tea Ceremony, and Fucha Cuisine at Manpukuji Temple
Manpukuji Temple was founded in 1661 by the Chinese monk Ingen Ryuki and is the head temple of the Obaku sect of Zen Buddhism. It is characterized by its Chinese-style architecture, in which its seven halls are arranged in the Ming Dynasty style.
The Daio Hoden Main Hall—the only one made of teak in Japan—the Dharma Lecture Hall, the Kaizando Founder’s Hall, and more, still stand as originally constructed. Highlights of the temple also include its Important Cultural Properties, which consist of twenty-three main buildings, corridors, plaques, and hanging couplets.
You can also experience the Chinese culture of the time through the temple's collection of Buddhist statues, framed inscriptions, paintings on sliding-door panels, and hanging scrolls by Buddhist artists from China.
Zen Master Ingen introduced a great number of things to Japan, many of which are taken for granted today. Such imports include kidney beans, watermelon, lotus root, sencha green tea, bamboo shoots (moso bamboo), chairs, tables, and manuscript paper.
Fucha cuisine, the Chinese version of Japanese Buddhist Shojin vegetarian cuisine, is beautifully presented and tastes divine. It is one of the highlights of the event that allows guests to truly experience Chinese culture.
There are Zen monks at Manpukuji who continue to practice asceticism to this day. These monks devote themselves to their practice through zazen meditation, Zen dialogue, religious services, alms begging, and other daily temple work at the Zen dojo located on the temple grounds. Visitors can deepen their understanding of the history and culture of Manpukuji from a digital guide available in seven languages: Japanese, English, French, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese (simplified and traditional). -
Heian Jingu Tsuki Otoyo: Kyoto Harvest Moon Concert 2024
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration that originated in China to celebrate the fullest and brightest moon of the year. It is now celebrated with great enthusiasm in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and many Southeast Asian countries. This year, the festival falls on August 15, as per the lunar calendar. Traditional "moon-viewing parties" will be hosted this October in the modern setting of Kyoto’s Heian-jingu Shrine. The Daigokuden (outer hall of worship) will be lit up in the background for special live performances by talented musicians to embody the elegant and romantic time that is mid-autumn.
■ Dates: October 12 (Sat.) - October 14 (Mon.)
■ Admission: All seats reserved, advance purchase 8,000 yen / 25,000 yen with meals included (scheduled/admission date designated)
■ Performer: October 12 (Sat.): Hiromi Go October 12 (Sun.): Erika Ikuta October 14 (Mon.): NEO PIANO
[Special Gift for Visitors: Original Japanese Sweets]
This tradition of admiring the moon originates in China. There, they serve round mooncakes in the shape of the full moon. The Tsuki Otoyo Kyoto Harvest Moon Concert represents East Asia's shared culture of affection for the moon. Original Japanese sweets will be handed out to all who join in on the festivities.
[Plan with Dinner]
Enjoy an exquisite dinner at Rokusei, a restaurant located near Heian-jingu Shrine. Savor their Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine which embodies the culinary culture of Kyoto cultivated over its long history.
Time: 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. each day (concert begins at 7:00 p.m.)
Details: Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine -
Night Festival at the Tokyo National Museum
The Tokyo National Museum has the longest history of any museum in Japan. It's collection includes numerous masterpieces exemplifying Japanese art, including paintings, swords, calligraphy, and kimonos. This summer, the museum will be holding a special exhibition to showcase valuable cultural assets, such as Buddhist statues and paintings inherited from Jingoji Temple in Kyoto.
In addition to these precious tangible cultural properties, guests can experience the Japanese summer traditions of matsuri festivals and temple fairs.
The temple fair atmosphere cleverly recreated on the museum grounds will greet guests as they enter through the Kuromon "Black Gate" instead of the regular entrance. Once inside, guests can enjoy traditional Japanese festival sweets, such as cotton candy and shaved ice, and take part in popular festival activities and items, including target practice, ring toss, wind chimes, daruma dolls, and masks.
A variety of festival foods will also be offered, from takoyaki octopus dumplings and yakisoba noodles to Japanese beer, chocolate bananas, and other such festival treats. -
Premium Sports and Cultural Tourism Project with Imabari Castle, Japan’s Strongest Castle
Imabari City is centrally located and faces out toward the Seto Inland Sea. It is renowned throughout the world for its beautiful scenery of scattered islets and islands. This area was a key hub for maritime traffic in ancient times, connecting the east and west ends of the Seto Inland Sea. The Murakami Kaizoku pirates, Japan's largest group of pirates, were active in this region during the medieval period. Imabari Castle was built by one of Japan's master castle builders, Todo Takatora, in the early modern period to take back control of maritime traffic. The castle was a crowning achievement of the coastal castle style.
A special stage set against the backdrop of the magnificent and illuminated castle tower of Imabari Castle will be erected for the Kabuki performances. Kabuki, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, is a combination of traditional Japanese music and dance. Ichikawa Danjuro XIII, one of the leading stars of Kabuki, will give a special performance of one of the definitive masterpieces of Kabuki entitled Renjishi (with English audio guide).
Guests will be treated to traditional Japanese hospitality alongside this brilliant theater performance, with guides dressed in kimono serving limited-edition Kabuki boxed lunches featuring seafood from the Seto Inland Sea. (Boxed lunches and tickets will be sold separately.) -
Tokyo | Intensive Noh Masterclass
Theater steeped in spiritual traditions
Austere, meditative, and steeped in spirituality, Noh Theater is one of Japan's oldest performing arts and a recognized UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Characterized by masks that carry a multitude of emotions within a single carved expression, Noh performances consist of rhythmic chanting, slow, measured movements, and an iconic stage adorned with a painted pine tree that mimics outdoor structures.
In this Noh Masterclass, you will receive a comprehensive introduction to the world of Noh - from its history to performing styles, masks to costumes - from a 4th-generation Noh performer at his private residences. Walk across the sacred stage, witness performances up close, and experience the indescribable elegance of Noh Theater.