
Food & Drink
Area
Season
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Gastronomy Tour of Aso Caldera's Finest Produce and Japanese Brown Wagyu
Minami Aso Village at the southern foot of the vast Aso Caldera is a healing sanctuary abundant in nature and pure spring water. Shirakawa Suigen, which was selected as one of the 100 Best Natural Waters in Japan, is among one of its most famous springs.
Participants will partake in a sumptuous dining experience that stimulates the senses, featuring Aso Japanese Brown wagyu and other carefully-selected local ingredients. Lunch is served on an open-air trolley car, whereas dinner is prepared right in front of you by chefs using wood and other natural flames.
Participants will also experience traditional Japanese culture in an authentic tea ceremony performed by members of the 400-year-old Urasenke school founded by tea master Sen Rikyu. The ceremony will take place at Shirakawa Suigen, which was selected as one of the 100 best waters by the Ministry of the Environment.
The rich nature and local cuisine of this volcanic region will provide an extraordinary experience that will heal both the mind and body.
Head Chef
Kenshin Miyamoto: A goodwill ambassador for “Kumamoto, the Land of Food,” and the recipient of the Culinary Masters Award from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. Boasts an illustrious career that includes a culinary showcase at Expo 2015 Milan, which promoted the charms of Aso to the world.
He will prepare exquisite multicourse meals that make the most of Aso Japanese Brown wagyu, cooked skillfully over natural flames borne of wood and charcoal, and Kumamoto Prefecture's bountiful seasonal produce. -
Experience-Based Tour Offering a Glimpse Into the Essence of Samurai Culture
(1) Setouchi City boasts the largest production and volume of Bizen swords in Japan, which were the favorite swords of famous historical samurai warriors, and is known as the mecca of Japanese swords.
The Bizen Osafune Sword Museum, Japan's only public sword museum with a resident swordsmith, will be rented for a night. During this time, the swordsmith will provide commentary on the history, culture, and origins of swords, including the unique cultural values hidden in Japanese swords as weapons. Participants will also be able to take part in Setouchi City's first ever tameshigiri (test cut) experience and observe ancient swordsmithing techniques.
(2) Meals will be prepared by two chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants using mainly local Setouchi ingredients. The meal will be provided at the Nakazaki Family Residence Main Building, a Tangible Cultural Property completed around 1917.
(3) Participants will be treated to commentary on the history of Bizen ware pottery by a Bizen artist, after which they will try their hand at making Bizen wares at the Sabukaze Ceramics Hall, a guidance facility for the Remains of the Old Kilns of Sabukaze, a nationally designated historical site. After the workshop, participants will stroll along Shiomachi Karakoto Street, a street that retains the atmosphere of the Edo and Showa periods and is home to many nationally registered cultural properties. They will also get to interact with local residents and enjoy a local dish called Kako no Jabu Jabu, a stewed fish and vegetable dish over rice, served in Bizen ware dishes.
(4) A welcome reception by matchlock gunners and samurai warlords at Okayama Castle. After the castle closes to the public, participants will have a private dinner at Okayama Castle, where they will enjoy a meal arranged in the style of Kachidoki Meshi, a feast dish from the Warring States period. Kenshin Uesugi, a powerful daimyo from the time who loved Bizen swords, would eat this dish as a form of prayer for victory before he went into battle. -
The Birthplace of Japanese Wine, Featured in the Manga Drops of God! Three days to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Kyoutou region in Yamanashi Prefecture and taste Koshu wines
(1) Special private viewing of one of Japan's three new most beautiful nightscapes
Enjoy dinner at the Fruit Park Fujiya Hotel with a beautiful night view of the Kyoutou region, which was selected as one of Japan's "New Three Most Beautiful Nightscapes." They can also enjoy the night view from the Fuefukigawa Fruit Park, which is normally closed to the public at night.
(2) Tour of historical sites from the early days of authentic winemaking
Visit the Former Lumiere Underground Fermentation Tank, which is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property, and learn about the unique Japanese winemaking methods that continue to this day.
(3) Premium dinner experience at Daizenji Temple with Japanese cuisine and Koshu wine
Take in the local food culture of the area (local Japanese cuisine and wine from the Kyoutou region) with a premium dinner expeirence at Daizenji Temple, a national treasure which has a history of over 1,000 years. The temple also houses a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, holding a bunch of grapes—the only statue of its kind in Japan.
The temple grounds will be used to host a special art show by internationally acclaimed dye artist Ena Furuya, who has brought the 1,200 year-old traditional craft of wax-resist dyeing to the modern age.
(4) Breakfast at a popular scenic spot with a panoramic view of Mt. Fuji
A special early morning bus service will be provided to take participants to FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace to see a stunning panoramic view of Mt. Fuji with the sunrise.
(5) Drops of God! Collaboration
Receive a guidebook supervised by the author of Drops of God!, a legendary wine manga that has sold 15 million copies worldwide and is adored by wine lovers around the world, as well as wines with original Drops of God! wine labels. -
Fire Festival and Miare Festival on the World Heritage Site, the Sacred Island of Okinoshima
★ Miare Festival, one of Munakata Taisha's Shinto rituals: A magnificent parade of fishing boats that is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Folk Cultural Property
★ Special plan limited to 6 people: Helicopter tour of the Miare Festival parade (Special plan for 6 people only)
★ Change into yukata and join us on the eve of the festival at the Fire Festival FROM PORT OF GOD.
Enjoy a brilliant bonfire and traditional performing arts on the sandy beach at the entrance to the World Heritage Site. Participants will also get to visit the local fishermen's Sunday market
★ The Three Shrines of Munakata, a World Heritage Site: take a boat from Konominato to Oshima Island and visit the World Heritage Site of Nakatsumiya Shrine, then head to Okinoshima Yohaisho, which offers a distant view of Okinoshima Island, the sacred island where the gods dwell.
★ Tour the Hetsumiya Shrine and the Shinpokan Museum, which houses 80,000 sacred treasures (certified as national treasures) of Okinoshima and more.
★ Neo Gastronomy Tourism: Special dinner supervised by a renowned Fukuoka chef using ingredients from Munakata, including fresh seafood from the Genkai Sea.
★ Katsuya Shuzo and the Akama-juku area: Tasting sake at Katsuya Shuzo, a sake brewery with a 200-year history, and shopping in an Edo Period inn town
★ Umi no Michi Munakata Hall: A facility where participants can learn about the World Heritage Site and the history and culture of Munakata -
Tour of the Spiritual Culture of Jion-ji Temple, the Tohoku Region’s Finest Prayer Temple
This two-day program allows participants to experience spiritual culture with both the body and the mind to gain invaluable spiritual and physical enrichment. The program takes place at Mt. Hayama, which was once home to 48 monasteries in three different temples, and was one of the three mountains of Dewa, as well as Jion-ji Temple, a nationally designated historic site with a 1,300-year history and the Tohoku region’s finest prayer temple.
Spiritual and cultural programs include a dialogue with the head abbot of Jion-ji Temple, a performance of Jion-ji Bugaku, a prayer dance designated as a National Intangible Folk Cultural Property,
and a hike to Mt. Hayama, a former site of importance in Shugendo, a type of Japanese mountain asceticism.
The health food meals that will be served during the program will be a modern take on traditional vegetarian recipes from Jion-ji Temple.
This normally unavailable program at the historic Jion-ji Temple in Mt. Hayama will have yopu surrounded by the magnificence of nature, and you will gain a sense of spiritual richness and health you will not find anywhere else. -
Private Sightseeing Tours to World Heritage Sites with Shugendo Practitioners as Guides, for a Special Experience of Art and Nature
The tour includes a commentary by a sightseeing guide driver who is a Shugendo practitioner at Kongobuji Temple. Participants will tour the sacred sites and pilgrimage routes of the Kii Mountain Range, a World Heritage Site, and visit various spiritual hotspots. Participants will also be able to take part in a workshop at the Shiyu-en Special Arts Museum—once a place of lodging for Emperor Go-Shirakawa during his pilgrimages to Koyasan—where they can paint nihonga Japanese paintings while sipping on sake. Participant accommodation will be provided in the form of a glamping experience at the Kudoyama Forest Fairy Tale House (former Kubo Elementary School), a facility located by a World Heritage Site called Kuroko Michi. For dinner, participants will enjoy a BBQ meal made with locally-caught wild game. They will also have the opportunity to engage in special experiences only available on this tour, such as viewing the famous sword Ichimonji Tachi, which the Warring States warrior Sanada Yukimura is said to have offered at the World Heritage Site of Niu Kanshobu Shrine, as well as view the World Heritage Sites of Jison'in Temple and Choishimichi Road, which are themselves associated with Kobo Daishi.
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Kumano Food and Culture Branding Promotion Project: Experience the Essence of the Kumano Faith and Savor the Bounties of Nachi-Katsuura
This program is a chance to spend a meaningful time at Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine, Seigantoji Temple, and Nachi-Katsuura Nigiwai Market.
- After the shrine gates are officially closed, head to the World Heritage Site Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine for a special nighttime visit in the hushed atmosphere. Afterwards, enjoy a premium dinner in the shrine precincts, with dishes and tableware that express the world of the Kumano mandala. After dinner, listen to a sacred dedication and savor local Kumano sake made from the holy waters of Nachi Falls.
- Experience a tea ceremony in Heian costume in the tea room at the World Heritage Site of Seigantoji Temple. This is the first time this tea room has been opened to the public, and it overlooks the three-story pagoda and Nachi Falls. Experience Kumano Shugen by viewing the hidden Buddha statues of Fudarakusanji Temple, learn about the essence of the Kumano faith through a Kumano mandala painting session, and participate in a ceremony at Gyojado Hall, which took 150 years to construct.
- You'll also go to Nachi-Katsuura Nigiwai Market. This market, which is attached to the Katsuura Tuna Market, serves fresh raw tuna from Katsuura, masterfully prepared on the spot by locals. This is a rare and delicious opportunity to appreciate fresh-caught whole tuna.
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BIS F25 x The World of Anime: Luxury Anime Experience on Ice in Fukuoka
BIS F24, held in 2024 as THE BEGINNING OF THE ICE SHOW, is a fusion of skating, entertainment, and food. It was very well-received by visitors from many countries, who enjoyed the wonderfully experiential ice show, which you watched as if traveling.
The upcoming BISF25, to be held in 2025, will feature Japan's leading professional skaters and anime singers, who will represent the wonderful worlds of Japanese anime on the ice. This program is not just for watching figure skating, but for experiencing it too! It includes a figure skating class taught by skaters who appear in the show, a photography opportunity where you can shoot photos from special seats, and an announcer activity that will make you feel just like a pro announcer.
You will also be able to enjoy local-production-for-local-consumption dishes featuring Fukuoka cuisine in the hospitality lounge. For the after-party, you will head to a wonderful local venue where you will be able to meet and interact with the show’s performers.
Tickets range from the reasonably-priced to the luxurious, allowing you to fully tailor your viewing according to your budget and objectives. -
Find Yourself Entranced by the Architectural Beauty of Bruno Taut’s Work at the National Important Cultural Property of Atami Hyuga Villa Experience the historical architecture of Japan: Architourism of cultural properties in Atami through the lens of gastronomy
● Atami Hyuga Villa, a National Important Cultural Property
Take a guided tour through a cultural property that only offers limited tour dates and times and therefore lets in very few visitors. Find yourself entranced by this authentic experience, and by the architectural beauty of Bruno Taut’s work.
This unique 90-minute experience will give you a closer look into Taut’s insights.
● Tozanso, a National Tangible Cultural Property
Try your hand at a simplified version of ikebana flower arranging in a historic Japanese-style building. Savor some matcha green tea at the MOA Museum of Art, which is run by the same parent organization.
This facility, which is only open for a limited number of days, will be booked out specially for this tour so that participants can fully enjoy Japan’s historical ship district and culture.
● Kiunkaku, an Atami City Tangible Cultural Property
Appreciate Japanese architecture and a Japanese garden, then watch classical dance, which is a traditional art form in Atami.
Experience what the Atami Onsen hot springs were like in the Showa Period through traditional architecture and geiko culture.
This tour of Atami combines the items above with an overnight stay and transportation via the Tokaido Shinkansen (Green Car).
This is a premium plan that includes a stay at an Atami Onsen hot springs lodging facility, as a way of combining both an experience of the hot spring and of Atami-style gastronomy at your accommodation. -
Yamaguchi City Ouchi Culture Experience Tours: Yamaguchi Gion Festival Course and Yamaguchi Tanabata Chochin Festival Course
Enjoy the Yamaguchi Gion Festival, one of the three major festivals in Yamaguchi, and the Yamaguchi Tanabata Chochin Festival, one of the three major fire festivals in Japan, both of which have links to the Ouchi clan.
The Yamaguchi Gion Festival Course is a special experience plan that includes explanations by the chief priest of Yasaka Jinja Shrine on the eve of the festival, and a chance to take part in rituals that are not normally available to the public, such as carrying a portable shrine. Enjoy a meal and local Yamaguchi sake while watching the festival from special seating.
The Yamaguchi Tanabata Chochin Festival Course is a special experience plan that allows participants to interact with locals through activities like lighting lanterns and carrying a portable shrine.
The Onari Procession Experience Plan features an event based around the Ouchi clan—powerful daimyo lords in western Japan who built a cultural sphere to rival Kyoto using the wealth they gained through trade with Ming China around the fifteenth century. This reproduction of the Onari procession and banquet is based on Japan’s largest banquet of the Medieval period, which was held on March 5, 1500, when Ouchi Yoshioki entertained Ashikaga Yoshitane, the former shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate. At this event, a total of about 20 people, representing the shogun, Ouchi clan members, and the shogun's entourage, will wear Muromachi period costumes, ride horses, and take part in a parade through designated Ouchi cultural areas. Afterwards, you can enjoy a traditional banquet at Yuda Sansuien Garden. Dine on a Ouchi-gozen meal while watching traditional entertainment, as if you yourself were at this historical banquet. This is your opportunity to become a shogun and truly immerse yourself in the Ouchi culture of Japan’s Medieval period.
This is a comfortable tour that comes with a nationally licensed guide-interpreter, a tour guide, and private car.