Food & Drink
Area
Season
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Half-Day Guided Tour to Discover and Experience the Traditional Culture of the Kawagoe Festival in Tokyo's Suburbs
This tour takes you to Kawagoe City in Saitama Prefecture, a suburb of Tokyo where the spirit of the Edo period still thrives. You’ll begin with a visit led by a special guide to the Matsuri Museum to learn about the history and significance of the Kawagoe Festival. Afterward, enjoy a leisurely stroll through the charming streets lined with traditional storehouses, where you can shop for souvenirs and sample local delicacies.
The tour also offers an exclusive pairing of Japanese sake (local to the region) often drunk at festivals with a special traditional kaiseki meal. Additionally, participants will be treated to a special performance of “ohayashi,” a type of festival music, that is exclusive to this tour.
To round off the experience, you’ll have the opportunity to create festival-themed crafts using Japanese paper, making this tour a comprehensive and enriching dive into the cultural heritage of the Kawagoe Festival.
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A Cultural Dining Experience: Offering a Prayer at Mitokoura, Originating from Itsukushima “A High-Value Local Entertainment Dining Journey Through the History of the Sacred Island, Miyajima”
Miyajima, long revered as a sacred island where the gods reside, offers an array of charms. From its mystical natural beauty to a variety of cultural experiences, including tea ceremonies, calligraphy, hiking, kayaking, SUP, and yacht cruises, Miyajima provides something for everyone. Just across from the island, Miyahama Hot Spring Village offers a luxurious retreat with panoramic views of the beautiful Seto Inland Sea.
In this plan, you will embark on a unique journey to enjoy what Miyajima has to offer in a new and exciting way. The experience starts aboard HANAIKADA, a restaurant boat designed to resemble a raft. The boat takes you to locations normally inaccessible by standard sightseeing boats, offering a guided tour of the majestic peaks of Miyajima from the waters surrounding Itsukushima Shrine.
Along the way, savor seasonal dishes crafted by local chefs and plated on Hiroshima’s traditional Osunayaki pottery. The highlight of the cruise is a live performance of Ujin Taiko, a traditional Hiroshima performing art, which will be held right on the boat.
Why not indulge in a premium stay that combines Japanese culture, entertainment, cuisine, and activities, all set within the awe-inspiring scenery of a World Heritage Site? -
Premium Dining at a Chartered Historical Site, Mt. Houdaiyama's Mitakayama Battery [A Unique Fusion of Food and Music in a Special Setting]
Premium Dining Experience on Mitakayama Battery at Mt. Houdaiyama
This event offers a fusion of opera, Noh, and fine dining, all in the name of peace. Enjoy an exclusive premium dining experience at a rented-out historic site of Mitakayama Battery on Mt. Houdaiyama, accompanied by a special concert by Maria Seiren, the first winner of Japan's Got Talent.
Acquiring Ingredients Locally with a Food Expert
Explore the local food scene by visiting food producers in Etajima, where you will personally select fresh, locally sourced ingredients. These will then be prepared right before your eyes by the head chef of Etajima-so, offering you a luxurious and one-of-a-kind dining experience that is distinctly Etajima. -
Immersive Kabuki & Ozashiki Experience
Participants will have the rare opportunity to rent out the historic and sacred Tomioka Hachiman Shrine. Transform into an Edo-era townsfolk by donning a kimono and take a stroll through the shrine grounds, engaging with kabuki characters and enjoying an intimate performance right before your eyes.
You’ll also be treated to a luxurious Fukagawa kaiseki meal while watching traditional geisha dances and shamisen performances by Fukagawa geisha. For those interested, a short movie, styled like a period drama, can be filmed with the participants as the stars. The video will be provided as a unique keepsake, perfect for sharing on social media to capture the unforgettable essence of your journey.
This event is a genuine Japanese cultural experience, supervised by former kabuki actors and masters of traditional performing arts, ensuring that even repeat visitors and discerning guests are fully satisfied. Held in the evening, this experience also makes for an ideal night event for travelers with busy schedules during the day. -
Zenkoji Temple Special Experience with Nagano Wine Premium Dinner featuring “The Drops of God”
Join us for a special tour of Shinshu Zenkoji Temple, a sacred site that has drawn believers from across Japan for over 1,400 years. The temple's main hall, designated a National Treasure, remains a revered symbol of faith. During the tour, you will also visit the two temples that have safeguarded Zenkoji’s legacy: Daihongan and Daikanjin.
At the end of the tour, indulge in a premium dinner pairing Nagano’s locally produced wines with a menu inspired by the popular manga “The Drops of God”. This exclusive dining experience will be supervised by the Karuizawa Marriott Hotel.
Packed with unique content you can only experience on this tour, it promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create lasting memories and expand your knowledge. -
Explore the Illusionary Ice Carousel and Exclusive Winter Activities at Taisetsu Dam Lake, Surrounded by the Untouched Beauty of Daisetsuzan National Park!
Winter activity events will be held at the Taisetsu Dam in Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido. This is a dammed lake you which you can't normally access!
Experience the illusionary “ice merry-go-rounds,” spinning blocks of ice on the lake's surface. This is one of the world's first in this new sensory activity, the “Pleasure Ice Carousel!” By day, enjoy the whimsical “ice merry-go-round” and other exciting winter activities, and by night, walk on illuminated ice while gazing at a starry sky draped in silver light.
● A world's-first in this new sensory experience: “Pleasure Ice Carousel”
≫ Enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the great outdoors from various angles as if you were on a pleasure boat, as you go around several ice carousels.
● Activities at the Taisetsu Dam Lake, which is located in a national park that is normally off-limits
≫ Cruising by snow raft with a local guide through the far-off, unexplored areas of the Taisetsu Dam Lake.
≫ Stargazing from the dam lake. Because it includes the view of the lit-up ice carousel, that makes this a never-before-seen sight!
● Kamikawa Marché & Ainu traditional craft experience
After enjoying the outdoors, you can also enjoy local food and traditional craft experiences. -
Enjoy the 30-minute fireworks display “Sapporo Okurayama Winter Fireworks 2024” alongside the stunning snowy landscape and Sapporo’s renowned night view, considered one of Japan’s top three!
[Bench Seat Ticket + Round-Trip Bus Ticket to Maruyama] 24,000 yen / 2 people
Enjoy the fireworks from a bench set up near the ski jump landing area, a location normally off-limits to the public. The front row offers an up-close view right next to the safety boundary, and it makes for an extra thrilling experience. The plan includes a round-trip bus from Maruyama Station to the fireworks venue.
[Bench Seat Ticket + Parking Ticket (No.2) for Maruyama Park + Round-Trip Bus Ticket] 24,000 yen / 2 people
Watch the fireworks from the same exclusive bench area near the ski jump landing site, with the front row offering an incredible view right next to the safety line. This plan also includes a parking ticket for Maruyama Park and a round-trip bus ticket to the venue.
[Ticket with SAKE Lounge] 12,000 yen / 1 person
A special counter offering about 10 varieties of Hokkaido sake will be set up on the rooftop. Relax in a chair and enjoy the fireworks comfortably. This plan includes a round-trip bus from Maruyama Station to the venue.
[VIP Ticket] 30,000 yen / 2 people
The Okurayama Viewing Point will be open exclusively for this plan, along with a special lounge where you can enjoy wine, champagne, and other beverages while taking in the night view. Stay warm and enjoy the fireworks right in front of you! A taxi ticket for a round trip from Maruyama Station to the venue is included.
[VVIP Ticket] 30,000 yen / person
This plan offers a full-course French dinner in addition to the VIP experience. After watching the fireworks from the bar lounge, enjoy a special limited-time course meal focused on local ingredients at the venue’s restaurant, "Nouvelle Pousse Okurayama." A taxi ticket for a round trip from Maruyama Station to the venue is also included. -
A Premium Experience: Private Geisha and Sumo Show at the World’s Tallest Tower
This plan offers only 20 guests the exclusive experience at the observation space of the Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest tower. After business hours, you can enjoy a geisha dance performance against the backdrop of the twinkling nighttime cityscape in the evening, and then a special breakfast and sumo show while watching the sunrise in the morning.
Evening Plan
Experience Japanese culture in a luxurious way by having the Tokyo Skytree observation deck all to yourself after business hours, accompanied by stunning night views. With the guidance of an interpreter, enjoy a traditional geisha dance, part of the Sumida Hanamachi culture that has thrived since the Edo period. A professional photographer will capture your night view experience. Drinks and Japanese sweets will be provided. They will be served with Edo faceted glass, a traditional craft of Tokyo.
Morning Plan
Begin your day with a special breakfast made from Tokyo-sourced ingredients, paired with a unique sumo show performed by a former sumo wrestler, all while watching the sunrise from the Skytree’s observation deck before it opens to the public.
The opportunity to watch the breathtaking sunrise is exclusive to this chartered event, and a commemorative photo with the former sumo wrestler will make your visit truly memorable.
These are views hard to take in during regular business houses when the Tokyo Skytree observation deck is crowded. By privately booking the space, you can enjoy a special time while taking in the best views and take photos that would not otherwise be possible. Your experience will include Edo faceted glass, a traditional craft of Tokyo, and a photoshoot by a professional photographer. -
First-Ever Public Viewing of the Stone Quarry that Captivated World-Famous Sculptor Noguchi Isamu! Guided Tour of the Outdoor Contemporary Art Space
●The stone quarry, typically closed to the public, will be open exclusively for this tour, offering a unique chance to see the location that Noguchi cherished. (Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture)
●Join a guided visit to the outdoor art space at the quarry. (Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture)
●Visit "THE GALLERY TOKYO," an art gallery that opened in May 2024, which uses Date Kanmuriishi stone. (Ginza, Tokyo)
●Stay at Ichijoh ryokan, a 400-year-old hot spring inn that incorporates Date Kanmuriishi stone in its design and furnishings. (Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture)
●Enjoy local cuisine from Shiroishi City, prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. -
Okitama Basin Food Workshop: "Connecting with the World through Small Efforts" 【villa aida × Jungsik Food Workshop】 Theme: "Is it worthless?" Captivating the world with what seems 'worthless.'
Kobayashi Kanji
Owner and head chef of villa aida (two Michelin stars, Green Star), which is ranked 35th in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2024, and ranked Number 1 in Japan on the We're Smart World Best Vegetables Restaurants list, among other accolades.
Yim Jungsik
Owner and head chef of Jungsik (two Michelin stars) in Seoul, Korea, and Jungsik New York (two Michelin stars) in New York, USA.
Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024
⚫︎Part 1: Conversation (Dialogue Session)
14:30 - 15:30 (doors open at 14:00)
Enjoy finger food and drinks (including alcohol) from villa aida, Jungsik, and Pas Mal (Yamagata City)
⚫︎Part 2: Culinary Session (Kobayashi Kanji x Yim Jungsik 4-Hands Dinner)
Starting at 17:30 or 20:00
*Pairing drinks will be prepared by Kobayashi Yumi, villa aida's sommelier.
*Please choose from the following pairing options: alcoholic, non-alcoholic, or mixed.
⚫︎Part 3: Social Gathering (Get-Together)
From 10:00 PM until late into the night
Savor snacks and drinks (primarily alcoholic, with non-alcoholic options available) from villa aida, Jungsik, and Pas Mal (Yamagata City).
Venue: Yamagata-za Takinami