Nature & the Outdoors
Area
Season
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Connecting with Locals Along the Nakasendo Trail (Narai-juku to Kiso-Hirasawa)
Nakasendo is a popular tourist spot for Japanese people and foreigners alike who often use it as a walking trail. Narai-juku and Kiso-Hirasawa, which lie along the Nakasendo, along with Tsumago-juku and Magome-juku, are designated as Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings. However, Narai-juku and Kiso-Hirasawa differ from Tsumago-juku and Magome-juku in that many residents live their everyday lives there among the special historical scenery and street scenes. Continuing to live within a Cultural Property requires understanding and effort regarding strict restrictions, including in building repairs. As a result, the crafts and culture rooted in the area from olden times are protected by the existing craftspeople who have inherited the practices and those who value their preservation.
Kiso-Hirasawa, blessed by abundant forests, is a manufacturing town that flourished from the production of lacquerware using high-quality wood. It is the only lacquering town in Japan designated as a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings and its townscape is carefully preserved. One traditional craft particular to this region is “magemono,” a type of round wooden container. Kiso hinoki cypress is used to make round lunch boxes, tubs, etc. Lacquer is then applied to the wood to increase its strength.
On this tour, walk along the Nakasendo and meet the residents working to maintain and preserve their traditional townscapes, as well as those involved in maintaining fading traditional crafts and culture for the future. -
Forest Bathing and Retreat: Walk a Historic Path where Shugendo Mountain Asceticism Once Flourished
Mt. Kubote once thrived with ascetic practices. Trace the ascetics' historic training route and partake in trekking and shinrinyoku forest bathing, in which you immerse yourself in the beauty of nature.
After stimulating your senses while enveloped by nature, relax in a hammock with just birdsong and the sound of the wind around you.
Enhance the effects of the retreat with meditation.
This is a healing tour that enables you to savor the delights of Buzen cuisine in a home-made boxed lunch using an abundance of local ingredients, as well as “Kubote drops,” a type of sweet reminiscent of the delicious water found in Buzen.
Finally, encounter the history and culture of mountain asceticism in the Kubote Museum and learn about Japan’s unique religious views.
Recommended for those wishing to encounter Japanese culture, relish something different from the everyday, and are interested in mindfulness. -
Learn about Ninja and Complete a Course on the Art of the Ninja from a Modern-day Ninja! Authentic training in the Art of the Ninja in the hometown of Sasuke, a Koga Ninja!
Mt. Hando (or Mt. Iwao) or Mikumo Castle Site, home of Mikumo Sasuke, the model for Sarutobi Sasuke, were a few of the training grounds for Koga Ninja and the heart of Shinto mountain worship. There, you will be guided by Takamaru, a first-year student of Ninja Studies at Mie University Graduate School, and a Ninja YouTuber. You'll learn ninja techniques such as breathing control, three-leg walking, double breathing, ascent walking, kujikiri meditation, and descent walking through ascetic training. You also have the option to listen to the story, in English, of hero ninja Sarutobi Sasuke from 4th-generation story-teller Tamada Gyokushusai, another graduate of Ninja Studies at Mie University Graduate School. The in-depth training will also enable you to learn how ninja's practical wisdom, such as the use of various herbs, links to the present day.
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A Trip to Nara, the Cradle of Japanese History and Spiritual Culture, for a Full-Course Experience of Hospitality with an Overnight Stay for Evening and Morning Activities That Satisfy All Five Senses
We offer a full-course hospitality trip with an evening and morning stay in Nara, the birthplace of Japanese history and spiritual culture; an experience for all five senses.
Nara is where Japan began its history, where the blessings of nature and religious beliefs coexist. Nara has fostered its own culture while introducing various cultural and technological systems from around the world. In the late Muromachi period (1336-1573), the practice of tea ceremony began, merging the appreciation of artworks collected from around the world with the custom of tea drinking.
Three unique activities have been prepared for visitors to immerse themselves in Japanese culture. During this event, admire artistic tea ceremony utensils that reflect Japan's unparalleled craftsmanship while viewing the Former Daijo-in Temple Garden, which embodies the concept of “yugen” (the subtle grace of nature), the underlying philosophy of Japanese culture in the Muromachi period.
Experience (1) a tea ceremony held in the early morning, (2) a tea ceremony in the evening to admire shadows cast by candlelight, and
(3) a full-course tea ritual (with an authentic light Kaiseki meal accompanying the ritual)
Through these three activities, visitors will come to understand firsthand why Japan is rich in nature, why it excels in manufacturing, and why its people enjoy socializing through tea ceremonies. Come and immerse yourself in Japanese culture. -
Traditional Culture & Cutting-edge Technology "CHRONOSENSE" Museum of Light and Sound to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary
“CHRONOSENSE at the State Guest House Akasaka Palace, Museum of Light and Sound to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary” will be held for two nights only on Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21. This event combines the charm of traditional culture and historical heritage with cutting-edge technology to create the first-ever nighttime winter illumination event at the Palace. It is a national treasure that has hosted many historic moments as a venue for international diplomacy, and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024.
The event will be produced by TEAM FIRE and Akira Hasegawa, who is a trailblazer in the digital art world and the creator of projection mapping. Akira Hasegawa will render a digital hanging scroll that slowly changes in accordance with the speed of the earth's rotation and projects a completely different view of the State Guest House Akasaka Palace as time passes. In addition, Tokizo Nakamura will appear in a “Digital Kabuki” (20th only) performance, and Kimio Otsubo, a Living National Treasure of Noh Theater (a preserver of an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property) and Manjiro Tatsumi will appear in the “Digital Noh Dance” (21st only). The event will showcase the new appeal of combining historical traditional performing arts with cutting-edge technology in an outdoor setting. There will also be a special indoor nighttime visit to the State Guest House Akasaka Palace, available on these two days only. -
Seven Great Onsen Resorts in Gunma Hopping Fair
100 highly recommended hot springs have been selected from among both famous and lesser-known hot springs and traditional bathhouses in Gunma Prefecture's seven major onsen resort areas (Kusatsu, Ikaho, the 18 hot springs of Minakami, Shima, Manza, Isobe, and Oigami). The Gunma Onsen Hopping Pass will be on sale from Monday, January 6 to Tuesday, February 4, allowing visitors to enjoy these 100 famous hot spring bathing facilities in any combination. Purchasers will also receive special benefits such as unlimited rides on the Onsen Road bus and preferential access to premium events.
Also, during the campaign, individual hot spring resorts will hold their own premium events to heal body and soul in harmony with nature and traditional culture. For example, at Kusatsu Onsen, guests can enjoy a spectacular dance performance of the much-loved traditional local folk song “Kusatsu-bushi” at Goza-no-yu. This bathhouse overlooks the Yubatake, the symbol of Kusatsu, and recreates the atmosphere of healing hot spring culture. At Ikaho Onsen, visitors will enjoy a special lunch made with local ingredients and a dance performance by an Ikaho geiko performer at the Yokote-kan, a traditional inn founded in the Edo period and located along the iconic Ikaho stone steps. At Manza Onsen, a premium “hot spring under the stars” bathing experience will be available for a limited time only, with only one pair daily able to enjoy champagne and non-alcoholic drinks in an exquisite bespoke hot spring setting.
From famous hot springs to secluded inns, just use the Onsen Hopping Pass on your smartphone to make the most of the Onsen culture that is the pride of Gunma Prefecture. -
KUKAI JOURNEY OF THE SKY
・Chartered helicopter. For your convenience, we provide travel in the comfort of a private space.
・A priest from Ninnaji Temple will accompany you on the tour and introduce you to the teachings of Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai), the fascination of the Shikoku Pilgrimage of 88 Temples, and the mysticism of the Shingon Sect, in an easy to understand way.
・Our journey begins at Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto, a place that boasts a history of over 1,200 years.
・Kukai was a monk who had a profound influence on Japan's spiritual culture. We invite you to join us on this special journey to retrace his footsteps.
・Fly over the beautiful Shikoku region and connect with the essence of Japan's spiritual culture from high up in the sky.
Visitors will have the chance to experience the region’s beautiful nature, rich history, vibrant culture, and local cuisine.
・The tour follows Kukai's footsteps and brings a sense of deep peace and healing to participants' hearts. Experience this extraordinary journey for yourself.
＜Accommodations＞
1. Stay overnight in Iya Valley, one of Japan’s three most mysterious regions.
2. Stay overnight at Nipponia Hotel Ozu Castle Town in Ozu. Nipponia Hotel Ozu Castle Town is one hotel with buildings dispersed around Ozu. Guest rooms, the front desk, and the restaurant are housed in historical buildings dotted around the town, enabling you to get a explore Japanese culture while staying at the hotel. -
Tanba Saijiki: The Greatest Wabi-sabi Journey
Complete with a private teahouse and Noh stage, this special guest house offers a luxurious way for guests to experience Japanese culture in the mountains of Tanba. Wear a traditional kimono and immerse yourself in Japanese traditional aesthetics with the help of multilingual staff. Limited to groups of 4 to 10 people.
These lodgings are located in the middle of Tamba's scenic traditional landscape and provides services that allows guests to enjoy clothing, food, and living spaces designed with Tanba's four seasons in mind. The highlight of the package is a Noh experience where guests will be introduced to this world-famous traditional performing art by Living National Treasure and Noh actor, Genjiro Okura, on the guest house's private Noh stage.
Guests will not only take in seasonal-themed Noh performances, but also gain deeper insights into Japanese culture as they interact with Noh performers during their practice sessions. By staying at the guest house overnight, guests can go up on the Noh stage and immerse themselves in practice whenever they want.
Guests will also participate in a tea ceremony based on the 72 micro-seasons of Japan, enjoy Japanese food culture around the fire, and have a genuine wabi-sabi experience in Tanba's beautiful natural surroundings.
Immerse yourself into genuine Japanese culture, find true satisfaction, and make lifelong memories. -
Akan-Mashu Riverside Nature Tour: An Off-Road Guided Buggy Tour
Riverside Point, the source of the Kushiro River, used to be closed to the public. Now, participants can take in the beautiful scenery of the Kushiro River headwaters on an exhilarating ATV tour—an experience you can only enjoy here!
The tours are conducted by nature guides who possess in-depth knowledge about Akan-Mashu National Park. Learn about the ecosystem of the Kushiro River headwaters as you travel through an area that was newly opened this year. The tranquil air of this previously unexplored forest will surely help quiet your mind. Perhaps you may even be fortunate enough to see a red-crowned crane or Blakiston's fish owl, both of which are designated National Treasures.
Try your hand at mountain stream fishing to catch Hokkaido delicacies such as white-spotted char and rainbow trout in the nearby Kushiro River. Through staff lectures, you will gain a deeper understanding of the nature and ecological cycles of the Kushiro River. You may even catch a glimpse of other protected species such as Sakhalin taimen and Dolly Varden trout. -
Hinoki Experience Tour in HINOHARA
This tour includes several special experiences to relax both mind and body in a lush cypress forest in the outskirts of Tokyo through shinrin-yoku ("forest bathing"), a concept that originated in Japan.
The forest bathing sessions will be led by an internationally acclaimed forest therapy guide.
Learn how the forest and cypress trees continue to support daily life in Hinohara Village, where Japanese paper and multigrain dishes continued to be made in traditional buildings.
Stay at a thatched-roof inn that is over 250 years old.
Natural foods (vegan meals) are provided throughout the tour.
Travel is done via chartered vehicle, and there will be a translator-guide who will accompany you.
Take two splendid days to surround yourself with the smell of cypress.