Nature & the Outdoors
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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. -
TANADA MORNING
Inagura's rice terraces have captivated many, and have also been selected among the “100 Best Rice Terraces in Japan."
Okazaki Shuzo, a sake brewery in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture that has been brewing high-quality sake for 350 years, tends to these fields. This not only provides the brewery with rice for sake, but also preserves the landscape.
Anyone who works the rice fields knows that the Inagura rice terraces are the most beautiful when bathed in the morning light. Now, visitors will have the chance to take in the sights, sounds, and flavors of this landscape as part of a new type of sake tourism by Okazaki Shuzo: the rice terrace breakfast.
Enjoy a private breakfast among the rice terraces, a landscape formed and perserved by sake brewing, while basking in the morning sun. -
Beginners Adventure Tours
[Course A]
・Spectacular views! Zip downhill on an e-bike from Bihoro Pass overlooking a caldera lake (Lake Kussharo) in Akan-Mashu National Park (electric-assisted bicycle tour)
・Kayak along the Wakoto Peninsula, a place of boiling hot spring water, before coming ashore to experience the volcano in Oyakotsu Jigoku
・Eat a special homemade lunch using locally-produced ingredients on the shore of Lake Kussharo
・There is also an additional mini-cycling tour available, going by e-bike through agricultural, mountain, and fishing villages to Sunayu for a footbath in the hot springs
・Our final destination is Mt. Io, a geopark where you can feel the real pulse of Hokkaido's Tomoshiri
[Course B]
・Start from Omagari Lakeside Park, a field used by inmates of the former Abashiri Prison (the sunflower and cosmos flower gardens are at their best in August and September!)
・Take a leisurely ride on an e-bike along a bike path that uses the old Kushiro Line with Lake Abashiri at its side
・The coral grass with their bright red leaves that bloom in autumn at the brackish Lake Notoro are at their best in September
・Cycle by e-bike in the magnificent rural landscapes overlooking Cape Notoro
・Cross a sea relic lake! Kayak on Lake Notoro, Abashiri Quasi-National Park
・Cycle by e-bike to Cape Notoro Lighthouse while overlooking the Sea of Okhotsk where ice drifts and re-emerges!
・Have lunch at Connectrip, a hands-on facility at Lake Abashiri, where you can bake your own pizza! After stretching out the dough and topping it off with your favorite local ingredients, bake it in the stone oven for your very own stone-baked pizza! -
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 -
Tour of the Suzuka 8 Hours Road Race with VIP Activities
The Suzuka 8 Hours race will take place on July 20 and 21. There are two types of exclusive tours on offer for those wanting to enjoy the race.
The Hospitality Package spans both race days and allows guests to watch the race up close and in person in an exclusive mobile showroom set up directly beside the course for an exhilarating and immersive experience. The local restaurant Kakiya will be offering sukiyaki with Matsusaka beef for this event, and there will be opportunities to meet the riders and coaches of Ducati Team Kagayama, one of the teams competing in the Suzuka 8 Hours race.
The Touring Package is a limited-number set package which includes everything from the Hospitality Package, as well as a few exclusive extras. On July 18 and 19, participants will travel by motorcycle to Iga Ueno, Ise Shrine, and other tourist spots around Mie Prefecture. On July 20, participants will ride on the actual race course of Suzuka 8 Hours. Finally, on July 21, participants will get an exclusive look at the race behind the scenes. -
Daisetsuzan National Park! Experiential Tour of the Unexplored with Water Activities and Spectacular Views of Taisetsu Dam
You are invited to take part in special water activities at Taisetsu Dam, Hokkaido's highest elevation dam which is set against a spectacular backdrop of nature.
Taisetsu Dam, normally closed to the public, will be offering activities like stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and fishing together with local guides. This event is not merely an outdoor experience. Experiential tours to remote and unexplored areas of the Taisetsu Dam are also available. These adventures in the great outdoors are sure to give all participants unforgettable memories.
Guests can also experience traditional Ainu crafts, watch Ainu dance, and partake in Ainu cuisine during this event. Experience the local Ainu culture and learn about its deep history and traditions.
This event offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience merging nature with culture. Water activities at Taisetsu Dam, adventures in unexplored areas, and Ainu cultural experiences will make for special memories for all participants. -
Spectator Seating and Event Plans for Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 Fukuoka Stage in Okagaki Town (Date of race: October 14, 2024)
The Mynavi Tour de Kyushu 2024 Fukuoka Stage (Okagaki Side) will take place on October 14, 2024, and there is an array of options for watching the race. Spectators can cheer the race on at event venues set up at various areas around the circular course, where there will be comfortable seating and as well as other ticketed options available.
(1) Spectator Seating With Overnight Accommodation: Reserved box seating around the course. Accommodation will be near the race venue.
*This option includes the Event Passport in Plan (4).
(2) Spectator Seating Only: Reserved box seating around the course.
*This option includes the Event Passport in Plan (4).
(3) Accommodation Plan: Watch the race from the comfort of your own suite at a hotel located along the course.
(4) Event Passport: Includes discount vouchers for food, drink, and merchandise.
(5) After Race Party: Mingle with some of the riders after the race at a dinner party.
Teams scheduled to participate in the dinner party are VC FUKUOKA from Fukuoka Prefecture, Sparkle OITA from Oita Prefecture, Astana of UCI WorldTeams, EF, and other winners of four different prizes. This plan includes the cost of accommodation and shuttle service to and from Fukuoka City or Kitakyushu City. Tickets for this event are limited to 100 people. -
SAMURAI Drive - A Journey Tracing the Beauty and Honor of the Famous Warring States Families: Uesugi and Date
This tour takes participants back to (1) the world as seen by the warlords of the Uesugi and Date families, who ruled Yonezawa during the Warring States period, and (2) the world as seen by Uesugi Yozan, the lord of the Yonezawa domain (whom US President J.F. Kennedy called "the most respected politician in Japan during the Edo Period").
(1) See the Important Cultural Properties and National Treasures of the Uesugi family, then travel back in time to the Warring States Period with a fireworks display unlike anything you've ever seen in Japan.
(2) Go on a backyard tour of the traditional food and textile cultures that flourished in the Edo Period by visiting Toko, a sake brewery that has been in business for the past 426 years, and Nitta, a Yonezawa textile company established 150 years ago.
(3) Experience cuisine and hot springs in a way that fuses Japanese traditions with global values. -
Shikotsu-Toya National Park Premium Private Early Morning and Evening Kayak Tour Carbon Neutral Clean Diving Tour Ice Palace Nanajo Waterfall Premium Night Tour
This is a premium, completely private tour of Shikotsu-Toya National Park in Hokkaido.
Clear kayaking is a daytime activity, but on this premium tour, you will be out there at night or in the early morning.
Watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee as you float on the caldera lake. If the wind is calm, venture out onto Lake Shikotsu and revel in the luxury of having the lake all to yourself before the crowds arrive. Enjoy the clear water while listening to the birds singing around Lake Shikotsu and the headwaters of the Chitose River. In the evening, see what the lake looks like with a nigh-vision scope. You may encounter some of Hokkaido's unique wildlife, such as Ezo deer and Ezo red foxes, and in the summer months, you can see fireflies glistening in the air.
By joining forces with local communities, the Clean Diving Tour will take you to remote locations that are usually under restricted access.
Participants must hold a diving license to perform underwater cleaning activities.
Immerse yourself in the clarity and mysterious beauty of the Lake Shikotsu's waters while taking part in underwater cleaning activities.
Participants will spend the day working to preserve the environment and will receive a certificate of appreciation documenting their activities.
The Nanajo Waterfall Night Tour takes participants to Nanajo Waterfall, which is not accesible by car without a forest entry permit, to observe the ecosystem of plants and animals with a simple-to-use night-vision scope, so as not to disturb the wildlife.
During midwinter, the frozen Nanajo Waterfall will be illuminated. Enjoy winter in Hokkaido by taking in the illuminated snowflakes and the ice sprayed with small, colorful lights.
Be sure to take photos in front of this natural ice palace. -
Rebun Gastronomy Tourism
Rebun Island is Hokkaido's northernmost island, and it is built on a history of fishing and trading. This private tour is interspersed with gastronomic experiences to allow participants to experience the unique terroir (the combination of climate, soil, and landscape and how it affects farming) of the island.
Rebun Island has undergone many changes over the years, from the Jomon Period 4,000 years ago, then the Okhotsk Culture Period 1,500 years ago, the Ainu Culture Period 400 years ago, and the Frontier Period 150 years ago. Despite the changes, the unique lifestyle of living in harmony with nature in this region is still alive and well to this day. While the history of the island can be seen in its fishing and trading, it's also important to keep in mind a sustainable future. This program combines many layers of context into a single dining experience, which offers deep satisfaction, bliss, and new insights.
What to expect:
(1) The ultimate way of appreciating nature via dining, based on the terroir and island time: Enjoy world-class, top-quality seafood in a stunning location unique to this remote island with a BBQ-style multicourse meal produced in collaboration with a Michelin-starred chef and a local fisherman. Take your island time slow with this ultimate "nature dining" experience.
(2) A walking route that uniquely combines interactive gastronomy and trekking experiences: The story of Rebun Island is long, with a symbiotic relationship with nature that was born from a life of fishing and trading. Enjoy a full walking route that incorporates trekking, stargazing, and a culinary excursion in the field of a national park to appreciate the ongoing ancient lifestyle and philosophy of Rebun Island.