Nature & the Outdoors
Area
Season
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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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Train with the Last of the Ninja: Nindo Demonstration and Training by a Genuine Agatsuma Sanada Ninja
Experience training under an authentic Agatsuma Sanada ninja in Higashi-Azuma.
The training is supervised by Master Jinichi Kawakami, who currently holds a 10th dan in the art of nindo, the highest rank in Japan, and who is an advisor to the Japan Ninja Council. Master Iyoku Matsukaze of the Sanada Ninja Arts Research Association, the only remaining master of Agatsuma Sanada ninja and a descendant of the Sanada ninja, will lead you through a genuine ninja training experience.
The implements used in technical demonstrations and training include authentic ninja tools from a time when ninjas were still active in Japan.
Learn the basics of ninja and Sanada ninja—etiquette, basic physical techniques, walking techniques, ninjutsu, ninja staff techniques, kuji symbolism, shuriken (throwing stars), and more—over the course of two days.
In the early morning, you will experience the sunrise at Mount Iwabitsu, a mountain once revered by the Agatsuma Sanada ninja, and be awarded Nindo Level 2 as proof that you have completed all of your ninja duties.
Only in Higashi-Azuma can visitors learn from the descendants of the real Agatsuma Sanada ninja and experience ninja training using real ninja gear! -
Walk from Iriomote Island to the Exclusive Private Yubu Island & Enjoy a Luxurious Breakfast Experience
This tour offers a private experience on Yubu Island before regular business hours so that you can avoid the crowds and enjoy a special experience that is all your own.
Participants on this tour will walk on foot from Iriomote Island to Yubu Island on a path usually traversed via water buffalo carts.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast of rice balls made of black and purple rice and served in handmade baskets while you sit on Manta Ray Beach and gaze at the Yaeyama Islands.
Learn about how Yubu Island prospered and developed and about the elementary school that once stood on the island, interact with and feed the water buffalos, and roam freely around the island with a dedicated guide. It's an exclusive and invaluable experience. -
“Godzilla Minus One” on-Site Tour!
Experience the Amphibious Bus One-Day Excursion
Lake Kasumiaura Water Operation- Have a cinematic experience with a bus tour at the former Kashima Naval Air Station site (Oyama Lakeside Park) in Ibaraki Prefecture, where the blockbuster movie Godzilla Minus One was shot.
- Enjoy an immersive experience of the Shinden fighter plane.
- Go on a sightseeing tour of Lake Kasumigaura on a Godzilla-themed amphibious bus that starts its journey on land.
After a 15-minute tour of Lake Kasumigaura, there will be hands-on activities, a panel exhibition, and other experiences that will bring you into the world of the movie.
- No need to bring a car, because the tour starts and ends at JR Tsuchiura Station.
- The tours will typically have English interpretation.
- Tour pamphlets are available in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese, making it easy to find key information and points of note even when an interpreter is not available. -
LIGHT CYCLES KYOTO
The Kyoto Botanical Gardens, Japan's oldest public botanical garden, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its opening. For a limited time, the garden will be open at night, immersing visitors in a mysterious world of plants very different from the one they would see during the day. Step into one of the largest conservatories in Japan and see the lush greenery and vitality of the plants in all their glory, made even more beautiful through light installations, sound and set design, and projection mapping. As visitors walk through the four different zones, they can appreciate the "breathing" and "whispers" of the plants, and the different versions of themselves they show at night. We invite you to enjoy an immersive experience of light and sound that will inspire in you a connection to nature and a newfound fascination with plants.
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First Rocket Public Viewing of the Launch Site! Enjoy Southern Wakayama Prefecture and Feel the awesome power of the rocket launch with your closest seats to the launch.
This tour combines new with old, with the latest in rocket technology and the unique heritage sites of the Kii Peninsula and Kumano.
That’s even more things to do and enjoy your experiences longer in southern Wakayama Prefecture!
(1) Premier seating for the rocket launch
The rocket, KAIROS, will be launching from the first private launch site. You will watch the rocket that is attracting worldwide attention and was mentioned by Elon Musk from the special viewing seats that are not part of the official viewing area.
Four viewing locations are available:
- From the sea on a chartered cruise
- From a private hot spring room for two
- From the World Heritage Kumano Kodo trail
- At close range to experience the full sound and power of the rocket launch
(2) Optional tours to make the most of local World and cultural heritage sites before and after the launch
Enjoy a dinner prepared by a Michelin-starred restaurant chef, participate in a party to eat “gibier” cuisine at a place of natural monuments, attend a special temple opening with a fire ritual held by the abbot of a World Heritage temple, or create and launch your very own original rocket.
Video interpreting systems will be available in conjunction with English, Mandarin, and Cantonese interpreter-guides to provide services in a maximum of 13 languages.
(3) Special tour behind the scenes of the launch site
During non-launch periods, visitors can tour the restricted first private launch site and see a rocket-related exhibition before it opens to the public with an expert guided tour. -
DIY Study Tour: Renovate a Genuine Old Folk Residence Passing on the Japanese Way of Life
This is a special tour of a traditional thatched folk house not usually accessible to visitors and built with multiple traditional Japanese techniques.
It is a chance to experience local activities, architecture, and home renovation techniques.
You can even try your hand at renovating the house yourself under the instruction of artisans, trained in the traditional skills of this community.
Hidetsugu Matogawa will be your thatching expert. Hidetsugu learned from local thatching artisans and performs thatched roof refurbishments throughout Japan.
Hajime Wilds will be your woodworker and carpenter. Hajime is well-versed in local traditional techniques, and he also studied design and woodworking in his father's hometown in the USA. He practices new spatial designs that blend traditional techniques.
Finally, Kyle Holzhueter will be your plasterer. Kyle holds a doctorate in natural materials research and gives workshops throughout Japan as a plasterer and builder.
This workshop in a thatched folk house helps to pass on living culture through the use of traditional tools. You will also be provided with a meal of shijimi soup, a traditional food of the region.
Immerse yourself in the beautiful morning scenery of Lake Shinji, then board a fishing boat to try your hand at clam fishing to get a feel for local efforts to protect fishery resources.
Each part of the trip will be guided by an experienced professional interpreter.
Private cabs are also available for transportation from your accommodation. -
Exclusive Event Exploring the Roots of Yaesen Shuzo Distillery! Yaeyama Terroir (Limited to November 16–17)
A two-day premium dinner event under the full moon, featuring extraordinary sake from Yaesen Shuzo Distillery
Enjoy Shimaurara awamori liquor made from Ishigaki Island rice, and other special varieties of awamori that are typically hard to come by.
A special pairing experience is available for the premium dinner that will include limited-edition liquor.
-Visit Narungara (Omoto no Omikami), a sacred site with pristine running water
Visit this sacred site revered by the islanders since ancient times with a guide known as a tsukasa, and experience its crystal waters and clean air.
-Interact with experts at Miyagi Komeya, a grower of Ishigaki Island rice—the key ingredient in Shimaurara awamori liquor
Participate in a rice field tour and threshing experience with the producers of Hitomebore rice, the key ingredient in Shimaurara awamori liquor, which won the Platinum Award and Jury's Award at KuraMaster 2023.
-Craft experience at Uezato Wood Work, a woodworking shop that places great value on wood grown in Yaeyama
Make your own chopsticks and spoons while alongside local artisans.
A premium dinner made with fresh Yaeyama produce will give you a taste of the island’s life and abundance
Enjoy dishes featuring Yaeyama pork and goat, fresh wild fish from the blue sea, seasonal island vegetables, wild herbs such as shell ginger, and moringa, a much talked-about superfood.
Ingredients vary depending on availability, but dishes make full use of fresh local ingredients. -
Snowtable: An Exclusive Lunch and Cultural Experience at a Restaurant Made of Snow!
Spend a special day in the magnificent natural setting of Hokkaido. Asyatt. presents a the ultimate winter experience: Enjoy a private lunch on a specially-built "Snowtable" in a vast snowy field, with a beautiful view of Mount Yotei in the back.
Built over a three-day period by hand, the Snowtable is beautifully designed by professional landscapers taking into account the local climate and natural surroundings. Guests will enjoy a lunch prepared by a famous chef, using fresh Hokkaido ingredients and authentic culinary methods.
In addition, guests will be able to enjoy the ultimate fresh powder snow adventure, on a luxury snowmobile as a part of this experience. The program also includes cultural experiences unique to Hokkaido and Japan, such as Zen meditation with a monk in the wilderness, Ainu folk dance performance, and igloo-building. As a parting gift, guests will receive a video and photos taken by drone during the experience.
This special winter program by Asyatt. promises a luxurious experience that will allow participants to truly appreciate the nature, culture, and gastronomy of Hokkaido. It will be an unforgettable experience amidst the world-class powder snow of Niseko and spectacular views of Mount Yotei.
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Find Your Oasis in Minakami Japan's Adventure Capital
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and discover the tranquility of Minakami, nestled between two national parks and home to over 20 thrilling outdoor adventures. Whether you're seeking adrenaline-pumping thrills or a peaceful retreat in nature, Minakami offers the perfect oasis for your next Japan adventure.