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A New Nighttime Economy of Food and Myth in Aoshima, Miyazaki
This tour is an opportunity to try special foods and drinks, as well as traditional culture on the miraculous island of Aoshima. Surrounding the island, which has a circumference of 1.5 km, are irregular, visually pleasing rock formations created over the course of 6 million years. The island is covered in subtropical vegetation, the northernmost of its kind in the northern hemisphere, with scenery that makes you feel like time seems to have stood still.
On Aoshima, you will be able to enjoy a Miyazaki Prefecture gastronomy course prepared by a chef from a Michelin-starred restaurant. You can also enjoy special cocktails made by a bartender named in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2022. Nature, culture, and you. Enjoy a night where everything comes together in a timeless moment.
Aoshima by night: TIMELESS MOMENTO Menu
- Special dinner and cocktails
- One Plate・One Drink A moment to experience the charm of Miyazaki with all five senses
- Guided night tour of Aoshima Shrine
- Japanese calligraphy experience
Key players
Kojiro Kashiwada: Owner and chef of Kasane in Akasaka, Tokyo. Michelin-starred since 2011. Will serve creative Japanese meals that evoke the island’s culture and traditions.
Shuzo Nagumo: Owner of SBAR (Asia Top 50). Nagumo is one of Japan's foremost mixologists, and his cocktails made with local Miyazaki Prefecture sake have proved a game changer.
Yasutaka Nagatomo: Until 1737, only priests were allowed to set foot on the mysterious isle of Aoshima. The chief priest himself will guide you through the history, culture, and sacred kagura dance rituals of Aoshima.
Satoshi Iwao: Highly praised for his 'shodo' performances, Iwao became a qualified instructor at the age of just 16, though he did not begin to work professionally as a calligrapher until the age of 29.Performing on the streets of Miyazaki, Japan, Iwao has also performed in Paris - exhibiting at the Japan Expo Paris in both 2018 and 2019. -
Night Tour of the Sado Gold Mine: A World Heritage Site
The Doyu Mine is one of the most famous landmarks within the Sado Gold Mine World Heritage Site. During this event, Doyu no warito, symbol of the Aikawa Gold Mine, will be lit up for a fantastic night tour utilizing projection mapping and other light-based scenography. Available for a limited time only, this night tour is not something that visitors can experience on a regular basis.
The historic gold mine is a rare industrial heritage site, featuring a large-scale system of gold production that operated for more than 380 years on gold-rich Sado Island from the late 16th century to the mid-19th century. Under the management and operation of the Tokugawa Shogunate, isolationist policies limited the exchange of technology with the outside world. The system was thus quite different from those of Europe, and involved the use of Japanese traditional handicraft techniques to produce gold of world-class quality and quantity.
Workers were recruited from all over Japan by the shogunate, which resulted in a rich, diverse culture centered on the mine, including religious beliefs, performing arts, and entertainment.
In addition to the night tour, this event will give visitors a chance to experience Sado Island's unique performing arts, historical culture, and nature, as well as dishes showcasing the island’s delicious cuisine. -
Exclusive Four-Day Tour of Lake Kawaguchi, Nikko, and Ibaraki
On this exclusive four-day plan, you will be accompanied by an interpreter guide for the entire tour, take in the autumn foliage from the sky, and relax in your own private space.
View the splendid autumn foliage in comfort with unusual methods like helicopter rides and early morning private guided tours.
First, depart Tokyo by helicopter to enjoy a dynamic, spectacular view of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi. Then, after landing at Fuji-Oshino, enjoy sightseeing in the Lake Kawaguchi area. The next morning, you will visit Kawaguchiko Museum of Art, with its extraordinary view of Lake Kawaguchi. It will be privately booked out before its opening hours for a special viewing of rare original ukiyo-e prints by Katsushika Hokusai that are not normally shown to the public.
On the second day, ride the helicopter from Fuji-Oshino to Nikko. Take in the view of the famous Irohazaka slope. It's known for its autumn foliage, and this way you can see it from the skies without getting stuck in traffic. Once in Nikko, enjoy a private breakfast and special guided tour of the Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park, which was once the retreat of Emperor Taisho. You will also be able to experience Zen meditation at Rinnoji Temple, which is a World Heritage site, and take a tour not offered to the public.
Afterwards, enjoy spectacular aerial views of the Ryujin Suspension Bridge, Japan’s largest pedestrian suspension bridge. At Fukuroda Falls, one of Japan’s three most famous waterfalls, enjoy special admission in the morning when no one else is around for a quiet moment in the crisp, clean air. This special plan concludes with a helicopter ride from Ibaraki Prefecture back to Tokyo. -
A Gongen Noh Experience Limited to Overnight Guests: Special Noh Theater Performance at a World Heritage Site & Workshop to Learn About Noh with a Living National Treasure
- This year, a Noh performance limited to an audience of 100 people will be held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Yoshino's registration as a World Heritage Site.
- Participants attending the Noh performance will be able to witness the special viewing of Kongo Zao Daigongen, the largest ""hidden"" Buddhist statues in Japan, which are held in Zaodo Hall at the National Treasure and World Heritage Site, Kinpusenji Temple.
- At night, Zaodo Hall at Kinpusenji Temple will be privately booked out for staging Noh, a traditional Japanese performing art which is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. It will be performed by Living National Treasures Bunzo Otsuki and Genjiro Okura.
- The Noh play performed will be ""Taniko,"" which expresses the profundity of the Shugendo mountain ascetic faith. This special nighttime performance can only be experienced on this date, in this place.
- On the following day, participants can take part in a workshop to learn the traditional Japanese performing art of Noh theater, taught by Living National Treasure Genjiro Okura and Kiyomasa Kanze. This workshop is only available for the 30 guests staying at Yoshino. -
Enjoy Nasushiobara's Food, Hot Springs, and History with a Unique Garden Party at the Former Villa of Aoki Shuzo, Designated as an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese Government
Nasushiobara has fantastic natural and cultural resources, including the great Nikko National Park, located in the Nasu and Nikko mountain ranges, as well as 178 cultural properties designated by the national and prefectural governments. Although the idea has always been to protect these resources, this program aims to use them in new and unprecedented ways in order to increase their appeal as tourism resources and pass them on to future generations.
This tour will offer special experiences such as a unique nighttime garden party at the villa of former Foreign Minister Aoki Shuzo (an Important Cultural Property that is also designated by the Japanese government as a Japan Heritage site); a wedding event set on the Momijidani Suspension Bridge which spansa the valley of Nikko National Park and is known as a ""sacred place for lovers""; and other special events that offer a glimpse of the local culture of Nasushiobara.
There will also be a premium gastronomy walking tour, which explores the nature, history, and cuisine of Shiobara Onsen and Itamuro Onsen in Nikko National Park. -
Get to Know the Gods and History of Nikko through Traditional Japanese Cultural Experiences and a World Heritage Theater Form
Nikko City is proud to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "The Shrines and Temples of Nikko" is a World Heritage Site that includes not only the beautiful well-known buildings of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Nikkosan Rinnoji Temple, and Nikko Futarasan Jinja Shrine, but also the cultural landscape formed by the surrounding natural environment. During the quarter century since it was registered as a World Heritage Site, it has been visited by many visitors, both from Japan and overseas. December 4, 2024, will mark the 25th anniversary of its registration. An Executive Committee for the 25th Anniversary of World Heritage Registration was even established to make this commemorative year a more exciting one, with various celebratory plans underway. Visitors will enjoy experiences linked to the historical significance and background of the various shrines and temples in Nikko, as well as traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kabuki, and dramatic readings that offer insight into Japan’s modern anime culture.
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TENNOZ ART WEEK 2024
TENNOZ ART WEEK is an art event aimed at bridging Japan and the international art scene by programming world class art contents in the Tennoz art district and creating a platform for domestic and international art professionals and enthusiasts to gather. In 2024, we not only showcase contemporary art but also highlight the diversity of Japanese culture through crafts, animation, architecture, food, and the charm of regions where each culture thrives. By promoting the charm of the Tennoz art district to art collectors and travelers interested in art and culture, we aim to elevate the art scene and contribute to international cultural tourism.
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Dance the Traditional Bon Odori in Nagarekawa
Immerse yourself in Japanese festival traditions through Bon Odori dance. This event includes instruction in how to perform the Bon Odori dance, as well as assistance in dressing in a rental yukata, a light kimono that is popular at summer festivals. There will also be a booth where you can write prayers from Hiroshima for world peace on strips of paper. Professional interpreters will be present at the event.
The Hashigo-zake tour and Hiroshima bar district tour will also be available in conjunction with this Bon Odori dance program.
The Hiroshima bar district tour allows participants to enjoy drinking and dining at restaurants around Nagarekawa at discounted rates. A tour-specific map and tickets will be provided to make getting around very easy. Each location has English menus for participants' ease and enjoyment.
The Hashigo-zake tour is a guided tour of the food establishments around the Nagarekawa area. You will be guided through the history and culture of Nagarekawa as you navigate its alleyways and shrines. Enjoy all-new dishes made with local Hiroshima produce with expert guides. -
NAKED “OMATSURI” Eat, Play, and Dance!
A new sightseeing destination on the 7th floor of the Marunouchi Building lets you enjoy Japanese festivals to the fullest!
NAKED, Inc., a creative company that has created novel experiences at leading Tokyo spots such as Tokyo Tower and Shinjuku Gyoen Park, is hosting a festival experience at Marunouchi Building Hall on the 7th floor of the Marunouchi Building.
The event will feature a festival entertainment with daily performances of traditional dances from all over Japan.
Visitors can also get a taste of regional Japanese festivals in the heart of Tokyo by donning festival garb in front of a projection-mapped ukiyoe-style backdrop simulating festivals from various regions of Japan.
The area near Marunouchi and Tokyo Station is a tourist hotspot that attracts many visitors.
This event is a collaboration between Mitsubishi Estate and Naked, Inc., to host a summer festival in the Marunouchi area that enables visitors to enjoy the traditional summer events and culture of Japan. The event will be open until 10 P.M. to allow visitors, especially those staying at hotels near Tokyo Station, to enjoy unique Japanese experiences well into the night. -
FIRST-TIME KABUKI at Kyoto Station Building
Kabuki is one of Japan's leading forms of traditional theatrical performance. Its origins can be traced back to the early Edo period (early 17th century) when the Kabuki Odori dance was first performed in Kyoto.
First-Time Kabuki is a one-hour kabuki experience and explanation event for all first-time kabuki viewers. It concludes with the performance of a famous scene, set on the Gojo Bridge near Kyoto Station.
Come and enjoy the world of kabuki, a form of Japanese culture that has endured for over 400 years, in Kyoto—the birthplace of Kabuki!
(1) Kyoto Station venue means easy access!
(2) Night shows held daily at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.!
(3) Free rental for audio guides in English, Chinese, and Korean!