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Luxury Classical Music Tourism Blending natural and cultural assets with classical music in Kamakura and Okunikko (Lake Chuzenji)
Classical Music Collection JAPAN brings classical musicians from around the world to Japan for seasonal concerts in the main halls of some of Japan's most mesmerizing temples and shrines.
Each region has unique cultural experiences to offer its esteemed guests, such as cocktail parties for guests to mix and mingle, and dinners with the musicians where guests can sample some of the finest local delicacies.
This particular event will be held at Kenchoji Temple in late November, and at Chuzenji Temple in late October. Kenchoji Temple was built by the fifth regent of the Kamakura shogunate and is the first Zen temple in Japan. Chuzenji Temple offers a prime vantage point to witness the breathtaking sunset as it casts its golden hues over Lake Chuzenji in the evening. We look forward to you joining us. -
Niigata Sake Fair on Sado Island / Kitazawa Flotation Plant & Niigata Sake Fair 2024
The Niigata Sake Fair is brimming with Japanese sake, beer, wine, and more, all available for tastings on the day for those with pre-purchased tickets. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event for refills. There are also some exclusive cups to be won in a raffle. There will be food stalls offering local delicacies and treats along with a variety of entertaining programs, including Furumachi Geigi dance, traditional arts, and a vibrant music stage. The event will be held in two locations this year: The Furumachi area in Niigata City's Chuo Ward, and Sado Island, which is expected to be registered as a World Heritage Site. Come raise your glass at Kitazawa Flotation Plant, one of Sado Island's most wondrous and beautiful locations!
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Ascetic Training Programs at World Heritage Site Koyasan
1. Goma Fire Prayer Ritual
Offer your prayers to the sacred flame and get a feel for how such prayers have been carried on through the generations at the temples of Koyasan.
2. Acts of Service
Commit yourself to acts of service and cleanse the mind as you get up close with the Buddha statues in some of the Main Halls of Koyasan's temples, including Bekkaku Honzan, Jun-Bekkaku Honzan, or temples with long-standing connections to daimyo and warlords.
3. Furumaizen Cuisine Experience
Furumaizen is a traditional cuisine prepared especially for the high priests by the priests of Koyasan, and it is said to be the origin of Japanese hospitality.
The average visitor does not usually get the opportunity to try these dishes prepared by priests, for priests, but this memorable dinner experience offers illuminating insights and explanations into the meticulous preparation process.
● Participants will be granted special permission to view the main hall of temples where entry is usually prohibited. (permission only granted when accompanied by temple staff) -
Hiroshima Prefecture Fukuyama Castle Stay
This one-of-a-kind experience of history and culture is exclusive to Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture
1. Fukuyama Castle Lord Experience
Step inside the castle grounds and be transported back in time. The park is full of traditional arts, historic buildings, and other intangible assets for you to explore.
Take a glimpse into a bygone era brought back to life with the newly reconstructed 400-year-old Castle Lord's Bathhouse. The bathhouse sauna evokes the steam baths of old, and the entire bathhouse itself is inspired by the Edo period.
Finally, your "Castle Lord Feast" dinner will feature food showcasing all the rich produce that Fukuyama has to offer.
2. Fukuyama Hotspots Experience
Fukuyama is home to many charming and historic towns, such as Tomonoura and Kannabe Honjin. It also features many traditional arts like Noh.
Customize your Fukuyama Castle Lord experience beyond the basic itinerary at Fukuyama Castle Park to include any of the above.
Your concierge will tailor your stay based on your specific requests, and Fukuyama Castle Park, along with all of its facilities, will be at your complete disposal. -
Kobe, the world’s sake capital
Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture is not only famous for beef, but it also includes part of the Nada Gogo, or “Five villages of Nada,” that became famous for brewing sake centuries ago. Nada sake uses the area’s relatively hard water and high-quality Hyogo-grown rice to offer richer flavors and lots of body, and was the origin of many brewing techniques still in use today.
Kobe breweries, including behemoths like Hakutsuru – which has over 280 years of history – collectively account for the largest production of sake in the world. Many have museums, like the Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Museum, a huge facility displaying traditional tools, videos and dioramas exploring the history of sake brewing, with information in English and other languages. Best of all, the museum includes plenty of souvenirs and a tasting area – with some free sake, and others that require a fee. -
Experience shukubo, a temple stay, on the holy mountain site
One of the best ways to experience the true magic of Koyasan is to stay overnight at a temple. Known as a shukubo, a temple stay at Koyasan gives visitors the opportunity to relax, reflect and immerse themselves in the traditional practices of Shingon Buddhism.
Discover the day-to-day lives of Koyasan’s monks in one of 50 temples that offer the shukubo experience. With breakfast, dinner and comfortable overnight lodgings available, you can truly immerse yourself in this enriching cultural experience. Taste the traditional vegetarian dishes prepared by the monks and join them for morning prayers and meditation.
Clean and simple furnishings, including traditional tatami floors and sliding doors (fusuma) typify the temple lodgings at Koyasan and reflect the abundant peace and tranquility that define these sacred spaces. It’s important to remember, though, that rooms and meals vary depending on the temple. For further information, you can refer to our guide on temple stays. -
Kick back and enjoy the fall colors on one of Japan’s autumn foliage trains
Japan has an abundance of trains, ropeways and cable cars that provide great views of fall foliage, but a ride on the Watarase Keikoku Railway is a truly magical way to enjoy some spectacular autumn colors.
The route, which links Kiryu in Gunma Prefecture with Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, is especially picturesque in autumn when the mountain foliage is transformed into vibrant hues. Following the course of the Watarase River, the line runs through the steep sided Watarase Gorge affording passengers dramatic views over the valley. In addition to regular local trains there are also “torokko” – old-fashioned trolley trains – that include open cars without glass in the windows, so you can enjoy the clearest views. -
Panoramic views and autumnal splendor at Nihondaira
Located in Shizuoka city, Nihondaira is a famous location for visitors to soak in the beauty of Mt. Fuji. The area also provides views of Shizuoka’s renowned tea fields, the Izu Peninsula, the Japanese Southern Alps, Shimizu Port and Suruga Bay – the deepest bay in Japan.
Today, there are new Shizuoka views available with the completion of the Nihondaira Yume Terrace. Constructed with local timber from Shizuoka, the 360-degree observatory constructed by Kengo Kuma & Associates offers incomparable views of Mt. Fuji. The first floor hosts an exhibition showcasing the history and culture of Nihondaira, while the lounge on the second floor offers refreshments including seasonal teas and sweets. -
UBE Biennale: Sculpting a legacy of art and community
Finally, Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture has the honor of being the first city in Japan to hold a large-scale outdoor sculpture exhibition. Started in 1961 as a citizen-led project to beautify the town with greenery and public art, the Ube City Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition has been held every two years since and eventually evolved into the UBE Biennale. The city has amassed a collection of roughly 400 pieces, which remain on display in Ube’s plazas, public facilities and airport.
Perhaps the most scenic location of all is lakeside Tokiwa Park, where several of the largest and most noteworthy installations are on permanent display. This is also the customary viewing venue for new award-winning sculptures. With the festival’s upcoming 30th iteration scheduled for October 27 to December 22, 2024, visitors taking a stroll around Tokiwa then won’t just be going for a walk in the park, but a walk through 60-plus years of contemporary sculpture on vibrant display. -
Forest Festival of the Arts Okayama: Celebrating northern Okayama Prefecture’s bountiful nature through art
Okayama’s most famous attractions, like Okayama Castle and the canals of Kurashiki, are in the southern part of the prefecture. Head north into the mountains, though, and you’ll be ensconced in beautiful mountain woodlands, where the Forest Festival of the Arts will take place from September 28 to November 24, 2024. Through its featured exhibits, this festival shines a light on forests and Japanese nature as a source of inspiration for community engagement. This cooperative nature of the festival aspires to create a “new form of capital” that enrichens the local area.
A wide genre of domestic and international creators that include artists, musicians, dancers, architects, designers, flower artists, chefs and more will showcase their work at the festival, which will be spread across a dozen venues in the towns of Tsuyama, Nagi, Niimi, Maniwa and Kagamino in the Chugoku Mountains of Western Japan. These installations will transform and further enhance the already stunning locales, including Tsuyama’s historic Joto district, Niimi’s Makido Cave and Kagamino’s Okutsu river valley, famous for its vivid autumn colors.