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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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Famous Kyoto Temples in Collaboration with the Producers of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
2nd Japan Annual-International Art Festival Special Program
A special experience awaits at Kyoto's famous temples, where tradition and innovation intersect. The 2nd Japan Annual-International Art Festival will span a range of artistic fields, including contemporary art, digital art, and sustainable art. It will feature exhibitions that pave the way for the future of Japanese art, as well as performances of traditional performing arts such as Noh theater, Kabuki theater, and Gagaku courtly music. Of particular note are three high value-added experience programs created by the producers of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
Kodaiji Temple: Special Tea Ceremony Program with Hiroshi Ishiguro's AVITA Avatar
Experience the encounter between 1,000 years of history and modern technology through a tea ceremony with avatars mixed with projection mapping.
Ninnaji Temple: Special Jazz Concert by Sachiko Nakajima
Sachiko Nakajima embodies the fusion of mathematics and music. This special concert offers a new musical experience in a traditional temple space.
Sennyu-ji Temple: Folding Screen Art Creation Workshop
Experience the Japan's unique culture of dedication by creating art in a traditional temple.
These programs offer one-of-a-kind experiences in which Japanese culture intersects with modern technology. Enjoy these special activites woven from history and art. -
Art Tourism Hyogo: One-Day Tour of Famous Architecture and Art from Kobe to Ashiya
The highlight of this tour is a private guided visit to KH Gallery Ashiya, the former private residence and gallery of Hiroko Koshino, a world-renowned fashion designer. The residence was designed by the acclaimed architect Tadao Ando. As such, this space is a unique collaboration between two of Japan's leading artists.
Visit the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, the only museum in Japan specializing in carpentry tools, and experience firsthand the craftsmanship of Japanese carpenters. Walk down Kobe Museum Road and see the lines of sculptures by famous Japanese artists, and visit the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, one of the largest Tadao Ando buildings in western Japan. A local host with a deep knowledge of art, architecture, and the culture of Hyogo Prefecture will serve as your tour guide.
Since Kobe cuisine includes food from both mountain and sea, you are sure to enjoy the region's culinary culture at the specially-prepared dinner at KOBE KITANO TERRASSE, a restaurant with a spectacular view of the city of Kobe. Your meal will feature French cuisine using ingredients related to Hyogo Prefecture.
Quench your thirst for knowledge through the art, culture, nature, and architecture of Hyogo Prefecture.
An English interpreter will be on hand at all times to assist. All tours are conducted by private tour cars. -
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. -
Memory, Moment, Kyoto
These World Heritage temples in Kyoto can be reserved especially for you to spend quality time away from the crowds.
How will you spend your time? Choose from three World Heritage temples: Daigo-ji Temple, Ninnaji Temple, and Ryoan-ji Temple.
For this experience, a Buddhist monk will guide you on an exclusive tour to see some places that are not usually accessible to the public.
This tour provides a private temple visit and a special experience unlike any other. -
Osaka Great Sky Art Fireworks: A Spectacular Fireworks Event Synchronized to Music
Excellent and easy access. Osaka Art Fireworks is a huge fireworks event that can accommodate 20,000 people. There are four special experiences to accompany the fireworks.
Cruiser Fireworks Viewing Plan / Limited to 100 people
View the fireworks from a yacht. Limited to 10 to 20 people per vessel. Don't just watch the fireworks on land—watch from the comfort of a special vantage point on the water! This area is known for having one of the best sunsets in Japan, and watching a beautiful ocean sunset followed by fireworks by boat is a truly exceptional experience.
Japanese Cuisine x Hot Springs x Fireworks Plan / Limited to 10 groups
Enjoy a local lunch course at Fudoguchikan, a long-established traditional Japanese inn, and bathe in a hot spring with a view of autumn leaves. After lunch, head to the venue and enjoy watching the fireworks from special reserved seating. A free shuttle bus service will be running from the restaurant to the fireworks venue.
Fireworks x Stay Plan / Limited to 3 pairs
This plan allows you to view the fireworks from a guest room located within the venue, the JYUBAKO mobile house as designed by architect Kengo Kuma. Enjoy a barbecue while glamping in comfort using Japan's very own Snow Peak camping gear. After enjoying the glorious sunset, watch the fireworks from the privacy of your guest room. Includes two meals per overnight stay.
Fireworks x Pyrotechnician Commentary Plan / Limited to 100 people
A one-hour seminar by a pyrotechnician accompanied by video footage will be held at Ochi Arena near the fireworks venue. This is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge of Japanese fireworks traditions before watching the fireworks. English translations are available. A souvenir senshu towel from Osaka's Senshu region, renowned for nearly 130 years of making craft Japanese towels, is included. -
Karate Tourism: The 52nd Japan Cup Karate-do Championships Premium Tour / Rising Sun Karate Spectacle
The 52nd Japan Cup Karate-do Championships Premium Tour!
The tour includes exclusive seats at the 52nd Japan Cup Karate-do Championships to be held at the Nippon Budokan on December 8, 2024, for an unprecedented and special experience. These seats will allow spectators to watch from a location normally only accessible to staff and affiliates of the tournament. The premium tour will allow participants to observe the athletes' warm-up routine, which is not open to the public, and take a commemorative photo with the winner's cups (the emperor’s cup and the empress’s cup).
Rising Sun Karate Spectacle
In January, 2025, a new karate demonstration event will be held at the Kyoto Budo Center (formerly known as Butokuden), the oldest martial arts demonstration hall in Japan. This event will feature kata, a designated series of defensive and offensive karate movements, demonstrated by first class karate players.
During the event, there will also be a hands-on tour for visitors interested in karate and Japanese martial arts. The tour is a one-day experience that includes training under the guidance of actual karate players, a karate workshop, and trying out Japanese swords, and other elements of Japanese culture.
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Black Pine Restaurant and Sightseeing Train
Board the Kyoto Tango Railway Kuro-Matsu (Black Pine) restaurant train and make your journey by rail while taking in the spectacular views from the windows, as well as enjoy a meal prepared by a top chef with plenty of local ingredients.
You can choose from three different courses (lunch course, dessert course, etc.) that differ depending on the time of year, and purchase limited-edition gifts and souvenirs on the train.
The train will stop at Nagu Kaigan in Tango-Amanohashidate-Oeyama Quasi-National Park so that passengers can take in the spectacular view, and will travel slowly along the Yura River Bridge—a famed photography spot—to give passengers the magical sensation of traveling over the sea.
Enjoy sightseeing in Amanohashidate, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, together with this journey by rail. -
Lake Biwa Sunset & Fireworks Dinner Cruise
Make your very own fireworks at the Kakinoki fireworks workshop in the city of Nagahama on the northern shore of Lake Biwa, the largest and oldest lake in Japan.
This experience includes commentary by Hiroyuki Kakinoki, an award-winning pyrotechnician who has won awards at fireworks festivals throughout Japan.
After making the fireworks, you will select a kimono to wear, take a stroll around the traditional streets, and finally board a yakatabune boat for a sunset cruise along Lake Biwa.
A fireworks-themed Italian dinner using a variety of ingredients from Shiga Prefecture has been specially created for this sunset cruise.
For the finale, enjoy a premium, one-of-a-kind fireworks display that feature the fireworks you created earlier!
This is your chance to truly appreciate Japan’s fireworks traditions and the scenery of Lake Biwa. -
Travel to the Heart of Sumo Wrestling
This high value-added experience centers on THE SUMO HALL HIRAKUZA OSAKA and the neighboring regions. Guests can experience the secret origins of sumo, the way of the warrior that is bushido, dedications to the gods, historical and cultural farming rituals, ancient Japanese forms of entertainment, and present-day sumo matches.
(1) Katsuragi, Nara Prefecture: Experience the legend of the wrestling match with Taima-no-Kehaya, considered the origin of sumo wrestling. See the dedicated ring and rituals to predict the harvest at sumo tourism center Kehaya-za, and watch local sumo take pride in strength. You can also try some sumo cuisine (known as chanko) as you learn about the relationship between rural life, climate, and local production and consumption in an antique restaurant with commentary from sumo wrestlers.
(2) Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture: Learn about the relationship between sumo wrestling as a Shinto ritual and local food culture, including the importance of sake, rice, and salt, at the Nadagogo Brewers Association and the restricted ozeki’s special facility Seiwakan. Special sake tasting and various other activities will also be on offer for participants on this tour.
(3) Osaka City, Osaka: Traditional sumo wrestler training experience
A high-value-added experience that educates participants on sumo wrestling and its relationship with Osaka. Learn all about the traditional sacred grounds of the sumo world, which play an important role for wrestlers training their physical and mental strength and cultivating their competitive spirit. You can also witness post-fight rituals such as bow-twirling, along with other aspects of traditional Japanese culture. This experience is brought to you by former professional sumo wrestlers have appeared on NETFLIX and others with extensive sumo experience. THE SUMO HALL HIRAKUZA OSAKA will be reserved exclusively for this event.