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A Special Experience of Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch Culture at the “Western Capital of Firando,” a Hub of International Exchange During the Age of Discovery
1. The Hirado Kaido, the historic road used by the feudal lord of Hirado during the Edo period during his travels to Edo, is still carefully preserved between Hirado and Sasebo in Nagasaki prefecture. In this special experience at the Hirado Domain State Guesthouse, you will travel along the Hirado Kaido by Matsura Railway, where you can sample local sake from breweries along the route, enjoy Hirado’s specialty ago dried fish, and indulge in regional sweets. The journey concludes with a visit to Seikaen, the Hirado Domain State Guesthouse located on Hirado Island.
2. The Seikaen garden, which served as the state guesthouse of the Hirado Domain during the Edo period, was landscaped between 1810 and 1829 by Matsura Hiromu, the 35th lord of the Matsura family of Hirado. This feudal lord’s garden was designed as a place for composing waka poetry, admiring the landscape, and seeking relaxation during breaks from administrative duties. Seikaen will be specially utilized as a venue for a unique gastronomy experience, transforming into a limited-time restaurant for this occasion.
3. Hirado in Nagasaki Prefecture is Japan's oldest international trading port. Through trade with Western countries, sugar was introduced to Hirado, bringing with it the recipes for Nanban sweets such as castella and casdoce. In the old Hirado castle town, the streets will be transformed into a vibrant yellow inspired by castella, and you can enjoy a buffet featuring a variety of castella gathered from all over Japan.
4. From Hirado Castle, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the vast ocean, dotted with small islands, offering a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. As part of a wellness tourism experience, facilities for castle saunas and castle workations will be set up within Hirado Castle, allowing you to relax both mind and body. -
A Trip to Enjoy the 370-year History of this Sake Brewery, which Originated in the Edo period, and the Spiritual World of Kisoji, a Certified Japan Heritage site.
A special tour of Kiso with Yukawa Sake Brewery, which boasts 370 years of history and was crowned World Champion at the International Wine Challenge. Explore a sake brewery usually closed to the public, immerse yourself in its daily routine, enjoy a meal hosted by the brewery owner, and listen to the secrets and passion behind the craft of sake making. At the Torii Pass, which is a symbol of Yabuhara and is home to Yukawa Sake Brewery, as well as a popular trekking spot, you can experience the natural beauty of Kiso and its spiritual heritage. In addition, this one-of-a-kind tour offers an in-depth experience of the history and culture of Kisoji, a leg of the Nakasendo road, through interaction with the local people, including a hands-on workshop to learn the traditional craft of Oroku-gushi combs from a modern master artisan, as well as a workshop on hyakusogan, a herbal remedy passed down from the Shugendo tradition by Hino Pharmaceutical.
With a private English-speaking guide and a private car, you can enjoy a luxurious and comfortable Kiso experience. -
A Three-Day-Stay at a Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property Ryokan: Experiencing Washi, Local Sake, and the Blessings of Satoyama
This exclusive three-day, two-nights special tour allows you to stay in a prestigious ryokan, a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property, that is typically not open for lodging.
Surrounded by rich satoyama, immerse yourself in the fresh air and pure water that have nurtured local life while exploring the charms and traditions of washi, sake brewing, and Japanese cuisine.
This exclusive plan invites you to nurture your mind and body while exploring the beauty of Japanese traditions, including tea ceremony, Zen meditation, calligraphy, and kimono dressing. With an interpreter joining the tour, you can feel at ease and fully enjoy the experience, even if it’s your first visit to Japan. -
Okuizumo Past and Present: Explore the Land of Myths, Okuizumo and Yasugi; a premium tour that explores the past and present of this region, shaped by the tradition of tatara ironwork. Bringing together local cultural stewards and visitors to create meaningful connections and shape a shared future.
The Okuizumo region and Yasugi developed through the tatara ironwork method, an ancient method of iron production. A journey tracing the story and cultural heritage of the Japanese heritage site Izumo-kuni Tatara Fudoki, visiting the scattered sites of its traditions, and connecting with the current cultural stewards to envision your own future
1. Special limited opening of Tamahagane Engi, a designated cultural property of Yasugi City
Special limited opening of Tamahagane Engi, a historical scroll depicting the story of tatara ironwork. Admire the grand 55-meter-long work and deepen your understanding of 1,400 years of tatara ironwork history.
2. Interaction with skilled blacksmiths
An apprenticeship experience with Hironari Koto, a swordsmith at the Kajikobo Hiromitsu blacksmith workshop, which has been practicing tatara ironwork and blacksmithing since the Edo period and continues to carry on the tradition to this day. Unlike regular ironwork experiences or shop tours, this unique experience allows participants to work with real blacksmithing tools and equipment in an authentic forge. Enjoy a moment of reflection, connecting with the thoughts and struggles of the swordsmiths who preserve history, all while examining your own past and future.
3. A dialogue-based tour tracing the story
A dialogue-based tour where you can immerse yourself in the myths of the birthplace of ironmaking, deepen your understanding, and explore the history, present, and future of tatara ironwork as a sustainable industry that has developed through a harmonious relationship between nature and people. Experience a unique sensory journey as you participate in a prayer ritual at the Kanayago Shrine, dedicated to the deity of ironmaking, and delve into the myths and history passed down in the area. Through a conversation with the director of the Sugaya Tatara Sannai, where you can learn about the historic scene of tatara ironwork, this tour allows you to fully immerse yourself in the story of tatara ironwork in a way never experienced before. -
The Hidden World of Arita Porcelain: A Special Private Workshop Tour with a Skilled Artisan Approaching Living National Treasure Status
On this special tour of Arita porcelain studios, you can enjoy the precious experience of seeing the master craftsmanship and beauty of the artisans in workshop areas which are normally closed to the public. You can see the distinctive creative process of each studio up close, such as the delicate sculptural beauty of Living National Treasure ceramist Manji Inoue; the Kakiemon Kiln's signature technique of red overglaze enameling; the Gokushin porcelain of Tsuji Seijisha, purveyor to the Imperial Household Agency; the innovative efforts of Riso Kiln, which works with the world's top chefs; Gen-emon Kiln, characterized by its beautiful painting using dark coloring; and Koransha, which manufactures insulators using Arita porcelain.
On this tour, you will witness the delicate techniques and passion of the artisans who create each piece of Arita porcelain by hand, experiencing the splendor of a new work being brought into the world. After the tour, relax over tea and sweets prepared with care at the different studios. The tour will give you a chance to learn about the 400-year history of Arita porcelain, steeped in tradition and innovative spirit, through gallery tours and descriptions of the works by these artists and artisans. This special tour allows you to fully appreciate the depth and charm of Japanese traditional crafts by learning about the techniques that have been refined over many years and the efforts of the porcelain studios to take on the challenges of the modern age. -
Hidden Tokyo: A Journey of Faith and Pilgrimage
This two-day and one-night tour will focus on the hidden charms of the western area of Kanagawa.The western area of Kanagawa Prefecture, including Hakone and Odawara, is land that has been nurtured by “millennium spring water” and is home to Hakone Shrine. The area is also blessed with abundant nature in forms such as satoyama and satoumi, which are both traditional land-management systems in which humans and nature interact in harmony, and is dotted with cultural heritage such as temples, shrines, historical buildings, festivals, and events. This tour aims to help you learn the history, culture, traditions, and way of life of the area, as well as to deepen your understanding of the richness of Japanese culture and the profundity of its faith by confining yourself to prayer at the 600-year-old Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, one of the most famous temples in the area, and in visiting Lake Ashinoko, known for the legend of Kuzuryu, the nine-headed dragon.
A priest from Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple and an English-speaking guide with local ties will accompany you on the trip. -
Enjoy the Local Craftsmanship and Traditional Culture of Japan’s Renowned Architectural and Cultural Heritage ~Inuyama immersive tour~
This tour takes you to the Inuyama area in northern Aichi Prefecture, where you can experience the traditional Japanese crafts of Karakuri mechanical designs, Inuyama ware, as well as traditional tea culture. The Inuyama area is home to many historically important cultural properties and traditional culture, including two national treasures: Inuyama Castle and the Jo-An Tea Room.
Enjoy tea served in Inuyama ware, a traditional type of Japanese pottery, in Urakuen Garden, home to the Jo-An Tea Room, renowned in tea culture. Enjoy a special lunch that combines locally produced cuisine with Inuyama ware at the adjacent Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen Garden. You will also have the chance to make your own Inuyama ware under the guidance of an artisan.
Learn about the history and principles of Karakuri mechanical designs from the foremost expert, the ninth generation Tamaya Shobei, in a private setting while operating the artifacts first-hand. Many of Inuyama's architectural treasures are on display at the Museum Meiji-Mura. The entrance to the former Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is a particularly noteworthy attraction, and you can receive a guided tour and description of its magnificence from the cultural property conservators who work at the museum.
Partake in kaiseki cuisine at the special location of Zagyo-so, Villa of Prince Kimmochi Saionji, an Important Cultural Property on display at Museum Meiji-Mura. Enjoying dinner in a building where eating and drinking are usually prohibited will surely be an unforgettable experience. -
A One-of-a-Kind Setouchi Island Hopping Tour with the Editor-in-Chief of “Setouchi Style (Life Style & Culture of Setouchi)”
Immerse yourself in this Setouchi Island Hopping Tour, enjoying Teshima's leading art scene and experiencing the history and cultural activities of Shodoshima firsthand, such as the Niihama Taiko Festival, while taking in the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea's many islands from a cruiser. The goal is to elevate your travel experience from ordinary sightseeing into a one-of-a-kind experience.
Enjoy relaxed conversation with Masako Yamamoto, editor-in-chief of the “Setouchi Style (Life Style & Culture of Setouchi)” informational magazine published by a Setouchi-based publisher, who will accompany you on the tour. Masako Yamamoto, who has also been independently reporting on the Setouchi region for over 20 years, is one of only a handful of writers who share information about the region.
You can also enjoy other sites and experiences off the beaten path, such as a short trek to Mt. Goishizan, a well-known spot along the Shodoshima sacred site pilgrimage route, as well as the goma fire ritual at Joko-ji Temple located on Mt. Goishizan.
Shodoshima is the largest producer of olives in Japan. It is also known for its production of soy sauce, with around 50% of the wooden vats used for soy sauce brewing in Japan being on Shodoshima. At your accommodation, you can enjoy creative Japanese cuisine unique to the region that makes use of its local specialty olives and soy sauce.
The tour will be guided by an experienced professional interpreter. -
Connecting with Locals Along the Nakasendo Trail (Narai-juku to Kiso-Hirasawa)
Nakasendo is a popular tourist spot for Japanese people and foreigners alike who often use it as a walking trail. Narai-juku and Kiso-Hirasawa, which lie along the Nakasendo, along with Tsumago-juku and Magome-juku, are designated as Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings. However, Narai-juku and Kiso-Hirasawa differ from Tsumago-juku and Magome-juku in that many residents live their everyday lives there among the special historical scenery and street scenes. Continuing to live within a Cultural Property requires understanding and effort regarding strict restrictions, including in building repairs. As a result, the crafts and culture rooted in the area from olden times are protected by the existing craftspeople who have inherited the practices and those who value their preservation.
Kiso-Hirasawa, blessed by abundant forests, is a manufacturing town that flourished from the production of lacquerware using high-quality wood. It is the only lacquering town in Japan designated as a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings and its townscape is carefully preserved. One traditional craft particular to this region is “magemono,” a type of round wooden container. Kiso hinoki cypress is used to make round lunch boxes, tubs, etc. Lacquer is then applied to the wood to increase its strength.
On this tour, walk along the Nakasendo and meet the residents working to maintain and preserve their traditional townscapes, as well as those involved in maintaining fading traditional crafts and culture for the future. -
Focal Point of Culture at Zojoji Temple: The Origins of Tokyo
Dedicated to guardian deities of the Edo period, the famous Zojoji Temple will act as stage as we guide you around a special program taking in the roots of Tokyo.
Zojoji is one of the few large temple complexes that has deep connections with the Tokugawa family of shoguns, who laid the foundation for peace in the modern era.
When Tokugawa Ieyasu set up the government in Edo, he became a supporter of Zojoji, and it later became the family temple of the Tokugawa family; the graves of their ancestors were located Zojoji and funerals and memorial services were also held there. Of the 15 Tokugawa shoguns in Japan’s history, six are buried at Zojoji Temple.
Damaged by fire and air raids in modern times, Zojoji has been rebuilt and restored many times. Today,
the Sanmon Gate (Sangedatsumon) is designated a National Treasure and Important Cultural Property.
This program is guided by a regional coordinator who is a specialist of Zojoji and the Tokugawa family.
The Tokugawa family ushered in more than 260 years of peace, a rare occurence in the history of the world.
Learn about the culture and history they created while tracing the essence of the town called Edo, the original name of Japan’s capital city, Tokyo.