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BONSAI JAPAN: Japan Bonsai Taikan Exhibition
Enjoy the charm and traditional aesthetics of the world-famous art of bonsai at one of Japan's largest indoor bonsai exhibitions. Bonsai sizes and styles featured at the exhibition include conifers, broadleaf trees, satsuki azaleas, shohin bonsai, creative bonsai, famous trees, suiseki stones, and other masterpieces, all of which were carefully selected from throughout Japan.
November 22–25, 2024 / 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (until 4:00 PM on November 25)
[Special events]
・Demonstration by a bonsai master (November 22–24, from 10:30 AM)
・Bonsai Cafe
・Bonsai commentary tours (Japan Bonsai Taikan Exhibition commentary tour, Daitokuji Temple Hoshun-in Bonsai Garden bus tour)
・Premium bonsai sales
[Concurrent events]
・Individual booth exhibitions
・Large sales event
・Auction
For details, please visit the dedicated website. -
NAKED Night Walk™ Natadera Temple, Ishikawa
This fall nighttime illumination event is a collaboration between Natadera Temple, one of the most famous sites in the Hokuriku region for its fall foliage, and the creative company NAKED, INC. This event showcases the beauty of Natadera Temple and its fall foliage as viewed at night when the temple is illuminated, emphasizing the natural wisdom and beauty of nature that Natadera Temples so cherishes and respects. Artist Ryotaro Muramatsu's DANDELION PROJECT will also be exhibited for the first time in the Hokuriku region as a prayer for the restoration and recovery of the Noto region. DANDELION will be set up on the observation deck overlooking the strange rock formations of Natadera Temple, where participants can offer prayers for the restoration and recovery of the Noto region.
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Japan Job Challenge in Senshu
This job workshop event will be held for the first time on Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27, in the Senshu area of southern Osaka, near Kansai International Airport. The aim of the event is to showcase of traditional industries, lifestyle/culture, and various occupations. Locations will include Kishiwada Castle, local shopping areas in Sakai and Izumisano, Kansai International Airport, and a variety of other spots.
With around 60 programs, you can experience the traditional industries of Senshu, such as cutlery, glasswork, tea ceremony, Japanese sweets, local sake, wooden danjiri floats, Noh theater, and more. Not only that, but you can also immerse yourself in the daily life and culture of the Senshu area, such as tatami mat-making, working at shrinesk and local shopping districts, and more. Professionals of each job will guide participants through the process, making for great interactions with locals. Participants can also try out several occupations over two days. Take this opportunity to truly experience the various cultures and lifestyles of Japan! -
Special Experience at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
This is an exclusive tour of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a once-imperial, historical garden that echoes with Japan's modern history.
Garden tour: Accompany a garden expert on a tour of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, learning in detail the history and appeal of the former Imperial garden pond and its unique plants.
Tea ceremony and banquet: Enjoy a tea ceremony and savor a special meal in the elegant sukiya-style teahouse Rakuu-tei using Edo Tokyo vegetables and other foods and specialties related to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden that are available only on this tour.
Japanese boat and gagaku: Gagaku, a form of ancient Japanese court music and dance, performed in the unique setting of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Enjoy the sounds of gagaku instruments to your heart's content, played from a traditional Japanese boat floating on the water. *Performance venue may be changed in case of rain.
Three times for the tour are available: morning, afternoon, and evening. Take this rare opportunity to fully enjoy Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in an exclusive private setting that is not normally available.
*Details are subject to change. -
Experience Japanese Culture, Food, and the Spirits of Nature in Snow Country
This tour offers five premium experiences.
[Deep snow areas in Takane]
Snow-covered, terraced rice paddies are usually inaccessible in winter due to a lack of snowplowing. Here you will find designer kamakura snow dome art pieces and transparent snow domes on permanent display.
Try your hand at making kamakura, hop on a snowmobile, or try out snowshoeing, and have a memorable time interacting with nature and people, sipping Murakami tea in a snowy field and visiting old private residences.
[Stargazing]
Experience tranquility and sip some Murakami tea in a completely private, serene snowy field, while gazing at a panoramic view of the stars and moon.
Take in the world of Japan’s snow country with all five senses.
[Gastronomy stay at a guest farmhouse]
Rent out Zaigomon, a private guest farmhouse in the Takane area.
Enjoy a gastronomical stay with a special menu featuring local food.
[Japanese culture experience]
Experience the spiritual world of Japanese wa (harmony/peace) through tea ceremony, Japanese calligraphy, and flower arrangement at the Wakabayashi Family Residence, a National Important Cultural Property.
Don a kimono and stroll through the machiya townhouses of the castle town.
[Traditional tea and culinary culture of Murakami]
Murakami is where Japan's northernmost tea, Murakami tea, is cultivated.
Enjoy sumptuous cuisine made from Murakami's rich local produce, including salmon, Murakami beef, and natural salt from the Sea of Japan, as well as loical sake.
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Gastronomy Tour of Aso Caldera's Finest Produce and Japanese Brown Wagyu
Minami Aso Village at the southern foot of the vast Aso Caldera is a healing sanctuary abundant in nature and pure spring water. Shirakawa Suigen, which was selected as one of the 100 Best Natural Waters in Japan, is among one of its most famous springs.
Participants will partake in a sumptuous dining experience that stimulates the senses, featuring Aso Japanese Brown wagyu and other carefully-selected local ingredients. Lunch is served on an open-air trolley car, whereas dinner is prepared right in front of you by chefs using wood and other natural flames.
Participants will also experience traditional Japanese culture in an authentic tea ceremony performed by members of the 400-year-old Urasenke school founded by tea master Sen Rikyu. The ceremony will take place at Shirakawa Suigen, which was selected as one of the 100 best waters by the Ministry of the Environment.
The rich nature and local cuisine of this volcanic region will provide an extraordinary experience that will heal both the mind and body.
Head Chef
Kenshin Miyamoto: A goodwill ambassador for “Kumamoto, the Land of Food,” and the recipient of the Culinary Masters Award from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. Boasts an illustrious career that includes a culinary showcase at Expo 2015 Milan, which promoted the charms of Aso to the world.
He will prepare exquisite multicourse meals that make the most of Aso Japanese Brown wagyu, cooked skillfully over natural flames borne of wood and charcoal, and Kumamoto Prefecture's bountiful seasonal produce. -
Experience-Based Tour Offering a Glimpse Into the Essence of Samurai Culture
(1) Setouchi City boasts the largest production and volume of Bizen swords in Japan, which were the favorite swords of famous historical samurai warriors, and is known as the mecca of Japanese swords.
The Bizen Osafune Sword Museum, Japan's only public sword museum with a resident swordsmith, will be rented for a night. During this time, the swordsmith will provide commentary on the history, culture, and origins of swords, including the unique cultural values hidden in Japanese swords as weapons. Participants will also be able to take part in Setouchi City's first ever tameshigiri (test cut) experience and observe ancient swordsmithing techniques.
(2) Meals will be prepared by two chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants using mainly local Setouchi ingredients. The meal will be provided at the Nakazaki Family Residence Main Building, a Tangible Cultural Property completed around 1917.
(3) Participants will be treated to commentary on the history of Bizen ware pottery by a Bizen artist, after which they will try their hand at making Bizen wares at the Sabukaze Ceramics Hall, a guidance facility for the Remains of the Old Kilns of Sabukaze, a nationally designated historical site. After the workshop, participants will stroll along Shiomachi Karakoto Street, a street that retains the atmosphere of the Edo and Showa periods and is home to many nationally registered cultural properties. They will also get to interact with local residents and enjoy a local dish called Kako no Jabu Jabu, a stewed fish and vegetable dish over rice, served in Bizen ware dishes.
(4) A welcome reception by matchlock gunners and samurai warlords at Okayama Castle. After the castle closes to the public, participants will have a private dinner at Okayama Castle, where they will enjoy a meal arranged in the style of Kachidoki Meshi, a feast dish from the Warring States period. Kenshin Uesugi, a powerful daimyo from the time who loved Bizen swords, would eat this dish as a form of prayer for victory before he went into battle. -
The Birthplace of Japanese Wine, Featured in the Manga Drops of God! Three days to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Kyoutou region in Yamanashi Prefecture and taste Koshu wines
(1) Special private viewing of one of Japan's three new most beautiful nightscapes
Enjoy dinner at the Fruit Park Fujiya Hotel with a beautiful night view of the Kyoutou region, which was selected as one of Japan's "New Three Most Beautiful Nightscapes." They can also enjoy the night view from the Fuefukigawa Fruit Park, which is normally closed to the public at night.
(2) Tour of historical sites from the early days of authentic winemaking
Visit the Former Lumiere Underground Fermentation Tank, which is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property, and learn about the unique Japanese winemaking methods that continue to this day.
(3) Premium dinner experience at Daizenji Temple with Japanese cuisine and Koshu wine
Take in the local food culture of the area (local Japanese cuisine and wine from the Kyoutou region) with a premium dinner expeirence at Daizenji Temple, a national treasure which has a history of over 1,000 years. The temple also houses a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, holding a bunch of grapes—the only statue of its kind in Japan.
The temple grounds will be used to host a special art show by internationally acclaimed dye artist Ena Furuya, who has brought the 1,200 year-old traditional craft of wax-resist dyeing to the modern age.
(4) Breakfast at a popular scenic spot with a panoramic view of Mt. Fuji
A special early morning bus service will be provided to take participants to FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace to see a stunning panoramic view of Mt. Fuji with the sunrise.
(5) Drops of God! Collaboration
Receive a guidebook supervised by the author of Drops of God!, a legendary wine manga that has sold 15 million copies worldwide and is adored by wine lovers around the world, as well as wines with original Drops of God! wine labels. -
Fire Festival and Miare Festival on the World Heritage Site, the Sacred Island of Okinoshima
★ Miare Festival, one of Munakata Taisha's Shinto rituals: A magnificent parade of fishing boats that is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Folk Cultural Property
★ Special plan limited to 6 people: Helicopter tour of the Miare Festival parade (Special plan for 6 people only)
★ Change into yukata and join us on the eve of the festival at the Fire Festival FROM PORT OF GOD.
Enjoy a brilliant bonfire and traditional performing arts on the sandy beach at the entrance to the World Heritage Site. Participants will also get to visit the local fishermen's Sunday market
★ The Three Shrines of Munakata, a World Heritage Site: take a boat from Konominato to Oshima Island and visit the World Heritage Site of Nakatsumiya Shrine, then head to Okinoshima Yohaisho, which offers a distant view of Okinoshima Island, the sacred island where the gods dwell.
★ Tour the Hetsumiya Shrine and the Shinpokan Museum, which houses 80,000 sacred treasures (certified as national treasures) of Okinoshima and more.
★ Neo Gastronomy Tourism: Special dinner supervised by a renowned Fukuoka chef using ingredients from Munakata, including fresh seafood from the Genkai Sea.
★ Katsuya Shuzo and the Akama-juku area: Tasting sake at Katsuya Shuzo, a sake brewery with a 200-year history, and shopping in an Edo Period inn town
★ Umi no Michi Munakata Hall: A facility where participants can learn about the World Heritage Site and the history and culture of Munakata -
SHOGUN'S DREAM in Tokaido
SHOGUN'S DREAM is a tour that takes participants back in time to when the shogun was still around. Visit a tea house with a small entrance; Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, the resting place of the first shogun; and a traditional Japanese house and garden decorated with traditional handicrafts. Experience traditional crafts from the time period and other unique experiences from the past that can only be found in this location. At every stop on the tour, you will be greeted by the shogun and princess. This tour offers participants the opportunity to experience a time when the shogun was still around, under the theme of “Zen.”