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Kyoto Art Experience: Inspiring moments that weave together beauty and history
A special cultural tourism experience distinct to Kyoto, offered in conjunction with the Art Collaboration Kyoto (ACK) art fair to be held in Kyoto from November 1-3, 2024.
(1) Premium excursions: A variety of special excursion programs will allow participants to experience Kyoto’s fascinating traditional culture and history through areas of shrines, temples, gardens, and other spots that are usually closed to the public.
(2) Night hopping: A nighttime way to take in as much art as you can throughout Kyoto. After visiting the ACK venue, “hop” around to exhibitions at venues normally closed to the public and to art venues especially open for this night with special guides in attendance. After that, go to music events held on the roof of Kyoto City Hall and at Metro Kyoto, the longest-standing club in Japan. -
“Godzilla Minus One” on-Site Tour!
Experience the Amphibious Bus One-Day Excursion
Lake Kasumiaura Water Operation- Have a cinematic experience with a bus tour at the former Kashima Naval Air Station site (Oyama Lakeside Park) in Ibaraki Prefecture, where the blockbuster movie Godzilla Minus One was shot.
- Enjoy an immersive experience of the Shinden fighter plane.
- Go on a sightseeing tour of Lake Kasumigaura on a Godzilla-themed amphibious bus that starts its journey on land.
After a 15-minute tour of Lake Kasumigaura, there will be hands-on activities, a panel exhibition, and other experiences that will bring you into the world of the movie.
- No need to bring a car, because the tour starts and ends at JR Tsuchiura Station.
- The tours will typically have English interpretation.
- Tour pamphlets are available in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese, making it easy to find key information and points of note even when an interpreter is not available. -
Special Viewing Experience to Appreciate the Best of Japanese Art: Special Viewing Tours Around the Imperial Palace with Focus on The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
The tours are themed on the role between the imperial family and Japanese culture and art. They will include private viewing opportunities with commentary by curators at Sannomaru Shozokan in the Imperial Palace East Gardens and hands-on programs in the surrounding area. The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan has attracted attention both in Japan and abroad after it reopened in 2023. This tour offers a very rare and valuable opportunity to participate in a private nighttime viewing at the museum—which is home to many cultural properties passed down by the Imperial Family—after hours. Three types of tours will be offered, each including the main nighttime museum program. On the first tour, guests will indulge in sushi prepared by chefs from an Edomae-sushi restaurant with over a century of history. The sushi will be served alongside traditional utensils and artwork, and participants will be able to try making nigiri (hand-pressed) sushi at the counter. On the second tour, guests will enjoy a dinner course that highlights the traditional flavors of Japanese cuisine and has been served to distinguished guests from around the world at dinner parties in upscale hotel restaurants. The third tour offers a special painting activity in which participants can make their own reproduction of a Japanese artist's masterpiece under the guidance of a professional instructor as they sip on wine that has been paired with the painting. Each of these tours will be accompanied by interpreter-guides who will provide detailed and attentive services, allowing participants to deepen their knowledge and interest in imperial Japanese culture and art as they go about the tour.
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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. -
DIY Study Tour: Renovate a Genuine Old Folk Residence Passing on the Japanese Way of Life
This is a special tour of a traditional thatched folk house not usually accessible to visitors and built with multiple traditional Japanese techniques.
It is a chance to experience local activities, architecture, and home renovation techniques.
You can even try your hand at renovating the house yourself under the instruction of artisans, trained in the traditional skills of this community.
Hidetsugu Matogawa will be your thatching expert. Hidetsugu learned from local thatching artisans and performs thatched roof refurbishments throughout Japan.
Hajime Wilds will be your woodworker and carpenter. Hajime is well-versed in local traditional techniques, and he also studied design and woodworking in his father's hometown in the USA. He practices new spatial designs that blend traditional techniques.
Finally, Kyle Holzhueter will be your plasterer. Kyle holds a doctorate in natural materials research and gives workshops throughout Japan as a plasterer and builder.
This workshop in a thatched folk house helps to pass on living culture through the use of traditional tools. You will also be provided with a meal of shijimi soup, a traditional food of the region.
Immerse yourself in the beautiful morning scenery of Lake Shinji, then board a fishing boat to try your hand at clam fishing to get a feel for local efforts to protect fishery resources.
Each part of the trip will be guided by an experienced professional interpreter.
Private cabs are also available for transportation from your accommodation. -
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.