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A Gongen Noh Experience Limited to Overnight Guests: Special Noh Theater Performance at a World Heritage Site & Workshop to Learn About Noh with a Living National Treasure
- This year, a Noh performance limited to an audience of 100 people will be held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Yoshino's registration as a World Heritage Site.
- Participants attending the Noh performance will be able to witness the special viewing of Kongo Zao Daigongen, the largest ""hidden"" Buddhist statues in Japan, which are held in Zaodo Hall at the National Treasure and World Heritage Site, Kinpusenji Temple.
- At night, Zaodo Hall at Kinpusenji Temple will be privately booked out for staging Noh, a traditional Japanese performing art which is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. It will be performed by Living National Treasures Bunzo Otsuki and Genjiro Okura.
- The Noh play performed will be ""Taniko,"" which expresses the profundity of the Shugendo mountain ascetic faith. This special nighttime performance can only be experienced on this date, in this place.
- On the following day, participants can take part in a workshop to learn the traditional Japanese performing art of Noh theater, taught by Living National Treasure Genjiro Okura and Kiyomasa Kanze. This workshop is only available for the 30 guests staying at Yoshino. -
Premium Tour Featuring the Traditional Performing Art of Kyogen at Muroji, A Temple Famous for Extraordinary Autumn Foliage
Avoid the crowds and enjoy a relaxing experience of the superb autumn foliage in Japan's ancient capital of Nara!
Built about 1,400 years ago, Muroji Temple is the only temple of Koyasan that permitted women to visit since ancient times. It is popular as a secluded spot for viewing the autumn leaves in Nara.
This year, for the first time, Muroji Temple will open its main hall—a national treasure normally closed to the public—as a stage for a premium tour that includes a performance of Kyogen theater, one of Japan's classic performing arts, presented by the Izumi school.
In addition to the main hall, visitors will be guided by a priest on a special night tour of the temple grounds, which includes national treasures like the Kondo (main hall) and a five-story pagoda. They will then be treated to a performance of Kyogen by Motoya Izumi, the 20th generation headmaster of the Izumi school, who performs both in Japan and overseas. A special dinner plan showcasing Nara's traditional vegetables (available Nov. 25–26), and a plan featuring a performance by Japan's only female Kyogen performers (Nov. 23–24) will also be available—a fitting performance for Muroji Temple and its strong affiliation with women.
A month-long autumn foliage festival and illumination event will be held starting November 1. Come and enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves and appreciate the essence of traditional Japanese culture. -
FIRST-TIME KABUKI at Kyoto Station Building
Kabuki is one of Japan's leading forms of traditional theatrical performance. Its origins can be traced back to the early Edo period (early 17th century) when the Kabuki Odori dance was first performed in Kyoto.
First-Time Kabuki is a one-hour kabuki experience and explanation event for all first-time kabuki viewers. It concludes with the performance of a famous scene, set on the Gojo Bridge near Kyoto Station.
Come and enjoy the world of kabuki, a form of Japanese culture that has endured for over 400 years, in Kyoto—the birthplace of Kabuki!
(1) Kyoto Station venue means easy access!
(2) Night shows held daily at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.!
(3) Free rental for audio guides in English, Chinese, and Korean! -
Kenninji Temple, Kyoto: Premium night viewing in the refreshing cool of evening ZEN NIGHT WALK KYOTO
Premium night viewing at Kenninji Temple, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto
A special nighttime viewing will be held at Kenninji Temple, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. During this event, visitors can experience the spirit of Zen by walking through the temple’s corridors while listening to ""neuro-music"" scientifically proven to relax the brain.
Sound Corridors: Neuro-music
Walk through the corridors of Kenninji Temple while listening to ""neuro-music."" This music relaxes the brain, leading to a more mindful state.
Daiyuen Garden - Sokai (Vast ocean)
A sea of clouds appears in Kenninji's dry landscape garden, the Daiyuen Garden, on cool summer nights. This sea of clouds complements the beauty and serenity of the garden as visitors listen to neuro-music.
Twin Dragons & Digital Twin Dragons
Kenninji's iconic Twin Dragons painting, combined with the latest in projection art. Contemporary artist Rei Wakita will use the latest technology to visualize the flow of the dragons’ energy.
Japanese Garden Sound-Art Night Walk
Enjoy art installations of sound and light while touring the corridors of extraordinary Japanese gardens: the Circle-Triangle-Square Garden, the Cho-on-tei Garden, and the Daiyuen Garden.
A truly special evening experience of sound and silence, light and shadow. Experience the fusion of contemporary art and technology while enjoying the history and beauty of Kenninji Temple. -
Tailored ascetic training experience at the World Heritage site of Mt. Hiei Enryakuji Temple
Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei is a religious institution that is renowned for producing famous monks, such as Honen and Shinran, from various schools of Japanese Buddhism. Many monks continue to engage in various forms of ascetic practices on the temple grounds.
The experience involves the following:
・ Participants will be guided by the chief priest (the current instructor of monks-in-training) of Enryakuji Temple, one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries in Japan and a World Heritage Site.
・ Each participant will speak with the chief priest, who will ask about their daily thoughts and worries to determine the most suitable training.
・ The training is identical to that practiced by many monks today:
- Circle the mountain in kaihogyo, an ascetic practice that has performed by monks at Mt.Hiei for the past 1100 years
- Practice seated hoto-zazen meditation while visualizing the 1,200-year ""eternal flame of Buddhism""
- Clean the temple grounds and dojo to clear your mind and attain a meditative state
- Recite the name of Amitabha Buddha in Amitabha samadhi, one of the four kinds of samadhi practiced on Mt. Hiei
In contrast to the tourist-oriented training experiences of the past, we offer an authentic training experience in which participants will attain new understanding and insights. -
A Fishing Tour Where You Will Learn How to Maneuver a Boat, Read the Tides, and Catch Fish
● Even beginners have a high chance of catching fish, as you will be accompanied by highly skilled boatmen and professional anglers certified by fishing tackle manufacturer Shimano.
● All fishing equipment is provided: you can show up to the tour empty-handed!
● Any fresh fish you catch will be cooked and served to you at the restaurant.
● Stay at a five-star hotel in the Umeda or Namba areas of Osaka.
● Take a hired car to and from the hotel to the fishing port.
● Enjoy shopping at a popular roadside station in Misaki, where you can buy fresh local vegetables and fish. -
Tour for Luxury Tourists: “The Path of the Craftsman—A Journey Through the Heart of Japan”
This tour is an in-depth experience of traditional Japanese crafts, natural landscapes, and culinary culture unique to various areas. The following unique experiences will be offered in the Aichi, Gifu, and Kyoto Prefectures.
(1) Traditional folk craft experiences
- Ceramic art: Learn from the direct apprentice of a Living National Treasure at the Kobeigama Kiln for an authentic Japanese experience. This activity is exclusive to participants of this tour, and the items can be mailed back to your home countries at a later date.
- Small blade making: Try your hand at making a small blade in a workshop not usually open to the public in Seki, Gifu Prefecture. This experience is also exclusive to participants of this tour, and items can be mailed back to your home countries at a later date.
- Mino-washi papermaking: Learn from an artisan how to make hon-minoshi paper, a method which is registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
(2) Traditional scenery and accommodations
- Tour historical buildings: Visit traditional buildings in places like Gifu Prefecture's Takayama City, Mino City, and Shirakawa-go, as well as Kyoto Prefecture's Kyoto City. Enjoy strolling around and taking photos wearing a kimono.
- Traditional accommodations: Stay in select accommodations in old private homes built more than 130 years ago, or in machiya-style townhouses designated as Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese government. Enjoy an extraordinary experience in a truly special space.
(3) Culinary culture and seasonal produce
- Michelin Guide-listed restaurants: Enjoy dishes made with seasonal local ingredients, such as wild vegetables in spring, ayu (sweetfish) and eel in summer, matsutake mushrooms in fall, and wild game in winter. Accommodations can also be made for vegan or halal dining.
Participants will be accompanied by a guide from the region who is fluent in the participants' language, has extensive knowledge of the area, and who can provide a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. -
Natural Wine Stand
The town of Tamba Sasayama is well known for its remarkably preserved Edo Period atmosphere. Located in a renovated former bank in this historical town is a classic but modern wine bar. Enjoy a guided tasting of Japanese wines, with a focus on natural wines produced in the Tamba region. The second floor also serves as lodging, transforming this former bank into an inn where you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time. There is also a travel plan that includes the Natural Wine Stand event combined with an overnight stay in the inn. The Tatsumachi area of Tamba Sasayama features local cuisine only available in the region, as well as a Michelin Bib Gourmand-listed restaurant in an old Japanese-style house that has been renovated. Hop from one place to the next at your own leisure. Special desserts are available in addition to the wine, made by pâtissiers from local restaurants using mainly local ingredients. These are served alongside the wine, so feel free to grab a bite with your drink!
July 20 (Sat.), 2024, 3:00 P.M. - 10 P.M.
40 Tatsumachi, Tamba Sasayama, Hyogo, Japan
*Please use the nearby municipal parking lot. -
Enjoy the Tenjin Festival, One of Japan's Three Major Festivals, Aboard a Ceremonial Boat
(1) Participants will ride the official boat used for the festival's religious ceremony. Known as the gubusen, or attendant boat, this ceremonial boat functions to welcome the the gods.
(2) For the first time, special viewing seats will be set up on the grounds of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine for the general public to view the fireworks.
(3) Commentary by a former chief priest of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine will be interpreted into English.
(4) Visitors will be able to take pictures with the hanamusume (flower girls) appointed by the Tenjinbashi-suji shopping district. Hanamusume will also be on board the attendant boat.
(5) The lunch on July 25, included in the Premium Plan, will be served at Osaka Geihinkan (Osaka Former State Guest House).
(6) The dinner on July 25 will be an original bento box from an upscale, long-established ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant) in Osaka.
(7) Lunch and dinner will be served with complimentary drinks.
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Exclusively Reserved Tour
Discover Ōyosami Jinja Shrine, where the gods of Japan have been worshiped for more than 2,000 years. Participants will be picked up from their hotel in Osaka by taxi to make traveling to the shrine stress-free. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a priest and make your way under the shrine's stone torii gate to begin this special program. First, you will don the robes of a Shinto priest and perform a formal shrine visit and prayer. The priest guide will then provide a detailed explanation of Japanese shrines and the Shinto faith that underpins the spirituality of the Japanese people. Afterwards, you will visit other areas of the shrine grounds, including a sacred "shinboku" tree.
After the Shinto experience, you will enter the sacred space of the Kaguraden for a special tea ceremony experience. After changing back into your clothes, try your hand at Japanese calligraphy.
All these participatory experiences are conducted by qualified professionals, allowing participants to learn about Japanese culture in-depth.
After these special lessons, participants will enjoy a kaiseki-style bento, a beautifully presented Japanese meal made with seasonal vegetables. Japanese sake and wine will also be available to pair with the dishes.
After the program is over, participants will be taken back to their hotel in Osaka.
Reservations must be made in advance for this tour. A dedicated guide and interpreter will be present throughout the tour, and the shrine will be booked out exclusively for the program. This will ensure you gain a better understanding of each cultural activity for a truly memorable Japanese experience. You may also ask any questions you may have about Japan.