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Find Your Oasis in Minakami Japan's Adventure Capital
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and discover the tranquility of Minakami, nestled between two national parks and home to over 20 thrilling outdoor adventures. Whether you're seeking adrenaline-pumping thrills or a peaceful retreat in nature, Minakami offers the perfect oasis for your next Japan adventure.
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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. -
Michinoku Coastal Hiking Trail - 7 Days
The Tohoku region consists of six prefectures in the northernmost part of Honshu (Japan’s main island), and boasts beautiful nature and abundant natural resources, including delicious fresh seafood.
On March 11, 2011, the Pacific Coast of the Tohoku region was devastated by the destructive Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. More than 10 years have passed since this disaster, and reconstruction is still underway in the Tohoku region. However, many of Tohoku's beautiful landscapes still remain, and you can encounter the day-to-day lives of the many people who have overcome this adversity.
In this tour, indulge in local culture, cycling, kayaking, and other activities unique to this region, as well as walk along the Michinoku Coastal Hiking Trail, a national trail with a total length of over 1,000 kilometers that opened on June 9, 2019.
This seven-day tour also allows you to learn about the disaster, interact with locals, and reflect on the significance of life. We hope you will join us on this walking tour in the Tohoku region. -
Joetsu's World-Class Nighttime Economy
This event will be held at the Kobayashi Kokei Residence, a designated National Important Cultural Property. The parlor will open its doors to 20 guests per night for an exclusive Japanese meal using locally produced ingredients. Drinks will include Japanese sake and Yukimuro wine, a highly sought-after rarity. The garden will be artfully illuminated, and guests can enjoy their meal while listening to live music performed by an orchestra from Joetsu City. This is a fun, content-packed experience for visitors to Japan.
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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. -
A Unique Artisanal Experience
Tsubame-Sanjo is home to many of Japan's leading artisans.
The entire town functions like a single historical workshop that continues to produce tools essential for daily life, using traditions passed down from the days of old.
Experience this town of craftspeople and witness the amazing handiwork of these artisanal masters firsthand. Become an artisan for a day in your very own workshop, explore the story of Japanese manufacturing and utility in daily life, and enjoy a bike ride along the Shinano River. You certainly won't find this extraordinary crafting journey in a guidebook!
The tour begins with a visit to an iconic 85-year-old vacant warehouse where you will learn about the region’s history.
You will then depart from the warehouse and go for a bike ride through the streets of Tsubame-Sanjo, where you can enjoy the Shinano River breeze against your skin.
Finally, create your own personalized kitchen knife engraved with your name, or perhaps your very own original frying pan at a blacksmith's forge with over a century of history. You will learn specialized techniques from a master artisan to complete your project.
The methods you learn to create lightweight and easy-to-use utensils that last a lifetime will surely leave lasting memories. -
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. -
Revealing the Shaka Nyorai Buddha Statue of the Inner Sanctuary and the Western Pagoda of the Shakyamuni Hall
In the spirit of Tendai Buddhism's "Light Up Your Corner," which advocates becoming a positive influence in your corner of the world, Mt. Hiei's Enryakuji Temple will be hosting an annual interdenominational religious summit for world peace. This year, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Enryakuji Temple's registration as a World Heritage site, a special exhibition will be held for the first time in seven years in the Shakyamuni Hall, the temple's oldest extant building. The previous public viewing of the cloistered statue of Shaka Nyorai Buddha—33 years after its initial opening—was attended by over 100,000 people.
This time, in addition to the revealing of the main statue of Shaka Nyorai in the inner sanctuary, there will also be a special DANDELION PROJECT exhibition, a participatory art project by artist Ryotaro Muramatsu based on the idea of connecting the world with transcendental prayers for peace. Stand in front of the DANDELION art installation amidst the soft candlelit interior of the Shakyamuni Hall and blow dandelion seeds carrying prayers for peace along the wall through projection mapping. Experience a new world of Buddhism through the latest in digital art technology at the Enryakuji Temple's oldest building.
Enryakuji Temple has long sent messages of peace to connect people. Now it will preserve history and transmit this desire for peace to the next generation through art, which is capable of communicating beyond words. -
Yutoku Inari Shrine Night Walk: The Fox’s Bride
During the event, the area spanning from Monzen Shopping Street to the shrine grounds will be illuminated with a fantastical light display themed around "The Fox Bride."
As you wander through the shrine grounds enveloped in the beautiful display of lights, you will eventually arrive at the shrine's magnificent main hall. Here, you can enter the normally off-limits main hall to take part in a special traditional worship ceremony.
This is a rare chance to experience Japanese traditional culture within a historic shrine.
Put on a kimono and immerse yourself in the beautifully lit enviroment, creating a meaningful experience whether it is your first time visiting Yutoku Inari Shrine or you have been here before.
Our goal is to elevate the "ordinary sightseeing" experience to "immersive tourism." By combining the kimono experience with the enchanting illumnations and projection mapping inspired by "The Fox Bride," visitors will feel as if they stepped into another world.
A professional kimono dresser will assist you in putting on the kimono. All necessary items will be available for rent, so you can enjoy the experience without needing to bring anything yourself. -
Reconstructing Ishikawa: A Leading Food Culture Experience Experience the flavors of the samurai and the vitality of the Noto region
The experience includes a special performance of Noh, an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Property, at the Ishikawa Prefectural Noh Theater, a nationally designated Tangible Cultural Property as of Autumn 2023. Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa will be opened at night for exclusive guided tours of the garden with a special cha-kaiseki (Kaga cuisine) dinner. Observational tours featuring cultural crafts affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and outdoor dining experiences featuring cuisine by local Michelin-star chefs will also be held to offer culinary and cultural experiences to showcase and contribute to Noto's recovery efforts.