Search
Category
Area
Season
-
The Tradition of Japan's Ama Divers: Ocean Lunch Tour
This tour will give you an authentic ama experience, allowing you to forge a connection with the earth and nature through food. The accommodation, Oyado the Earth, is located within Ise-Shima National Park. The tour begins on the grounds of the hotel. Participants will cross a beach only accessible at low tide to reach a private beach with small, isolated ama huts. Walking along the pebbled beach, with its natural hills and valleys, and listening to the crash of the waves, participants will gain firsthand insight into the unique lives of these ama divers. They will witness the cycles of nature, the lived experience of the ama divers as the seasons change, and the ways in which this culture has been preserved. Participants will arrive on the beach around the time that the ama divers return from their dive. The sight of these ama divers, emerging drenched from the waves, speaks to a hidden world that lies within the ocean. On the beach in front of the ama huts, close enough to feel the spray of the waves, participants will be treated to an aperitif selected by the accommodation’s sommelier and a chef’s lunch made with the ama’s catch. Afterwards, participants will head to the harbor to take in the lively scene of the ama divers unloading their catch of turban shells and abalone so they can be taken to market. Outside the fishing season or in case of bad weather, special permission is granted to enter the ama huts. Participants will be able to speak to the ama divers and gain deep insight into their experiences as they prepare for their dive. It is a truly special experience to able to visit a real ama hut rather than a reconstruction. The tour offers not only a walk on the unspoiled beaches of Ise-Shima National Park but also a glimpse into the real fishing and daily life of the working ama divers.
-
Wagyu and Yakatabune Boat in TOKYO
A fusion of a nighttime cruise on a yakatabune boat, a symbol of Tokyo's Edo period culture, with a full-course French meal prepared by Chef Kakegawa from a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The secret ingredient that will bring this amazing collaboration to even greater heights is Japan's world-renowned wagyu beef.
This luxury dinner cruise also includes a gift of Tokyo sake and an ochoko sake cup made of Edo kiriko glass.
This special tour is designed to offer a different taste of Tokyo, with a focus on Tokyo products—Wagyu beef, sake that brings out the flavor of the meals, and souvenirs and handicrafts.
Chef Kakegawa's Michelin star cuisine is sure to impress the senses with its delicacy and concentrated umami.
The original Wagyu beef full-course menu created especially for this tour and the unique Tokyo nightscape cruise on a yakatabune boat are sure to make for an unforgettable night for all visitors to Tokyo. -
Premium Night Event Held in the Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District
This nighttime cultural tour features private bookings in the Higashi Chaya district at Buemon, a green tea soba noodle restaurant which also doubles as so-bar OTOYU.
Chef Nakamura, a famous local chef of Japanese cuisine at the restaurant Higashiyama -YOSHI- and a certified sake sommelier, will introduce participants to local Kanazawa cuisine, discuss the history of sake, demonstrate how local sake are made, and let participants sample rare and valuable local sake from Fukumitsuya Sake Brewery, Kuze Sake Brewery, and Kobori Shuzo Brewery, with commentary included for each.
Enjoy sake while watching a quality live performance that combines traditional dance and shamisen performances by geiko with projection mapping.
After the performance, there will bea talk show with the geiko, and participants can try their hand at playing a taiko drum onstage. -
Hands-On Workshops to Learn About and Experience Kutani Ware Ceramics and Ogura Textiles! Two-day tour to enjoy ceramic painting and molding techniques
This tour gives participants a chance to learn traditional Kutani ware techniques from the Asakura Family, the first Kutani ware potters to be awarded the Order of Culture. With its distinctive molding and painting, the colors and shapes of Kutani ware objects are very different from pottery found in other regions. Try your hand at the Asakura family's secret techniques of painting and molding pottery, which have been passed down from generation to generation. This tour features a special backyard tour of the only silk weaving factory in Japan. All food at the accommodation will be served in Kutani ware ceramics. Enjoy this rare opportunity to learn about the history of Kutani ware pottery, and hear directly from Kutani ware ceramic artists themselves. An easy-to-understand tour with an interpreter on hand.
-
A New Immersive Experience to Engage with the Ancient World at the Foot of Mt. Fuji
Omuro Sengen Shrine has been home to various traditional Japanese ceremonies and festivals that have been held for over 800 years, such as the Yabusame Festival and Tsutsugayu Festival. Participants can head to the shrine to enjoy immersive experiences unique to the area, from interacting with sacred horses to an exclusive nighttime worship session with a shrine priest; watching a performance of Bugaku, a form of dance that combines samurai martial arts with traditional performing arts; and live performances by contemporary artists. There will also be plenty of content for foodies and more, including creative food inspired by oshi-style cuisine, a form of traditional Japanese cuisine that used to be essential to climb Mt. Fuji.
-
CLEAN&ART Luminous Graffiti
This is a hands-on program to create a giant mural in Shibuya with mural artist Ken Sobajima and his CLEAN&ART art performance collective. Create glow-in-the-dark murals on graffiti-covered walls using luminescent paint to cover up problematic graffiti.
Participants will first meet up at WANDER COMPASS SHIBUYA, a tourist information center located inside Shibuya Station, where Ken Sobajima will lead a walking tour through Shibuya to showcase its graffiti and murals. Next, participants will go to where the mural will be created. They can try their hand at creating glow-in-the-dark mural art with the members of CLEAN&ART by using luminescent paint. This program will include an explanation by Ken Sobajima on how to actually create murals, as well as an art performance by him! -
Japanese Culture Program 【Discover the Authentic Kyoto】 Kyoto Studies in Tokyo 2024
A special program held in Tokyo to study and experience Japanese tradition as nurtured in the 1,200-year-old cultural capital of Kyoto. Spend an invaluable time with top instructors of various schools of Japanese culture, including the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, Kyoto dance, Kyoto cuisine, and Noh theater. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to rediscover the beauty of Japan and experience the essence of Kyoto.
Dates: November 2024 to February 2025 (Five sessions total)
Facilitator: Kundo Koyama, Head of Kyoto Studies in Tokyo
(1) Tea ceremony: Saturday, November 9, 2024 / 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM at Meiji Jingu Shrine (Reception opens at 8:30 AM)
Instructor: Sen Soshitsu (15th head of Urasenke school)
(2) Flower arrangement: Sunday, December 15, 2024 / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Gaien Campus (Reception opens at 2:30 PM)
Instructors: Senko Ikenobo (Next head of Ikenobo school) and Senshu Ikenobo (Flower arrangement artist & photographer)
(3) Kyoto dance: Saturday, January 18, 2025 / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Meiji Kinenkan (Reception opens at 2:30 PM)
Instructors: Yachiyo Inoue (5th head of Inoue school) and Yasuko Inoue (Inoue school)
(4) Kyoto cuisine: Saturday, February 1, 2025 / 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Meiji Kinenkan (Reception opens at 2:30 PM)
Instructors: Eiichi Takahashi (14th-generation owner of Hyotei) and Yoshihiro Takahashi (15th-generation owner of Hyotei)
(5) Noh theater: Saturday, February 15, 2025 / 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Meiji Kinenkan (Reception opens at 2:30 PM)
Instructors: Hisanori Kongo (26th head of the Kongo school), Tatsunori Kongo (Young master of the Kongo school) -
A Journey in Silence: A Special Morning at Fushimi Inari Taisha and the Reliving of Myths
This tour provides participants with the opportunity to relive and experience the various myths surrounding Fushimi Inari Taisha to the max. First, guests will enjoy the charm of Fushimi Inari Taisha through a mystical trekking tour conducted in the fresh early morning air. During the trek, participants will visit sites related to Inari, a deity associated with agriculture, to gain a deeper understanding of the deity's significance and related legends.
Next, participants will enjoy inari sushi for breakfast. Inari sushi is traditionally used as an offering to the gods for a good harvest. This meal will deepen participants’ understanding of this connection. It is a sacred food experience, one whose depth can only be fully appreciated after the mystical experience of the tour’s morning trek. The tour will conclude with a special visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha's inner sanctuary, which is not open to the public. Listening to the stories of myths passed down from generation to generation and the role of taisha shrines as told by a Shinto priest, participants will come to further appreciate the depth of Fushimi Inari Taisha's history and culture. -
Limited to One Pair Per Day: The Ultimate Premium Night Experience, Taking in the Food Culture and Nature of Yoron Island with All Five Senses
(1) Only one pair of visitors per night will be invited to a special terrace overlooking the ocean, reserved for just the two of you. Enjoy a special premium dinner that reflects the unique characteristics of Yoron, carefully arranged by the chefs. Afterwards, you will be guided to the rooftop terrace by a star guide, who will show you how to enjoy the starry skies of Yoron. At the end of the day, you can rest on a sofa bed that you have all to yourself, and enjoy the 360-degree view of the starry sky along with dessert and coffee.
Main promotional points:
<1> Limited to one pair per day! Private seaside terrace and rooftop terrace for a private couple’s experience.
<2> Special full-course meal and drinks with carefully-selected Yoron Island ingredients, designed down to the slightest details.
<3> Flexible arrangements and services such as photoshoots, marriage proposals, bouquets, etc. are available. *Please consult with us at least 14 days in advance.
(2) Just one pair per night will be guided around Yoron Island by a Starry Sky Sommelier®. From caves and secluded beaches where sea turtles lay their eggs to special places known only to locals, you may even encounter creatures that are designated Natural Monuments. On a clear night, you will also be able to enjoy a truly special time under the star-filled sky of Yoron, known as one of the best places for stargazing in Japan.
Main promotional points:
<1> Limited to one pair per night! Premium illuminations are presented in a private secret cave.
<2> Guides and Star Sommeliers who know Yoron Island's night sky inside and out will teach guests how to enjoy the night sky! A special guide to nighttime fun on Yoron Island.
<3> If they are lucky, guests may also be able to encounter nocturnal creatures that are nationally designated Natural Monuments. Explore and discover nighttime creatures on Yoron Island—an experience that is not possible during the day.
-
Hachinohe, the City of Fish: Food Experience at Hasshoku Center, with Famous Chefs Preparing Dishes With Ingredients from the Sea
Hachinohe City is known as the City of Fish and offers a bounty of seafood cultivated in the rough nearby seas, including squid, for which they boast the largest catches in Japan, as well as fatty mackerel. The city has long thrived and developed on the basis of its fishing industry.
Hasshoku Center, located in the city, serves almost like a kitchen for Hachinohe locals because all the produce of Hachinohe is gathered under one roof, from fresh seafood to dry foods, fruits, meat, vegetables, sweets, local sake, and more. The facility is also ranked among the top tourist attractions in the prefecture.
This program offers a premium culinary tour of Hachinohe City, with participants able to select seafood delivered from the fish market to Hasshoku Center, and enjoy these ingredients in dishes prepared by renowned chefs. Participants will also be able to tour sake breweries such as Hachinohe Shuzo, which has been popular in the port town for its sake which pairs well with fish, and will also enjoy the culture of Yokocho, a side street that flourished alongside the port.