
Traditions
Area
Season
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Overnight Tour in Sabae, Including a Workshop on Echizen’s Most Treasured Craft, True Lacquer Kintsugi
Learn kintsugi (the art of repairing broken pottery with urushi lacquer) from traditional craftsman Takenobu Komamoto, who has preserved and passed down the traditional crafts of the city of Echizen in Fukui Prefecture for generations.
Takenobu himself will teach participants the techniques involved in kintsugi using real gold. This is a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Kintsugi is applied to Echizen ware ceramics that have been discarded due to chips that occur in the manufacturing process. These chips prevent them from being sold as products.
A bowl restored by one's own hands will become a treasure for a lifetime.
Upon completing the workshop, those interested will receive a certificate of apprenticeship acknowledging the master-apprentice relationship with Takenobu. A cup of limited-edition local sake will be presented to solidify this master-apprentice relationship.
On each part of the tour, participants will be accompanied by a professional interpreter.
Private cars with chauffeurs are also available for transport from the meeting point and the accommodation. -
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.
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Explore the Secrets of the Jomon Period and Its 10,000 Years of Peace 「JOMON Peaceful Spirits Tour」
Japan’s Jomon period was a period of peace that lasted for over 10,000 years, making it a unique period of time in the world. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russo-Ukrainian War and Israel-Hamas War in Gaza have threatened world peace. In addition to the food crises caused by these wars, more and more attention is being given to food crises caused by climate change. A growing number of people believe that the Jomon culture of Japan can provide us with insights to achieve world peace and live in harmony with nature in order to protect the Earth. This hands-on program held in the Yatsugatake Mountains and the village of Hara in Nagano Prefecture—an area that flourished during the Jomon period and is considered a Japan Heritage Cultural Property—will explore the peaceful spirit behind the Jomon era and the secrets behind its peace.
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Starry Night Pilgrimage (Visits to Sacred Places for Guardians of the Starry Skies)
This experience takes participants to the southernmost tip of Japan—the first area in Japan to be certified a Dark Sky Park by DarkSky. There, participants will tour the research facilities of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), as well as scenic starry spots* in the area.
Workshops will be held at the research facility to explore the history and stories of the stars, which have held a sacred and special meaning to the people of the Yaeyama Islands since ancient times.
Participants will find themselves in awe of the majestic stars overhead at these scenic spots, which offer stunning views of the starry skies. At the same time, they'll be reminded of the people that live beneath these skies.
The same starry sky can look very different when you first look up at it, as opposed to when you learn about the land, its history, and culture.
By the end of the tour, participants will find themselves feeling very connected not just to nature, but also to the land and its people—grateful for the miracle of being here at this moment and having discovered a new sense of self.
*Spectacular views of the starry sky: Mt. Banna-dake and Mt. Maese-dake are located 10 minutes by car from the city center. The observatory, which located in a subtropical forest stretching around 200 meters above sea level, is an excellent place to view the city nightscape of the city and the sea, as well as the dark sky. An English-speaking and Starry Sky Master-certified guide will accompany you throughout the experience. -
Environmental Studies and Noh Plays on the Lake: an Overnight Tour on a State-of-the-Art Yakatabune Boat
On the tour, participants will visit Lake Biwa (Japan's largest lake in area and water capacity) to experience its nature and culture.
Noh is a classical Japanese performing art with a history of over 600 years. In this tour, guests will experience Noh theater firsthand by wearing Noh costumes, using Noh tools, and receiving direct instruction from a Noh performer who has been designated a National Important Intangible Cultural Property. Participants will also get a chance to watch professional Noh performances.
Participants can also explore Lake Biwa by cruising and canoeing on Shiki, a modern yakatabune boat that blends Japanese and Western style and design. The 400,000-year-old Lake Biwa has a unique natural environment is home to more than 50 species of indigenous freshwater fish and a distinct community of reeds.
On the yakatabune, participants will enjoy dishes featuring fish caught in Lake Biwa, as well as Shiga Omi beef. During the cruise, participants can take in beautiful views of Ukimido, a floating Buddhist temple built in the lake, from the water.
An experienced guide and interpreter will accompany participants throughout every part of the trip.
*Some itineraries may be subject to change due to weather conditions or other reasons. -
City Trial Japan 2024 in OSAKA
City Trial Japan is a must-attend motorsport event held in the heart of Osaka. The final round of Japan's premier All Japan Trial Championship series will be held in Nakanoshima, an area of Osaka that represents a meld of history and modernity, with participants able to experience the excitement of motorcycle trials up close.
This year's event will also feature traditional Iwami Kagura and Awa Odori dance performances, as well as music performances by artists from Osaka. This is a unique opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture firsthand.
The venue, Nakanoshima-dori Street, is surrounded by beautiful retro architecture and lush green parks. It is the ideal location from which to enjoy sightseeing in between the trials. Come to City Trial Japan and experience not just the excitement of the bike trials, but also the various charms of traditional Japanese culture—all to your heart’s content. Discover a new side of Japan at this event! -
The Mysterious Hakujahime Story at Hokkaido Shikaribetu 2024 Special worship tour/Hakujahimemai/Traditional Ainu cuisine
Lake Shikaribetsu is located in Daisetsuzan National Park in the center of Hokkaido. Participants will travel to the sacred island of Bentenjima located on the lake for a special tour to view a traditional Ainu performance of Hakujahimemai (Dance of the White Snake Princess) and sample Ainu wild game cuisine.
Special Visit to Bentenjima
Bentenjima is normally off-limits to the public, but this tour includes a special boat trip to the island. Enjoy a special experience in this sacred place surrounded by nature.
View a traditional Ainu performance of Hakujahimemai (Dance of the White Snake Princess)
There will be a chance to engage with Ainu culture and gain a deeper understanding of their history and traditions through watching a special performance of the traditional Hakujahimemai dance. The legend behind the story is that a goddess and a white snake saved an Ainu village suffering from famine.
Ainu Wild Game Cuisine Course: "Gifts of Kamui Tou"
Participants will be served wild game dishes featuring venison. This meal, which utilizes local ingredients, is sure to bring you closer to the nature and culture of Japan. Experience Ainu culinary culture while enjoying the venison, wild vegetables, and mushrooms produced in Shikaribetsu Town. -
Jirocho’s DreamーSHIMIZU's Dream-
Experience the world of ukiyo-e woodblock prints within walking distance of the Hinode Pier area of Shimizu Port, where cruise ships dock. See bamboo lanterns even during the day along with ukiyo-e illuminations at the Izuishi Warehouses. Then, take part in an ukiyo-e woodblock printing workshop at the Verkehr Museum using woodblocks created by by Utagawa Hiroshige, a famous ukiyo-e artist. Go to Jirocho Street and visit Minowa Inari Shrine, where you can snap great photos of the torii gates, followed by a performance by SPAC at Shimizu Port Memorial Hall Suehiro. Finally, try your hand at creating seafood bowls using fish from Shimizu, which boasts the largest catch of tuna in Japan, and try making Japanese sweets at Dream Plaza. This tour is offered in conjunction with a special stamp rally themed around ukiyo-e woodblock prints.
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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)