Traditions
Area
Season
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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. -
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.
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JAPAN NATIONAL STADIUM TOUR Special Events & Content
The Japan National Stadium was the main venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the Japan National Stadium Tour aims to honor and pass on this legacy. This program comprises a tour of the athlete locker rooms, athletic track, as well as other areas normally closed to the public, which visitors can enjoy alongside their memories of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In addition to the regular tour, we have prepared a variety of events and content so that visitors can enjoy their time in Japan to the fullest.
・Talk by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma and Akutagawa Prize-winning author Rie Qudan. Includes lunch by a famous chef.
・Japanese cuisine or French-Japanese fusion cuisine lunch by a famous chef. Includes a Japanese cultural experience.
・Christmas lunch by Hiroyuki Sakai, owner and chef of the famous French cuisine restaurant La Rochelle Minami Aoyama. Includes a Japanese culture experience.
・Stadium tour with athletes and running inside the Japan National Stadium
・Take commemorative photos at Japan National Stadium's most scenic spot using a state-of-the-art Machikame selfie system
Enjoy extraordinary experiences at the Japan National Stadium, Japan's leading stadium.
We look forward to you joining us. -
INTO THE BRIGHT - KYOTO
INTO THE BRIGHT - KYOTO is an international forum in Kyoto that brings together global leaders to explore the philosophy of Japan. As an island nation, Japan has long embraced diverse cultures, people, and ideas — at times adopting them directly and at other times transforming them to create something entirely new. This approach has fostered a unique culture built on acceptance and openness.
In today's divided world, the spirit of Japanese tolerance offers a valuable perspective for global leaders working to solve complex social issues. INTO THE BRIGHT - KYOTO offers an interactive program of exchanges with global entrepreneurs and thought leaders, providing an opportunity for meaningful connections and insights. -
Bringing Yasugibushi to the World! A Traditional Performing Arts and Pop Culture Experience
Presenting "Neo Yasugibushi," a reimagining and fusion of pop culture and the classic performing art of Yasugibushi.
With this cultural experience, you'll get to participate in Yasugibushi yourself.
Come and try a new world of entertainment, where traditional performing arts and modern energy come together.
Enjoy a beautiful Japanese garden and an outstanding collection of Japanese paintings at the Adachi Museum of Art. The garden is like a living painting with its seasonal scenery. Immerse yourself in a world of art where tradition and modernity merge. Before you know it, but you may find a renewed sense of internal peace.
Experience Zen meditation at Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This is a wonderful opportunity to purify the mind and refresh the spirit in the tranquil atmosphere of this historic Zen temple.
You can also experience the traditional beauty of Japan in a gorgeous kimono by taking part in a kimono dressing experience, which includes professionals helping you with both dressing and a photoshoot. It makes for a luxurious and beautiful way to preserve this precious moment.
A wealth of other traditional Japanese culture experiences are also available, such as blacksmithing and Japanese papermaking.
Use all your five senses to savor the classic excellence of Japanese culture with these experiences, and make your trip unforgetable.
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Marvel at Mother Nature at Fukushimagata Lagoon: A Private Cultural Experience and Tour
Niigata Prefecture is famous for its delicious rice and sake. Niigata City, the prefecture’s capital, is home to a vast expanse of rice paddies, an iconic symbol of the plains of Niigata. It also contains another iconic landscape of Niigata: the lagoon. The Fukushimagata Lagoon of present-day Niigata City gave rise to a lifestyle and culture that was inseparable from the lagoon.
Now you too can experience the unique lifestyle and food culture of this region through interactions with local fisherfolk and storytellers.
Try some snacks made from unique ingredients obtained by lagoon fishing paired with sake produced by one of the local breweries, and chat with local residents around the warm fire of a sunken hearth.
The Fukushimagata Lagoon is also a favorite stop for rare bird species such as white swans and bean geese, a designated Natural Monument of Japan. Watch the wildlife fly around the rice paddies in the early morning with a local ranger guide.
Main contents of the tour
(1) Special lagoon cultural experience: Board a traditional wooden boat and try your hand at fishing with active lagoon fishermen. Try traditional cuisine made with ingredients caught in the lagoon and paired with Niigata sake while chatting with local residents around a sunken hearth.
(2) Early morning birdwatching: See the rare wild birds that flock to Fukushimagata Lagoon, includings white swans and bean geese (designated Natural Monument of Japan).
(3) Special sake brewery tour in Niigata: Try sake pairings of leading Niigata sake varieties (*includes a souvenir Niigata sake cup) -
Saiku Cultural Art Festival 2024 SAIKU CULTURAL ART FESTIVAL 2024
The National Historic Site of Saiku was once the residence of the Saio, unmarried female members of the Japanese Imperial Family who served nearby Ise Shrine. The site has been protected as sacred land by local residents, and is where the prayers of the Saio have been passed down to the present day. This year's Cultural Art Festival will be held across the entire site, allowing visitors to experience Japanese history and culture alongside various art forms.
September 15, 2024: Matsusaka beef BBQ and balloon glow
September 16, 2024: View the historic site from the sky on a tethered hot air balloon, featuring the spectacular sight of art formed by 2,000 lights
November 2–3, 2024: Project mapping of ancient Japanese landscapes onto the historic site's reconstructed Heian period (ancient Japanese) structures
November 4, 2024: Traditional Noh theater screening of a play set in the Saiku palace complex
December 15, 2024: Saiku Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. Transform into a yokai spirit from Japanese folk tales in this special night experience. No preparation necessary.
In addition, visitors may enjoy activities such as a digital art night banquet at a rented-out museum or praying with the Saio. Each program features special culinary experiences, including boxed bento lunches inspired by ancient Japan, full courses of creative French cuisine, and party menus prepared by local food coordinators.
Enjoy Japanese history and culture at the Saiku Cultural Arts Festival in the town of Meiwa, Mie Prefecture. -
HIDAKA TRAIL DAYS
Mount Apoi, located near Samani in eastern Hidaka, Hokkaido, features some of the world's most unusual geological features and is home to many endemic species. It is treasured as both a premier hiking spot and a place of scientific study.
In June 2024, the Hidaka Mountain Range, including Mount Apoi, and Cape Erimo were designated as Japan's largest national park.
To celebrate this designation, we are hosting the park's first outdoor event!
The event will showcase outdoor brands that are highly popular among Japanese hikers.
Don't miss the chance to come and try unique and exclusive gear that is not available overseas.
The local conservation society will offer Ainu cultural experiences at the event. Try your hand at making trail food using local ingredients, test-ride an E-MTB, and buy local delicacies to take home or enjoy on the spot!
In the evening, three prominent figures in the Japanese long-distance hiking community will talk about long trails while gathered around a bonfire.
Enjoy two days of relaxed interactions with Japanese hikers and celebrate with us.