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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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. -
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) -
Immersive Musical Performance at Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theater
The story begins when guests enter the lobby. The lobby, dotted with cast members dressed in traditional Japanese costume, will make you feel you have stepped back in time. Some of them are actual maiko and geiko in training. Guests are made to feel like members of the cast, as if the entire venue, including the lobby, is the stage. The first portion of the show features a Japanese drum performance, and a joint performance of koto and traditional Japanese dance that will allow guests to truly feel the essence of Japanese wa (harmony). The second portion features an hour-long original selection of performances that combines a variety of genres. The entire program features top-notch musicians, traditional instruments, long swords, Japanese dance, and other cultural arts unique to Japan.
The venue, Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theater, is rarely open to the general public, making this an incredibly rare experience. It is also the first time such a show will be held here. After the show, guests will be served Kyoto cuisine and sake from the Noto region, for a full experience of O-MO-TE-NA-SHI hospitality! -
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.