Day 1 – Arrive in Tokyo.
Arrive at Tokyo, pass through immigration; collect your luggage and clear customs.
*If you have booked an arrival transfer through us, our assistant will meet you just outside of the secure area, and they will take you to the hotel by private van transfer.
Check into the hotel and relax.
Arrival time is relatively scattered this evening, so have a good rest, ready for the week ahead.
Overnight: Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier.
Day 2 – Tokyo.
After breakfast this morning, we catch the train to the charming neighborhood of Yanaka Ginza. Yanaka Ginza retains the nostalgic charm of old Japan while still buzzing with the energy of the present. Often referred to as one of Tokyo’s “shitamachi” (literally means lower town), it is a district that offers a glimpse into the city’s past, a world away from the high-tech modernity and neon lights you might associate with Tokyo. From beautiful temples and historic cemeteries to the bustling shopping street filled with local vendors selling traditional Japanese goods, there’s so much to love and explore here.
From here, we visit Nezu Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest shrines, set in lush greenery with ponds of carp, pathways that are tunnels of small shrine arches, and elegant, beautifully colored, wooden structures that reflect Japanese culture in all its age and beauty.
While cherry blossoms often capture the most attention, there’s another equally stunning pink flower: the plum blossom. In Tokyo, plum blossoms begin to bloom in late January and are at their best in February. The emergence of plum blossoms marks one of the earliest signs of spring and serves as a precursor to the cherry and other spring flowers set to follow.
We jump another train and head to Yushima Tenmangu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tenjin, the god of learning. The Yushima Tenjin shrine often goes unnoticed compared to other well-known shrines in Tokyo. However, as it is home to over 300 plum trees of differing varieties, the shrine celebrates Ume Matsuri, a festival filled with tea ceremonies, traditional music and dance performances, food stalls, and more. The festival starts in the first week of February and finishes in the first week of March. It is possible to see different events like taiko, an outdoor tea ceremony, various dance shows, and religious ceremonies that are connected with the festival. Most of the activities from week to week.
We then head back to Ginza. (And an option to call it a day and head back to the hotel.). Ginza is known for its architecture, dining, tea rooms, entertainment, and attractions. You can visit a depachika, stop at Itoya, one of the city’s most beautiful and well-stocked stationary shops, and shop at the Muji Super Store or the UniQlo FLagship Store. Walk past Ginza Place, Louis Vuitton Ginza, Mikimoto etc and marvel at the array of architectural delights Ginza has to offer.
We can also browse floors of art at the incredible Ginza Okuno Building. Hidden amidst Ginza’s glitzy shopping malls and boutiques, it is a time capsule, an apartment built in the Showa era (1926–1989) that’s a prime example of early modernist architecture. The Ginza Okuno building is beautifully preserved, with many of the lots now turned into antique shops and art galleries. For a glimpse into what life was like back then, walk into Room 306, which has been left as is since its last tenant.
After all this excitement, we return to the hotel. Your evening is free.
Overnight: Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier. (B / L)
Day 3 – To Kyoto.
This morning, we taxi to the station and board our shinkansen to Kyoto. This is about a 2-hour journey. (We grab a Bento Box at the station before we board for our lunch.) We are met at Kyoto Station by our driver.
The Japanese tea ceremony, Chadō or “The Way of Tea,” is a Japanese tradition steeped in history; it is a ceremonial way of preparing and drinking green tea. Beyond just serving and receiving tea, one of the primary purposes of the tea ceremony is for the guests to enjoy the host’s hospitality in an atmosphere distinct from the fast pace of everyday life. When you hear the water splash into the tea bowl, the dust in your mind is washed away –Sen no Rikyu.
We transfer to an old machiya house (protected as a registered cultural property by the Japanese government) in the Gion district. The Japanese tea ceremony, Chadō or “The Way of Tea,” is a tradition steeped in history. Beyond just serving and receiving tea, one of the primary purposes of the tea ceremony is for the guests to enjoy the host’s hospitality in an atmosphere distinct from the fast pace of everyday life. The tea master will demonstrate the process during the tea ceremony while explaining the significance behind it, the steps, and the tools. You will learn about tea ceremony history and etiquette. During the tea ceremony, you will be guided by the tea master on how to make it yourself.
After this sublime ceremony, we transfer to our hotel, and check in. This evening, we dine together at the hotel.
Overnight: Dhawa Yura Kyoto (B / Bento Box / Tea Ceremony / D)
Day 4 – Temples, Gardens, Craftsman’s House & Pontocho
This morning we visit Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, perhaps Kyoto’s most iconic site. Originally built as a retirement villa for the Shogun, after his death it became a Buddhist Temple at his request and is now one of Kyoto’s most famous temples.
Not far from the Golden Pavilion, Daitoku-ji is a large Buddhist complex belonging to the Rinzai Zen school. Of the twenty or so temples it houses, only four are open to the public. Visitors in search of spirituality, fond of Japanese gardens, or eager to discover a more secret side of Kyoto will be delighted. We will see the Daisen-in Garden, a magnificent stone garden classified as a National Treasure of Japan; the The Zuiho-in stone garden and a perfect spot to settle down for a Zen break in the greatest tranquility; and the Koto-in trees, moss, and bamboo garden.
Nearby are two famous shops selling abura mochi, a kind of grilled sweet rice dumpling. We will stop at one and have a taster..
Lunch will be a fabulous meal at Izusen, of “shojin-ryori”, Zen Buddhist vegetarian cuisine that is famous for its creative use of vegetables, mushrooms, tofu and rice.
After lunch, we visit Kawai Kanjiro’s house and studio. For lovers of design, art, and architecture, a visit to Kawai Kanjiro’s house will not disappoint. It’s a rare opportunity to discover the style and humanity of a wonderful Japanese artist who influenced generations of potters and craftsmen. Kanjiro not only designed the house but also crafted most of the furniture and artwork that gave this memorial museum its unique character and style. Left exactly as it was when Kanjiro lived in it with his children and grandchildren, the home features his vast body of work, which includes ceramics, sculpture, wood carvings, and calligraphy. Part Machiya townhouse and part rustic country home, it is one of very few original Kyoto residences open to the public.
Return to the hotel for rest & refresh. Your evening is free.
Option: This evening, we can take a stroll through the atmospheric, lantern-lit alleyway of Pontocho. Ponto-chō is composed of a single narrow street extending along the Kamogawa River that comes to life at night as the small restaurants, teahouses, and bars open their doors. The perfect place to end a night is by soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying a few drinks.
Overnight: Dhawa Yura Kyoto. (B / L)
Day 5 – Arts & Crafts. Coffee & Markets
This morning we visit the The Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design, a small museum that highlights Kyoto’s traditional industries. The museum highlights the city’s 74 traditional craft categories through multimedia displays and pop-up exhibitions that zero in on themes such as geiko (or geisha) costumery and kabuki dance-dramas. If we are lucky, we will be there when traditional ceramicists, kyo-nui embroiders and lantern makers pop in for craft demonstrations.
From here, we wander over to the Kyoto Ceramics Centre, or Kyototoujikikaikan. The Kyoto Ceramic Center has been promoting Kyoto ceramic practices and displaying various works for over sixty years. The center has a permanent exhibition space that is home to classical artworks, which can give you some perspective as to how the practice has evolved over time. There is also a section for special exhibitors, which has more contemporary pieces available for purchase. This is an excellent way to learn more about the history of ceramics before venturing through the various shops of Kyoto for some classic omiyage (souvenirs) of your own.
After lunch, we walk through the Nishiki-koji food market, known to the locals as Kyoto daidokoro or Kyoto’s kitchen. There is an eye-popping assortment of fresh seafood, meats, pickles, tofu, miso, Kyoto’s famous vegetable varieties (Kyo-yasai) and many other local delicacies, and of course, there will be plenty of foods to sample. We will explore the local vicinity, including incredible design and gallery stores, handmade paper shops, a famous Kyoto tea store, and antique and textile specialists. We’ll visit shops specializing in items for the cooking and dining enthusiast; think finely crafted chopsticks, placemats, dishes, storage containers, knives and other distinctly Japanese kitchen utensils.
En-route back to the hotel, we can stop for a coffee at Otafuku, a retro kissaten. These retro cafes serve ink-black coffee, and hints of European belle époque. We’ll have to descend the stairs to this warm little basement café, and as we walk through the door, the din of downtown Kyoto subsides, replaced by cool jazz along the lines of Miles Davis.
We return to the hotel with our goodies for a rest and refresh. Your evening is free.
Overnight: Dhawa Yura Kyoto. (B / L)
Day 6 – Countryside – Miyama
Today after breakfast, we drive out of Kyoto for a day trip. We will head into the countryside for amazing architecture, art, nature and traditional crafts.
For centuries, Miyama has provided a peaceful mountain retreat from nearby Kyoto. The region is well known within Japan for its traditional village atmosphere, with many small hamlets nestled between steep forested mountains. Miyama means ‘beautiful mountains’. The mountains have not only dictated the name of the region but also played a key role in the development of Miyama’s culture and way of life. This culture is still alive today, the farmers of Miyama grow more food than is needed to support the population of around 4200, and houses are still built using local wood harvested from the forests. The people of Miyama maintain a deep connection with the nature that surrounds them, and the rhythm of the seasons dictates much of what people do and when they do it. Appreciation and gratitude for nature remain the foundation of the culture that has been preserved for more than 1000 years in these valleys.
We spend the day exploring the thatched village of Kayabuki no Sato and surrounds; the Kayabuki Art Museum & Folklore Museum; the Little Indigo Museum (a privately owned museum of indigo dyeing artist, Hiromichi Shindo); Chii Hachiman Shrine; the Ishida Farm House; and the Shrine of Karasu Dengaku (designated a Kyoto Prefectural Intangible Folklore Cultural Property); all dependent on opening days.
Lunch will be home-grown buckwheat noodles, Miyama water, and hand-made soba served in a thatched roofed house.
We return to Kyoto in the early evening and to the hotel. Your evening is free.
Overnight: Dhawa Yura Kyoto. (B / L)
Day 7 – Temples, Markets & Sake
This morning we visit To-ji Temple, famous for its towering five-story pagoda, the tallest in Japan. Founded in 794, its name means “East Temple” in Japanese. Toji is one of the most important temples in Shingon Buddhism, second only to the sect’s headquarters on Mount Koya, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Kondo Hall is the temple’s main hall and its largest building. It houses a large wooden statue of the Yakushi or Medicine Buddha, and his attendants, the Gakko and Nikko Bodhisattvas of the moon and sun.
We are lucky to be here today, as it is the day of the Kobo-ichi Market. On the 21st day of each month, the temple grounds are transformed into a small market town with hundreds of stalls. Among the market traders and keen-eyed bargain hunters, you may also see and hear monks praying and chanting at various locations around the grounds. Pretty much anything you can imagine is on sale here: antiques, artwork, pottery, lacquerware, calligraphy materials, tea ceremony utensils, cutlery, curios, plants, flowers, and bonsai trees.
After markets and lunch, we head over to the famous Fushimi sake-brewing district, as brewing season is in full swing. The vast majority of top-quality sake tends to be made during the winter months, and you have the chance to taste some of the region’s best as they brew their batches for the year. The sake breweries of this district are known throughout Japan for using the local clear spring water in their sake, which produces a smooth and unique taste. We will do a tour at the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, so we can really get to understand the sake brewing process and taste different kinds of sake.
Time permitting, we will take a stroll through Ryoma-dori arcade street, with 23 shops covering two blocks, including general merchandise stores selling clothes, shops selling vegetables, alcohol and pickles, as well as restaurants. “People are what create this shopping street.”
We return to the hotel to rest and refresh. Your evening is free.
Overnight: Dhawa Yura Kyoto (B / L)
Day 8 – Higashiyama, Gion & Maiko
This morning, we discover the Higashiyama district of the city, starting with an early morning visit to the World Heritage-listed Kiyomizu-dera, one of Kyoto’s most ancient temples, built without a single nail. The temple’s wooden stage is undoubtedly what the temple is most famous for, offering an outstanding panoramic view of Kyoto rising out of a sea of maples.
Two streets near Kiyomizu-dera temple, the steep Sannenzaka and meandering Ninenzaka are among the most popular shopping streets in Kyoto. Composed almost entirely of traditional wooden buildings, on these streets it’s easy to feel as if you’ve slipped back in time while making your way up the stone paths, passing by shops selling a variety of goods, from traditional crafts to more local treats.
Gion district was originally developed to serve food and drinks for pilgrims visiting Yasaka Shrine, and this district has flourished as the largest geisha quarter in Kyoto. Gion is now home to exclusive restaurants, casual cafés, sweet shops, and art and crafts shops. We will stroll through picturesque cobblestone streets as well as Gion Shirakawa, where weeping willow trees are lined along the canal. If you are an art lover, you will love Shinmonzen Street, with many antique shops that carry Japanese pottery, paintings, woodblock prints, hanging scrolls, and other art and crafts.
Return to the hotel for rest & refresh.
Tonight we will meet in the hotel bar for a drink before we depart for our fabulous evening with Maiko.
When hearing the word “Japan,” one’s mind immediately conjures up images of Geiko with their elaborate hairstyles, white-painted faces and bright red lips, wrapped in an elegant kimono. This evening, we have an opportunity to have dinner with a “Maiko”, an apprentice Geiko. Our dinner will be kaiseki ryori (traditional multi-course dinner) and during the dinner, there is ample opportunity to interact with the hostess and ask questions about her craft and the world of Maiko. She will perform traditional dances and even invite guests to play Japanese drinking games.
After this unforgettable experience, it is time to return to the hotel and wind down from the day’s events.
Overnight: Dhawa Yura Kyoto (B / L / D – Maiko Experience)
Day 9 – Depart
Your final day. Say farewell to Kyoto!
Enjoy a lazy breakfast, and then prepare for your transfer to Osaka Airport. (B)
