Traditional Art, Craft & Culture Private Tour

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12 days 11 nights

fromUSD $7690.00

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Upon arrival, proceed through customs and meet your driver just outside the exit gate, they will be holding an “All Japan Tours” sign for easy visibility. Proceed to your hotel by private car. Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be free for leisure.

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi or similar class

Today, you will visit Yanaka where you can experience the atmosphere of old Tokyo. You can see many types of shops lining the streets here, from butchers to confectionary shops. Here, you can also see the Asakura Museum of Sculpture which exhibits the works of Fumio Asakura in the late artist’s home and workshop. You will then be taken to Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. You will also be able to explore the Nakamise Market, which is located right after the temple's outer gates. This is a traditional-style shopping street with several centuries of history. Stroll through the Kappabashi Kitchen Street, where you can find restaurant operating products such as plastic food samples and stoves. Here, you can get hands-on experience with Japanese food samples. Seen all over the country in the windows of restaurants, these are used to show the customer just how delicious their food is going to be and makes it easier to choose what you want to eat more quickly. You will be able to make your own food sample here, a great unique souvenir! Lastly, visit the oldest and largest of Japan’s top-level national museums: the Tokyo National Museum. This museum features a large collection of art and archeological artifacts.

Breakfast

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi or similar class

Our first stop today will be to enjoy the natural atmosphere of the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Then visit Omotesando Avenue, a sloping tree-lined boulevard in Tokyo's fashionable Aoyama district that goes through parts of both Shibuya and Minato wards. Omotesando is often described as the famous Harajuku district’s mature older sister. Meanwhile, Aoyama is somewhere between Omotesando and Shibuya: still mature but also forward thinking and exclusive. In Aoyama, you can visit the Bizen gallery which displays ceramics from the well- known Bizen artists. At the Nezu Museum, you can enjoy a collection of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art that Nezu Kaichiro put together. After bombing in World War II destroyed some of the collection, Nezu Kaichiro’s son continued to add to it to ensure that his father’s collection remained impressive. Finally, enjoy a traditional Kabuki performance. Kabuki plays are considered by UNESCO to be an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Breakfast

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi or similar class

Travel a short distance to Omiya. Here, you can visit the Omiya Bonsai Village where a number of nurseries are located, along with the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. You will be free for leisure in the afternoon. If you choose, you can also add the following optional experiences. Please note, optional experiences may require an additional day. You may also want to add a Japanese sword lesson or a Ninja lesson to your itinerary.

Breakfast

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi or similar class

After breakfast, make your own way to Tokyo station on foot and board the bullet train to Kanazawa (bullet train tickets included). Upon arrival, make your way to the hotel on foot. You may choose to visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art on your own. This museum showcases contemporary artists from Japan and all over the world. It was designed without a front or back in order to encourage viewers to approach the art from multiple angles. You may also choose to visit the Kutani Pottery Kilns, experience wearing a silk Kaga Yuzen Kimono and/or meet a local artisan.

Breakfast

Hotel Nikko Kanazawa or similar class

Note: We will courier your big baggage from Tokyo to your hotel in Kyoto. Please pack your essentials for 2 nights in a small bag to carry with you to Kanazawa.

In the morning, enjoy a relaxing visit to Kenrokuen Garden, regarded as one of the top three gardens of Japan. Stroll along the garden and enjoy the view of trees, stones, bridges and teahouses. Then, get insight into Japan’s gold leaf industry at a local gold leaf workshop. Kanazawa is known for producing the most gold leaf in all of Japan. Step back through time in the Nagamachi Samurai District where many old samurai residences remain at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle. One such house, the Nomura family residence, has been fully restored and filled with artifacts of the time period to reflect the samurai class. Lastly, visit the Kutani Kosen Kiln – the only kiln producing traditional Kutani style pottery in Kanazawa.

Breakfast

Hotel Nikko Kanazawa or similar class

After breakfast, make your way to Kanazawa station on your own and take the JR express train to Kyoto. Upon arrival, you will make your way to your hotel on your own. You will then be free for leisure in the afternoon. If you prefer, we can also arrange a visit to a traditional home to learn some of the iconic traditional arts of Japan – Kimono, Origami, Calligraphy, and Ikebana.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Begin your tour of the historic city of Kyoto at Nijo Castle, a designated UNESCO world heritage site and a perfect architectural example of castles from the feudal era of Japan. Visit Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, so known because it is covered with 18-karat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. Then we will tour the Arashiyama district. First is a visit to see Tenryuji Temple where you can catch a glimpse of the traditional rock landscape garden design. Then proceed through a dense bamboo grove, past several small shrines, tea shops and private houses before arriving at the Togetsukyo Bridge over Hozu River. Next, visit the Okochi Sanso Villa, built by the late Japanese actor Denjiro Okochi. The villa consists of several buildings and lovely gardens which the actor spent 30 years building. Additionally, you will have the option to add a unique lunch to your day. Should you choose this option, your lunch will be similar to a Japanese kaiseki dinner, with more focus on natural flavor. This form of cooking is referred to as Shojin Ryori, or Monk’s Food. As is tradition among practicing Buddhists, your meal will be vegetarian. If you choose to add it to your itinerary, you will be able to enjoy the charming, old-fashioned trains of the Sagano Scenic Railway as you right through the mountains and take in the beautiful scenery. You may also choose to add a flat-bottomed boat cruise along the Hozugawa River where get a unique view of Arashiyama’s natural beauty.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Today, we will tour Kiyomizu-dera, a famous temple in Japan that is best known for its large wooden stage that overlooks a hillside of natural scenery. You may then enter the studio of the versatile artist Kawai Kanjiro. Here, he developed some of his most famous works which often came in the form of pottery. However, he was also known to create calligraphy, wood carvings, and other sculptural works. You will be able to see his large kiln on the property of the museum as well as many of his works. Leading up to the temple are Ninen- zaka and Sannen-zaka, these streets are filled with preserved buildings that remind us of Japan’s past. Many of the buildings are selling souvenirs and Kyoto- specific wares. Here is also where you will find Kimono rental shops where you will be able to experience the traditional Japanese garment, as many locals do when visiting Kyoto in order to truly immerse themselves in the traditional atmosphere. Then, we will travel to Kodaiji Temple, which is a lavish temple built in the memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Here, we can experience Zen meditation. You can also enjoy a relaxing Green Tea Ceremony. This activity was once only available for the social elite. We will end our day in the Gion Geisha District, where its streets are lined with ochaya (teahouses), exclusive establishments where guests are entertained by Geisha and Maiko. Here, you can enjoy a Gion Corner Traditional Performance Show. Alternatively, you can enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner while enjoying a Geisha performance.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Today, we will visit the Nishiki Market. This narrow shopping street, commonly referred to as 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' is filled with more than 100 restaurants and shops showcasing Kyoto specialties such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood, and sushi. The shops sell all kinds of food-related items – from top-of-the-line knives and cookware to tempting seafood and produce. Then visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace. This was the former residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until 1868, during which the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. First, we will see the Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for its trail of thousands of torii gates. From there, head to the Fushimi Sake District – known for its clear waters and home to over 40 traditional sake breweries. If you’d like, you can also add a Japanese cooking lesson to your itinerary.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Today you will visit the town of Shigaraki – one of the oldest pottery-producing areas in Japan. You will be able to attempt the unique pottery style of Shigaraki-yaki here. At the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, or Togei no Mori, you will see and experience many exhibits on the general theme of ceramics from hands-on activities to their famous tanuki – raccoon dog – statues. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll through Kamamoto street where you will see many old kilns, some of which are still functioning today. It is believed that pottery first began in this area. Visit Miho Museum, which exhibits stunning architecture that accentuates the surrounding natural scenery while exhibiting a variety of items from ancient civilizations. It was designed by the renowned architect, I. M. Pei, and is named after Koyama Mihoko, one of the richest women in Japan and the founder of the museum. Moreover, the museum has been listed as one of the "1000 Places to See Before You Die".

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

After breakfast, you will be free for leisure. You may make your own way to Osaka Kansai Airport via Haruka Express Train – train tickets included.

Breakfast

Note: If you would like the private airport transfer to be included, please contact us for the arrangements.