Savor Japan: Tokyo to the Inland Sea, with Dean Bruce Suttmeier

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Your adventure begins in the country’s lively capital, Tokyo.

Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to the Dai-Ichi Hotel. It will take about an hour to clear immigration and customs and about two hours to downtown.

For early arrivals and morning-mid-day flights, Bruce & Andrew will organize a no-host lunch, assistance with currency and other arrival tasks, as well as attending the optional Sumo event.

We will offer tickets for purchase to attend the third Grand Sumo tournament of the season. The match will take place at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall and transportation will be provided. Event time is projected to be 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm. The cost is still to be determined.

For anyone who arrives to the hotel by 7:30 pm, Bruce & Andrew will have an interesting (non-hosted) dinner plan within short walking distance. For arrivals to the hotel after 7:30 pm, there are two restaurants on-site.

Note: Pre-Nights may be added to your stay at Dai-Ichi Hotel. If you get to the city early, there are many sides of Tokyo to explore, from fascinating museums and world-class shopping, to neighborhoods backstreets lined with hole in the wall eateries and bars. Dean Suttmeier will be happy to share you his suggestions “beyond the itinerary”.

Accommodations: Dai-Ichi Hotel or similar (4 nights)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we will meet up for introductions, get to know our In-country guide, and review our itinerary.  We will dig right in and discuss Japanese breakfast so you are sure to not miss out on future hotel spreads!

We will take a stroll through the local neighborhood that includes the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, the Imperial Hotel and other important landmarks.

Then we will gather with local Japanese alumni for a reception and lunch and learn about their Tokyo, where they live, work, and raise their families.

It’s Sunday in Tokyo — you can expect plenty of surprises!

Our first full day together concludes with a very special Welcome Dinner.

Accommodations: Dai-Ichi Hotel Tokyo or similar (4 Nights)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning over Breakfast at 7:30 am, for anyone interested, Dean Suttmeier will hold an informal discussion about “The Sumo diet”.

Afterward, our group will depart the hotel and walk to the subway station and take the Asakusa line to Asakusa station.

Upon arrival begin walking along Nakamise-dori Street to the very heart of Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple. The street runs for 250 meters on the main approach to Sensoji Temple and is lined on both sides with shops selling traditional souvenirs, snacks, and sweets. This street is actually on temple property and so it starts and ends with a temple gate: at the southern end is the outer gate of Kaminarimon, and at the northern end is the inner gate of Hozomon. Asakusa’s Nakamise shopping street is believed to have got its start sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries when local people in Asakusa were granted permission to open shops on the temple grounds. Already, at that time, Sensoji Temple was a popular center of pilgrimage, and so the shopkeepers of Nakamise could do a great trade providing food and drink to weary pilgrims!

As you get close to the Hozomon gate and Senso-ji Temple, admire the unusual decorations: a pair of ōwaraji, or giant straw sandals that measure 4.5 meters (14.5 feet) tall and weigh 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds). The sandals are a larger version of a type of sandal made from straw ropes. Ōwaraji were common footwear in Japan until the 19th century. Senso-ji Temple’s giant ōwaraji were woven in the traditional way and made by the town council of Tate’oka-aramachi, Murayama in Yamagata Prefecture. It is said that the sandals represent the powers of Niō, the Herculean guardians of Buddhist temples. Their presence keeps demons at bay by making them believe that the temple is home to an invincible giant.

Explore the temple before walking a few minutes to lunch at the Cha Shitsu Ryokan for a traditional Japanese lunch.

After lunch walk a few minutes to Taro’s Origami studio. It is believed that paper was first made, and folded, in China in the first or second century. The earliest records of origami in Japan date to the Heian Period (794-1185). It was during this period that Japan’s nobility had its golden age, and it was a time of great artistic and cultural advances. Paper was still a rare enough commodity that origami was a pastime for the elite. Paper was folded into set shapes for ceremonial occasions such as weddings. Serrated strips of white paper were used to mark sacred objects, a custom which can still be seen in every shrine to this day. It was in the Edo Period (1600-1868) that much of today’s popular traditional culture developed as forms of entertainment for the merchant classes and the common people.

Meeting the group will be David Koichiro Silvert, who was born in Japan, grew up in California and recently returned to Tokyo to live. The workshop will be about 45 minutes long and will include a brief introduction to the studio, its history, general origami knowledge, and an origami demonstration.

Walk about 10 minutes to the Asakusa pier and board a boat for a relaxing ride (40 minutes) along the Sumida River with an opportunity to admire Tokyo’s sleek skyline while passing under more than 10 bridges.

Disembark the boat at the Hama Rikyu gardens, a tranquil oasis in the heart of Tokyo. Walk through these scenic gardens which were once reserved for Imperial use and were only opened to the public in 1946. The gardens were built in the 17th century for the Tokugawa family, who hunted ducks on the garden’s tidal pools. Today Hama Rikyu is a beautiful public park and a refuge for ducks, herons and migrating birds. Explore the garden and discover moon-viewing pavilions, ancient pine trees clipped into dramatic shapes, and an island tea house.

Enjoy a cup of matcha tea and a traditional Japanese sweet before walking to a small kimono shop run by Ms. Mie Chitani, who was born into the Chitani family. The family has been running a kimono and Japanese accessory store in Ginza since the first year of the Meiji era. Mie Chitani will meet the group and talk about her design work. Ms. Chitani graduated from Western Michigan State University in 1989, returned to Tokyo and joined Citibank. At that time, women were not allowed to be heirs, so Ms. Chitani’s parents were thinking of closing the store, but Ms. Chitani took over and then opened her own store focused more on a young people’s business model. Ms. Chitani is also very open to answering questions the group has about Japanese culture.

Dean Suttmeier will have a discussion with the group and present on “The History of Sushi” to set the stage for all sorts of eating!

On our return to the hotel we will stop by a major “Depato” (department store) to look about, and head to the lower level to see the activity that erupts just before dinnertime. If you haven’t made your first purchase in Tokyo, you certainly will — your chance to taste all sorts of snacks or perhaps pick-up even more samples for a full dinner.

You have free-time this evening.

But, after a little rest and relaxation, you can join Bruce for a “night out”, and “underground” as Bruce guides anyone willing on a late-night food and drink adventure.

Accommodations: Dai-Ichi Hotel Tokyo or similar (4 Nights)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Now that you are adjusted to the time zone…

For anyone interested, Dean Suttmeier and Andrew will meet folks in the lobby at 5:30 am for an excursion to the Toyosu fish market. We will take taxis (12 minutes) there and back, look around at the fish coming in from the docks, and then have sushi for breakfast. 

Later in the morning, our whole group will use public transportation to travel to the Meiji-jingū Shrine, one of Tokyo’s most important shrines. The Meiji-jingū covers 175 acres and houses over 100,000 trees – making it a lush escape from the hard angles of the city. The shrine itself is austere and built in cypress and copper in the nagare-zukuri style, often busy with worshippers. The inner garden pre-dates the shrine itself and is said to have been designed by the Meiji Emperor for his wife. It is a tranquil spot and boasts a pond with large colorful koi and an interesting well.

Close by is the Nezu Museum. Cloistered in the back streets of Aoyama, the museum houses the private collection of Kaichiro Nezu and consists of magnificent examples of Japanese painting, calligraphy and ceramics, some of which are registered National Treasures including the famous Shinto paintings ‘Nachi Waterfall’ and ‘Mandala with 81 Deities’. There will be time to explore both the museum and its gardens. The garden surrounding the museum, which is among one of Tokyo’s finest, consists of wonderfully arranged ponds, waterfalls, flowering trees and seven exquisite tea pavilions.

Travel to Shibuya Crossing by public transportation for lunch.

After lunch meet with Roland Kelts is a Tokyo-based writer, journalist, scholar and authority on Japanese and Western cultures. His first book, Japanamerica, is the ultimate guide to Japan’s pop culture juggernaut — required reading for many Hollywood producers, global artists and academics worldwide.

He is a primary Japan source for The New Yorker, The Guardian, The New York Times, CNN, the BBC and NHK, among others. He is also a columnist for The Japan Times and a professor at Japan’s prestigious Waseda University. He has given speeches on Japan for think tanks, embassies, universities, pop culture conventions and private events in the US, Europe and Asia.Kelts has taught at The University of Tokyo, New York University, Columbia University, Sophia University, and Harvard University. He has won several awards and fellowships, and he was a Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard University in 2017.

After lunch walk to Shibuya Crossing. The frenetic and scrambling center of modern Japanese culture

Shibuya’s iconic crossing continue to feature on the pages of global fashion and travel magazines, and for good reason. The chaotic, yet miraculously organized crossing has become a symbol of Tokyo’s dynamism and represents Shibuya—Japan’s trend-setting powerhouse dedicated to fashion and arts. Join the crowds as they diverge off into the many streets and alleyways to shop and hangout in hip cafes, bars, and restaurants. Spend time appreciating the area’s fiercely independent art scene, or simply visit to experience the rapid-beating heart of Tokyo. 

Before an evening at leisure meet with Motoyuki Shibata, professor emeritus from the University of Tokyo. He’s Japan’s leading translator of American literature (Roth, Paley, Rebecca Brown, Pynchon, etc.) and a scholar of American culture. Shibata sensei can talk about Japan’s postwar Left and the bohemian coffee-house culture based on the Beats, Japanese folks music and how Japan’s perception of the US has changed over the years. Fascinating and brilliant speaker.

Dinner tonight is on your own. Head out on your own food exploration — Bruce and Andrew will certainly have some suggestions. For those who want to splurge you might want to try Japan’s fine dining scene (advanced reservations reccomended). Tokyo is the city with the most Michelin star restaurants in the world and it’s held that spot since 2007 with over 200 restaurants in the Michelin Guide

Accommodations: or similar (4 Nights)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning meet with Lully Miura, Ms. Miura is a political scientist who helps policy makers, media, and the public to understand the world and make it a better place. She founded and is president of Yamaneko Research Institute, Inc., an independent thinktank dedicated to the most pressing issues for Japan and the world. She is an author of many books including A Guidebook to Japanese Politics and Diplomacy, Bungei-Shunju 2015, A New World Order in the ‘Trump Era’, Ushio, 2017, Politics that is Important to You, Bungei-Shunju 2018, War and Peace in the 21st Century: Why Conscription System Is Needed Again, Shincho-sha 2019.

She has provided the definitive story behind the epic security law reforms in 2015 co-authored book with Masahiko Kohmura, former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) vice president (Dilemma of the State, Shincho-sya 2017). Her other co-authored books include; Choosing Politics, Bungei Shunjyu 2019 (with Toru Hashimoto, ex-mayor and governor of Osaka), and Realism of Nation State, Kadokawa 2017, (with Naoki Inose, ex-governor of Tokyo). She also contributed to Martin Fackler & Yoichi Funabashi eds., Reinventing Japan, Praeger, 2018 an introduction focusing Japan’s Soft Power.

As a regular commentator/contributor to several TV programs and newspapers, Lully has provided perspectives on both international and domestic issues. Lully is also an advisory panel member of Fuji Television and Yoshimoto Kogyo, one of Japan’s biggest entertainment conglomerates.

Lully is the winner of numerous prizes including Seiron-Shinpu-sho. She was a member of PM’s advisory panel on National Defense Program Guidelines FY 2019, advisory panel member for Kyodo news 2016-2019, and book review committee member for Yomiuri Shimbun 2017-2018.

As a leading female thinker, she is regarded as an opinion leader on issues of feminism and diversity. Her first autobiography, The Meaning of Loneliness, the Taste of Life as a Woman, Shincho-sha 2019 touches on the difficulties facing modern women. The book has become a bestseller having covered sensitive topics such as sexual violence, raising a daughter, and losing a baby…

At midday take a bullet train to Kanazawa bringing lunch with us.

This incredible train is an amazing experience in itself –travelling so smoothly at such a speed. Incredibly, despite Japan’s huge population and the small size of the country, nearly two thirds of the land is still forested. Surprisingly, the extreme landscape did not deter construction of the Shinkansen line for the 1964 Olympics. It was carefully engineered to use the most direct routes, tunneled through mountains and on tracks over suburban areas, and in many cases is faster than flying between major cities.

Located between the Sea of Japan/East Sea and the Japanese Alps in western Japan, Kanazawa was spared from destruction during World War II and remains one of the best-preserved castle towns of the Edo Period. It is considered one of the country’s best places to learn about samurai’s history and lifestyle. In the past, the feudal lords invited skilled artisans from Kyoto and Edo (currently Tokyo) to introduce craft techniques that combined dynamism with the elegance of the samurai culture. The refined samurai of Kanazawa were an anomaly, made possible by their ruler’s disinterest in violence and an affection for the arts. This combination is what makes Kanazawa’s crafts unique. Although Samurai were abolished in the late-19th century much of their world remains in Kanazawa.

Arrive at the Kanazawa Station which was re-opened in 2005. The station’s wooden hand-drum-shaped Tsuzumi Gate and glass umbrella-shaped Motenashi Dome were controversial because they clashed with the traditional architecture of this old castle town but the station’s beauty in its sleek modern design is appreciated by those that see it.

Our hotel, Hotel Nikko Kanazawa, is located just a few minutes by foot from the train station.

In the late afternoon explore the neighborhood of Higashi Chaya – miles away from the more modern city of Kanazawa. Walk through a labyrinth of teahouses, temples, beautiful, latticed buildings and restored samurai houses. Admire the roofs of the stately wood buildings with detailed carvings sprouting from clusters of gingko and maple trees. Kanazawa’s streets were partly designed to mislead and disorient outsiders.

We will gather for Dinner in the old town.

Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Kanazawa or similar (2 Nights)

Meals included: Breakfast

Before heading out, Dean Suttmeier will present about the “Organic Food Movement in Japan”. 

This morning we will head south of Kanazawa into the Ryohaku mountains which are formidable if not especially high. Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are two scenic and secluded mountain village areas famous for their traditional architecture and are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. The villages are connected by the Shokawa River but are within the bounds of two different prefectures: Gifu and Toyama.

The villages are famed for their magnificent A-frame farmhouses, built in a style called gassho-zukuri, or “hands in prayer.” Extended families of 30 or more members lived on the lower floors, while the upper floors were used to raise silkworms, which, especially in the Meiji era, provided the raw silk that fed Japan’s booming textile mills. The gassho-zukuri design proved exceptionally suitable for this; during different phases in their growth, silkworms require varying amounts of heat and light, which could be achieved by moving them from one floor to another.

Building these houses was a major community endeavor. Professional carpenters were hired to make the ground floors, over which villagers would raise the roof. It took dozens of people several days just to tie down the thick layer of thatch. The magnificent dwellings standing today, however, do not give an accurate picture of the life of the average farmer. Most peasants lived in small, mean structures resembling a tent of thatch, such as one that is now used as a tool shed in Ainokura. Even residents of the large houses—village heads, their extended families and servants— found their quarters cramped.

This morning enjoy a walk through Gokayama village with its traditional family dwellings some of which are thought to be over 400 years old and with their high hedges and gardens give an idyllic picture of a prosperous farmer. The river, which marks the border between Shirikawa and Gokayama prefectures, twists and turns dramatically—at one stretch the road between the towns crosses the river seven times in quick succession. It is easy to understand why in former times, Gokayama and Shirakawa-go, seemingly so similar, were in fact worlds apart. At many of the large houses, formerly the homes of local headmen, there are cauldrons and implements used to make gunpowder in the Edo period. One of the finest gassho-zukuri houses is that of the chief of gunpowder production. The house is uncommonly elegant inside because it also served as lodgings for visiting domain officials

Meet with the owners of a long-established tofu specialty shop has been making traditional Gokayama-dofu since the Taisho period (1912-1926). They carefully make their tofu by hand with underground water from the nearby mountains and a local Tonami soybean variety called “Enrei. We will visit their workshop, and learn the tofu making process and, for those who want. Make a tofu ice cream sandwich!

We have arranged a traditional lunch in a gassho-zukuri house

Working with Gokayama’s Organization for the Preservation of Folk Songs and Dances we have arranged a private Mugiya folk song and dance performance that originated in Gokayama.

After exploring the two towns return to Kanazawa to explore the Nagamachi district. This was a samurai district located at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle, where samurai and their families used to reside. The area preserves a historic atmosphere with its remaining residences, earthen walls, private entrance gates, narrow lanes, and water canals.

Visit the Nomura Family Samurai House which once belonged to the Nomuras, a wealthy samurai family. The Nomura family had the job of providing security on horseback for the lord. During the time, this job was considered a high ranking one. Although many of the samurai houses were destroyed after feudal Japan came to an end in the late 1800s, the Nomura Family Samurai house fell under the hands of a rich businessman and, although altered, was preserved. The Japanese garden on the premise is acclaimed for its refined ambience. The engineering of the garden is done in a typical Edo style. The ponds use water drawn from a canal and created to have a difference in levels to add more depth to the overall look of the garden. Everything, from the trees to the bridges to the way the water flows, is done under much thought and calculation. The bayberry tree is 400 years old and designated as a tree for special preservation by the city of Kanazawa.

The rest of the day is at leisure, with Dinner on your own,

Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Kanazawa or similar (2 Nights)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Close by is the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine which is the central headquarters for over 40,000 Inari shrines throughout Japan. Originally dedicated to the god of rice (‘Inari’), the deity of this interesting shrine is enrolled to foster business prosperity with the agricultural decline and boasts the largest number of worshippers in Japan. While this intriguing shrine remains a popular attraction for visitors, there’s much more to this iconic place than the shrine itself. Discover hidden altars, waterfalls, and sub-shrines of Mt. Inari without the crush of crowds and learn how the deities believed to be living in the mountain are worshipped. While exploring this path, we will also untangle the secret story of one of Japan’s most celebrated shinto deities, Inari.

Check into the Cross Hotel where inside a modern interior, there is an atmosphere of ancient culture.

Bruce will present on a most important subject, “From the Black Market to Global Obsession; or everything you ever wanted to know about RAMEN but were afraid to ask.”

Dinner in town this evening. 

Accommodation: Hotel Cross Kyoto or similar (3 nights)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch 

This morning meet with staff at the Kyoto-based NGO, Kiko (Climate) Network. We have requested a meeting with Mr. Kenro Taura, executive director. Kiko Network is a non-governmental, nonprofit organization in Japan that focuses on putting together policy proposals for climate change prevention at the community level and beyond, disseminating information, and engaging in environmental education and training. Its aim is to change the actions of individuals, and make Japanese society—including the industries, economies, energy systems, lifestyles, regions—fair, peaceful, stable, and sustainable.

After the meeting visit the Nishiki Market, “the Kitchen of Kyoto” which dates back to the 14th century. The market has been operating for over 400 years and covers five narrow long blocks with over 125 stalls. You’ll find all the major ingredients of traditional Kyoto cuisine on display here: tsukemono (Japanese pickles), fresh tofu, Kyo-yasai (Kyoto vegetables), wagashi (Japanese sweets), tea, and fresh fish and shellfish. Some shops sell takeaway food like skewers of yakitori or sashimi, and a few sit-down restaurants can be found amid the shops. Some of the best food to try at Nishiki Market include tako tamago (octopus and quail’s egg), goma dango (sesame dumplings), satsuma(fish cakes) and fresh grapefruit juice.

At the other end of the market visit the Nishiki Tenmangū Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Tenjin. Despite its small size, Nishiki Tenmangū sees a lot of foot traffic from the market, and it is considered one of the preeminent Tenjin shrines. Easily spotted by the many softly glowing lanterns hung at the entrance, Nishiki Tenmangū’s cozy grounds contain a natural spring, some nostalgic fortune-telling, a statue of Tenjin’s divine messenger, and a sanctuary dedicated to Tenjin himself.

Then we will drive to lunch at Nishio Yatsuhasi No Sato, located on the site of a Taisho era mansion designated as one of “the buildings or gardens chosen by Kyoto citizens to preserve as a part of Kyoto’s assets” in 2012. Enjoy a lunch of side dishes including freshly fried tempura and white miso soup, all made with seasonal ingredients unique to Kyoto

Next door is Nishio Yatsuhashi, known for its Kyoto sweets, most famous of which is its freshly made Yatsuhashi. The Yatsuhashiya Bairin Tea Shop founded in the forest of Shogoin Temple in the first year of the Genroku era was the birthplace of the Nishio Yatsuhashi. In 1689 a simple rice cracker in the shape of a bridge, which became the prototype for the current Yatsuhashi, was born. Since then, while inheriting over 300 years of history, the store has earned countless laurels as it continues to spread Yatsuhashi’s deliciousness to foreign countries since the Meiji era. In 1889 the shop won a silver medal at the Paris World Expo. More recently the store introduced a fresh Yatsuhashi with filling, which is now widely known as the famous confectionery that represents Kyoto.

Enjoy a stroll along the Philosopher’s Walk, a pretty path bordering a canal. Begin at Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion built for Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1482. He filled the villa with paintings collected over a lifetime and made it a hub for all the different arts inspired by Zen.

End the day at the Matsui Brewery which was founded was founded in the 11th year of Emperor Kyoho (1726). At that time, sake brewing was being carried out by the 4th-generation owner, Jiemon Matsui, who was a vassal of Takagi Castle in Tajima Province, in Shinoshoshimohama Village (later Kasumi Village, now Kami City, Hyogo Prefecture). After that, the Matsui family maintained the business for generations, following the name of Jiemon Matsui, until the 12th generation owner. At the end of the Tokugawa period, it moved to Takeya-cho, Kawaramachi, Kyoto and about 100 years ago moved to its current place, towards the end of the Taisho era. The water from a shallow well about 15m deep was used to brew the sake.

Dinner on your own. Bruce and Andrew will highlight some Kyoto specialty restaurants, or perhaps you want to revisit one of the markets from an earlier visit.

Accommodation:  Hotel Cross Kyoto or similar (3 Nights)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today is a free-day designed to let you explore on your own, or choose a couple of structured options.

One option is to visit a town on the outskirts of Kyoto - Uji town. This will be about a 30 - 45 minute local train ride. Uji is famous for its tea fields. Afterwards we will scout out a place for a non-hosted lunch for anyone interested.

After that you could return to Kyoto easy enough, or continue on to Nara.  Nara is another 30 - 45 local train ride where you can see the famous deer park and the “Daibatsu” which is the largest bronze Buddha  in the world. This sculpture has remained has remained in the same place for over eight centuries at Todaiji temple. Return from Nara at your leisure.

Enjoy an evening in Kyoto. Now is a chance to hunt for the food you have been waiting to try or lean into some Kyoto specialities - Yudofu (boiled tofu), Hamo (a sauced eel and rice), or Yatsuhashi.

Accommodation: Hotel Cross Kyoto or similar (3 Nights)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

For anyone a fan of the recent TV series Shogun, Bruce will hold an informal discussion over breakfast at 7:30 am about the cuisine of the beginning of the 16th century. 

Today we see the dazzling Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion). This Zen Buddhist temple was in fact first used as a private villa by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who purchased the land and transformed it into his home in the 14th century. The lush gardens are an excellent example of villa garden design during the Muromachi period, which ran from approximately 1337 to 1573. Learn how these spaces were used for contemplation and entertainment, and how these uses changed as the space transformed from private villa to Buddhist temple

Enjoy lunch at Katsurai - Kinkaku-ji Temple restaurant for lunch. Katsurai is known for its Tonkatsu, one of the most popular meals in Japan. The star of the show is a free-range pork cutlet coated with flour and egg and panko (breadcrumbs) and deep fried to a crisp.

After lunch drive to Ryoan-ji considered the supreme example of an abstract Zen Garden. It consists of a rectangle of raked white gravel on which are arranged 15 rocks, devoid of all vegetation save for a few splashes of moss. Its origins are as mysterious as its meaning, its creator and exact age are unknown.The stylized landscape created from gravel and rocks represents an alternative garden type from the Muromachi Period and exemplifies the type of design one finds at Zen Buddhist temples.

This afternoon we drive to the Chishakuin Temple, the main head temple of the Chisan school of Shingon Buddhism.

Around Japan there are over 3,000 associated temples. At the end of the Edo period, and with the Meiji Restoration, the temple entered a difficult period as it was rocked by a wave of “abolish Buddhism, destroy Shākyamuni” sentiment (the anti-Buddhist movement of the early Meiji period.) In Meiji 2 (1869), Konpon Dojo-Seminary’s Kangakuin Temple of education and learning, which had become a military base for the Tosa domain, went up in flames. In 1882, the Kondō Main Hall, the symbol of the whole mountain complex, was burned down. However, despite the hardships of this time the temple still managed to flourish and in 1900, the 3,000 temples associated with the activities of Chishakuin Temple congregated together and decided to make Chishakuin Temple the main head temple of their school.

We will stay at the temple accommodations which are located inside the grounds of Chishakuin Temple,

This evening enjoy a dinner of Buddhist Shōjin cuisine (vegetarian).

Accommodation:  Chishakuin Temple rooms with shared bathroom or similar (One Night)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Benesse House, inside the museum (1 night)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning visit the Chichu Art Museum which houses a small but impressive collection of works by artists including Claude Monet, James Turrell and Walter De Maria. Designed by Tadao Ando again, this breathtaking museum was designed to let in an abundance of natural light that alters the appearance of the artwork it houses throughout the day.

Travel towards Osaka via ferry and train. Lunch at a local restaurant today.

Along the way stop at Himeji and set off to visit the famous Himeji castle. The most impressive of Japan’s scant dozen original castles, Himeji-jo is also known as the “white egret castle” or the “white heron castle” for its stately white walls.

Arrive at Osaka, Kansai’s largest city which is sometimes overlooked due to its proximity to Kyoto. Yet it is a perennial favorite of Japan connoisseurs, especially among travelers who love Japanese food. Osaka is best known for its amazing casual food and fun, outgoing locals. It’s arguably Japan’s street food capital, and most famous for snacks including takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

Upon arrival transfer to the Zentis Osaka Hotel, a lovely new boutique hotel.

End the day with a walking food tour with a local guide for dinner. Explore five hidden eateries where you will be trying ten different dishes. Some of the dishes included are gyoza, oden, kitsune udon, takoyaki and more. Also try two drinks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic, to give you a full picture of the food and drink culture of the area.

After return to the hotel. 

Accommodation: Zentis Osaka Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning meet with Professor Mariko Akuzawa, an expert on Burakumin Liberation and Human Rights based in Osaka.Her research area are human rights education and sociology of education, focusing on challenges in disseminating concepts of universal human rights into local communities through education and training implemented by government, civil society, and national human rights institutions in Northeast and Southeast Asia region, and changing patterns of discrimination in contemporary Japan against minority Buraku discrimination. The Buraku, a caste-like minority among ethnic Japanese, face discrimination because of an association with work once considered impure, such as butchering animals or tanning leather. Originally meaning hamlet, the word Buraku began to acquire a new connotation after the Meiji era (1868 -1912) administrators started to use “Tokushu Buraku” (special hamlet) in reference to former outcaste communities. Even though the caste system was abolished in 1871 during the Meiji Restoration alongside the feudal system, many Burakumin, or as they’re also known, “untouchables,” still find it difficult to fully integrate into society. Burakumin communities are still rampant throughout Japan.

Enjoy a taiko drum performance. In taiko history, there is a conscious disassociation of the production of the taiko, where handling of leather is considered ‘spiritually impure’, from the performance, which is often associated with ‘purifying’ religious rituals. While human rights, minority rights and cultural approaches have failed in emancipating the Burakumin in Japanese society. Innovative drumming groups comprised entirely of Burakumin have formed as a way to overcome the stigma and be written back into a narrative that historically silenced them.

From here enjoy a two hour tour designed to provide an introduction to Osaka and the history and culture of this vibrant city. Explore Osaka’s growth from an early mercantile center to a bustling economic Asian powerhouse. Begin near Osaka Castle and learning about the rule of Osaka after the unification in the 16th century. Although not the original structure, the site offers an important location to discuss the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the violent emergence of the Tokugawa shogunate.

From here travel to the buzzing district in Osaka: Dotonbori. Named after a 17th-century merchant, Yasui Doton, the area has a 400-year-long history of entertainment. Stroll through the warren streets and finish at Kuromon market - an arcaded local haunt with shops specializing in everything from fresh urchins to seasonal vegetables.

Lunch and afternoon at leisure.

Enjoy a special farewell dinner this evening.

 Accommodation: Zentis Osaka Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

We will arrange a group transfer to the airport for your return flight. It takes about an hour by taxi.

Note: Post-Night stays are available at Zentis Osaka Hotel