Experiences

Delve deep and engage with two integral practices of bushido, the way of the samurai, thriving well even to this day in Hida Takayama, a city well-known for its traditional crafts and historical merchant districts. The first featured through this course is the Sowaryu-style of tea ceremony, founded about 400 years ago by Shigechika “Sowa” of the Kanamori family that ruled the Hida-Takayama domain. Passed down primarily through temples in Takayama, this warrior-style left an indelible mark on the culture of Kyoto, influencing the tea ceremonies held in various locations from the gardens of Ohara Town's Sanzenin Temple to the tea rooms of Kinkakuji. Discover what it's like for yourself by joining a Sowaryu-style tea ceremony, and enjoy Japanese sweets with usucha ("thin tea" - usually used for tea ceremonies) while you learn about the differences between the tea ceremonies held by the merchant class and that of the samurai class. After that, it's time for a change of clothes and pace for iaido! You'll put on kimono and hakama, before moving to the Emaden (shrine building where votive picture tablets are hung). Calm and steady your heart as a hanshi (master instructor) of the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaido, one of the two most widely practiced schools of iaido in Japan, guides you through a series of kata (form, movement), such as battou (sword-drawing), kobo (attack and defense), noto (sword-sheathing). You will receive a certificate of completion upon finishing the iaido activity. From the calm and graceful steps of the tea ceremony, to the swift and powerful moves of iaido, walk the paths of righteousness the way the samurais did in the spirit of bushido.

Unearth calm repose, encounter the world of Zen and enlightenment in creation through this course with a guide, taking you through the peaceful, scenic grounds of the Kokeizan Eiho-ji Temple of Tajimi City, a Zen temple founded by the Zen monk Muso Soseki during the Kamakura Period. The temple grounds include the designated National Treasure, Kannon-do Hall, and the well-known Suigetsugama Kiln, built in 1946 by the late and esteemed Toyozo Arakawa, a past Living National Treasure. The living legacy of these treasures ensure that the traditional methods of making Minoyaki (Mino ware) live on to this very day. At the Suigetsugama Kiln, tour the climbing kiln and learn of how it revolutionized the ceramics industry centuries ago. For lunch, feast your senses on Japanese cuisine carefully plated on tableware crafted by Mino ware artists, taking in the delightful harmony in presentation and taste.

Ride the waves of time, back into the Sengoku and Edo period with this tour jam-packed with the artistic, historical, and culinary highlights of Ena and Imamura. Start by immersing yourself in the vivid world of ukiyo-e art from the Edo Period by famous woodblock print artist Hiroshige Utagawa at the Nakasendo Hiroshige Museum of Art. Then, hike the historical grounds of the Iwamura Castle Ruins, one of Japan’s three greatest mountaintop castles, situated at an altitude of 717 metres above sea-level, where you will have the chance to see up close the defensive construction from three different types of stone-piling utilized. The castle is also well-known for having an “Onna Joshu” (lady castle lord) - Lady Otsuya, one of Japan's few lady castle lords and the aunt of warlord Oda Nobunaga. Enjoy time strolling around the ancient castle town, full of historical charm and a culturally significant preservation district of historic buildings in all of Japan, third in Gifu after Sanmachi in Takayama and Ogimachi in Shirakawa-go. For lunch, feast the way the warlords did back in the Sengoku period, with a delicious and hearty recreation of the Sengoku cuisine prepared over an irori charcoal grill with local, seasonal ingredients. Conclude your journey with the the exclusive "Kakuuchi", at a brewery with a distinguished history of 230 years. Buy sake and drink it right there and then in its original, raw and unprocessed form - a rarity of Japanese culture afforded by this very place. Take a trip through this multifaceted gateway into Japan's exquisite past. 

Unfold the rich tapestry of culture and tradition at the heart of Gifu City through this illuminating course. Learn all about ukai (cormorant fishing) at the Nagara River Ukai Museum before visiting the home of a Cormorant Fishing Master, who will show you around and explain the ins and outs of his work, recognized by the Imperial Family of Japan. Alternatively, choose an option highlighting the artistry of one of Gifu City's beloved traditional crafts, Gifu lanterns, by visiting the private space of world-renowned artist, Isamu Noguchi's AKARI Gallery displaying his "sculptures of light". After a delightful teatime at a hotel lounge, enjoy a splendid dinner of grilled ayu (sweetfish) aboard one of three exclusive luxury observation boats, with a dedicated chef and wait staff. Witness the ukai as it begins at sunset, from a vantage view afforded in the comfort of your bench seat, transporting you back in time with its subtle yet profound beauty. 

Take on this very special hands-on tour of the factory behind the highly sought-after and constantly sold-out premium, cemented carbide kitchen knives - a first in Japan, right here in Gifu! Watch the production process, help with sharpening and testing blades. After the tour, create your very own original pocketknife by affixing the cemented carbide (said to be the hardest material next to diamond) blade to the handle, made of wood produced in Gifu. For lunch, enjoy a delicious serving of unadon (eel rice bowl), a classic meal in Seki, the City of Blades, said to be a source of strength and stamina especially during summer days of scorching heat.

Fish for Gifu's renowned ayu (sweetfish), and one of Japan's finest, using a traditional method tried and tested by time! Presenting the tomozuri (live decoy fishing) style, which you will be introduced to through training videos in a lesson before putting it to practice fishing using live sweetfish as bait in the Nagara River with support from a professional guide. While tomozuri usually requires expensive specialized fishing gear, you will have free rental of the necessary equipment. Then, dig in to the freshly caught wild sweetfish, salted and grilled. Enjoy its mouth-watering taste and compare it to that of the locally farmed ayu. Ayu rice will also be served. Discover the goodness of "Ayu of the Nagara River System," a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).

Step into the daring domain of the Japan’s historical warriors with this travel plan featuring sword forging, iai-jutsu (sword drawing), Zen history, philosophy and meditation embodied by the samurai spirit. The best part is experiencing it all firsthand - start by watching the sparks fly up close as a master bladesmith puts tried and trusted techniques to astounding work, hammer the steel fashioned into a blade at a famous workshop, before calming your heart and mind with Zazen meditation amidst the tranquil surroundings of a traditional temple, and finally, witness the swift but deadly motions of iai-jutsu with a genuine katana on temple grounds. Unleash the fighter in you.

Enwrap yourself in the fine art, history, and process of traditional Japanese papermaking. Put your knowledge to practice as a master craftsman guides you with creation from kozo (paper mulberry) to fine Minowashi. As the washi dries, savor an appetizing bento (packed lunch) in the comforts of a rustic Japanese home with a history of over 70 years. Soak in the idyllic atmosphere before leaving with your original Minowashi paper, a tangible reminder of a priceless memory.

Add another unforgettable chapter to your travels by choosing the transportation option, where you’ll get to stop by the picturesque Monet's Pond before your journey’s end. With water lillies floating in glass-like water and colorful carp swimming about, a visit to this vivid painting come to life is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Create your original razor-sharp Damascus knife using traditional Japanese methods from start to finish, from blade and handle sharpening, assembling, to engraving your name onto your handmade masterpiece, under the guidance of master swordsmiths. Choose from Gyuto and Santoku Damascus cooking knives, Damascus hunting knives and Damascus folding knives.

Then, enjoy a visit to the nearby Knife Museum and buy from a wide variety of top quality knives available onsite.

You can also choose to have lunch, and tuck into a delicious meal at a local restaurant where dishes like sushi, tempura, eel, and tonkatsu can be prepared to your preferences (optional).

Get an exclusive look behind the scenes of the Takayama Festival, one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals featuring 23 gorgeously elaborate floats with an illustrious history of about 350 years. Repairs and preservation of the floats are maintained by the master craftsmen of the Hida region, called the "Hida no Takumi", esteemed for their exceptional skills and expertise nationwide, commissioned with repairs for temples, shrines, and festival equipment all over Japan to this very day.

As part of this tour, participants get to see the Takayama Festival floats up close, and gain special access to a craftman's workshop which is not usually open to the public. Your guide will accompany you to one of the following workshops of your choice and according the craftmen's schedule: shrine and temple carpentry, Hida Shunkei lacquerware, blacksmithing, Ichii itto (yew wood) carvings. Try crafting under the careful guidance of a master, or a take home a special gift made by them depending on your choice of workshop. Enjoy this exclusive opportunity to delve deep into the local culture of traditional crafting and carpentry, unavailable to independent travelers and standard tours.