Experiences

Etch a design of your very own making into an original Marumo Takagi Pottery "Chill'd Glass", exquisite drinking glasses radiating vivid colors upon contact with cold liquids, with this very special course! Pick and choose from a variety of Japanese patterns and icons before engraving them onto the glass surface with careful guidance from our experts - great even for complete beginners. Bring home a souvenir of your own crafting - a wonderful product of the splendid blend between Japanese tradition and modern mechanics, perfect for home use or as a gift for loved ones. 

Rewind the past one step at a time as you explore the significant areas of what used to be one of the liveliest post towns of the Nakasendo in southeastern Gifu. Mitake-juku, the 49th post town of what is sometimes also known as the Samurai Trail, fluorished as the town of Ganko-ji Temple, bustling with people and exchanges of information and culture. While it is now a much more peaceful and quiter place, it still impresses visitors with its abundance of history, nature, and regional cuisine, which you can enjoy through this hiking course. Travel with a copy of a very special travel guide in hand - the Kisoji Anken Ezu published in 1756 (Horeki 6) featuring the Kiso route from Tokyo through Nagano - the way the travelers of old did during the Edo period as you walk in their shoes for a spell and an adventure of a lifetime. This journey will from start from Mitake Station by hike and return by taxi. 

Blend the art of relaxation, tradition and cuisine the way it's done in Gero City, home to Gero Onsen - one of the three best hot springs in Japan! Begin with elegant hospitality through a beginner-friendly tea ceremony, a classic practice of Japanese culture at an authentic tea room in the illustrious ryokan Suimeikan, followed by a stroll around the hot springs town, giving you firsthand insight into the the local history, customs, legends, and more. Experience for yourself the many reasons for Gero's glorious fame. Also, see if you can spot a statue of comic actor Charlie Chaplin who visited in 1932!

From the foot of the mountains lies a treasure trove of nature's riches and the wisdom of satoyama living. Discover these gems as you enjoy the plentiful seasonal vegetables, wild plants, medicinal herbs and more here in the Japanese countryside through the wonders of food in fun-filled gatherings. Learn about the deep knowledge of nature, food, and life lovingly handed down throughout generations and discover the best ways to use harvested local vegetables, wild greens, medicinal herbs, and more. Then, put your newly gained knowledge to the test by taking part in hands-on activities like cooking, fermenting, pickling, and drying with the Gujo countryside as your idyllic setting. Dig deep into the essentials of Japanese food culture and regional cuisine through the close connections to food preparation techniques featured in this course. Come along and escape the mundanity of daily routine.

Unearth and savor the treasures to be found hidden just beneath your feet, right here in the midst of nature's abundance.

All the world's a stage, and this one has a role with your name on it! Check out one of Gifu's treasured local specialties,  ji-kabuki, or country kabuki, distinct from other types of kabuki for its down-to-earth atmosphere and strong connection to the local community. Get up close and personal with the local kabuki troupe, take in the sights, sounds, and stories of the stage and even put on the kumadori make-up yourself as you prepare to act in your very own role in a kabuki play right here in a historical theatre, a designated Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property of Gifu Prefecture established in 1894. Enjoy a specially prepared wariko bento (Japanese lunchbox) after your visit! Then, take a trip to Tsukiji Gorge, a valley tucked away in a fragrant canopy of Kiso cypress, and walk along the stunningly emerald waters of the Tsukechi River flowing from the snowmelt of venerable Mount Ontake. No time to waste - the stage and nature await!

Breath in deep. Relax. Take in the sights, scents, sounds of your natural environment covered in lush greenery, filled with the fresh, earthy aroma of a forest cherished throughout the ages. Focus on the here and now, as you immerse yourself in this shinrinyoku (forest bathing) course that reconnects you to the roots of restoration in the quiet and stillness of your surroundings. Shinrinyoku specialists will aid you in gently awakening your senses through activities of mindfulness, allowing you to commune deeply with nature, resetting your mind and body, making space for holistic healing. Knowledgeable local guides will take you off the beaten track to a nearby shrine and a legendary lake as they give you insights into the significant bond between the local Japanese people and the environment. Welcome profound revival.

Step right through the doors of a popular restaurant into a realm of delicious culinary possibilities! Create your ultimate, mouth-watering gyoza (Japanese dumplings) with this cooking lesson filled with expertise, humor, and cheer from gyoza expert, Chef Suzuki, using ingredients sourced from Takayama. From the classic, with fillings like Hida beef and Hida pork, to vegetable gyoza, and special variations like the rose-shaped gyoza dubbed by the media as "too pretty to eat", there's an almost endless variety of gyoza offered in this popular gyoza specialty restaurant. International tourists in snaking queues outside this restaurant are a common sight. Skip the wait, sign up for the cooking lesson of a lifetime and experience the local Japanese culture for yourself, from the art of preparing your edible masterpiece to savoring tasty food with fun-filled company, one delectable gyoza at a time.

Tap into the mind, spirit, and tradition of the samurai through an essential part of their identity as fearsome warriors - the prized Japanese sword. And what better place to do this than at Seki, the City of Blades, where their swords were known to "never bend, never break, and cut well". Start with a tour of the factory, one of Japan's rare manufacturers of iaito (practice swords) and authentic Japanese swords with 60 years of trustworthy expertise, before moving on to the exhibition room where you will be shown the different ways to appreciate Japanese swords, as well as insight into the methods of sword production. You can also purchase swords of your liking. After that, it’s time to move to the dojo to put on your iaigi and a hakama for a change of pace! Take on the way of the samurai hands-on, by learning the basic kata (forms) for iaido, such as battou (sword-drawing), kiritsuke (cutting or slashing), and noto (sword sheathing), using a replica sword. Carve out your own path, the samurai way. 

Come see the cutting-edge expertise, the time-honored tradition, and the enduring legacy behind the foundations of one of the world's three major cutlery centers - Seki City, the City of Blades, with a lineup of exciting activities with plenty of opportunities for hands-on experience. Start with an introduction to the history of blacksmithing in Seki and viewing of Japanese swords at a museum before enjoying a delicious unagidon (eel rice bowl) lunch - a source of strength and stamina for the local swordsmiths. Then, try your hand at making nerikiri, a type of traditional Japanese sweet supervised by a well-loved and long-established local confectionery store. Enjoy your delightful creations with green tea in a tea room. You have the option of doing so dressed in kimono. Finally, discover spiritual balance at a historical temple, where you can choose between Zazen meditation or shabutsu (tracing an image of Buddha) as your activity of choice. Manji (swastika)-shaped kaidan meguri and kanetsuki (ringing the temple bell) are also available.

Navigate the delicious, diverse and delightful world of Japanese cuisine in this fun-filled hands-on cooking class, with popular Flying Chef Shuji Ozeki as your trusty guide, accompanying you at every step with his remarkable culinary skills, warmth, and humor. Learn about the traditional Japanese meal structure, "ichiju sansai" (one bowl of soup and three dishes), and the basics of Japanese cooking through recipes in English. Then, dive right into preparing delectable dishes made from a variety of bountiful, seasonal Gifu ingredients. After your cooking lesson, stop by Seki Terrace, a store showcasing an astonishing variety of items of superb quality made in Seki, one of the world's three major cutlery production areas - from kitchen knives, to scissors, nail clippers, razors, and much more. A sharp knife of superior quality is a key to enhancing the flavor and texture of your food, so why not look for one to buy here, or learn to sharpen knives the traditional way through a hands-on lessons? 
For the PM course, your visit to Seki Terrace will be before your cooking class.