Experiences

Step into the shoes of a sake brewer! Get an exclusive taste of the magic that goes into the sake brewing process and how it differs to that of beer and wine with the help of a knowledgeable kurabito (brewery worker). With guidance from them, put rice through steps like polishing, steaming, molding, pressing, and more until it transforms into the liquid ambrosia recognized and valued worldwide for its sublime tastes. A local guide will also be with you to ensure that nothing gets lost in translation, making the very most of your sake brewery experience. There are slight variations in course content depending on the season. This course takes place during the sake brewing season from October to March.

Beat the sweltering heat and humidity of summer with this invigorating, thrilling, and wildly popular seasonal activity! Breathe in the fresh air and wade upstream through the refreshingly cool and clear running waters of the Kijiya Valley in the Nyukawa River in this shower climbing course about a 30-minute drive from the city centre of Takayama, Japan's largest city by area - 90% of which consists of forests filled with nature's abundance. This course includes an accompanying guide to help with navigation of the terrain, transportation between Kijiya Valley and Takayama, as well as rental wetsuits, ensuring convenience and safety for everyone. Elementary school children of 100cm or taller in height can also join, making this activity a great choice for families. Bask in the wonders of the great outdoors as you soak in cooling waters and enjoy summer to your heart's content.

Chop, simmer, and boil your way to making tasty seasonal culinary delights in the local way using ingredients such as Hida beef, Hida vegetables and seafood from the Hokuriku region, with a huge Japanese machiya (townhouse) built 200 years ago in an old merchant town as a very special setting. Tour the townhouse and and observe its elegant architectural styles and furnishings, featuring prized Takayama crafts such as Shunkei lacquerware and Shibukusa-yaki ware. Listen to stories of the rich history behind these traditional crafts while you are served food piping hot on fine tableware lovingly passed down from many generations prior. Enjoy friendly chats and banter with the owners of the townhouse as they share tales about Japanese traditions and the local history as everyone digs into the delicious meals prepared together, just like a Japanese home party - truly a priceless moment of connection to be had on your Japan travels.

Welcome to the tasty culinary world of Hida Takayama! Featuring the mouth-wateringly rich and earthy flavors cultivated deep in the heart of the mountains, prepared using the very best of nature's bounty. Start with a refreshing serving of complimentary Hida apple juice, before cooking and making delicious regional dishes and onigiri (riceballs) with the guidance of a local cook, using fresh ingredients from the Hida region and other areas in Gifu Prefecture.* If requested beforehand, adjustments can be made for those who cannot have beef, which will be swapped out for Hida pork and buri (Japanese yellowtail) from Toyama. This fish has been long enjoyed as a delicacy in the area along the Etchu Highway - so much so it's also called the Buri Highway. End your cooking and dining session with dessert, featuring tochimochi - traditional sweets made from Japanese horse chestnuts and ricecakes. As you finish your course, hear of tales behind the history and setting of how the bitter Japanese horse chestnut found its place on the dining table of Japanese households, along with other stories highlighting the natural features of Hida, as well as its illustrious past.

*Due to unforeseen circumstances depending on seasonal and weather conditions, certain ingredients may be sourced from other prefectures.

Unravel the threads of Hida Takayama's culture steeped in history and cultivated in centuries of relative isolation, as you visit its key locations accompanied by a local guide in this popular walking tour. Begin from the famous Takayama Historical District, with its traditional architecture made from the artisanal carpentry skills of the Hida master craftsmen, with streets that retain the look and feel of a time from centuries past, then walk across the prominent vermillion Nakabashi Bridge - part of a well-loved and known part of Hida Takayama. Moving on, you'll be encounter the venerable Takayama Jinya (also known as the Takayama Historical Government House), established as the center of politics in the Hida region during the Edo period and the only remaining facility of its kind in Japan, and the Jinya-mae Morning Markets in front selling a variety of folk crafts, local produce and sweets, with opportunities to mingle with the locals. Try delicious local Takayama snacks like "midarashi dango", before walking towards the Hida Kokubun-ji Temple and beholding for your very own eyes a place reputed to be the finest ancient temple in the Hida region. 

Rediscover fine dining done the way of the samurai with Sowaryu Honzen Kuzushi and the Sowaryu-style tea ceremony in Hida Takayama, a town famous for its well-established traditional crafts and historical districts. The Sowa style of tea ceremony, which left an indelible mark on the culture of Kyoto as a warrior-style tea ceremony practiced in various places from the gardens of Ohara Town's Sanzenin Temple to the tea rooms of Kinkakuji, was founded about 400 years ago by Shigechika “Sowa” of the Kanamori family that ruled the Hida-Takayama domain. It is said to be have been passed down mainly among Buddhist temples in Takayama. Prepared in the refined spirit of the tea ceremony is the Sowaryu Honzen, a kaiseki course said to date back from the late Edo-period, popular with the samurai class, and a rare luxury that very few restaurants continue to offer nationwide. While it originally features a staggering array of 30 dishes, the Sowaryu Honzen Kuzushi (simplified) course lunch instead showcases a selection of 11 dishes expertly put together from an abundance of fresh, local ingredients. After your sumptuous meal at the two Michelin stars' Ryoutei Susaki, you will then be transported to the long-established Nobato Chaho where you will learn about the differences between the tea ceremonies held by the merchant class and that of the samurai class, and enjoy Japanese sweets with Usucha ("thin tea" - usually used for tea ceremony).

Delve deep into the culture of Hida Takayama, a town famous for its well-established traditional crafts and historical districts. The Sowa style of tea ceremony, which left an indelible mark on the culture of Kyoto as a warrior-style tea ceremony practiced in various places from the gardens of Ohara Town's Sanzenin Temple to the tea rooms of Kinkakuji, was founded about 400 years ago by Shigechika “Sowa” of the Kanamori family that ruled the Hida-Takayama domain. Learn about the differences between the tea ceremonies held by the merchant class and that of the samurai class, and enjoy Japanese sweets with Usucha ("thin tea" - usually used for tea ceremony). After that, it's time for a change of clothes and pace! You'll put on kimono and hakama, before moving to the Emaden (shrine building where votive picture tablets are hung) of the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine. Calm and steady your heart as an 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), nattou (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 but deadly moves of iaido, walk the paths of righteousness the way the samurais did, in the spirit of bushido.

Savor the wonder of Gifu's grand outdoors throughout the seasons, with picturesque sights and opportunities to encounter local wildlife as you e-bike your way for about 90km from Takayama City to Gujo Hachiman. E-biking means no worries about requiring the stamina to go to distance. Move at your own leisurely pace in this exclusive, private tour to areas hard to reach by public transport. This course is recommended for those staying overnight in Takayama City and are planning to travel southwards the day after. Luggage will be delivered separately to your destination, further adding to your convenience with light and easy travel. 

Set forth on a thrilling e-bike adventure highlighting the very best of North Gifu's nature and tradition. Race towards the headwaters of the Miyagawa River and discover not only this fountainhead of Takayama, but also the regional way of life that preserves it. Cycle through endless panoramas of rural landscapes in Hida, with local trains running by the rice paddies and wheat fields of the Japanese satoyama (rural areas where foothills and farmlands overlap), unchanged from its past. From vibrant pink blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, vivid leaves of red and gold in autumn - there’s an abundance of natural beauty to take in no matter the season. Savor local sweets and tea over a break along the way. Enjoy a delicious lunch of homemade soba (buckwheat noodles) at a local restaurant with a picturesque garden. Tours are limited to one group per day. A part of the fee from this course will be donated to the communities overseeing the conservation of the local culture heritage. 

Grab an e-bike and ride into a refreshing and exhilarating exploration of Japan's satoyama (rural areas where the foothills and farmlands overlap), the roots of its thriving in history, nature and community. Swing by wellsprings before enjoying a delectable lunch of Hoba-zushi, a local Hida cuisine, at Sakurano Park. The blossoms of the approximately 300 cherry trees are especially magnificent in spring. Next is Ankoku-ji Temple (northern Gifu’s only national treasure, a storehouse preserving ancient Buddhist scriptures), having tea at a traditional Japanese house, then taking in the vistas along the Araki River while cycling. The rare opportunity of spending time to chat with and connect with the locals, whether in the cozy atmosphere of a traditional Japanese home or during your cycling adventure, will surely be a memorable part of your journey. A part of the fee from this course will be donated to the communities overseeing the conservation of the local culture heritage.