Experiences

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 the Kashimo Meiji-za 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!

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 master bladesmith Fujiwara Kanemasa puts tried and trusted techniques to astounding work, hammer the steel fashioned into a blade at the workshop of the Cutler SANSYU / Seki Hamono Museum, before calming your heart and mind with Zazen meditation amidst the tranquil surroundings of the Ryutai-ji Temple, and finally, witness the swift but deadly motions of iai-jutsu with a genuine katana on the temple grounds. Unleash the fighter in you.

Walk the Nakatsugawa-juku post town along the historical Nakasendo with a guide, and go back in time to the Edo period, when travelers, merchants, and pilgrims made the journey between Edo (current-day Tokyo) and Kyoto. Along this route, a beloved treat was created in the homes of the countryside - the humble "Kurikinton". Commercialized during the Meiji period, it grew in popularity and became the signature sweet of Nakatsugawa.

Stop by Ichikawa-seicha for a well-deserved break to enjoy some local refreshments like the delicious "Kurukinton" with a delightful range of Japanese tea. To conclude, our "Wagashi Navigator" Mr. Ichikawa will guide you through the local wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) shops. Spend an unforgettable moment traversing time and taste, just like the travelers of old. 

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).

A picture is worth a thousand words. Preserve your precious wedding moments into a series of everlasting photos taken in the dreamy Japanese Fairytale Village Shirakawa-go. Choose from Japanese, Western, or other traditional wedding attires. Photo plans can be customized according to your preferences from a one Japanese attire course, to a double Japanese and Western course. The cost displayed is for one set. Additional charges apply from the second set of outfits, so please confirm the number of outits at the time of booking.  There will be five different photoshooting locations in Shirakawa-go featured. A guide will help you uncover the hidden gems of the area, further deepening your experience of your visit. Begin eternal memories of your wedded bliss right here, right now.

Get an exclusive look behind the scenes of the Takayama Festival, one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals in Japan 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.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Preserve precious moments into a series of everlasting wedding photos taken in the Japanese traditional town of timeless charms, Takayama. While both Japanese and Western wedding attires are available, you are more than welcome to bring your own traditional attires for the photoshoot. We customize this wedding photo plan to your preferences, from outfit combination choices like two sets of kimono in different colors, Japanese and Western attires, traditional clothing, and requests for specific locations in Takayama. Photoshoot locations feature well-known and loved sites in Hida Takayama, including its historical streetscapes, shrines, temples, and various buildings of the past fashioned from the master craftsmanship of Takayama carpenters. A guide will help you uncover the hidden gems of the area, further deepening your experience of your visit and photoshoot. This travel plan is highly recommended not just for newlyweds, but also for any couple looking to commemorate a special anniversary. Begin eternal memories of your wedded bliss right here, right now.

Introducing the world of green woodworking with natural and limitless potential of creativity. Fashion household items like spoons, butterknives, bowls and more from unseasoned wood recently harvested, as you learn about the strong bond between mountains and the people in the Hida region, and how it has shaped their life and work from the days of old. Take in the crisp scent of freshly shaved wood, and find enduring joy in creating a keepsake of your own making right in the heart of nature.

Introducing the world of green woodworking with natural and limitless potential of creativity. Visit the forest nearby the workshop and safely remove wood, then fashion household items like spoons, butterknives, bowls and more from recently harvested wood, as you learn about the strong bond between mountains and the people in the Hida region, and how it has shaped their life and work from the days of old. Take in the crisp scent of freshly shaved unseasoned wood, and find enduring joy in creating a keepsake of your own making right in the heart of nature. This Premium Course starts a visit at the forest nearby the workshop to safely remove wood, and includes a packed lunch.