Experiences

Take your very own awe-inspiring photo of Gifu Castle atop Mount Kinka with a supersized full moon as a magnificent backdrop, using only a smartphone at a photography course supervised by Gifu's expert photographer, Atsushi Kobayashi! Enjoy lunch and then, a soak in a private rotenburo (open-air bath) while you take in the grand scenery of nearby Gifu Castle and Mount Kinka from a different viewpoint at Hotel Park, a ryokan with an illustrious history of 130 years. Look forward to a special menu highlighting local specialties and Gifu’s history such as the prized salt-grilled sweetfish and sarasa salmon, with dishes inspired by the cuisine that the local fishermen dined on and more! (Optional) There are also riceballs and the Shokado refreshments available for those who prefer a lighter meal. 
 

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 detailed explanations and demonstrations of swordmaking by master bladesmiths, Zen history and philosophy embodied by the samurai spirit, and swift but deadly motions of iaigiri. The best part is experiencing it all firsthand - hammer the steel fashioned into a blade, calm your mind and heart with Zazen meditation, and learn about the correct way to wield a katana as the final blow is struck. Unleash the fighter in you.​

Take in the marvelous sights along the pristine Nagara River, one of the three clearest rivers in Japan, as you e-bike the approximately 70km course from Gujo Hachiman to Gifu City. Stop by popular destinations like the Udatsu Wall Historical District of Mino City, the Seki Hamono Museum, Gifu’s Great Buddha (one of Japan’s Three Great Buddha Statues), and Kogane Shrine. This course is recommended for those staying overnight in Gujo City and are planning to travel southwards the day after. Luggage will be delivered separately to your destination. 

Walk parts of the historical Nakasendo at Nakatsugawa-juku and go back in time to the Edo period. Then, stop by for a well-deserved break at Ichikawa-guricha in Komanba Town to enjoy some local refreshments like the delicious Kurukinton, a well-known Gifu traditional sweet made from chestnuts. Spend a moment traversing time and taste with a delightful range of Japanese tea and kurikinton here, just like the travelers of old.

Enwrap yourself in the fine art, history, and process of traditional Japanese papermaking. Put your newfound knowledge to practice as a master craftsman guides you with the steps of creation from kozo (paper mulberry) to fine Minowashi. As the washi dries, savor an appetizing home-cooked countrystyle Japanese meal 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. Transport to the picturesque Monet's Pond is available as an option. 

Make your very own knife with your own hands from start to finish, from blade and handle sharpening, assembling, to engraving your name onto your handmade masterpiece. 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. To finish, tuck into a delicious meal at a local restaurant where dishes like sushi, tempura, eel, and miso katsu can be prepared to your preferences.

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 a history of about 350 years. Repairs and preservation of the floats are done over a three year period by the master craftsmen and carpenters of the Hida region, called the "Hida no Takumi“, highly respected for their skills and expertise, and are still asked to help with repairing items for festivals, stalls, temples, and shrines all over Japan to this very day.​

As part of this tour, participants get to see the gorgeous and elaborate festival floats up close, and have special access to a craftman's workshop not usually open to the public. A specialized guide will lead you to one of the following workshops of your choice and according the craftmen's schedule: shrine and temple construction, Shunkei lacquerware, blacksmithing, Ichii itto carvings. Depending on your choice of workshop, you can take part in the production process and purchase items. 

A picture is worth a thousand words. Preserve your precious wedding moments into a series of everlasting photos taken in the Japanese traditional town of timeless charms, Takayama. 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. Photoshoot locations feature well-known sites in Hida Takayama including the Takayama Historical District, Nakabashi Bridge, 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. Begin eternal memories of your wedded bliss right here, right now.