Temples, Treasures and Teahouses

Days 1-6
Kyoto, Japan

We meet at a traditional ryokan in Kyoto, an ancient city of gorgeous imperial villas and temples surrounded by elaborate gardens. On fantastic walks each day, we visit extraordinary settings including serene Ryoanji, with its famous Zen Garden, and Kinkakuji, a lavish villa built for Yoshimitsu, the powerful 3rd Ashikaga Shogun. Along the way, we find lush bamboo forests, welcoming teahouses, contemplative temples, incredible food markets, 300-year-old broom shops, and traditional silk and indigo dyeing operations.

Day 7
Koyasan

Atop one of Japan’s holiest mountains, Koyasan Monastery is the seat of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, founded in 816 by Kobo Daishi. We ride to the mountaintop by cable car for an overnight in a shukubo, or temple lodging.

Days 8-9
Himeji Castle / Engyo-ji Temple

We get a sense of Japan’s feudal past as we explore Himeji, a lovely city and the home of one of the most impressive castles in Japan. Built during the days of the samurai, superb Himeji Castle sits like an oasis of history amid a modern city. We also visit Engyo-ji, the mountaintop temple complex chosen as a setting for the film The Last Samurai.

Days 10-11
Takayama / Spring Festival

A train takes us to the mountain town of Takayama, one of Japan’s treasures, with its beautifully preserved wooden buildings. In medieval times, the Hida artisans of this area, famed for their fine woodworking skills, were sent to Nara and Kyoto to work on the great temples and palaces. Today, the elegant old culture remains much in evidence in the splendidly preserved merchant houses, traditional inns, teahouses, and sake breweries. In Takayama we witness the traditional and joyous Sanno Matsuri festival. Enormous carts, richly decorated with carving and drapery, are displayed at the shrines then escorted through town complete with astounding karakuri, mechanical puppets that bow, mime, and perform complicated stunts to delight the crowds. We take full advantage of this opportunity to celebrate alongside the Japanese.

Days 12-14
Tokyo

In Tokyo, we enjoy the sights and sounds, including a Kabuki performance and a visit to the Mori Art Museum. Early risers can join Kate for her 5:30 a.m. tour of Tsukiji, Tokyo’s renowned fish market, where an amazing variety of marine life is brought in every morning. Depart on Day 14.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure

More Cultural Odysseys in Japan with Kate Ulberg

• Japan: Shikoku Expedition
  Discover off-the-beaten-path Shikoku, with its lushly rural atmosphere and history rich with elements of traditional Japan found nowhere else in the country. October 24-November 5, 2010.
• In the Footsteps of Basho
  Follow the journey of Japan’s most celebrated haiku poet. Includes pine-clad Matsushima Bay, 11th century Hiraizumi, mountain temples at Yamadera. October 10-22, 2010.

Please call us or Download Full Trip Brochure for more information

Ryokans

Japan’s traditional inns are known as ryokans. The quiet world of the ryokan is a venerable cultural institution—a way to experience a simple, traditional way of life. After being warmly welcomed, we trade our street shoes for slippers. Once inside, we remove our slippers as we step onto the finely woven tatami mats covering our sleeping room floors. Rooms are furnished with low tables and comfortable futon mattresses (we sleep on futons with quilts and blankets). The accommodations in our ryokans are double rooms (singles are sometimes possible but prohibitively expensive). Some of our rooms will have attached toilets; at other times, we share the “down the hall” facilities. Although a few ryokans have baths in the rooms, most have an ofuro (a Japanese style bath). Bathing is communal, with the sexes segregated; thus, the trip is not for the very modest! Washing first outside the tub and then soaking in clean hot water is a wonderfully relaxing custom. Normally, a fresh cotton yukata (robe) is provided for each guest (make sure to wear the left side over the right). These light kimonos can be worn anywhere in and around the ryokan and we often wear them to meals. For many of our breakfasts and dinners, beautifully presented meals are served as we sit on tatami mats at floor level tables.

Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.