Temples, Treasures and Teahouses
Kyoto to Takayama: Exploring the Hidden Worlds of Japan
Repertory Trip: Next Offered April 4-17, 2012
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $6895 see pricing |
|---|---|
| Length: | 14 days |
| Arrive: | Kyoto, Japan |
| Depart: | Tokyo, Japan |
| Lodging: | 12 nights ryokans/hotels, 1 night temple lodging describe |
| Meals: | All meals included except lunches and 2 dinners |
| Activity: | Walking, Cultural Adventures |
| Trip Level: |
Walking, including some steep stairs, 6-7 hours a day, Japanese-style dining (sitting on floor)
|
Highlights
- Spring festival in the ancient mountain village of Takayama, with its beautifully preserved architecture
- Insider’s journey including overnights in classic ryokans and in a Zen monastery
- Traditional teahouses, feudal castles, Zen temples, Shinto shrines, ritual ofuro baths, journeys by Bullet train
Exactly what I hoped for. Placed myself into the Japanese culture as much as possible.Archibald B.—Tucson, AZ
Choosing the Right Trip
We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References
We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.
Email Area ManagerDeparture Notes
Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.
Resources
Repertory Trip
This is one of our special Repertory Trips offered every two to five years. It will be several years before this journey is offered again. Now is the time to go!
Japan is an ancient and enigmatic land. The perfect way to unravel its mysteries is by exploring on a walking journey with a Trip Leader who has an extraordinary gift for introducing people to its culture. We delve deeply into places like old Kyoto, the romantic city of lantern-lit lanes and two thousand temples, and a variety of other settings that reveal Japan’s inner secrets. We also visit the charming town of Takayama during Sanno Matsuri, a fabulous festival dating to the 17th century with townsmen in Edo-period dress and ornate wheeled carts paraded through the streets. Throughout our journey, we discover the kindness of the people and the innate sense of beauty and attention to detail that define every aspect of Japanese life.
Itinerary at a Glance
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
Days 1-6
Kyoto, Japan
Explore Kyoto, an ancient city of gorgeous imperial villas and temples surrounded by elaborate gardens. On daily explorations, we visit extraordinary settings including serene Ryoanji, with its famous Zen Garden, and Nijo Castle, home of the Tokugawa shoguns, where groves of cherry trees erupt in clouds of pink blossoms. We discover welcoming teahouses, incredible food markets, and shops offering superbly crafted folk arts.
Days 7-8
Nara
Japan’s first permanent capital, Nara is home to many of the country’s most revered treasures. In Nara Park, we visit the exquisite 8th century Todaiji Temple, with its huge Buddha statue, see the semi-wild deer that graze the park (they were once considered sacred), and view the many temples, pagodas, and gardens. We also explore massive, 1,300-year-old Horyuji Temple, a World Heritage Site and a vision of old Japan.
Day 9
Koyasan
Atop one of Japan’s holiest mountains, Koyasan is the seat of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. We ride to the mountaintop by cable car for an overnight in a shukubo, or temple lodging.
Days 10-11
Takayama / Spring Festival
A train takes us to the mountain town of Takayama, whose elegant old culture remains much in evidence in the splendidly preserved merchant houses, traditional inns, teahouses, and sake breweries. Here 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 locals.
Days 12-14
Kanazawa
In historic Kanazawa, seat of the feudal Maeda Clan, we visit the famous Kenrokuen gardens, Nagamachi samurai houses, and Kanazawa Castle. Depart on Day 14.
For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure
What the Trip is Like
The trip is rated Level 2, Easy to Moderate. This adventure trip features lovely walks in cities and villages. Although not physically demanding, the trip will yield greater rewards if you are in good physical condition and able to stay on your feet for 6-7 hours per day. In Kyoto, there is much to see, and a fair amount of walking is necessary to take it all in—and you will find that there are many steps to climb! Please remember, we will be sleeping on futons and eating at floor level, so it is important that you are able to sit down on and get up off the floor without much difficulty.
Departures & Leaders
This is one of our special Repertory Trips offered only every two to five years. This journey will not be offered again for several years. Now is the Time to Go!
Apr 4-17, 2012 Masato Fujiwara
Tour Costs
Prices are for 2012
$6895 (9-12 members)
$7295 (6-8 members)
Single supplement: $340
Forced single supplement: $170
more on pricing
Tour Cost Includes:
- Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
- Accommodations in comfortable ryokans and hotels
- All meals included except lunches and 2 dinners
- Ground transportation using Japan Rail System
- Site and entrance fees as part of the itinerary
- Land transportation as noted
Tour Cost Does Not Include:
International airfare, airport transfers, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, fees for optional activities, airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors; pre-trip expenses of medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, or passports and visas; and other expenses of a personal nature (alcohol, laundry, etc.).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 with quilts and blankets. Ryokans have double rooms (singles are sometimes possible). 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). Normally, a fresh cotton yukata (robe) is provided for each guest. 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 the floor at low tables on our tatami mats.
Hotel Kanra
Days 1 to 3 (3 nights), Kyoto, Japan
With its understated Japanese elegance, the relatively new Hotel Kanra is a serene oasis in the midst of bustling Kyoto. Its 29 stylish guest rooms ...
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Hiiragiya Bekkan Ryokan
Days 4 to 6 (3 nights), Kyoto, Japan
A stay in one of Japan’s ryokans is an immersion in the traditional Japanese way of life. The Hiiragiya Bekkan, a tranquil retreat in the ...
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Nara Hotel
Days 7 to 8 (2 nights), Nara, Japan
The location of the century-old Nara Hotel can’t be beat—it’s set in the beautiful hills of Nara Park, surrounded by World ...
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Rengejo-in Monastery
Day 9 (1 night), Koyasan, Japan
With its lovely gardens, this traditional Buddhist temple perched on a mountaintop offers Japanese-style guest rooms in a serene setting—a ...
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Sumiyoshi Ryokan
Days 10 to 11 (2 nights), Takayama, Japan
This 8-room riverside ryokan with its Hida-style craftsmanship is cozy, friendly, fun, and offers great food. Its location is perfect for ...
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Kanazawa Excel Hotel Tokyu
Days 12 to 13 (2 nights), Kanazawa, Japan
The modern Kanazawa Excel Hotel Tokyu has a great location in central Kanazawa, just a five-minute walk from the beautiful Kenroku-en gardens and ...
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Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
Masato Fujiwara
Masato Fujiwara, originally from Osaka, has long been an aficionado of the Japanese arts of tea ceremony, flower arrangements, gardening, and cooking, and brings his passion for the arts to his love of guiding. “Tour guiding gives me the opportunity to share my love and expertise in the aesthetic side of Japan with numerous people from around the world.” Masa studied at Doshisha University in Kyoto, then spent the next 10 years in the US, where he studied solar home design. He returned to Japan in 1988, settled in Kyoto, and established the architectural design firm Master Design, which combines Japanese construction techniques with Western innovations. In 2011 he completed a teahouse in Kyoto of his own design and construction.
Upcoming Trips:
Temples, Treasures and Teahouses, April 4-17, 2012
Client Testimonials:
Masa is a man of many talents and interests, who added to our knowledge and enjoyment.Joanne C., Pittsboro, NC
Japan: Shikoku Island
Masa has an encyclopedic knowledge of the area, of Japanese culture, history, cuisine, and art.Paul W., San Diego, CA
Japan: Shikoku Island





