Temples, Treasures and Teahouses

Japan is an enigmatic land, and the perfect way to unravel its mysteries is by exploring it on foot. We delve deeply into places like old Kyoto, the romantic city of lantern-lit lanes and two thousand temples, and visit seaside Kanazawa, with its Samurai district, classical gardens, and Edo-period teahouses. We also enjoy the charming mountain town of Takayama during Sanno Matsuri, a fabulous spectacle dating to the 17th century with ornate wheeled carts paraded through the streets and festive townsmen in Edo-period dress. Throughout our journey, we discover the kindness of the people and the innate sense of beauty that defines every aspect of Japanese life. Our accommodations include serene ryokans and one special overnight in a traditional Buddhist monastery perched on a mountaintop.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

Days 1-3
Kanazawa, Japan

We explore the cultural treasures of coastal Kanazawa, including the Higashichaya Geisha district, a dramatic streetscape of teahouse facades from the Edo and Meiji eras.

Days 4-5
Takayama / Spring Festival

A train whisks us to the mountain town of Takayama, whose elegant old culture thrives in the splendidly preserved merchant houses, traditional inns, teahouses, and sake breweries. Here we witness the joyous Sanno Matsuri festival. Enormous carts, richly carved, 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 6-10
Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is an ancient city of imperial villas and temples surrounded by elaborate gardens. On daily walks, 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, shops offering superbly crafted folk arts, and enjoy soothing ofuru baths. In western Kyoto, we walk amid Sagano and Arashiyama’s contemplative temples, thatch-roofed houses, and even rice paddies—a remnant of Kyoto’s rural past.

Day 11
Koyasan Monastery

Koyasan, located in a high valley amid eight peaks, is the world headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, founded in 819 by the monk Kobo Daishi. We ride to the mountaintop by cable car for a wonderful overnight stay in a shukubo, or temple lodge.

Days 12-14
Nara

Japan’s first permanent capital, Nara is home to many of the country’s most revered treasures. We visit the exquisite 8th century Todaiji Temple, with its huge Buddha statue, and explore massive, 1,300-year-old Horyuji Temple, a World Heritage Site and a vision of old Japan. Depart on Day 14.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

The trip is Level 2, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. 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.

Japan is a blend of the traditional and modern, and our trip encompasses this unique mixture. We will stay at ryokans as well as Japanese-style hotels. Before entering our ryokan, we trade shoes for slippers. Polished wood or stone floors are common in hallways, dining rooms, and sitting areas. We remove our slippers as we step onto the finely woven tatami mats covering our sleeping room floors. We sleep on futons with quilts and blankets to cover us, and awaken to the fresh smell of the tatami. We sleep and eat at floor level. In contrast to the traditional style of our accommodations, we travel on one of the most efficient public transportation systems in the world; the trains are very clean and run on time.
                
The Japanese people dress well, and we’ll find we are struck by the ongoing Westernization of this society and curious about the lifestyles of the modern Japanese. Our delight in the traditional aspects of Japanese life is gratified by the sights of kimono-clad women boarding the subway, the smell of incense wafting from a neighborhood temple, and the sense of aesthetics and design prevalent in daily life.

We make the most of our time in Japan. After rising and eating breakfast, we leave our ryokan for a walking tour. Daily mini-lectures by our Trip Leader help provide insights into the past and future, the history, politics, geography and the food of Japan. On some days, we visit temples and shrines, and other days, we follow the pathways of the shoguns or visit sites of breathtaking natural beauty. We ride the subways and buses, but we do most of our sightseeing on foot. Japan is a land of staircases and hills and you will enjoy the trip more if you are dressed comfortably and are in good physical condition.

We will have a mix of free time and group time, providing the opportunity for independent exploration. Our breakfasts and some dinners are eaten together and we have the time to share our experiences and new discoveries over these meals.

Explanation of Trip Levels