Temples, Treasures and Teahouses

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

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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.

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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