Overview
Explore fascinating and less-traveled sites both inside and outside Kyoto, visit the pre-Buddhist Shinto shrines of the Shima Peninsula, and walk the mystical trails of Kumano Kodo on the Kii Peninsula. We’ll bring you to out-of-the-way places for special “insider” experiences other travelers won’t ever get. Delights include dining with a geisha in a private home in Kyoto, visiting architect I. M. Pei’s masterpiece Miho Museum, exploring the Grand Shrines of Ise—the ancestral shrine of the emperors of Japan—and meeting traditional ama (female pearl divers) in beautiful Toba Bay. We’ll stay in modern hotels as well as ryokans where we can relax with a traditional onsen bath.
Outstanding trip! Diverse itinerary, great introduction to Japanese artisans, very, very good look at the shrines, hiking trails, and seafaring traditions of this fascinating part of Japan.
— Greg P., San Antonio, TX
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-4
Osaka / Kyoto / Shigaraki Potters / Miho Museum / Fushimi Inari Shrine
Just outside Kyoto in rural Shigaraki, we are welcomed by potters to learn about their town’s ancient craft, and we’ll visit the splendid Miho Museum, designed by I. M. Pei. We meet Kyoto’s artisans, dine with a geisha, and walk beneath vermilion torii gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Day 5-7
Uji / Nara Park / Todaiji / Horyuji
After we soak up the atmosphere of Uji, featured in the Tale of Genji, we taste Uji’s green-tea-infused cuisine, visit the serene Byodoin Temple, and sample the wares at a sake brewery. At Nara, we enjoy the majesty of the Todaiji Temple, one of the world’s largest wooden structures, and the Horuji temples, Japan’s oldest Buddhist monuments.
Days 8-9
Ise Shima / Pearl Divers / Ago Bay
A ferry brings us to beautiful Ago Bay to visit Mikimoto Pearl Island and learn about farming pearls. Back on the mainland, we meet traditional female pearl divers, then visit the atmospheric Shinto shrines at Ise Shima, dedicated to the emperors of Japan.
Days 10-13
Kumano Kodo Pilgrim Trails
Amid forests and waterfalls, we explore the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails, the holy ground of Japan. Depart on Day 13 via Osaka.
Shinto Shrines, Pearl Divers, and Pilgrim Trails
Highlights
Highlights
Details
Walking, including some steep stairs, 6-7 hours a day, Japanese-style dining (sitting on floor)
