Overview
Our Trip Leader extraordinaire Kate Ulberg has dreamed of this journey for years: an in-depth exploration of the fascinating, less-traveled sites around Kyoto paired with the treasured Shinto shrines of the Shima Peninsula and the mystical, wooded trails of Kumano Kodo, walked for centuries by emperors and pilgrims alike, and in the words of celebrated travel writer Pico Iyer, "one of the most spiritually charged landscapes I'd ever encountered." Kate has been exploring Japan with WT for over two decades and has a knack for exploring out-of-the-way places and introducing you to “insider” experiences that make your journey unique. We’ll enjoy many delights all along the way—dining with a geisha in Kyoto, visiting a fourth-generation, gold-leaf artisan, exploring architect I. M. Pei’s masterpiece Miho Museum, meeting traditional ama (female pearl divers) in beautiful Toba Bay, and enjoying fresh seafood on the Shima Peninsula. We’ll stay in a combination of modern hotels and ryokans where we can relax with a traditional onsen bath. This is an experience of Japan you can only get with Kate Ulberg and WT!
Days 1-4
Kyoto / Shigaraki Potters / Miho Museum / Dinner with a Geisha / Fushimi Inari Shrine
Head outside of Kyoto to discover the rural town of Shigaraki, with its ancient ceramic tradition, and visit the spectacular Miho Museum, I. M. Pei’s architectural wonder. Meet traditional Kyoto artisans in their workshops, enjoy dinner with a geisha in a private home. Explore the serene Tofukuji Temple and walk the magical path of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its thousands of vermillion torii gates.
Kyoto / Shigaraki Potters / Miho Museum / Dinner with a Geisha / Fushimi Inari Shrine - Days 1-4
Noku Kyoto
Days 1 to 4 (4 nights), Kyoto, JapanNoku puts us in the heart of Kyoto, right next to the Imperial Palace. While we soak up 1,000-year-old Japanese history, we also appreciate the artistry of modern Kyoto. The hotel's guest rooms are sleek and modern, embellished with art pieces reflecting the cultural essence of Kyoto, and each one has a private bathroom. Craft galleries, machiya (townhouses) and scrumptious restaurants are located just out the door. Noku Café serves fresh-roasted coffee, homemade pastries, and traditional Japanese as well as Western breakfast options, a great place to start your day in Kyoto.
Day 5
Uji / Tea and Sake Tasting
Soak up the atmosphere of Uji, an ancient city prominently featured in the Tale of Genji, the classic 11th century novel. Taste Uji's famous green-tea-infused cuisine, visit the serene Byodoin Temple, sample the wares at a sake brewery.
Uji / Tea and Sake Tasting - Day 5
Hanayashiki Ukifune-en
Day 5 (1 night), Uji, JapanLocated in a tranquil setting dotted with maples and cherry blossoms, Hanayashiki Ukifune-en looks out over the peaceful Uji River. The ryokan has 28 guest rooms featuring Japanese-style bedding, tatami floor mats, and floor-to-ceiling windows. No ryokan would be complete without common baths and this one has two, both infused with mineral-rich black silica for extra health benefits. One of the baths is on the rooftop of the third floor where views of the Uji River and Kyoto stretch across the skyline. There are two restaurants — a Japanese steakhouse which serves dinner, and a kaiseki-style Japanese restaurant which serves both lunch and dinner.
Days 6-7
Nara Park / Todaiji / Horyuji’s Wooden Temples
In Nara, Japan's first permanent capital, enjoy the majesty of the Todaiji Temple, one of the world’s largest wooden structures, and walk amid the ancient wooden temples of Horuji, dating to the 7th century.
Nara Park / Todaiji / Horyuji’s Wooden Temples - Days 6-7
Hotel Nikko Nara
Days 6 to 7 (2 nights), Nara, JapanThe Hotel Nikko Nara is connected to the JR Nara train station and is not far from the Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park, making it the perfect location to head out and explore Japan’s original capital city. A respite from the bustling city, the guest rooms with western beds and private batherooms are simple, clean, and offer a quiet place to relax. Four restaurants in the Nikko Nara have different menu options ranging from steak, seafood, Chinese, Japanese, and a buffet with a both European and Japanese items. Additionally, the hotel has a large public bath, beauty salon, fitness room, and karaoke.
Days 8-9
Ise Shima / Pearl Divers / Ago Bay
Ferry into beautiful Ago Bay to visit remote Toshi-Jima Island and meet the fishermen and traditional female pearl divers of this island, where pearls have been cultured for 100 years. Visit the atmospheric Shinto shrines at Ise Shima, dedicated to the emperors of Japan.
Ise Shima / Pearl Divers / Ago Bay - Days 8-9
Toba International Hotel
Days 8 to 9 (2 nights), Toba, JapanGorgeous views of Toba Bay stretch far and wide from this sleek hotel. Rooms feature modern décor and offer a combination of Western beds and Japanese tatami floor mats. Each room has a private bathroom and either an ocean or mountain view. The hotel has two restaurants, a waterfront café, and a library and bar with a wide range of sake and elegant seating. The Seahorse Restaurant provides a breakfast buffet with both Japanese and Western dishes. Guests are free to use Ryokan Shiojitei’s indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, and the hotel has its own spa with massages incorporating the essence of pearls.
Days 10-13
Kumano Kodo Pilgrim Trails
Explore the misty trails of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, the holy ground of Japan, walked for centuries by emperors and pilgrims alike. Depart via Osaka on Day 13.
Kumano Kodo Pilgrim Trails - Days 10-13
Hotel Urashima
Day 10 (1 night), Katsuura, JapanThis gleaming resort and spa lies along the edge of the Pacific Ocean buffered by green mountains and cavernous hot springs. Hotel Urashima has five uniquely styled bath houses teeming with fresh waters from the surrounding 200 hot springs in Nachikatsuura. Four restaurants offer up to 80 buffet items as well as chef-prepared meals. Each night chefs show off their carving skills by demonstrating how to fillet locally caught tuna. Rooms range from Western to Japanese style, some with ocean and mountain views. Within the hotel’s four buildings, there are three karaoke bars, a massage parlor, shopping mall, game room, and a tea shop featuring a huge selection of rare comic books. The hotel is also home to the Spacewalker—an escalator with the longest altitude difference in Japan.
Fujiya Ryokan
Days 11 to 12 (2 nights), Kawayu Onsen, JapanSet at one end of the hot-spring village of Kawayu Onsen, the family-run Fujiya Ryokan is one of the most traditional of the local ryokans. Large, comfortable guest rooms look out on the Oto River, where hot-springs bubble to the surface, and are decorated in traditional Japanese style. You can have your choice of onsen for a soak—indoor, outdoor, or in ponds dug in the riverbanks (you can go for a swim afterwards to cool off!). Meals here are wonderful—seasonal and locally sourced—and the kaiseki (traditional multi-course dinner) is excellent.
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)
