A 5 day program exploring the mountain and coastal regions between Tokyo and Kyoto.
A 5 day program exploring the mountain and coastal regions between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Tokyo and Kyoto are must visit destinations on any Japan itinerary, connected by a 2.5 hour ride on the Shinkansen bullet train. This 5 day itinerary takes the path much less travelled between the two, heading out to the sea coast, deep into the mountains, exploring the mysteries between.
Japan's bullet train, also known as the Shinkansen, is a true marvel of modern engineering. Today you will take a ride on this ultra high-speed train and experience the comfort, speed, and efficiency of one of the world's greatest transportation systems. You will be seated in the first-class ‘Gran Class’ carriage, which features luxurious leather recliner seats. For a true Japanese experience, we have arranged a gourmet bento box for you to enjoy on your journey.
Your destination is the charming castle town of Kanazawa, a hidden gem in Japan, offering a peaceful escape from the bustling metropolises of Japan. It was once a prosperous castle town and samurai stronghold, and its rich cultural heritage is still evident today. The city also has a thriving contemporary arts scene, with numerous museums and galleries showcasing both local and international artists. Its location on the Sea of Japan has made it famous for some of the best seafood in Japan.
From the ultra-modernity of the Shinkansen, we will take a step back in time to the Higashi Chaya. The only functioning geisha district outside of Kyoto, it is home to preserved wooden buildings, meandering canals, and local artisans.
Keeping an eye out for a geisha or maiko (apprentice geisha) as they rush to their first appointment of the afternoon, we make our way to a tea house for a traditional tea ceremony experience. With its intricate rituals, handmade tea bowls and intricate sweets, tea ceremony is a celebration of nature and human connection and a true glimpse into the soul of Japan.
Dinner tonight is at Zeniya. This small restaurant is unique in that it does not have a menu. The chef will create a customised meal for each guest based on the best ingredients of the day, the weather and temperature, and the guest's food preferences. Sitting at the counter and watching the chef create your personal menu is almost as good as eating it...almost! Back to your hotel, a refuge of modernity in this wonderfully old-fashioned town.
We begin our day with a visit to Kanazawa’s most famous attraction, Kenroku-en garden, known for its stunning landscapes, tranquil ponds, and rich history. Here you will meet the head gardener, who will give you an introduction into the garden and its story. You will also gain fascinating insights into gardening techniques – if you were wondering why the stones in the garden’s streams are so shiny, it is because the gardeners clean off the moss and dirt with straw brooms!
As our rumbling stomachs start to ruin the serenity of the garden, we move on to the nearby Omicho Market. This colorful food market has been around since the Edo Period (1603 – 1868) and is home to over 200 stalls and restaurants. Here you will discover the seasonal specialties from the abundant Sea of Japan – whether it is Snow Crab in the winter, or Kan-buri (fatty yellowtail) in the spring. There are tastings a-plenty to whet your appetite, and we will have lunch shoulder to shoulder with the locals at a restaurant of your choosing.
This afternoon will be all about art – you can choose whether it is to be modern or traditional. On the modern side, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits works of acclaimed contemporary artists from Japan and all over the world.
The museum itself is unique – circular, with no facade or main entrance, no front or back. This discourages its patrons from approaching the museum - and consequently its art - from only one direction.
If you choose tradition, we can introduce you to local artisans specializing in some of Kanazawa’s famed crafts. This includes gold leaf work, of which Kanazawa is responsible for 99% of Japan’s production, lacquerware and kaga-yuzen silk dyeing.
We will end the day at Fukumitsuya Higashi, a sake bar run by Fukumitsuya sake brewery. This brewery was founded in 1625, making it the oldest in Kanazawa. Here you will sample a range of sake, learn about how it is made, and the distinct types. Sake is very much misunderstood in the West and is in fact not a rice ‘wine’ at all; the fact that it is brewed makes it closer to beer! Dinner tonight is on your own, of course your travel expert will give you some insider tips.
A short drive along coastal roads brings us to the hot spring town of Yamashiro Onsen. The town's spring waters, which relieve muscle and joint pain as well as skin and digestion problems, were discovered by the monk Gyoki during his pilgrimage to nearby Mount Hakusan over 1300 years ago.
Following lunch at a local restaurant, we will join our mountain master, Noboru Nimaida, on a gentle hike through the local area. You will explore the village of Ozuchi, a hidden gem nestled in the mountains, with traditional Japanese houses made from clay. We can follow the manmade path or more adventurous off-track path to discover this enchanting area.
Tonight, you will stay at the luxurious Beniya Mukayu ryokan. This Relais & Chateaux property consists of only 16 rooms, and you can choose from a Japanese style room, complete with tatami flooring and comfy futon beds, a modern style room featuring western style beds, or a combination of both.
All rooms have their own private open-air hot spring bath with views of the surrounding forest and gardens, the perfect place to ease your tired muscles.
A sumptuous Japanese dinner is included with your stay in the onsite Kaiseki Horin restaurant. Relax with an aperitif on the terrace overlooking the natural garden, before enjoying your multi course dining experience utilizing seasonal ingredients from the local area.
You can choose to start your day with a free yoga lesson in the forest with the ryokan’s owner Sachiko, or simply choose to relax in the library which features volumes cataloging the property’s varieties of vegetation and mosses.
After a sumptuous breakfast, you can then choose a cultural experience this morning. You may choose to do a Zazen Meditation session in a family temple founded in 1600. The temple is affiliated to the Soto school of Zen, so you will learn to meditate as taught by Dogen, the founder of the Soto school, 800 years ago. After the session, you will enjoy a special bento lunch box prepared by Beniya Mukayu’s chef in a historical place within the temple premises.
Instead, you may prefer to create unique Kutaniyaki porcelain at one of the local kilns that has excelled in this art, Kinzangama Kiln, founded and run by the Yoshita family in 1906. This porcelain is famed for its elegant designs, characterized by exceptionally vivid colors. Meet the artists and artisans that design and create stunning tableware, look at their techniques and learn how to apply gold leaf to colorful Kutaniyaki porcelain objects using professional tools. Let traditional techniques and patterns fuel your creativity while making your own piece and feel the tradition coming to life in your hands.
After lunch, we drive deep into the mountains of Toyama prefecture, home to the spectacular Northern Japanese Alps, where a world class dining and accommodation experience awaits.
Located in a canyon at an altitude of 1,000 meters, L’evo was created in the image of the mountain village that once existed here. Consisting of 6 buildings – a restaurant, sauna, and accommodation cottages, L’evo is surrounded by verdant forest in summer and covered under a thick blanket of snow in winter. The only sound to be heard is the constant rushing of the fast-running Toga River along the valley floor. You have the afternoon free to relax in your luxurious cottage, take a sauna, or meander along the mountain paths. Tonight, you will dine at the restaurant which currently holds 2 Michelin stars. Chef Eiiji Taniguchi regularly forages for ingredients in the forests surrounding the restaurant and has built a network of collaborators who share the best from their farms, breweries, and vineyards. The restaurant also features cutlery, crockery and serving dishes created by local artists.
After your included breakfast at L’evo, we continue our journey through the mountains. Located deep in the heart of Gifu prefecture, the charming village of Shirakawa go is a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Gasshou translates to ‘praying hands,’ named because of their sharp steep roofs clasped together resembling two hands in prayer.
It offers stunning scenic views, especially in winter when the houses are blanketed in snow. Some of the houses have been turned into small museums, focusing on the life and work of their previous inhabitants. Immerse yourself in Japanese life as it was centuries ago, learn about the history and culture, and participate in a soba noodle making lesson which you will then enjoy for lunch. Our afternoon drive takes us back to Kanazawa. From here, you can head by train to Kyoto (2hrs).
PROGRAM CONCLUDES
Travel Designer Insights
Sometimes in the rush to get from one place to the next we miss out on what lies between.
With this itinerary, we take the time to explore some of the hidden gems that others only see from the windows of the Shinkansen bullet train as they fly past at 200 miles an hour. With some truly luxurious and unforgettable accommodation and a 2 star Michelin dining experience at the bottom of a canyon, you will never want to take a shortcut again.
Between the mountains and the sea is where the heart of Japan lies.
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