Cherry Blossoms Japan

DAY 8 | MON 25 MAR | KYOTO

This morning we visit Saihō-ji, *Koke-dera Moss Garden. Koke-dera, which means “Moss Temple” is one of the most aptly named temples in Kyoto. It’s a lush green paradise with over 120 types of moss present in the two-tiered  garden, resembling a beautiful green carpet with many subtle shades. Saiho-ji Temple was made into a Zen  temple in 1339 by the monk Muso Soseki, who is also said to have designed the upper tier of the garden. It is  acclaimed by many as Kyoto’s most beautiful garden and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage.

We then take a tour of rural Arashiyama. Arashiyama is filled with temples and shrines, but the star attraction is the sublime Arashiyama Bamboo Grove which we will take a walk through. We will visit the mesmerizing Tenryuji Temple, the most important temple in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district; a sprawling Zen temple with one of the finest gardens in Kyoto and wonderful mountain views.

We will have a very special lunch of a shojin-ryori (Zen vegetarian cuisine) on the temple grounds.

We then visit a beautiful property called Okochi Sanso Villa and Garden. Formerly the estate of the famed film actor Okochi Denjiro (1898-1962), this sublime villa has mind- boggling gardens & the teahouse is a wabi-sabi gem.  We return to the hotel for rest & refresh.

We can then meet in the bar for a quick cocktail before we depart for our fabulous evening with a Maiko. When hearing the word “Japan,” one’s mind immediately conjures up images of elegant and mysterious Geisha, with their white-painted faces and bright red lips, wrapped in an elegant kimono. Kyoto is considered the home of the Geiko (Geiko is the word that refers to geisha in the Kyoto dialect), & this evening, we have a unique opportunity to have dinner with a Maiko, an apprentice geiko – a younger woman who is training in the arts of the geiko.  Our dinner will be kaiseki ryori (traditional multi-course dinner) and during the dinner, there is ample opportunity to interact with the hostess and ask questions about her craft and the world of Maiko. The Maiko will perform traditional dances and even invite guests to play Japanese drinking games.

After this unforgettable experience, it is time to return to the hotel and wind down from the day’s events.

Overnight : Good Nature Hotel – breakfast,  lunch + dinner

DAY 9 | TUE 26 OCT | KYOTO

Today we take a full day walking tour.

We will wander Shinbashi-Dori, Kyoto’s most famous antiques street. We will wander amongst the beautifully preserved streets, awash with traditional wooden machiya houses, tea houses, sweet shops, kaiseki restaurants, and unique boutiques.

We’ll make a stop at Kagizen Wagashi Shop, one of Kyoto’s oldest and most esteemed tea and sweet shops. It has a serene tea room out back where we might enjoy traditional sweets with cups of thick matcha tea.

We will wander Hanami-koji, the best place to see geiko in Kyoto. This area is interspersed with exclusive and expensive dining establishments, and a number of ochaya (teahouses) where guests are entertained by maiko and geiko. We stop to see the Kennin-ji zen Temple.  We will have lunch at a fabulous Tempura restaurant.

We continue on our loop to Yasaka Shrine and end our day at Maruyama Park, to see the weeping cherry blossom tree.  We return to our hotel. Evening is free. Tonight we could take a stroll through the atmospheric, lantern-lit alleyway of Pontocho, composed of a single narrow street extending along the Kamogawa River. This unassuming area comes to life at night as the small restaurants, teahouses, and bars that comprise the district light up and open their doors, making it the perfect place to end your night soaking in the atmosphere.

Overnight : Good Nature Hotel – breakfast +  lunch

DAY 10 | WED 27 OCT | KYOTO

Today is a full day walking tour.

This morning we visit Ryōan-ji Zen temple, one of Kyoto’s most famous rock gardens. The name Ryōan-ji has become synonymous with Japanese rock gardens worldwide, and with its traditional architecture and gardens, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  A stones throw away is a traditional Kyoto style wooden house – Camelia Gardens, a traditional house which sits amongst stunning gardens and is over 100 years old, and the striking surroundings make it one of the most beautiful locations to experience tea ceremony in Kyoto. We are provided with insight into the Tea Master and will take part in a tea ceremony, a quintessential part of Japanese culture. This allows you to learn about every aspect of Japanese tea culture, from making the tea to the movements involved in serving it.

We have a noodle lunch near to Kinkakuji, then we head back to our hotel via the Nishiki-koji food market, known to the locals as Kyoto daidokoro or Kyoto’s kitchen. There is an eye-popping assortment of fresh seafood, meats, pickles, tofu, miso, Kyoto’s famous vegetable varieties (Kyo-yasai) and many other local delicacies – and of course, there will be plenty of foods to sample. We will also be able to explore the local vicinity, including incredible design and gallery stores, handmade paper shops, a famous Kyoto tea store, antique and textile specialists, and the wonderful depachika (underground food hall) of one of Kyoto’s best Department stores. We’ll visit many shops specialising in items for the cooking and dining enthusiast; think finely crafted chopsticks, placemats, dishes,  storage containers, knives and other distinctly Japanese kitchen utensils. This is a perfect opportunity to grab some bites for a light meal.

We return to the hotel, and our evening is free.  Tonight is a fabulous opportunity to splash out on one of Kyoto’s amazing restaurants.

Overnight : Good Nature Hotel – breakfast +  lunch

DAY 11 | THU 28 OCT | KYOTO

This morning we wander the Gion Higashi District. We stroll through the atmospheric Kiyomizu street which is filled with quaint shops selling souvenirs including Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, sweets, and pickles.

We visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple, literally “Pure Water Temple”, one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. The temple’s veranda juts out of the side of a mountain supported by 13-meter-high wooden columns. From the veranda, you get a great view facing west over the city of Kyoto. From here, your afternoon is free. Later this afternoon we meet in the lobby and transfer to Nanzenji, one of the most important Zen temples in all of Japan. And from here, we begin our walk on the Philosopher’s Path for Cherry Blossom viewing. The Philosopher’s Walk is a pedestrian path that follows a cherry-tree-lined canal in Kyoto, between Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji. The route is so-named because the influential 20th-century Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro is thought to have used it for daily meditation. We stop for an early dinner at a restaurant along the Path.

After dinner, we continue towards Ginkakuji Temple, the Silver Pavilion. The second most famous temple in Kyōto and little brother of Kinkaku-ji, it was planned to be covered completely in leaf silver, but the silver coating was never actually applied, and it is now a wooden temple. En-route, we make a small detour to see the striking entrance to Hōnen-in, an understated but atmospheric moss covered gate that invites you inside to be purified.

Overnight : Good Nature Hotel – breakfast, lunch + dinner

DAY 12 | FRI 29 MAR | KYOTO to OSAKA

This morning after breakfast we transfer to Osaka via Uji – famous for its green tea, known as “Uji-cha” – and Nara. Uji is most famous for the Byodo-in Temple, which was registered as a World Heritage site in 1994, and the world renowned Uji-cha brand of tea. When the capital of Japan was moved to modern-day Kyoto in 794, nearby Uji City developed as a resort get-away for aristocrats. On the grounds of Byodo-in Temple, one of the few examples of Heian temple architecture left in Japan. It was originally built in 998 AD. and boasts the most beautiful of Japan’s few remaining Pure Land Gardens. It has a small museum which has won four architecture awards.

We visit Todaiji Temple in Nara and see Japan’s largest statue of Buddha in the world’s largest wooden structure. We walk through Nara Park with the deer, and admire the 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the most celebrated shrine in Nara. From here, we transfer to Osaka, check into our hotel, and relax….

Overnight : The Cross Hotel – breakfast +  lunch

DAY 13 | SAT 30 MAR | OSAKA

Osaka is perhaps most well-known for the not only its’ street food, but the towering Castle – and this afternoon we will discover this incredible building. Osaka Castle, known as a symbol of power, is surrounded by secondary citadels, gates, turrets, impressive stone walls and moats. The Nishinomaru Garden, encompassing the former “western citadel”, is a lawn garden with 600 cherry trees; a popular cherry blossom-viewing spot during spring, and we hope to catch the afternoon blooms.

We take a wander Doguyasuji shopping arcade, a unique market where you can find anything related to the food

industry – including the plastic food models you find outside Japanese restaurants, pottery and gorgeous lacquer ware. Shinsaibashi-suji, one of Osaka’s famous shotengai (covered shopping arcades), will take us through to Ebisu-bashi

Bridge, which takes us over the famous Dotombori Canal, lined with garish neon-covered buildings. Time to pose in front of Kani Doraku, the huge crab with moving legs, or with the the running Glico Man. Cheesy, but necessary.

In need of a coffee, we stop at Marufuku Coffee in Sennichimae, an Osakan institution and a kissaten, an old-fashioned coffee house. Kissaten are a dying breed, but in Osaka, they are still very much part of the landscape. In operation since 1934, the background music is a questionable and you will still find elderly men and women here, dapper in their berets and suits. We will also eat along the way (of course!). Osaka is the city of kuidaore, or ‘to eat until you fall over or go broke’ after all. We continue to the incredibly atmospheric Hozenji Yokocho, an area with narrow alleys filled with traditional restaurants and izakaya (traditional Japanese pubs). This stone-paved alley is one of the most beautiful streets in all of Osaka and it looks like it was magically transported from somewhere in Kyoto. Hozenji Yokocho is located right behind the Hozenji temple, hence the name “Hozenji Yokocho” which literally means the alley next to the Hozenji temple. We can stop for a final cocktail before we call it a day.

Overnight : The Cross Hotel – breakfast, lunch + farewell cocktail

DAY 14 | SUN 31 MAR | DEPART

This morning our tour ends after breakfast. Transfer to Kansai Airport for your onward flights. Farewell!

*Departure transfer is not included. However, we can quote you for a Private Transfer, offer advice on Taxis, and if any guests depart simultaneously, we can organise for you to share the Transfer.