Daioji Temple has been recognized as a national valuable cultural resource for almost 600 years and has a cathedral with a thatched roof, which is uncommon in Japan. With a thatched roof cathedral, which is rare in Japan, Daioji Temple has a long history of over 600 years and has been designated as a national important cultural property At the temple, you can experience Zazen, a sitting meditation where you can look within and replenish your mind.
Play in the snow and spend the night in a traditional home. Take a trip to a hot spring and partake of the local foods between sips of sake. Choose from a wide variety of ways to make your trip unforgettable.
Himakajima Island, which is famous for the high quality octopus it produces, is known as the “octopus island” where dried octopus is actively produced, and visitors can experience the process of making dried octopus. Visitors can experience the process of removing the slime from the octopus, cutting it with a knife so that it can be easily dried, and then drying it in the sun.
The relationship between the Ise Grand Shrine and Shinojima has continued for a thousand years since Yamatohime-no-mikoto, who is said to have founded the Ise Grand Shrine, visited Shinojima and asked for tai long ago. Because of this relationship, Shinojima was in the territory of Ise Grand Shrine until the Keicho era, when it became a part of the Owari domain. Even today, the hunting continues, and every year a salted tai called “Onbedai” is dedicated to the shrine. Nakatejima, where the salting and processing happens, is still the domain of Ise Grand Shrine, and the promise and tradition between Shinojima and Ise Grand Shrine are upheld as always.
There are both public and private courses in and around Uji City where you can experience a variety of tea-related activities, from tea picking to tasting, grinding stone mills, and making matcha and sencha green tea. Whether you want to learn about tea production methods, tea making, or the spirit and culture of tea, enjoy a tea experience unique to Uji City, the city of tea.
NIPPONIA – a Japanese-style old house/storage house renovated and turned into a hotel. With no TV or clocks in the rooms, it’s reminiscent of the old days and you can take a break from busy city life. From beams, interior decoration to furniture, they’ve been kept intact for over 150 years and they have a remarkable old feel to them. The hotel has a café and a French restaurant that uses locally produced ingredients.
There are also Japanese experiences such as Zen meditation, matcha, tofu making at a temple, and goemon bath at an old folk house.
In Shiiba Village, enjoy kagura cuisine while taking in the ancient rituals of a night kagura performance, or sit down to a soba meal that you learned to make yourself. Let the outdoors refresh you with “forest therapy,” then learn how to roast tea leaves in Gokase or to weave straw in Hinokage. Yet another one of the many activities to enjoy in the area is mushroom picking in Morotsuka Village.
In the Josai district, there are temples from six different Buddhist sects. To promote regional revitalization through activities that foster familiarity with Buddhism across sectarian lines, the “Wakasōkai” was formed, engaging in various community contributions. Guided by the Josai Wakasōkai, you will tour the temples and shrines in the Josai district, which has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. You will have access to halls and principal images that are not usually open to the public. You can choose from the matcha course, sutra copying or Buddha drawing course, and the discussion or meditation course. The route will vary depending on the selected course.
Tokamachi is one of Japan’s preeminent kimono-producing regions. If you miss the kimono festival that is held each year, you can still experience kimono culture at close range through hands-on activities such as dyeing, fabric decoration, and weaving as part of a kimono workshop tour.
