finding zen in japan
finding zen in japan
with sights of golden buddhist temples, serene zen gardens, emerald bamboo groves, graceful geishas, vermillion shrines and pink cherry blossoms, the explosion of rich colour is exquisite. the beauty of kyoto is deeper than what’s on the surface though, with profound history and culture bubbling beneath ready to burst. the majestic ambience allows you to journey through time, embracing the old and new. attend a tea ceremony, try on a kimono, feed playful deers, bathe in an onsen, farm with locals, make traditional japanese sweets and eat eat eat! there is literally no better place to immerse yourself in everything japanese than kyoto. we’ll be travelling in march so you will be enchanted by the delicate beauty of the blush pink cherry blossom flowers fluttering under the golden sunset. we trust that you will find yourself enamoured with the splendour of kyoto.
itinerary
day one
KONNICHIWA, welcome to japan!
MEET your fellow travellers for the next unbelievable week
MARVEL at the beauty of kyoto and explore your ryokan accommodation
DINNER at a local izakaya followed by a walk through the geisha district
day two
RISE and shine for the golden sunrise, ready for the beginning of your adventure
FOLLOW the philosopher’s path and then be awed by the golden pavilion
THROW a coin into the heian jingu shrine and enjoy a traditional tofu lunch
PARTAKE in a tea ceremony and learn to make japanese sweets
LOCAL exquisite cuisines for the gourmet connoisseurs
day three
GET READY for a day trip to miyama, a rural area in the mountains
FARM with experienced locals and help prepare lunch with farmed ingredients
RENT a bike, explore the village and meet the locals
SUSHI for dinner in kyoto, honestly what could be better?
SOAK and relax in the glorious onsen underneath the dwindling sky
day four
VISIT the famous fushimi inari and then prepare for a day trip to nara
PRAY at the temples and shrines, also feed the friendly deers with crackers
TRY on a beautiful kimono and embrace the cultural spirit of japan
WRITE kanji in calligraphy, try sake tasting and bonsai lessons
ONCE in a lifetime dinner experience with graceful geishas
day five
WAKE and get ready for another day trip, this time to ohara!
EXPLORE the sanzen-in and jakko-in temples in this rural town
ENJOY an obanzai lunch with local freshly picked vegetables
GET NAKED and relax in the onsen, otherwise enjoy a foot bath
DELICIOUS shabu-shabu for dinner and learn about buddhism with a monk
day six
TRAVEL to koyasan by train and cable car, and transfer luggage to osaka
WALK through okunoin area and revel in the serene nature
BUDDHIST vegetarian dinner and japanese delicacies for all
MEDITATION evening and time to reflect on your other-worldly experience
OVERNIGHT stay at the ancient buddhist shukubo temple
day seven
MORNING prayer with taiko drumming and again at the kogo-buji temple
TRAIN to osaka and enjoy the view of the landscape through the window
SHOP til you drop and consume mouth-watering delicacies while you can
NIGHT walk through the bustling streets and admire the city’s landmarks
FAREWELL okonomiyaki dinner altogether for the last time
day eight
RISE early in the morning and admire your last sunrise in japan
MISS you already and have a safe flight back home
exclusions
flights to and from japan
visas
travel insurance
meals not mentioned on itinerary
tips and gratuities
inclusions
7 night’s accomodation
8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 5 dinners
all transport costs shuttle to and from airport
luggage transfer
welcome dinner at a local izayaka
roketsu (indigo dyeing) workshop
forest bathing experience
walking tour of kyoto with a local guide
day trip to ohara, including priest talk and q & a at sanzen-in temple, obanzai lunch with local forest vegetables, and onsen experience
visit shinto shrine of famous red torii gate, fushimi- inari and buddhism todaiji
day trip to nara, including temple visit and trip to nara deer park
traditional family-run ryokan stay and dinner
walk through the historic asuka region, enjoying cherry blossom season
overnight temple stay, including dinner and breakfast of traditional vegetarian monk’s meal
morning prayer with taiko drumming
dotonburi night walk
location
kyoto
located in the south-west of honshu island in the kansai region, kyoto is renowned for its abundance of historical and cultural sites and experiences. a mere five minute walk away from kyoto station, ryokan heianbou is a traditional japanese-styled accommodation. this ideal location makes it easy to visit many recommended sightseeing spots and welcome all traditional experiences. you can put on your yukata and head to the dining area for a traditional breakfast or soak in the gloriously hot onsen outside under the mesmerising sunrise. the most exciting experience though will be getting to sleep on a comfortable, soft futon on a tatami floor! also look forward to day trips to neighbouring towns and cities: miyama, nara, ohara and koyasan.
osaka
as japan’s second largest metropolitan area, osaka is now famous for its dazzling lights, entertainment, shopping and bustling atmosphere.
FAQ’s
what if Covid affects the trip?
we will be watching the international border and health situation very closely. rest assured that if COVID impacts the majority of travellers we will postpone to a later date.
how to get there?
the city of kyoto does not have its own airport, but you can arrive at osaka (also known as itami) airport which is 50 mins away by bus or arrive at kansai international airport which is 90 mins away by train.
what is the accommodation like?
as the accommodation is japanese-style, the traditional rooms include tatami mats and futons to sleep on. you can also choose to have a room that includes a bath and/or breakfast. there are several shared onsen baths available to all guests.
do I need a visa?
you do not need to acquire a tourist visa if you are a part of japan’s visa-exempt nationalities for tourism purposes. citizens from any of those 68 countries/regions can stay up in japan up to 90 days visa-free as long as they hold a valid passport and will be automatically granted temporary visitor status upon arrival.
if you are a citizen from china, russia, phillipines, vietnam, CIS countries and georgia it is mandatory that you obtain japan’s tourist visa.
how to get by on public transportation?
with one of the best public transportation systems in the world, getting around in japan is easy. you can buy a rechargeable prepaid transport card, also known as an IC smartcard. there are two popular options: the pasmo or suica card, and it does not matter which you choose to use. it really does not - the only difference is the issuer. you can purchase these cards at stations and even at the airport.
what will the weather be like?
we will be travelling in march and although it is the beginning of spring, the temperatures can still be quite low. luckily you will be able to admire the exquisite cherry blossoms that begin to bloom at this time.
what should i pack?
definitely bring a warm jumper for the cooler evenings and a sturdy pair of walking shoes as we will be visiting plenty of sites. feel free to bring a camera to capture the splendour of kyoto with your lens. otherwise, be sure to bring everything you’ll need for an eight-day adventure in the city that is claimed to be the heart of japan. worst case scenario you forget something, there are plenty of conbinis (aka convenience stores) that are filled with everything imaginable to buy from.