Nature & the Outdoors
Area
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World-first stay on a bridge! The ultimate 24-hour Akashi Kaikyo Bridge infrastructure tour to experience all parts of the bridge
This is the world's first ever experience tour of staying inside the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is one of the world's longest suspension bridges, spanning Japan's main island (Honshu) and Awaji Island with a total length of 3,911 meters and a central span of 1,991 meters. Stay overnight in a private tent inside the Maiko Marine Promenade, which protrudes into the Akashi Strait at a height of 47 meters above the sea, and experience the thrilling view of the sea below through the glass floor. Enjoy the sunset, night view, and sunrise from the bridge's maintenance passage, which is one of the bridge’s best vantage points but is usually inaccessible to the public, and use a drone to take dynamic photos of the sunrise and sunset as backdrops. Freshly caught fish from the rich waters of the Akashi Strait and local sake will be served for dinner. With the bridge romantically lit up in the background, enjoy sushi prepared right in front of you at the historic Western-style building, the Former Residence of Sanji Muto, which is registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property. At night, relax in an open-air bath and enjoy the night view. The next morning, take a chartered boat from the port to view the bridge from below, witness the bustling auction at the Akashi Fishing Port, and take a stroll to sample local gourmet, such as Akashiyaki and Akashi octopus. Fully experience the extraordinary feeling of staying on a bridge and the charm of the nearby sea!
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A trip to encounter the mountains and seas of Wakasa Takahama
A two-night, three-day plan that explores the untouched natural beauty of the ocean and mountains of Wakasa Takahama, with a guide who is fluent in English and Chinese. The main activities include an early morning guided climb of Mt. Aoba, the “Mt. Fuji of Wakasa,” experiencing seasonal plant dyeing, early morning beach yoga, and cycling down the beach promenade.
Attractions
(1) Mt. Aoba: Also known as the Mt. Fuji of Wakasa due to its beautiful appearance, it is the symbol of Takahama Town. A guided mountain climbing tour will be conducted with a special exhibition of a stone statue in a non-public area at the summit of Mt. Aoba.
(2) Okinreika: Admire the Okinreika, an endangered plant species that grows only on Mt. Aoba and has been designated a Prefectural Cultural Property.
(3) Nakayama-dera Temple: There is a special exhibition of the Bato Kannon Seated Statue in the main hall of Nakayama-dera Temple, an Important Cultural Property that is only opened to the public once every seventeen years.
(4) Wakasa Wada Beach: Various activities are offered at Wakasa Wada Beach, which in 2016 was the first beach in Asia to receive a Blue Flag international environmental certification. -
JAPAN FARM STAY: Ancient Japanese self-sufficient rural living based on the theme of interaction with locals in an off-grid, one-story house
The village of Ueyama in Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture, is a place where country challengers who are neither "outsiders" nor "country people" gather, and about 40 percent of its 150 residents are young newcomers. Here, young newcomers pass on and evolve the history and culture of Japanese farming villages as they learn about them from the elderly locals, who make up the remaining 60 percent of the local population. Residents always call out to each other when crossing paths, go to their neighbor's house to borrow soy sauce if they are running short, and take their neighbor's laundry inside when it rains. It is a beautiful village filled with warmth and care, and it shows the richness of the traditional Japanese way of life.
Experience this way of life through a tour that includes accommodation in an off-grid, one-story house away, which combines solar power and a rainwater filtration system. The tour also offers spectacular views of terraced rice fields recognized as "Tsunagu Tanada Heritage," a sea of clouds, as well as a clay wall smoked sauna experience and a bamboo craft workshop using Ueyama bamboo. -
Intimate discovery of Benesse Art Site Naoshima: Enjoy the wide array of entertainment in the Seto Inland Sea for 2 days on Naoshima Island
A local guide will lead participants through the art facilities and provide support as they take the opportunity to explore and connect deeply with the history and philosophy of the activities of Benesse Art Site Naoshima. The tour offers first-class hospitality, including an introductory video created especially for this tour that summarizes the thoughts of the founders and architects, a helicopter and cruiser ride to see the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea archipelago from every angle, a stay in the Oval Suite at Benesse House, a special menu at the hotel's Terrace Restaurant, and a special charter of the Chichu Art Museum before the museum opens. Special menus in partnership with the island's eateries are also available for local dining options and socializing in the area.
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Hokkaido Kushiro Wetland Adventure
Kushiro Wetland, the largest marshland in Japan and one of the world's great natural wonders, can be experienced through a tour that allows visitors to enjoy the marshland from multiple perspectives, including from the Ainu culture, which has strong roots in the region.
■ Experience the rare marriage of magnificent panoramic views and traditional culinary culture on an exclusively chartered train running through the Kushiro Wetland ■
・From the windows of a special chartered train that runs through the wetland, visitors experience the vastness of the marshland up close with panoramic views.
・A special lunch will be served on board the train, offering a glimpse of traditional Ainu culture through food.
■ Experience these marshlands and the wonders of nature from Takkobu Auto Camping Ground, located in a national park ■
・Private night canoeing experience on Lake Takkobu: Enjoy the extraordinary experience of being enveloped in the world of a full moon floating above the lake under a star-filled sky.
・An immersive, realistic experience in a marshland using drones: Enjoy pristine, unspoiled nature over the vast plains, including the meandering Kushiro River.
・The tour also offers a comprehensive Ainu cultural experience (cooking class under direct supervision of Ainu people, traditional dance performance, and hands-on experience with authentic Ainu musical instruments).
・Unique grand viewing experiences are ensured from the observatory points. -
Giant salamander premium night tour
Akame Valley is home to many giant salamanders, the living fossils that are designated as a special natural monument, and is also a spot where the existence of a crossbreed with the Chinese salamander was confirmed. The giant salamander, the world's largest amphibian, is an endangered species that can only lives in parts of the Americas, China, and Japan, and is on the verge of extinction in mainland China. Observe the precious giant salamander in Akame Valley and have a first-hand experience of observing its nighttime behavior. Investigating the DNA of captured salamander and learning about biodiversity means it is also an extremely valuable experiential tour from an academic standpoint.
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1,000 years of traditions and techniques: Bizen ware pottery production and a trip to the Seto Inland Sea
Bizen ware pottery, fired at high temperatures of 1,200 to 1,300°C without any glaze, is also known as the art of "clay and flame," boasting a charming earthy quality. Under the guidance of renowned artists and traditional artisans, participants will create their own one-of-a-kind Bizen ware item. Deepen interactions with artists by strolling together around the town of Imbe, the home of Bizen ware, and dining featuring Bizen ware at the long-established Ebisu Araki Ryokan, where famous artists such as Rosanjin and Isamu Noguchi once stayed. The next day, spend time in an artist’s workshop, enjoying a meal and experience "apprenticeship" with the artist.
Bizen (Hinase) is a fishing port facing onto the Seto Inland Sea. It was admired by Western intellectuals visiting in the 19th century, such as Thomas Cook, the founder of modern tourism, who was astonished by the never-ending, ever-changing natural beauty of the landscape. Take a cruise on the adorable NORINAHALLRE ferry and enjoy the cuisine of Seto Inland Sea fishermen. -
Fishing tour with pro fishing legend and a luxury yacht cruise
Misaki-cho is a rich fishing area at Osaka Bay not far from Kansai International Airport. This tour is suitable even for beginners, as you can fish in the sea without bringing any equipment. The tour also includes lectures on how to fish given by professional and expert anglers as well as lessons on how to cook the fish you catch in the most delicious ways, providing interest on multiple levels.
In this area, you can catch various types of fish depending on the season, including red sea bream, swordfish, amberjack, yellowtail, grouper, mackerel, and flounder. The fish you catch will be served in various fish dishes, such as sashimi, in a restaurant near the harbor. One of the perks of fishing is eating fresh fish you caught yourself. On this plan, you board a charter boat with expert anglers, eat fish you catch during the fishing experience, and enjoy a luxury yacht cruise (with accommodation). -
Enjoy your "first snow" in Japan at a private ski resort! Special exclusive hands-on tours
■ Enjoy the snow at a small ski resort with an exclusive private tours
Royal Valley Ski Resort, a small local ski resort, will be rented out exclusively for a limited period of time for a hands-on snow tour that goes beyond just skiing.
(1) Snow activities centered on experiencing Japanese snow culture
These activities allow visitors to enjoy snow to the fullest while experiencing Japanese snow culture such as Kamakura igloos, making snowmen, and sledding on the slopes. The Kamakura igloos will be lit up, with snacks and other Kushiro local specialties to be served inside. Enjoy Japanese snow culture alongside the mesmerizing beauty of the landscape!
(2) Enjoy Japanese drum bathing amid nature and snow
We have prepared drum baths to offer a liberating bathing experience very different from bathing in a natural, snow-covered hot spring.
(3) Experience robatayaki, an original cuisine of the Kushiro area
For dinner, we offer a robatayaki grilled foods, a special kind of grilling said to have originated in the city of Kushiro. Savor local specialties and enjoy seafood that are the pride of Kushiro! -
World heritage Yakushima Island Japan ― Vertical Race 2023 ―
Yakushima is a nearly circular island 28 km from east to west and 24 km from north to south located about 60 km south of the southernmost tip of mainland Japan in Kagoshima Prefecture.
With its continuous peaks of over 1000 m in altitude, including the highest peak of Mt. Miyanoura at an altitude of 1935 m, it is called “the Alps of the sea.”
What also distinguishes this single island is the range from subtropical vegetation by the coast to alpine vegetation, which even has snowfall in the winter.
This is therefore an invaluable area where one can see unique and diverse eco-systems. Yakushima was registered World Natural Heritage in 1993.
This year in 2023, there will be a vertical race for the first time in Yakushima to commemorate the 30th anniversary of it being registered as a World Natural Heritage.