[Awaji] Zen Wellness and Traditional/Cultural Inheritance Journey : Appreciation of Folk Performing Arts and Hyogo’s Food Culture

Enjoy the finest quality of Kobe beef at Beef Steak Kawamura Teppanyaki Restaurant, which serves the highest class of Kobe Beef persistently

Time

17:00 - 20:00

Transportation

Coming to Japan? Then why don’t you try the highest quality Kobe Beef at its origin? Kobe city is located at the gate of Awaji Island and the world famous Kobe Beef is definitely served here. Satisfy your stomach with this delicious flavor first and visit the beautiful neighboring island, Awaji Island. Do you know there is no cattle called Kobe Beef Cattle? Kobe Beef is a brand name. It is from pedigreed Tajima Breed cattle which are born, raised and slaughtered at designated farmers in this Hyogo Prefecture. The meat which passes various strict requirements such as beef marbling, weight limitations, meat color, firmness, texture of meat and so on can be called Kobe Beef. To protect the lineage and its delicious taste as well as its scarcity is the reason for its high price. If you are lucky, you can enjoy the top quality Champion Kobe Beef in the best Teppanyaki style.

Helicopter Night flight to enjoy the city of Kobe, which is said to have a night view worth 10 million dollars

Time

19:30 - 20:00

Transportation

After delicious Kobe Beef, we will fly by helicopter to Awaji Island. On this special flight, you can enjoy the breathtaking $10 million night view of Kobe. Among the spectacular sparkling lights, the illuminated landmark of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge between Kobe and Awaji is amazing. This exciting flight may be the beginning of your great adventure to the treasure island of Awaji.

Stay at Grand Nikko Awaji and tour the gardens of "Awaji Yumebutai" - world renowned architect, Tadao Ando's representative work

Time

20:00

Transportation

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Just ten minutes across by air, you will be welcomed by hospitable service at "Hotel Grand Nikko Awaji”. Your room views the blue water and fresh air through the balcony will please your mind and body. The whole area around this hotel is a resort space which is located in the center of the world of Tadano Ando, you would not believe the location was once very much damaged in nature. The world famous architect changed its view to the site of great harmony with modern architecture including the hotel, an international conference center as well as various gardens, facilities, and environment called "Awaji Yumebutai". Walk to feel various nature such as wind, light, shade, mountains, the sky and the ocean.

Experience meditation at a floating space "Zenbo Seinei" designed by Pritzker Prize winner Shigeru Ban, with a vegetarian fermented food lunch

Time

10:20 - 15:00

Transportation

Let’s soak in the peaceful and quiet atmosphere and experience various meditation activities such as yoga class, breathing exercises, and Japanese calligraphy, which have a calming effect on physical and mental well-being. The long platform for meditation standing on the cliff can give you a 360-degree view of nature in warm wooden space. You can forget the hectic city life. The facility was designed by Shigeru Ban, who is known for his efforts to build efficient shelters for disaster victims using recyclable materials. Try the vegetarian zen monk lunch which uses fresh local ingredients but any sugar, oil, dairy products, flour, or animal products. Japanese fermented foods such as miso, soy sauce and other seasonings still in fermentation. They are beautifully arranged in a variety of small dishes which are needless to say, very healthy. Making your own green maccha tea is also a fun experience.

Experience the ascent under a lotus pond at "Honpukuji Temple-Water Temple" designed by Tadao Ando

Time

15:00 - 15:50

Transportation

Do you know where the Buddhist paradise is? At Honpukuji, it is located not in the sky but under the lotus pond, that was Tadao Ando's idea. In a small Buddhist temple facing a beautiful ocean of Awaji Island, this unique hall exists just behind a concrete wall that symbolizes a border between our world of distraction and the pure buddha's world. Descending a staircase surrounded by lotus pond into the darkness below, you will arrive at a sanctuary where the main image of the Yakushi Norai Medicine Buddha is standing in reddish light entering through a vermillion lattice. In the solemn space, you will learn how to offer incense to the Buddha just like the locals - great opportunity to challenge. This incense is made on Awaji Island. This special experience may inspire you to make your own incense sachet the next day.

Relax in a gorgeous Japanese style accommodation “Hotel New Awaji” with a private open air hot spring

Time

16:40 -

Transportation

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Awaji Island has many hot springs, but among them, Hotel New Awaji in Sumoto Onsen offers the ultimate in relaxation. Awaji is so rich in food that it is called "Miketsukuni", and high-quality ingredients from this region were used on the dining tables of the imperial family and the imperial court in ancient times. At night, we will go bar hopping to enjoy such ingredients, so let’s take a short break at the property after check-in while looking forward to it. (You have a choice to enjoy a hotel dinner instead of bar hopping.) You can choose the room type according to your request, such as a room where "Nakai-san", a personal service assistant, which is a unique Japanese culture, will provide you with hospitality, or a private space where there is no staff coming in and out.

Another unique aspect of Japanese people’s culture is drinking and eating at local bars called Izakaya. You will be taken to 2 or 3 hidden local establishments by an amazing local guide who knows almost every inch of the night entertainment district. The guide will select the best places for you and introduce fantastic food and drinks such as fresh Sashimi of fish caught in the sea near Awaji Island, juicy chicken barbeque called Yakitori, cocktails of fresh juice of seasonal fruits produced in Awaji Island. Or you may be served something that you had never tried before. Learn more about different types of Japanese liquors that are popular locally, not to speak of sake. Your bar hopping guide will pick up and drop you off at the hotel.

Special praying and offering sacred median dance experience at "Izanagi Jingu" Japan's oldest Shinto shrine

Time

9:50 - 12:00

Transportation

After spoiling yourself with hot springs, gorgeous food and tasty sake, let’s visit a sacred place to purify your body and mind. You will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Japan’s oldest Shinto Shrine, Izanagi Jingu. Here two kami, deities, are enshrined. They are the ones who gave birth to Japan and myriad kami, according to Shinto faith. Shinto is an indigenous faith of the Japanese and an integral part of Japanese culture since ancient times. This visit makes your trip to Awaji Island more unforgettable. After ascending to the worshiping hall and being seated, you will experience offering a special prayer and divine sacred dance by Shinto maidens clad in elegant costume. Honoring kami means receiving their blessing. The sacred dance dedicated to kami is accompanied by Japanese traditional flutes which make peaceful music. The shrine is surrounded by peaceful forests of camphor trees. While exploring the precinct, you will also learn more about Shinto, and how nature is inspiring and how the Japanese have respected nature and regarded as kami.

Experience Wa-French lunch by Chef. Horii with his farm tour at Farm Restaurant "Yumegura"

Time

12:00 - 14:30

Transportation

After entertaining kami, it is your turn to be treated with the exquisite cuisine for your lunch. You will be taken deep in the mountains where some 70-year-old Japanese style wooden house suddenly appears. The house was once used as a former residence. Now a happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Horii, runs a cozy French restaurant. Once you step into the room, you may feel like visiting an old Japanese friend’s house. The fresh salad of vegetables and flowers grew in the front of the house, tasty soup and super delicious dessert satisfied your eyes and stomach. Let’s ask the chef the secrets of cooking delicious food and find out why he calls cooking and farming “exciting experiments”.

Experience making your own sachet instructed by Kohshi-incense master at Japan’s most incense production island

Time

14:30 - 16:00

Transportation

You may be familiar with incense sticks in Japan, at temples or individual households, incense in burned for the images of Buddha or their ancestors as food according to Buddhist practices. In this tour, you will experience making your own pretty incense sachet, Japanese use incense sachets to freshen closets, add a scent of elegance to Kimonos or relax themselves. Awaji island produces nearly 70 percent of Japan’s total incense production. In Awaji Island, there are 14 Kohshi, incense masters who are committed to maintaining the high quality of traditional Awaji Island incense. One of 14 Kohshi, Mr. Yano will instruct you to make your own beautiful incense sachet. You will learn why Awaji Island is the ideal place for incense making, how incense is made and the benefits of the fumes and scent, too. It is so fun and unique to blend different natural incense powers and select your favorite pretty woven silk porch incense sachet, a traditional fabric called Nishijin textile. Every time you smell elegant incense in your sachet, it will surely remind you of the wonderful journey into Awaji Island. Of course, you can enjoy shopping for a variety of incense made in this factory.

Sayonara and Arigato to lovely people met in Awaji - flying back from Awaji Island to Kobe

Time

16:00 -

Transportation

You will fly back by a helicopter looking down at the beautiful scenery of Awaji Island. You will realize time flies so fast, especially when you have great times. This day time flight will show you the glittering blue ocean and mountains with dotted villages and places you have visited. Leave your love and heart to Awaji Island but keep unforgettable beautiful memories with locals in your mind. After the safe landing at the Kobe heliport, your next journey will be continued. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan.