Sake brewery. Sake is a famous product of Takayama.
One of the old streets in the San-machi Suji district.

Visits to the Japanese Countryside
affordable, non-traditional travel in traditional Japan

Leave the planning to us!
October - Sado Island, Takayama & Matsumoto


October 15-26, 2013


Sado Island/Takayama/Matsumoto

This tour begins on beautiful Sado Island, 2.5 hours by ferry offshore of Niigata Prefecture. Here you will visit the origins of Taiko drumming, go hiking and cycling, attend a local festival soak in outdoor hot springs. Sado Island has much to offer. 
Then we will make a leisurely visit to Takayama, high in the Japan Alps to experience and absorb a bit of old Japan with its unique and very original traditional crafts and folkware, countryside lifestyle, soaks in mountain hot springs and enjoy beautiful gardens. Day trips to Shirakawago, A World Heritage Site and Hirayu Onsen, to soak in a forest hot spring.

The tour ends in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, famous as the gateway to the Japan Alps and home of the famous Black Castle, Ukiyoe woodblock museum and unique traditional crafts.

Stay each night in a Japanese minshuku (family-run bed and breakfast) or ryokan and enjoy fresh, local cuisine, morning markets, historic architecture and the fine quality traditional arts and crafts of this area of Japan.


Tour cost is $3000/person for a group of 7 or 8, $3200/person for a group of 4 to 6, plus RT airfare (approx. $1000 from PDX), and includes double occupancy Japanese style accommodations, all land transportation, guide and entrance fees and breakfast and dinner while staying in Japanese inns.
 

More information on these tours will be available here May 1, 2013.
Middle school girls on an excursion
in Takayama. Ohayou-gozaimasu!
Woodcrafts of many kinds, including
wood carving and furniture making,
are established traditional crafts in
Takayama.
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