Partners Information: Experience real Japan, here in Kansai.
The cultural roots of Japanese food, tea ceremony, traditional arts, crafts, zen and other countless sensibilities can be traced to the Kansai region and the remarkable people who still uphold its customs. These Exclusive Expeditions will take you into the heart of the greater Kansai region to meet with Japan's living treasures.
Come and see the intersection of masterful, world-class artisans as they share their craft in idyllic spaces, now available online via our platform of luxury experiences. For a fully exclusive offline expedition, we await you in Kansai.
Kyoto
Trace the roots of tea ceremony in a rarely opened tea room
Exclusive Expedition: Take part in a tea ceremony at Heian Jingu Shrine, held in the Shobikan, a building which is usually closed to the public, exclusively chartered for you for this experience. There are many styles of tea ceremony, and this one will be conducted in the style of Oribe-ryu, during which you will experience 'futatsugashira', said to be the oldest method of tea preparation.
Learn more: The Kansai Guide | Special tea ceremony performed by Beihaku Ozaki 
Fukui
See a master 'Echizen' papermaker's craft unfold before your eyes
Exclusive Expedition: Learn how washi paper is made by visiting the workshop of Echizen Washi artisan Ichibei Iwano the 9th, a Living National Treasure. Iwano's studio is ordinarily closed to the public, but on this exclusive visit you will have a rare opportunity to see how he and his family have upheld the Echizen paper tradition for over three centuries.
Learn more: The Kansai Guide | Exclusive studio visit with Japanese Living Treasure
Mie
Meet the vanishing lion, the traveling Ise-daikagura dancers
Exclusive Expedition: Enjoy a private performance of Ise-daikagura, an acrobatic dance including sword play and requiring immense strength, performed to entertain the gods. Charter a room in the important cultural property Hinjitsukan and allow the Yamamoto Kandayu troupe, an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, to entertain you.
Learn more: The Kansai Guide | A completely private showing of Ise-daikagura dance
Tokushima
A village's prized puppets, dancing on an open-air mountain stage
Exclusive Expedition: Witness a rare performance of Ningyo Joruri puppet theatre at the Inukai Noson Theater, held only once a year. This private show will be done in the syle of Gidayu-bushi, a traditional storytelling technique, performed by Tomowaka Takemoto, an Important Intangible Cultural Property.
Learn more: The Kansai Guide | Private Awa Ningyo Joruri Performance
More information
Note: The prefectures that make up the regions across Japan can vary across organisations. Kansai Tourism Bureau classifies Fukui, Tottori, Mie and Tokushima Prefectures as being in the Kansai region.
