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Self-Guided Adventure
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Hidden Zen
14 Nights: from AU$11758 per person (twin share) Trip Code: HZEN
Explore a lesser seen part of Japan using the newly extended ‘shinkansen' bullet train, experience some moments of ‘Zen' after an adventure through the big cities, learn zen meditation, stay in an authentic ‘ryokan', and culminate in a picture-perfect farmhouse laden with Japanese artwork. Read more >
From the busy bright lights of Shinjuku to the humble countryside of Toyama, our Hidden Zen itinerary starts off loud and vibrant, before unfolding into a relaxing retreat with Zen as its central pillar. Making use of the shinkansen extension that opened in March 2024, you'll explore harder-to-reach destinations that tourists rarely get to, with unique experiences all around Hokuriku - as well as the 'bucket list' destinations of Tokyo and Kyoto. Once you've had your fill of spectacular skyline cityscapes, otherworldly digital art exhibitions, and an evening strolling the famous geisha district of Gion, you'll escape Japan's cities and retreat to some of the most beautiful, rural areas of the country. For us, it's in those lesser visited areas where the real magic happens. Hokuriku's small provinces - Shiga, Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama - have lots to offer from holistic retreats near historic temple complexes, to onsen-hopping in quiet leafy towns, or getting a taste of life in a traditional farming community. This is hidden Zen at its best. There's the stunning Eiheiji temple, set back in a dense forest, where you can try your hand at Zen meditation or watch the monks as they observe morning prayer. There's also Kaga Onsen, an area with quiet, gentle hikes and a well-preserved history of crafting lacquerware - and the best place to experience truly traditional ryokan-style accommodation. You'll also spend time in Kamakura, which offers a brilliant alternative to Kyoto's busier temples, boasts bamboo gardens at Hokokuji that rival the famous Arashiyama, and provides a chance to glimpse Mt. Fuji if the weather is clear. Finally, with a focus on entirely Japanese-owned superior accommodation, you'll spend the night in some special locations - from Rakudo-An farmhouse, where you can meet local farmers and admire the copious artwork added by a variety of esteemed Japanese artists, to the serene gardens at Kyoto's boutique Genji hotel. If you're looking to get beneath the surface of Japan's 'golden route', and branch out into some of the country's idyllic locations focused on local ways of life, Hidden Zen is a route worth exploring.
What's included
- 14 nights' accommodation
- Breakfast at all hotels (self catered at townhouse style) and four dinners
- Airport transfers and All transport between destinations
- Manaca transport card with 2,500 yen credit for city transport
- Eight-hour private guide service in Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa
- Japanese home cooking class in Kyoto
- Tickets to a world famous digital art exhibition
- Pocket WiFi device
- Your personalised InsideJapan Info-Pack
What's NOT included:
- International flights
- Local transport (buses, subways, taxis) at any destination unless otherwise specified
- Baggage handling and luggage forwarding
- Any entrance fees including those for shrines, temples and museums
Trip Highlights
- Get off the beaten track to experience destinations that showcase Japan's hidden Zen
- Stay at a traditional ryokan and taste a multi-course Japanese feast
- Ride on the newly extended shinkansen (bullet train) route from Tsuruga to Kaga Onsen
- Explore small, local areas and experience top hospitality in Hokuriku
- Soak up the way of life and Japanese bathing culture in an onsen town
- Visit popular Tokyo and Kyoto at the same time as lesser-known destinations.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 61 7 3186 8800
What, where, when and how...
Hidden Zen - 15 Days
Hidden Zen - 15 Days - Day by Day
Hidden Zen - 15 Days - Accommodation
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Day 1-3
Start your trip to Japan with a bang, hitting the ground running with a stay in the neon bright lights of the Shinjuku district. You'll begin your trip with a quintessential ‘Tokyo' experience, enjoying skyline views of the city from the comfort of your hotel room at night. On your first day, you'll be down in the bustle of the city with a private local guide who will introduce you to the highlights of Tokyo. You'll also be able to enjoy one of the world-renowned teamLab digital art exhibitions, where you can get up close and personal with some mind-bending artwork.
Overnight: Hotel Groove Shinjuku
-
Day 4
After a burst of activity in Tokyo, you'll leave the city behind on a local train to head to the seaside town of Kamakura – famed for its giant Buddha at Kotoku-in temple. But there's more to Kamakura than this, with temples and shrines to rival Kyoto, bamboo forests at Hokokuji temple offering a quieter experience than Arashiyama, and various local specialties to peruse and taste along Komachi St. If you're lucky, you might even be able to head to the seaside and get a glimpse of Fuji on the horizon!
Overnight: Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura
-
Day 5-7
After Kamakura has whet your appetite for the history and culture of Japan, you'll whizz past Fuji on the shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto, one of Japan's historic capitals (its name literally meaning ‘capital city'!) Start your stay with a guided evening tour of the storied Gion district, home to the geisha of Kyoto – iconic female performers and entertainers known around the world for their elegant looks, musical expertise and dancing mastery. You'll have another session with a private local guide to introduce you to the hidden highlights of the city, along with a private home cooking experience to discover the ‘obanzai' specialty cuisine of Kyoto.
Overnight: Genji Kyoto
-
Day 8
With experience of the most famed cities of Japan firmly under your belt, you'll leave Kyoto behind by boarding the Hokuriku shinkansen bullet train line to Fukui; regional capital of the prefecture of the same name. You'll then head to the outer region of the city, where the historic Eiheiji temple can be found. This centre of the Sōtō school of Buddhism dates back to the 13th century and practitioners still come to the temple complex to hone their mind and soul, with the temple serving as a training monastery for prospective monks and nuns. Here, you'll stay in accommodation near to the complex, exploring at your leisure, and having the chance to try some Zen meditation yourself. There are also opportunities to witness the morning prayers at the temple – but you'll need to set your alarm early!
Overnight: Hakujukan
-
Day 9
After some Zen hidden away in the countryside of Fukui, you'll return to the shinkansen line and head to Kaga Onsen; the gateway to a collection of small ‘onsen' hot spring towns in the local area such as Yamanaka Onsen and Yamashiro Onsen. You'll enjoy a traditional ‘ryokan' style accommodation here, with a set evening ‘kaiseki' meal made from seasonal produce, before tucking in to your comfortable futon bedding (or perhaps a dip in the ‘onsen' hot springs before bed!) There are some lovely walks to be had locally, and the area is also well known for its lacquerware, so take today to slow down and find time to enjoy the simple quiet pleasures of Japanese ‘onsen' towns. Photo kindly provided by Beniya Mukaya, a luxury accommodation in Yamashiro Onsen.
Overnight: Hanamurasaki Ryokan
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Day 10-11
Our journey along the Hokuriku shinkansen continues through to Kanazawa – the city of ‘golden marshes' which produces the vast majority of gold leaf for all of Japan. As such, there is a strong artistic vibe to the city, with the lustrous gold leaf being used in all manner of art and craft, and even cuisine! (Gold leaf ice cream, anyone?) The city has its own unique history of geisha and feudal lords, and it is world renowned for the stunning Kenroku-en Gardens, originally constructed as part of the grounds of the Maeda family's estate. We recommend a ‘machiya' townhouse style stay here, for the full traditional experience – so you can live like a local for a few days and make friends with your guide who will introduce you to the city on your free day.
Overnight: Machiya Residence
-
Day 12-13
It's time to leave the cities once more, and this time we're heading to a special experience at Rakudo-An. This 120-year-old farmhouse has been lovingly restored and updated to serve as a high-end inn with only three guest rooms. Located among rice paddies and farms in rural Toyama prefecture, this boutique property has been developed as part of the local community. Check-in includes fresh matcha made up in the traditional form of tea ceremony and served with a local sweet. The rooms have been furnished with crafts from well-known Japanese artisans and spacious decks that look out on the surrounding houses and countryside. A stay here includes opportunities to engage with the local community so you can experience the culture and history in person, in a way few others will have done.
Overnight: Rakudo-An
-
Day 14-15
After a relaxed and rural stay in Toyama prefecture, it's time to return to the capital via the bullet train all the way through to the end of the line. This bullet train line has a unique ‘Gran class' carriage, akin to First Class travel and a step above the regular and green class cars. A must for train enthusiasts! Upon your return to Tokyo, you'll stay overnight in the atmospheric district of Asakusa, home to Sensoji temple. We recommend a visit on your final night, after the crowds have left, if you didn't get the chance to see it on your first few days. You might also like to have one last, great meal in Tokyo – a haven for gastronomy, with one of the biggest concentrations of Michelin starred restaurants in the world. But you can also enjoy an amazing meal in the backstreets of Asakusa surrounding Sensoji, and leave the country behind with a belly full of good food and a mind full of amazing memories.
Overnight: Asakusa View Annex Rokku
-
Day 1-3
Start your trip to Japan with a bang, hitting the ground running with a stay in the neon bright lights of the Shinjuku district. You'll begin your trip with a quintessential ‘Tokyo' experience, enjoying skyline views of the city from the comfort of your hotel room at night. On your first day, you'll be down in the bustle of the city with a private local guide who will introduce you to the highlights of Tokyo. You'll also be able to enjoy one of the world-renowned teamLab digital art exhibitions, where you can get up close and personal with some mind-bending artwork.
Overnight: Hotel Groove Shinjuku
-
Day 4
After a burst of activity in Tokyo, you'll leave the city behind on a local train to head to the seaside town of Kamakura – famed for its giant Buddha at Kotoku-in temple. But there's more to Kamakura than this, with temples and shrines to rival Kyoto, bamboo forests at Hokokuji temple offering a quieter experience than Arashiyama, and various local specialties to peruse and taste along Komachi St. If you're lucky, you might even be able to head to the seaside and get a glimpse of Fuji on the horizon!
Overnight: Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura
-
Day 5-7
After Kamakura has whet your appetite for the history and culture of Japan, you'll whizz past Fuji on the shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto, one of Japan's historic capitals (its name literally meaning ‘capital city'!) Start your stay with a guided evening tour of the storied Gion district, home to the geisha of Kyoto – iconic female performers and entertainers known around the world for their elegant looks, musical expertise and dancing mastery. You'll have another session with a private local guide to introduce you to the hidden highlights of the city, along with a private home cooking experience to discover the ‘obanzai' specialty cuisine of Kyoto.
Overnight: Genji Kyoto
-
Day 8
With experience of the most famed cities of Japan firmly under your belt, you'll leave Kyoto behind by boarding the Hokuriku shinkansen bullet train line to Fukui; regional capital of the prefecture of the same name. You'll then head to the outer region of the city, where the historic Eiheiji temple can be found. This centre of the Sōtō school of Buddhism dates back to the 13th century and practitioners still come to the temple complex to hone their mind and soul, with the temple serving as a training monastery for prospective monks and nuns. Here, you'll stay in accommodation near to the complex, exploring at your leisure, and having the chance to try some Zen meditation yourself. There are also opportunities to witness the morning prayers at the temple – but you'll need to set your alarm early!
Overnight: Hakujukan
-
Day 9
After some Zen hidden away in the countryside of Fukui, you'll return to the shinkansen line and head to Kaga Onsen; the gateway to a collection of small ‘onsen' hot spring towns in the local area such as Yamanaka Onsen and Yamashiro Onsen. You'll enjoy a traditional ‘ryokan' style accommodation here, with a set evening ‘kaiseki' meal made from seasonal produce, before tucking in to your comfortable futon bedding (or perhaps a dip in the ‘onsen' hot springs before bed!) There are some lovely walks to be had locally, and the area is also well known for its lacquerware, so take today to slow down and find time to enjoy the simple quiet pleasures of Japanese ‘onsen' towns. Photo kindly provided by Beniya Mukaya, a luxury accommodation in Yamashiro Onsen.
Overnight: Hanamurasaki Ryokan
-
Day 10-11
Our journey along the Hokuriku shinkansen continues through to Kanazawa – the city of ‘golden marshes' which produces the vast majority of gold leaf for all of Japan. As such, there is a strong artistic vibe to the city, with the lustrous gold leaf being used in all manner of art and craft, and even cuisine! (Gold leaf ice cream, anyone?) The city has its own unique history of geisha and feudal lords, and it is world renowned for the stunning Kenroku-en Gardens, originally constructed as part of the grounds of the Maeda family's estate. We recommend a ‘machiya' townhouse style stay here, for the full traditional experience – so you can live like a local for a few days and make friends with your guide who will introduce you to the city on your free day.
Overnight: Machiya Residence
-
Day 12-13
It's time to leave the cities once more, and this time we're heading to a special experience at Rakudo-An. This 120-year-old farmhouse has been lovingly restored and updated to serve as a high-end inn with only three guest rooms. Located among rice paddies and farms in rural Toyama prefecture, this boutique property has been developed as part of the local community. Check-in includes fresh matcha made up in the traditional form of tea ceremony and served with a local sweet. The rooms have been furnished with crafts from well-known Japanese artisans and spacious decks that look out on the surrounding houses and countryside. A stay here includes opportunities to engage with the local community so you can experience the culture and history in person, in a way few others will have done.
Overnight: Rakudo-An
-
Day 14-15
After a relaxed and rural stay in Toyama prefecture, it's time to return to the capital via the bullet train all the way through to the end of the line. This bullet train line has a unique ‘Gran class' carriage, akin to First Class travel and a step above the regular and green class cars. A must for train enthusiasts! Upon your return to Tokyo, you'll stay overnight in the atmospheric district of Asakusa, home to Sensoji temple. We recommend a visit on your final night, after the crowds have left, if you didn't get the chance to see it on your first few days. You might also like to have one last, great meal in Tokyo – a haven for gastronomy, with one of the biggest concentrations of Michelin starred restaurants in the world. But you can also enjoy an amazing meal in the backstreets of Asakusa surrounding Sensoji, and leave the country behind with a belly full of good food and a mind full of amazing memories.
Overnight: Asakusa View Annex Rokku
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