Autumn Fire
Day 2 (Monday 11 November 2024) （B, L, D)
Today you will witness Sadako Takeda, the oldest active volleyball player in the world playing her final competitive volleyball game. Sadako is 92 years old and Lyn’s “Japanese Mum.”
(She has witnessed incredible changes in Japan since her birth in 1932 such as losing everything in World War II. Hopefully the media will be there to witness this occasion too.)
Late afternoon, we’ll explore our neighborhood and enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 1 (Sunday 10 November 2024) （S)
Guests travelling from Cairns, Australia depart at 12:25h on JQ 15
We will catch our first train into the night life of Osaka and stay in a capsule hotel!
Day 3 (Tuesday 12 November 2024) (B,L,D)
Okonomiyaki
Today we will go to the Harukas Art Museum, the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, an owl cafe and eat our way around Osaka - the foodies capital of Japan. Dotonbori is abuzz with interesting shops, performances, boat rides and cafes. Expect the unexpected!
Day 4 (Wednesday 13 November 2024) (B,L,D)
Today we will tick off some of the famous sights of Kyoto such as Gion (Geisha territory) and Fushimi Inari Shrine. If you’re keen, we can go to Nara too and see some very friendly deer as well as the largest wooden building in the world.
A hot bath at our local onsen may be the perfect way to end this day.
Day 5 (Thursday 14 November 2024) (B, D)
After a busy few days, we will take things a little slower today. I will help facilitate whatever activities you choose. For example, you might like to visit a vet, see inside a local school, go shopping at the second hand stores, take a quick lesson in ikebana,or be pampered at the local hot spring (700m away)
We should probably see the Traditional Japanese Garden in Expo Park (3 km away) and maybe we’ll ride the largest ferris wheel in Japan.
Bamboo Grove of Arashiyama
Day 6 (Friday 15 November 2024) (B,L,D)
Today we will try all sorts of foods in the picturesque Nishiki Market, head to a huge ikebana (floral art) exhibition in Kyoto, zip up to Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) and then wander around the pretty town of Arashiyama to see the famous bamboo forest. We will eat and drink along the way.
Day 7 (Saturday 16 November 2024) (B,D)
We’re going to zip down to Naoshima on the shinkansen (bullet train) - and stay overnight on the art island. With so many galleries and open air art to see, we will probably get some bicycles to expediate our explorations. We’re staying in a Yurt, by the sea.
Mino Waterfall
Day 8 (Sunday 17 November 2024) (B,L,D)
So much to do as we make our way back by train to Osaka. A side trip to Ohara Art Museum in the pretty town of Kurashiki, Bizen Pottery Museum, Himeji Castle, Kokoen Gardens and Kobe Beef. We will decide what to prioritze as we go.
Day 9 (Monday 18 November 2024) (B,L, D)
After a very busy two days, we will have a slow start and enjoy the quiet and very pretty Minoh Waterfall which is famous for autumn colours and only about 6 km from our home. Apart from postcard shots of temples, towering maples ablaze with colour and a foot bath for any sore feet, we will snack on tempura maple leaves, yuzu ice cream and other local specialties. Keen walkers can take on a long hike while others can go by car. .
For lunch, we’ll head to one of my favourite restaurants such as Sandaya or the local golf club.
Late afternoon we will have some time to shop for things you’d like to take home and time to take on some of the challenges in my book Turning Japanese in 101 easy steps.
Dinner will be something simple at home and an early night.
Day 10 (Tuesday 19 November 2024) (B,L,D)
Kongobu-ji Temple, Mt. Koya
Today we will get to know a few more neighbors who maintain their traditional customs. Nakao-san is a 5th generation sake brewer. He will show us around, explain the processes and lead us through a tasting session. We may also meet a local potter or Japanese sweet maker.
Around 4 pm, Ogawa-san will help you to dress in kimono and we’ll do a photo shoot at home. Ogawasan will also perform a traditional tea ceremony for us.
Around 6 pm we will send our suitcases to the airport (or your next destination) so we can travel lightly for our last 2 days.
Day 11 (Wednesday 20 November 2024) (B, L, D)
We will enjoy a slow start to the day. Around 11 a.m, we will head right through Osaka, deep into the mountains of Wakayama and up a cable car to the top of Mt Koya, the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Nestled in amongst towering conifers are many temples and shrines, some with World Heritage status. We will gain insight into the lives of Buddhist priests as we eat a traditional vegetarian dinner and sleep on futons.
Day 12 (Thursday 21 November 2024) (B, L, D)
Early morning, you may like to join the priests in prayer and meditation. Alternatively, you may snuggle into your futon and stay there until breakfast. Mt Koya has many UNESCO World Heritage sites to see and is a photograph’s paradise. We will be able to take our time. Mid afternoon, we will head back down the mountain, for our final, farewell dinner at Kansai Airport. Those of us leaving Japan for Australia will head to Kansai Airport and depart late evening (JQ 16 to Cairns departs at 9 pm).