Dates: 23 Apr (Wed) – 04 May (Sun) 2025 12 days 3 places left

This trip is scheduled to enjoy 2 major events that are only held every four years - the World Expo and Ikebana International’s Symposium. The current 4 guests are interested in Japanese fabrics, crafts and exploring the countryside. If you join, we will adapt the itinerary to include your wishes too.

I promise to give you experiences and insights into Japan that will put a smile on your face for many years to come.

Inclusions:

• Fully escorted by Lyn, a bilingual Australian with extensive knowledge of Japan

• All accommodation

• Almost all meals

• All transport within Japan – domestic flight, trains, bullet trains, cable car, monorail, bicycles, taxis

• Most sightseeing, activities and entrance fees

• Assistance with planning should you wish to extend your time in Japan.

Cost: AU$4,680 ** All guests must have travel insurance

Itinerary

Thur. 24 April, 2025 (B,L,D)

After breakfast together, we’ll take a morning walk around our quiet village and meet some local neighbours. In the afternoon, we will head 3km down the road to Banpaku Koen - site of the 1970 World Expo and then explore the expansive Japanese gardens. Late afternoon we will head across to a bridge to Expo Mall for a ride on Japan’s tallest ferris wheel and some time to explore the multitude of shops. There are so many great places to eat so Lyn will sort that too.

Fri. 25 April, 2025 (B,D)

We’re going to the World Expo in Osaka Bay Area.
The theme is: Designing Future Society for our Lives .

With 160+ countries participating, it’s going to be a big day!

Sat. 26 April, 2025 (B,L,D)

After such a full day yesterday, we’ll enjoy things closer to home today. We could take a walk in the mountains, visit a large display home village, go antique or Japanese fabric hunting. Maybe some karaoke. We’ll decide our plans together over a leisurely breakfast and good coffee.

Sun. 27 April, 2025 (B,L,D)

Kyoto Sights & Ikebana International World Convention.

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for around 1,000 years and there are over 1,000 temples in this famous city. We will just see a few. Our main activity today is to see hundreds of flower arrangements at the Ikebana International World Convention.

Mon. 28 April, 2025 (B,L,D)

Day 2 in Kyoto. Nishiki Market, Nishijin textiles, Arashiyama, Fushimi. Kyoto is a pretty big city so, depending on how much we saw yesteday and your interests, Lyn will adapt the schedule, also taking into consideration that it will be Golden Week so everyone in Japan is on holiday.

Tue. 29 April, 2025 (B,L,D)

After 2 busy days in Kyoto, we’ll live like locals today. Supermarkets, hardware store,
’op shops’, some cooking so you build the confidence to make a Japanese meal when you get back home. We might also pop in o a 5th generation sake brewer. Keen walkers could get a ride to the top of nearby Mino Mountain and walk home. This private tour is all about you and we will decide together. There will also be local events happening throughout Golden Week that we might join.

Wed. 30 April, 2025 (B,L,D)

Today, Lyn will show you around Osaka, the foodies capital of Japan. With a population of almost 19 million, Osaka prefecture has something for everyone and Lyn knows more about the back streets than most Japanese. Whether it be fabrics, hedgehogs or samurai swords, Lyn will find it for you. We will make constant stops in our explorations so you can try many of the foods Osaka is famous for.

Thu. 01 May, 2025 (B,D)

Our home base - Toba Village - which is midway between Kyoto and Osaka, has some really interesting neighbours : an ikebana teacher, a landscape architect, a professional Japanese sweet maker, 5 star chefs, families whose ancestors have lived in the village for more than 40 generations, a kimono specialist and lots of very skillful vegetable growers. We will enjoy a day of various activities from the comfort of our home.

Fri. 02 May, 2025 (B,L,D)

Today we will zip across to Himeji on the bullet train (shinkansen) to see the World Heritage Himeji Castle and the beautiful Kokoen gardens - Lyn’s favourite gardens in Japan. On the way back, we’ll probably stop in Kobe for dinner - famous for wagyu beef.

Sat. 03 May, 2025 (B,L,D)

Before you head home, I’m keen to take you to Nara where we can see the largest wooden building in the world, some very friendly deer and a giant Buddha.

In the evening, you’ll learn how to make okonomiyaki and we’ll have a bit of a farewell party.

Sun. 04 May 2025 (B,L)

We have until 4 pm to tick off a few more things on your wish list - maybe some last minute shopping, a soak at the local onsen or you might like to attend a bilingual church service. People can head in different directions and I will facilitate things.

As well as attending both the World Expo and the Ikebana World Convention, we will have explored all sorts of places in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hyogo, and Okayama prefectures by train, monorail, boat, bullet train, taxi, ferris wheels and in Lyn’s little car.

I hope your time in Japan will fill you with happy memories and insights that go much deeper than simply sight-seeing.