Journey with me and IFAM members through Japan’s three ancient capitals – Asuka, Nara, and Kyoto – to experience over one thousand years of artistic, spiritual, and culinary traditions.

Meditate with a Rinzai Zen priest, witness a sunrise drumming ritual at Hasedera Temple, and explore UNESCO sites including Tenryuji, Saihoji, Todaiji, and Kofukuji. Visit the Kawai Kanjiro Memorial Museum, the Miho Museum, and experience a rare Takigi Noh performance illuminated by firelight. Connect with master artisans through hands-on workshops in papermaking, indigo dyeing, and sumi ink. Enjoy regional cuisine, meet local farmers, stay in a historic Gion ryokan, and conclude with a Shinto blessing at Asuka Shrine.

Designed for travelers seeking authenticity and depth, this small-group trip (maximum 12 guests) reveals Japan’s art heritage from the inside out through its people, its rituals, and its reverence for beauty in everyday life.

Trip Highlights

• Explore Asuka, Nara, and Kyoto through Zen meditation, sunrise rituals, UNESCO temples, and a rare firelit Takigi Noh performance revealing Japan’s enduring spiritual and cultural heritage.

• Create handmade washi, dye indigo with a traditional vat, and learn sumi ink making from generational masters through intimate workshops.

• Savor kaiseki and regional dishes, meet heirloom rice farmers, and stay in a historic Gion ryokan once home to maiko and geiko for an authentic cultural experience.

Trip Itinerary

Kyoto (May 11–14)
Your journey begins in Kyoto with a group orientation on May 11. Spend four nights immersed in the city’s cultural and artistic heritage. The first two nights are based at Hotel Granvia Kyoto, offering comfort and convenience at the city’s center. On May 13–14, you’ll settle into the historic Gion district at Shiraume Ryokan or Ryugin, intimate inns known for their elegance and deep connection to Kyoto’s traditional geiko and maiko culture.

Nara (May 15 – 16)
On May 15, travel to Nara for a two-night stay in a traditional machiya townhouse in the charming Naramachi district. This portion of the journey brings you closer to some of Japan’s most ancient temples and rituals, offering a serene and historically rich setting.

Asuka/Uda (May 17–19)
The adventure continues in ancient Asuka, one of Japan’s earliest capitals, where you will spend three nights surrounded by pastoral landscapes, heritage sites, and local craftsmanship. Accommodations in the Asuka/Uda region offer an intimate connection to rural Japanese life and the region’s deeply rooted cultural traditions..

Departure (May 20)
Enjoy breakfast together before arranged airport transfers for those departing that morning.

This journey is guided by me, Maki Aizawa, whose lifelong dedication to preserving and reimagining Japan’s art forms provides rare access to the country’s creative heart.