Japan is all about quirky contrasts. You’ll be walking down the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to suddenly spot a temple overflowing with history. It’s a country known for its gizmo-friendly culture yet deeply in tune with nature and traditional practices. Spring sees the country enveloped in the delicate pink cherry blossom blooms while winter sees everything turn white under the snow. With so much to see and do, the best way to experience Japan is with a Japan tour package. Let’s take a closer look at some of the highlights.
Attend a Traditional Tea Ceremony
Japan elevates the simple act of drinking a cup of green tea into an artful experience. It begins from the moment you are ushered into a tatami room and every gesture from here on has historical and spiritual significance. Be prepared to be enamored by your host’s delicate movements and the precision with which your tea is made and served. For an authentic experience, do a little homework on tea ceremony etiquette before attending one.
Tour a Sake Brewery
If you enjoy the nuanced flavours of sake, look for a Japan tour package that includes a visit to a Sake brewery. Most breweries are housed in buildings that date back at least a few centuries. So, your tour isn’t just a chance to see how this drink is brewed but also to discover the beauty of traditional construction techniques. Most tours end with a tasting session where you can try your hand at differentiating between the rich, bold Koshu sake, the brighter nama sake, and all its other variants.
Explore the Art of Japanese Calligraphy
The best souvenir from a holiday is something you’ve made yourself. Attending a Japanese calligraphy class lets you do just that. Here, calligraphy isn’t just a writing technique. It’s a meditative experience intimately linked to Zen philosophy. A typical class begins with a demonstration after which you can practice drawing basic strokes on washi paper. Then, you could learn how to write your name in Kanji characters or a word that has special meaning to you. Imagine having this sheet framed once you get back home…
Cheer a Sumo Wrestling Match
After all, you’ve probably heard about Sumo wrestlers, it’s time to get a ringside view. While you’re touring Japan, you could get tickets for a Sumo tournament, watch an exhibition match, or join a guided tour to visit a sumo stable and catch the wrestlers at their practice sessions. Tokyo also houses a Sumo museum with a series of rotating exhibits. You should also make time to visit the Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine – an ancient site for sumo tournaments in the mid-Edo Period.
Hike Along the Nakasendo Trail
Walking down the Nakasendo trail takes you back in time to the age of Samurais. This gentle mountain trail connects the towns of Magome and Tsumago and takes you through beautiful forests, mesmerizing waterfalls, lush green countryside, and fields along small villages. You’ll also walk through period post towns. Picture stone-paved paths flanked by traditional wooden houses with lattice windows as well as soba restaurants, ryokan inns, tea houses, and souvenir shops…
Walk Down the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail
If you’re looking for something offbeat, pick a Japan tour package that takes you on a hike over the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage trail. As one of the only 2 pilgrimage routes in the world to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail has remained largely unchanged for over 1000 years. As you zigzag down these forest paths across the Kii Peninsula, you’ll see several Shinto and Buddhist temples, waterfalls, herb gardens, tea plantations, orchards, and more.
Enjoy a Japanese Onsen
After all that walking, give your aching muscles a chance to relax in a Japanese onsen or a hot spring bath. You can choose an indoor or an outdoor soak. Fed by water from natural hot springs, onsens are as therapeutic as they are relaxing. The colour of the water can vary from milky white to blue or even red depending on the dominant minerals and be prepared for it to be very hot – at least at first. Traditional onsens insist on all guests being completely naked in the water but you might find a few that allow you to wear a swimsuit.
Planning Japan Tour Packages from India
Today, you can take a non-stop direct flight from India to Japan and book hotels online. But, that’s not all you need for a good holiday. To begin with, you need a good itinerary and then you need a guide who can help you overcome the language barrier. That’s why, it’s always better to join a curated Japan tour package like the small group tours offered by Odyssey.
Our tour packages to Japan include accommodation, meals, entry fees to the tourist sites included in the itinerary, and the reassurance of a bilingual guide. What’s more, we’ll help you book flight tickets to and from Japan as well as complete your visa, insurance, and other formalities. Want to know more – give us a call today.