Top Aichi Prefecture How to Get Around - page 12

Highlights Explore Chita's finest producers alongside award-winning Chef Watanabe. Meet local growers and discover the stories behind exceptional seasonal ingredients. Experience Japan's rich farm-to-table culture through exclusive producer visits. Enjoy an exclusive tasting menu at Le Coeuryuzu, paired with carefully selected local sake. Discover why the Chita Peninsula is one of Japan's most celebrated culinary regions. Overview Discover Chita’s rich food culture on an exclusive farm-to-table tour with Chef Watanabe, Le Coeuryuzu's owner-chef and a recipient of Japan’s prestigious Ryori Masters award. Visit seasonal producers, such as farms, vegetable growers, or local markets, and hear about their products and traditions. Learn how the chef selects ingredients and builds relationships with producers. Return to Le Coeuryuzu for a seasonal French tasting course featuring local ingredients, paired with local sake. Enjoy the flavors of Chita while speaking with Chef Watanabe.

Experience the fairy-tale charm of Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where iconic thatched-roof farmhouses are set against a breathtaking backdrop of mountains and lush greenery, making it a must-see destination in any season. Nestled in the heart of the Japanese Alps, Takayama enchants with its preserved Edo-period streets, bustling morning markets, and rich cultural heritage, offering a timeless glimpse into Japan’s traditional past.

Travel from Nagoya into the enchanting Kiso Valley on a private 2-day tour, tracing the historic Nakasendo. Walk from Magome to Tsumago, explore the preserved Edo post towns of Narai and Kiso-Fukushima, and enjoy two nights in scenic accommodations. This journey allows you to immerse yourself in Japan's rich history, enjoying forest views, local culture, and flexible itineraries tailored to your interests and fitness level. - Walk about 8 kilometers along the historic Nakasendo Trail - Discover the atmospheric towns of Magome, Tsumago, and Narai - Enjoy two leisurely nights in the Kiso Valley - Benefit from private vehicle transport for your main luggage and customized walking distances - Enjoy flexible travel with a private English-speaking driver-guide

Embark on an adventure into Japan’s historical core with a private tour of Takayama and Shirakawa-go. These destinations provide a tranquil retreat into the nation’s heritage settings, a world apart from the bustling city life. Explore the vibrant streets and intimate passageways of Takayama, lined by the pristine waters and historic timber-framed houses that reveal the enduring allure of Japanese craftsmanship. Then stroll through Shirakawa-go; a picturesque village famed for its gassho-zukuri (thatched-roof houses) and a living museum of Japan’s rural traditions. This one day tour lead by an English-speaking guide from Nagoya gives you a comprehensive glimpse into the cultural traditions and architectural wonders of Takayama and Shirakawa-go.

Experience traditional Japanese culture through a private guided tour of Nagoya Castle by the Nagoya Hospitality Samurai Team and a Kodo (incense ceremony) experience by a master of the art. Kodo (香道) - This refers to the traditional Japanese art of appreciating incense, which might be unfamiliar outside of Japan or to those not versed in Japanese cultural arts.

This tour offers exclusive after-hours access to Nagoya Castle, originally built by Tokugawa Ieyasu. You will enjoy a private viewing of the Honmaru Palace, a masterpiece of early modern architecture revived through the cutting-edge craftsmanship of the Edo period. Nagoya Castle still radiates the majesty of the Tokugawa clan today. Imagine having the towering keep and tranquil stone walls all to yourself. This is a truly unique experience, allowing you to explore these historic grounds—usually bustling with tourists—in complete serenity. Under the watchful gaze of the golden shachihoko, you can enjoy a timeless moment and feel like the true lord of the castle.

Delve deep into Nagoya's history on a private samurai-guided tour at Nagoya Castle, and experience a traditional meal and geisha dance together at the historical restaurant "Kawabun". Daimyo: Daimyo were influential Japanese feudal lords who ruled regions under the shogun from the 10th to the 19th century. They managed private armies of samurai and had significant political and economic power.

Please note that even if you select “Tour Language: English(written),” the driver speaks Japanese only. Communication will be supported using a translation app, and English tour information will be provided in advance. Embark on an impossibly grand expedition connecting the absolute masterpiece of World Heritage architecture with profoundly monumental historic towns and flawlessly therapeutic hot springs. Discover incredibly striking merchant streets, walk perfectly through crystal-clear water alleys, and stand in absolute awe before majestic thatched-roof houses.

Please note that even if you select “Tour Language: English(written),” the driver speaks Japanese only. Communication will be supported using a translation app, and English tour information will be provided in advance. This 7-hour private shore excursion departs from Nagoya Port and takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage village of Shirakawa-go, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof farmhouses. Enjoy free time to stroll the village, take panoramic photos, and visit key houses/museums before returning to Nagoya Port.

Experience the craftsmanship of traditional Japanese umbrellas and samurai swords in Gifu, including a stay at Nagaragawa Onsen and a visit to a cormorant fishing museum. Ukai Cormorant fishing, a traditional fishing method using cormorants, is unique to certain regions in Japan and might not be widely recognized internationally.

Visit Izumo Taisha Shrine, one of Japan's most sacred shrines, and Matsue Castle, a national treasure, explore traditional tea ceremony culture at a historic teahouse, and stay overnight at a lakeside inn on Lake Shinji. Izumo Taisha (出雲大社) - This is one of Japan's most famous and oldest Shinto shrines, but its cultural and spiritual significance might not be immediately clear to international visitors.

This exclusive, after-hours tour offers a rare private encounter with the storied heritage of the Owari Tokugawa family. Led by an expert curator from the Tokugawa Art Museum, you will explore a magnificent collection that defines the pinnacle of feudal lord culture—from the world-renowned National Treasure "The Tale of Genji Illustrated Scrolls" to exquisite arms, armor, and bridal dowries. With the galleries reserved solely for your presence, the usual bustle is replaced by a profound, elegant silence. To gaze upon legendary swords, masterwork paintings, and delicate crafts in such tranquility is to embark on a timeless journey. This is the ultimate private viewing experience, offering a depth of intimacy with history found nowhere else in the world. (Note: Specific National Treasures may be replaced with other masterpieces depending on the exhibition period.)

Travel through the Japan Alps on a 4-day private vehicle journey from Nagoya, connecting Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Toyama, the Tateyama Alpine Route, Kamikochi, and Matsumoto without returning to Nagoya each day. This continuous route reduces repeated travel and allows you to explore several contrasting mountain and cultural regions with your luggage traveling with you. Default route: Day 1 Nagoya → Takayama → Shirakawa-go → Toyama; Day 2 Toyama → Tateyama Alpine Route → Takayama; Day 3 Takayama → Kamikochi → Matsumoto; Day 4 Matsumoto → Matsumoto Castle area → Nagoya. This is a private vehicle and driver service only. Accommodation, meals, attraction tickets, professional guide service, English-speaking driver service, Tateyama Alpine Route transportation, and Kamikochi shuttle or taxi fares are not included. Route timing may change due to traffic, weather, mountain road conditions, seasonal operations, or parking restrictions.

Highlights - Step inside a historic sake brewery founded in 1848 and discover Chita’s brewing heritage. - Learn traditional sake-making firsthand from the brewery owner at Sawada Sake Brewery. - Dine at acclaimed Le Coeuryuzu, where award-winning Chef Watanabe showcases seasonal local ingredients. - Savor a special course lunch paired with local sake from Sawada Sake Brewery. - Experience Chita’s fermentation culture through its sake, cuisine, and generations of craftsmanship. Overview Discover Chita’s flavors and fermentation traditions. Begin at Sawada Sake Brewery, founded in 1848, and learn how traditional techniques shape its sake. Guided by the brewery owner, gain insight into Chita’s fermentation culture. Continue to Le Coeuryuzu, where award-winning Chef Watanabe creates a seasonal course featuring local ingredients, paired with Sawada sake. The brewery visit and pairing lunch offer a taste of Chita’s culinary identity, where sake, ingredients, and craftsmanship come together.