Sacred Japan & South Korea: Cultural Discoveries

Day 1: Start of the trip in Osaka

Today, your journey begins in Osaka. In the largest port city on the island of Honshu, modern architecture and a lively gastronomic scene meet the heritage of the 16th century – including the famous Osaka Castle, once the seat of a shogunate. Upon arrival, you will head to your hotel, where you will spend the first night of the expedition. In the evening, you will get to know your fellow travelers and the expedition leaders over dinner at the hotel.

Day 3: Sado Island

Today, you will explore the remote island of Sado off the coast of Niigata. The island consists of the Osado and Kosado mountain ranges, which frame the Kokunaka Plain, and was once a place of exile for political exiles. These days, it is home to a rich cultural and religious life shaped by the exiles of the past, including puppet theater, Okesa folk dances, Ondeko drumming with demon dances, and classical Nō theater.

Sado is home to the Nippon ibis, which is extinct on the mainland. With a little luck, you can spot these iconic birds on a trip in a tarai-bune, a traditional Japanese fishing boat. This island, off the beaten tourist track, combines extraordinary natural landscapes —such as Senkakuwan Bay and the Ogi Peninsula—with rich wildlife and an exciting history—from gold and silver mining to samurai culture and unique forms of agriculture and aquaculture. You will visit the village of Shukunegi, a protected national cultural heritage site, and gain an insight into the traditional art of taiko drumming at the Sado Island Taiko Centre.

By the end of this day, you will understand why Sado is often referred to as a perfect miniature version of Japan.

Day 5: Matsue

Today, you will disembark at the port of Sakaiminato, the gateway to the city of Matsue. Matsue is known as the "city of water" because it is picturesquely situated between Lake Shinji and Lake Nakaumi. The plan is to visit Matsue Castle, a national cultural treasure and one of the few 17th-century castles in Japan that is still largely preserved in its original form.

Other possible activities for today include exploring Daisen-Oki National Park and the sacred Mount Daisen. This mountain was once home to 3,000 monk warriors and remains a center of Buddhist culture to this day. The summit, with its Ogamiyama Shrine, offers impressive panoramic views before you later visit the impressive Daisenji Temple.

Another highlight is a visit to the Japanese circular garden Yuushien, which features traditional elements such as ponds, waterfalls, streams, stone lanterns, rock gardens, and a variety of seasonal flowers, including over 250 varieties of Japanese peonies.

Alternatively, the Adachi Museum of Art invites visitors to take an inspiring tour. The exhibition is famous for its excellent Japanese gardens and an important collection of contemporary Japanese paintings, with around 1,500 high-quality works from the Meiji period onwards.

Day 7: Fukuoka

The largest city on the island Fukuoka was formed from the merger of the castle town of Fukuoka and the trading town of Hakata on either side of the Naka River. This vibrant metropolis combines trendy yatai food stalls with art, historic sights, and beautiful coastal parks.

During our stay, there may be an opportunity to visit Kitakyushu with the famous Kokura Castle and the Nanzoin Temple with its giant bronze Buddha and the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine with its beautiful gardens and over 6,000 plum trees.

Day 9: Tomano

From Port Uno-Ko, visit one of Japan's most famous gardens: Koraku-en, which means "Garden of Afterward Pleasure." This formal 17th-century garden covers 28 hectares and offers magnificent views of the nearby majestic Okayama Castle.

In the afternoon, continue on to Kurashiki, where you will explore the old merchant district. The well-preserved 17th-century warehouses, whitewashed and covered with traditional black tile roofs, line a picturesque canal with colorful koi and weeping willows on the banks.

You can visit the renowned Ohara Museum of Art, which displays works by Matisse, Picasso, and Renoir, as well as important pieces from Japan's famous Mingei movement, including ceramics by Shōji Hamada.

Art lovers can alternatively take part in a full-day excursion to the art island of Naoshima. There you can expect extraordinary architecture and museums such as the Chichu Art Museum and Benesse House, featuring works by Japanese and international artists such as Yayoi Kusama's iconic pumpkins.