Dates: 09 Oct (Fri) – 23 Oct (Fri) 2026 15 days

This trip is based first and foremost on being in Japan for the second weekend in October. The weather is generally perfect and the scents of rice and orange blossom are intoxicating. It’s also the only time in the whole year when all the neighbors gather to celebrate the harvest at the1300 year old shrine. Karen and Stephen have already signed up so only 4 spaces left. Based on their requests, I’ve added Awaji Island and a book store in Hirakata, a non-descript suburb where I lived way back in 1990! Our itinerary is flexible and will include your wishes too.

Max. 6 people * this allows me to personalise each day to your interests, travel in 1 x 7 seater car together and it’s easier for us to make decisions, such as when and what to eat.

Inclusions:

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

• All accommodation - private room but shared bathroom in Lyn & Will’s 2 adjoining cottages

• An overnight stay in a Buddhist Temple

• Most 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$6,980 JPY 746,000 * All guests must have travel insurance ** 20,000 yen per person will be donated to community projects supported by Ibaraki Rotary Club.

Itinerary

Day 3 (Sunday 11 October 2026) (B,L,D)

This morning we will witness a traditional harvest festival that has been observed for over 1300 years in our village. In the morning, a Shinto priest will hold a ceremony in Susuku Shrine and the gods will be carried around the village in a mikoshi (portable shrine) to provide protection for the year ahead. While we wait for this, I’ll introduce you to some basic concepts of ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and you can have a go making an arrangement to enjoy during your stay.

Ogawasan, Lyn’s neighbor who could win a Master Chef competition, is keen to teach us how to cook tempura, using the vegetables from her garden and prawns - so that might be lunch,. Sunday afternoon options can include bird watching, bike riding, shopping in second hand stores, learning how to write Japanese using a fude brush, karaoke or curling up with one of our many books about Japan.

In the early evening, we will join our neighbors for the Autumn Harvest Festival at Susuku Shrine. There will be some games, like bingo - in Japanese - and lots of yakisoba, takoyaki and oden to eat. It’s the one day of the year when the neighbors all catch up and enjoy meeting new people.

Day 4 (Monday 12 October 2026) (B,L,D)

Today is a public holiday so we’ll avoid the crowds and you can enjoy things close to home. You might like to go and watch a bit of the local primary school’s sports day, soak in the local onsen (hotspring), order some prescription glasses, help some neighbors harvest rice, go shopping, identify the birdlife in the hillside behind our house, take a ride on one of our 3 e-bikes, sing your heart out at karaoke or hike down a mountain. I’ll soon work out your interests and make suggestions to suit. For dinner, we’ll make okonomiyaki together and you’ll go home confident to reproduce this dish for friends and family.

Day 5 (Tuesday 13 October 2026) (B, D)

Today we’ll probably leave home at 9 am and drive to beautiful gardens on Awaji Island and in Hyogo Prefecture. (If the weather isn’t great, we can swap days) First up, we take highways for about 70 km and then drive across the longest suspension bridge in the world, to Awajihanasajiki Flower Park where the cosmos flowers will hopefully contrast beautifully with the blue sea. While we’re on Awaji Island, we’ll also visit the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Museum. Lyn and Will well remember this earthquake in 1995. From there, we’ll drive back across the Pearl Bridge to Honshu Island and take a cablecar up to Nunobiki Herb Gardens. An added bonus is that we’ll have magnificent views over Kobe from the ropeway (cable car).

Day 6 (Wed. 14 October 2026) (B, D)

For those who are keen, I suggest we go and say hi to the many deer in Nara today. Nara is also famous for a 5,000 tonne, bronze Buddha who is over 1,200 years old. It’s estimated that around half the population in Japan (2.5 million in the mid 700s) contributed to its construction and completion in 751 CE. In addition, the gigantic Buddha lives inside the largest wooden building in the world.
(Given that the Shuku family records date back to this time, our neighbor’s ancestors were probably involved in its construction too!)

For dinner tonight, I’ll teach you how to make Shabu Shabu. It’s super easy and healthy so should impress your friends and family back home.

Day 7 (Thursday 15 October 2026 (B,D)

Today we’ll explore Katsuoji Temple and Minoh Waterfall about 6 km from our home. Apart from postcard shots of temples, towering maples and a foot bath for any sore feet, we will snack on tempura maple leaves, yuzu ice cream and other local specialties. Keen walkers can walk down the mountain and home while others can go by car. In the afternoon, we might spend an hour with Nakaosan, a fifth generation sake brewer. He can explain the process and let us taste a few different brands he produces. Hopefully, I’ll also be able to give you some time today to shop for things you’d like to take home or to take on some of the challenges in my book Turning Japanese in 101 easy steps. We’ll probably go to a revolving sushi restaurant for dinner and we could pop in to our local karaoke bar for a sing-along.

Day 8 (Friday 16 October 2026) (B,L)

Today we’ll jump on a shinkansen (bullet train) and head to the World Heritage listed Himeji Castle for a picnic. There will be time for those who would like to go to the top of the castle. Later, We will go to Kokoen, Lyn’s favourite garden in Japan. We’ll take a regular train back and have a few hours exploring the gardens, skyscrapers and shops of northern Osaka before we head home .

Day 9 (Saturday 17 October 2026) (B,D)

Being the weekend, there’s bound to be some fun things happening at Wellbe Display Home Village, Expo Park and further afield. Karen is keen to go to a bookstore in Hirakata so you might like to join us. If we want a full day of activities, we could go via Uji, a very pretty town on the edge of Kyoto that is famous for growing tea and a temple that is on the 10 yen coin.

Day 10 (Sunday 18 October 2026) (B,L,D)

We’ll have been travelling a lot for the past few days so we’ll stay home and invite a local musician to introduce us to Japanese drumming and shamisen. Ogawa-san wants to teach us how to cook tempura so that’s lunch. And around 4:00 pm, Ogawasan will help us dress in traditional kimono for a photo shoot. Your friends and family will probably love these holiday photos more than anything.

Day 11 (Monday 19 October 2026) (B, D)

Around 9 am we will take trains right through Osaka, deep into the mountains of Wakayama and up a cable car to the top of Mt Koya, the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Nestled in amongst towering conifers are many temples and shrines, some with World Heritage status.  We will gain insight into the lives of Buddhist priests as we eat a traditional vegetarian dinner and sleep on futons.

Day 12 (Tuesday 20 October 2026) (B, D)

Early morning, you may like to join the priests in prayer and meditation. Alternatively, you may snuggle into your futon and stay there until breakfast. Mt Koya has many UNESCO World Heritage sites to see and is a photograph’s paradise. We will be able to take our time. As our return home goes through Osaka, I’ll introduce you to many of the real foods Osaka is famous for, such as kushikatsu, takoyaki and okonomiyaki. I’ll also show you a bunch of fun things to do within a 1 km radius of Namba, such as making fake food, going into a Maid Cafe or Tenga Store. You can then explore freely or join me at the Sogetsu Ikebana (flower arrangement) Exhibition.
We’ll meet back at Namba Station around 5 pm and aim to be home for a simple dinner and early night.

Day 13 (Wednesday 21October 2026) (B, D)

Today is the 21st so its tempting to go to Toji Temple Market near JR Kyoto Station (This market is only held on the 21st of each month). From there, we’d probably head up to Nishiki Market, a washi paper store, the Gion area (famous for Geisha) and maybe end at one of the 1000 temples around Kyoto. If you prefer, you’re welcome to enjoy some time at home or use our e-bikes and little car to explore locally.

Day 14 (Thursday 22 October 2026) (B, D)

While I think it’s good to give you some free time, I keep getting excited about all the things we can do and end up filling our days. So this day is purposely unscheduled. I can help you enjoy things close to home, such as dropping you at the golf course, the top of a mountain or the onsen but this is your day to explore, get lost, have an adventure or just chill.

Japan’s crime rate is very low so I’m sure you’ll be fine and it will be fun to hear about your adventures around the dinner table tonight.

Day 12 (Friday 23 October 2026) (B, L)

Fortunately, we have until 4 pm today to fulfil everything on your wish list. I suggest we finish the trip with lunch at Ibaraki Kokusai Golf Club, just 1 km from home with views to Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hyogo prefectures. Either side of lunch, I will be happy to help you get that last massage or haircut sorted, drive you back to that store to pick up something or drop you for a last coffee at your new, favourite hangout. Those of us returning to Australia tonight will leave home around 4:30 pm to head to Kansai Airport. (JQ 16 to Cairns departs at 9:45 pm).