Dates: 24 Apr (Fri) – 08 May (Fri) 2026 15 days

I love this time of year in Japan - a few cherry blossoms still, comfortable temperatures and an abundance of flowers everywhere. This trip is for 4-6 people who want to savour things at a gentle pace, have the convenience of a personal guide/translator and the freedom to decide our plans and the pace together while giving back to our host community.

We will be in Japan for ‘Golden Week’ which means the whole country is on holiday and there are loads of festivals happening. I’ve crafted our itinerary so we can mostly avoid the horrendous crowds of Golden Week. We will spend one day at the "Takatsuki Jazz Street Festival" a two-day extravaganza of live jazz featuring over 3,000 artists performing in 72 different locations in Takatsuki City, a 30 minute drive from home.

Depending on your interests, we can focus on Japanese fabrics, pottery, architecture, landscaping, crafts, calligraphy, ikebana (floral art), sake brewing, hiking, history, cooking, gardens, language, bargain hunting …

I promise to give you experiences and insights into Japan that go far beyond a regular visit to a country.

Inclusions:

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

• All accommodation

• Almost all meals

• All transport within Japan – chauffeur between Kansai Airport and home, 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$6,580 ** All guests must have travel insurance

Itinerary

Sat. 25 April, 2026 (B,L,D)

After breakfast together, we’ll take a morning walk around our quiet village and meet some local neighbours. In the afternoon, we will head 3km down the road to Banpaku Koen - site of the 1970 World Expo and then explore the expansive Japanese gardens. Late afternoon we will head across to a bridge to Japan’s largest shopping mall, Expo City. There will be some time to explore at your pace and we’ll find a nice restaurant for dinner. *Eye glasses are good quality and much cheaper in Japan. We can include a visit to a glasses shop on this day and your new glasses will be ready a week later..

Sun. 26 April, 2026 (B,L,D)

Today we will take our first of many trains into downtown Osaka, the foodies capital of Japan and home to around 19 million people. As well as trying lots of delicious foods, we might try our hand at making fake food. This is really fun and you get to take home a parfait that will look great for years. We may take a boat ride on one of Osaka’s many canals, stop off for a coffee in a maid cafe, or go to a museum. I know Osaka better than most Japanese so I’ll adapt our plans to match your interests.

Mon. 27 April, 2026 (B,L,D)

We will enjoy things close to home today and people can head in different directions. We could take a walk in the mountains, visit a large display home village, go antique or Japanese fabric hunting, add to our collection from the second hand shops, experience writing in Japanese with a brush, learn and apply some basic principals of ikebana (flower arrangement), maybe some karaoke, or a board game at home. There is also an onsen (hot spring bath house) near our house with all sorts of pools and treatment options. Mid afternoon, Joji is coming to teach us how to play the shamisen and taiko drum. For dinner, we’ll make okonomiyaki together.

Tue. 28 April, 2026 (B,L,D)

Before the Golden Week crowds, I’m keen to take you to Nara where we will visit the largest bronze Buddha in the world. This daibutsu is housed in Todaiji (Eastern Great Temple) a massive, wooden building that has been rebuilt and reinforced a number of times since it was first built in between 738 - 752 CE. This project was initiated by Emperor Shomu in response to political unrest, smallpox, poor harvests and division between Buddhism and Shintoism.

Nara is also home to some very-friendly deer and nice lunch options.

Wed. 29 April, 2026 (B,L,D)

This is the first day of Golden Week. The roads will be very busy as many Japanese head off on holiday so we will make an early start and explore sites in the nearby mountains including Mino Waterfall & Katsuoji Temple. There will also be some free time to relax at home, shop at the local supermarket or hardware store. For dinner, you’ll learn how to cook shabu shabu.

Thu. 30 April, 2026 (B,L,D)

Kyoto is the cultural heart of Japan as it was the capital for around 1,000 years. After taking the local bus and Hankyu train, our first stop will be Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine which is famous for azaleas. Next we’ll wander through Nishiki Market in downtown Kyoto and then head to the Geisha district to see the famous Miyako Odori performance. On the way home, we may stop in at a local, Japan style pub.

Fri. 01 May, 2026 (B,L,D)

We’re going to take a shinkansen (bullet train) west to Himeji today. We will visit Himeji Castle and Kokoen, Lyn’s favourite garden in Japan. Jean & Marc’s daughter may join us too. Before returning home, we could visit the Azuki Bean Museum, a maid cafe or karaoke.

Sat. 02 May, 2026 (B,D)

Our home base - Toba Village - which is midway between Kyoto and Osaka, has some really interesting neighbours : a landscape architect, a professional Japanese sweet maker, 5 star chefs, families whose ancestors have lived in the village for more than 40 generations, a kimono specialist and lots of very skillful vegetable growers. We will enjoy a day of various activities from the comfort of our home. The onsen (hot spring) down the road is also a good option for a few hours of pampering. From 4pm, we’re booked to visit our local sake brewer, Nakaosan whose family has been brewing sake for 5 generations.

Maybe we’ll make curry rice for dinner and enjoy rice grown in the fields around our house.

Sun. 03 May, 2026 (B,D)

We will spend today at Takatsuki Jazz Festival. If the weather is great, you can sit back and chill out at a few performances on a folding chair or attempt to visit lots of the 50+ venues. Lyn & Will met and married in Takatsuki and our 93 year old “Japanese mum” still lives there. Hopefully you will meet our amazing “mum” who played volleyball until age 92 and lived through the horrors of World War 2.

Mon 04 May, 2026 (B, D)

Today you may like to spend a second day at the Jazz festival. Alternatively, there will be lots happening at Expo Park - 3 km from home. Lyn will help you get where you want to go.

Tue　05 May 2026 (B,D)
Let’s leave this open and you can decide based on the weather and what appeals to you from the many ideas we mull over together. If you’re short on ideas, my book Turning Japanese in 101 easy steps will give you some suggestions. The Nakanoshima Festival is on in Osaka so that is one option. Some of us will collect our new glasses.

Wed. 06 May 2026 (B,L)

This is the final public holiday of Golden Week. While the south of Osaka is buzzing with pop culture and food, the north area around Osaka Station is the ultimate in modern chic with large green spaces, department stores, bookshops and inspiring architecture. We will spend time exploring around Umeda and take those sky high escalators across these two towers for a fantastic view over this friendly city.

Thu 07 May 2026 (B,L,D)

I think we’ll enjoy a free morning and then head 1 km up the road to Ibaraki Kokusai Golf Club for lunch. (Keen golfers could play 18 holes) As well as great food at the Golf Club, the views allow you to see from Kyoto to Kobe and down to Osaka City. Mid afternoon, Ogawasan, (Lyn’s best friend in the village) will come and help dress everyone in kimono and we’ll have fun taking photos.

In the evening, you’ll learn how to make takoyaki and we’ll have a bit of a farewell party with some neighbours and friends.

Fri 08 May 2026 (B,L)

We have until mid afternoon to tick off a few more things on your wish list - maybe some last minute shopping, a final soak at the local onsen People can head in different directions and I will facilitate things.

As well as attending the Takatsuki Jazz Festival, we will have explored all sorts of places in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hyogo, Shiga and Okayama prefectures by train, monorail, boat, bullet train, taxi, ferris wheels and in Lyn’s car.

I hope your time in Japan will fill you with happy memories, new friends, happy surprises and insights into how Japan really ticks.