Country of Contrasts: Japan Old and New
Both familiar and resolutely alien to visitors, Japan has adapted and perfected aspects of modern western society while retaining its unique millennia-old traditions. The upshot is a symbiosis between the old and new quite unlike anywhere else. Super-charged cities such as Tokyo blur the line between science fiction and reality, while cultural bastions like Kyoto, the country's ancient capital, Kanazawa, and the Setouchi region are replete with ancient and scenic wonders.
COUNTRY OF CONTRASTS:
JAPAN OLD AND NEW
Both familiar and resolutely alien to visitors, Japan has adapted and perfected aspects of modern western society while retaining its unique millennia-old traditions. The upshot is a symbiosis between the old and new quite unlike anywhere else. Super-charged cities such as Tokyo blur the line between science fiction and reality, while cultural bastions like Kyoto, the country's ancient capital, Kanazawa, and the Setouchi region are replete with ancient and scenic wonders.
Suggested Itinerary: Tradition & Technology: A Japan Cultural Journey
TOKYO THROUGH THE AGES
Tokyo's geographical looseness has blessed it with an array of enclaves that are as compelling as they are diverse. Glitzy Ginza, with its super deluxe shops and exclusive ryotei (introduction-only restaurants), is a stone’s throw from Akihabara, Tokyo’s electric town best known for its electronics and underground youth culture. Over in Shinjuku, Kabukicho, the city’s most notorious red-light district, is offset by the beauty of the verdant Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a mere fifteen-minute walk away. There's plenty of charm to be found in amongst all the modernism. Meiji, Tokyo's most famous Shinto shrine, snares most of the tourist traffic. Old-school neighborhoods such as Yanaka, meanwhile, with their vibrant markets, low-rise wooden architecture, traditional shops, and narrow twisting lanes offer a window back to the Edo period. Essential Tokyo experiences bridge the centuries and include everything from a lesson in swordsmanship and an excursion to the history-rich town of Nikko to a visit to a baseball game and a pilgrimage to museums like the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, and TeamLab Planets' exhibition.
HUB FOR HISTORY IN WESTERN HONSHU
A sense of history and spirituality can be gleaned in Kanazawa, which is best known for Kenroku-en, a castle garden dating from the 17th century, it also boasts beautifully preserved samurai and geisha districts, attractive temples, a wealth of museums, and a wonderful market. Step into a gold leaf shop and learn about the ancient traditional art of gold leaf production and its use in adorning temples, shrines, pottery, and lacquerware. Also nearby is the samurai district, where some of the former samurai houses and their gardens are open for public viewing. Then, visit Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s “three most beautiful landscape gardens” which opened to the public in 1871.INSIDE THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL
The old ways still reign supreme in Kyoto. Learn about geishas in the famous entertainment quarter of Gion. If you wish to experience geisha culture, we'll arrange for you to have a private dinner with these storied entertainers. Estimates put the total of Buddhist temples in the city at over 1000. Among them are exquisite examples of temple architecture such as Kinkaku-ji, the city's famed Golden Pavilion, and Kiyomizu-dera, an ancient structure with origins in the 8th century. Arguably even more enchanting are the mesmerizing Zen gardens that are attached to the temples. The rock garden at Ryoan-ji Temple is undoubtedly the most famous of these but other peaceful expanses can be found at Ginkaku-ji, Okochi-Sanso Villa, and countless other spots. More earthly pleasures can be found in Kyoto’s impressive selection of izakaya and restaurants. Kaiseki — an elaborate multicourse meal that originated around 500 years ago as an accompaniment to tea ceremonies — is a specialty of the city.
ART AND SOUL IN SETOUCHI
Long celebrated for its canvas-worthy landscapes, Setouchi has emerged in recent years as a hub for art thanks to the success of the Setouchi Triennale art festival. Naoshima, the artiest of all the art islands in the Seto Inland Sea, is the location of the Benesse Art Site, which offers a unique opportunity to see some of Japan’s best contemporary art in gorgeous natural settings. Museums and numerous outdoor sculptures are situated around the coast. These include the Yellow Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama, which has become a symbol of Naoshima. Naoshima now has several world-class art galleries and installations and has attracted creative types from all over Japan to set up businesses here. The art movement has not stopped at Naoshima's shores, either, with museums or art sites popping up on other islands in the Inland Sea. En route to Naoshima, you will pass through Okayama which is a one hour drive from Kurashiki. Kurashiki is known for its centuries-old buildings in the Bikan Historical Quarter as well as the birthplace of jeans in Japan. The Ohara museum here is host to 20th-century western and Japanese art.
Learn more: Tradition & Technology: A Japan Cultural Journey
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