Ine Boat Houses, Crafts and Culture Northern Kyoto (5 days, 4 nights)

Who is this for?
For seekers of a cultural journey through Japanese craftsmanship and beauty. Travelers looking to try kimono or yukata attire, serene hot springs, calligraphy, paper-making and traditional tea ceremonies. Explore off-the-beaten-track destinations away from the crowds, discovering charming thatched houses and historic boat houses along the way.

Physical Activity: Medium
Length of Trip:  5 days, 4 nights
Capacity:  1-6 people

Visualize yourself:
- Wandering among the thatched-roof houses of Kyoto
- Delighting in a tea ceremony dressed in a traditional yukata
- Crafting your own Japanese washi paper using a 800-year old tradition
- Cycling through the untouched Japanese countryside 
- Nestling in a charming hot spring town in a Japanese-style room
- Exploring ancient shrines and temples and learning their history

Itinerary:

OSAKA    |    1 night
Day 1: Travel Day
Arrive in Kansai International Airport. Then into a private vehicle for a transfer to a hotel recommended by us in the city. Use this day to rest up or take some time to explore Osaka.

KYOTO    |    1 night
Day 2: The Beauty of Northern Kyoto
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore Miyama, a charming village north of Kyoto known for its well-preserved thatched-roof farmhouses. Discover Kurotani Washi, rooted in an 800-year tradition that began with the Heike Clan. Hidden in the mountains, defeated soldiers found solace in crafting handmade paper, a tradition that has since defined Kurotani village. After that, stroll Amanohashidate, a pine-covered sandbar resembling a "bridge in heaven". Amanohashidate is known as one of Japan's top scenic views.

KINOSAKI   |     1 night
Day 3: Boat Houses and Bike Tour
Included meals: Breakfast,  Dinner
Get ready for a day packed full of things to see and do. Visit Ine, the iconic fishing village on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The village is famous for having over 200 funaya, wooden boathouses, lined up for five kilometers along the bay. The houses have an unusual, yet picturesque construction. Enjoy a 2-hour electric bike tour through rice paddies and along the serene Japanese coast, exploring untouched countryside. End your day in the quaint hot spring town of Kinosaki, where you can immerse yourself in healing waters to relax from the day's adventures.

OSAKA   |     1 night
Day 4: Discovering the Surprises in Kinosaki
Included meals: Breakfast,  Dinner
Begin your day with a gondola ride to the temple of hot springs. Osenji Temple, dedicated to a Buddhist saint, is famed for its healing hot spring waters, which brought Kinosaki its initial fame. Spend the day exploring the Kinosaki hotspring town before returning to Osaka in the afternoon.

Day 5: Fly home
Included meals: Breakfast
Your next destination? Home sweet home. But remember, it's not sayonara yet, it's "See you soon!" The question is, where to from here?

OR EXTEND YOUR TRIP!
Add another trip of ours on top of this journey and we will be happy to send you off.