Twelve Days, Kumano Kodo and Ise

Name: Twelve Days, Kumano Kodo and Ise
Brand: Haven Japan
SKU: twelve-days-kumano-kodo-ise
Availability: InStock

A journey of pilgrimage and forest: a night in a temple on Koyasan, the old trails of the Kumano Kodo, the falls of Nachi, and the great shrines of Ise.

12 DaysSuggested Length

¥960,000Price From

Overview

The sacred south of Japan

South of Kyoto, the Kii peninsula is mountain and forest to the sea, crossed for a thousand years by pilgrims on the Kumano Kodo. This journey follows them, at a pace chosen for comfort rather than distance.

After Tokyo and Kyoto, a night with the monks of Koyasan, three short walks to the grand shrines of Kumano, a boat through the Doro gorge, and three nights by the sea at Ise, home of Japan's most sacred shrine.

Tokyo Skytree rising above the Sumida river

A lantern-lit lane in Gion, Kyoto, at dusk

The vermilion torii gates of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto

The stone lantern avenue of Okunoin in Koyasan

The pagoda of Seiganto-ji in front of Nachi Falls

A river running through a forested gorge

A plain cypress shrine building behind a gravel court

Twelve days through the sacred south of Japan

Tokyo and Kyoto first, then a night in a temple on Koyasan, three short walks on the Kumano Kodo, a boat through the Doro gorge and three nights by the sea at Ise.

The pace is chosen for comfort rather than distance: each walk takes about three hours or less, with only a day pack, and your luggage goes ahead by car to the next inn.

Why Travel With Haven Japan?

Private days shaped entirely around your pace, with a guide on the days you choose.

Ryokans, boutique hotels and design-forward properties.

A deeply knowledgeable, English-speaking guide on every day you choose.

Private transfers door to door, to and from the airport included.

Round-the-clock support from our Japan-based team.

Highlights

A night on KoyasanThe cemetery of Okunoin at dusk and the monks' morning prayer.

The Kumano KodoThree walks on the old pilgrim trails, through cedar forest.

Kumano Hongu TaishaThe grand shrine, and the great torii of Oyunohara.

Nachi FallsThe longest single drop in Japan, beside the temple of Seiganto-ji.

The Doro gorgeThrough the gorge by traditional boat.

Ise JinguThe outer and inner shrines, rebuilt every twenty years.

The ama diversThe women free divers of Ago Bay and their catch.

Your own guide throughoutWith a Kumano specialist on the trail.

The Itinerary

12 Days, One Route

The map stays with you as the days unfold — tap a stop to jump ahead.

This is the order we recommend, the one that works best on the ground, but nothing here is fixed. Add or remove days with the + and − under each destination (up to 4 days in one place), or change the destinations and their order in our builder, with this itinerary already selected. The price follows your version: we quote it when you send it to us.

2 DAYS

1 DAY

3 DAYS

1 DAY

TOKYO · ARRIVAL

Day 01 | A First Evening in Ginza

Your private driver takes you from the airport to your hotel by Alphard. Once you have settled in, a gentle first evening: a walk through Ginza as the lights come on, and dinner close by. If you land late, the evening is simply yours to rest.

Your Experiences

1 of 39

✓ Included Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

TOKYOPrivate Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

Your Hotels

1 of 6

SETAGAYA, TOKYO

TOKYO · EAST TO WEST

Day 02 | Tokyo in One Day

Tokyo in one full day, east to west. The Tsukiji Outer Market and Senso-ji in the morning, the kitchen knives of Kappabashi, then a late lunch in Shibuya. The crossing, the forest of Meiji Jingu and the long avenue of Omotesando carry you into the evening.

Your Experiences

1 of 39

✓ Included Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

TOKYOPrivate Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

Your Hotels

1 of 6

SETAGAYA, TOKYO

TOKYO → KYOTO

Day 03 | Gion as the Lanterns Come On

The Shinkansen to Kyoto takes a little over two hours, and luggage forwarding is possible, so you travel light. In the afternoon, the great gate of Chion-in, Yasaka Shrine and Kodai-ji, then the lanes of Gion to Hanamikoji and the Shirakawa canal as the lanterns come on.

Your Experiences

1 of 35

✓ Included Matcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

KYOTOMatcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

Your Hotels

1 of 6

KYOTO

KYOTO · FUSHIMI TO HIGASHIYAMA

Day 04 | Gates, Stage and Tea

Climb through the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari, higher than most visitors go, then on to Kiyomizu-dera and its wooden stage above the city. Walk down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, and close the day with a private tea ceremony, the quiet counterpart to the morning.

Your Experiences

1 of 35

✓ Included Matcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

KYOTOMatcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

Your Hotels

1 of 6

KYOTO

KYOTO → KOYASAN

Day 05 | A Night with the Monks

By car to Koyasan, the mountain of Shingon Buddhism, about two and a half hours. The cemetery of Okunoin at dusk, its paths lit among cedars and moss-covered graves, then the temple's vegetarian dinner and a night in a monastery.

Your Experiences

✓ Included Incense Making at a Koyasan Temple

KOYASANIncense Making at a Koyasan Temple

Your Hotels

1 of 2

NEAR OKUNOIN, KOYASAN

KOYASAN → KUMANO

Day 06 | Onto the Pilgrim Trail

The monks' morning prayer, then by car to the Kumano Kodo, as no train or bus links the two. Your first walk, from Takijiri to Takahara, about three hours through the forest, with your Kumano guide. A hot spring inn for two nights.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Kumano yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

1 of 2

YUNOMINE ONSEN, HONGU

KUMANO · HONGU

Day 07 | To the Grand Shrine

The gentlest section of the trail, from Hosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha, seven and a half kilometres in two to three hours. The great torii of Oyunohara, then an afternoon at the baths of Kawayu or Yunomine.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Kumano yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

1 of 2

YUNOMINE ONSEN, HONGU

HONGU → NACHI

Day 08 | River, Steps and Falls

Down the Kumano River by traditional boat to Hayatama Taisha, about ninety minutes. Then the stone steps of Daimonzaka, through the cedars to Nachi Taisha, the temple of Seiganto-ji and Nachi Falls behind its pagoda.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Kumano yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

1 of 2

YUNOMINE ONSEN, HONGU

NACHI → ISE

Day 09 | Through the Gorge to the Sea

Into the Doro gorge by traditional boat, between cliffs of rock and forest. Then the coast road to Ise-Shima, about two hours and twenty minutes by car, and three nights by the sea.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Ise yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

ISE-SHIMA

ISE · ISE JINGU

Day 10 | The Most Sacred Shrine

Ise Jingu, the outer shrine first and then the inner, as pilgrims have always done, through forests of ancient cedar to buildings of plain cypress rebuilt every twenty years. Afternoon in the old lanes of Okage Yokocho.

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Ise yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

ISE-SHIMA

ISE · AGO BAY

Day 11 | Divers and Wedded Rocks

A morning with the ama of Ago Bay, the women free divers, and the shellfish they bring up, grilled in their hut. Then the wedded rocks of Meoto Iwa, joined by a rope in the sea, and a quiet afternoon at the hot spring.

Meoto Iwa, the wedded rocks joined by a rope in the sea

Your Experiences

We have no ready-made experiences listed in Ise yet. Tell us what you would enjoy (a craft, a table, a quiet walk) and we arrange it privately.

Your Hotels

ISE-SHIMA

ISE → NAGOYA

Day 12 | A Train to the City

A slow last morning by the bay, then by car to Ujiyamada and the Kintetsu train to Nagoya, about an hour and a half, with your guide. From there, the Shinkansen to Tokyo for your flight, or a flight home from Chubu airport.

The keep of Nagoya Castle with its green copper roofs

Your Experiences

1 of 3

✓ Included Evening Tea Ceremony in Nagoya

NAGOYAEvening Tea Ceremony in Nagoya

Your Hotels

SAKAE, NAGOYA

Where You'll Stay

Choose Your Stay in Every Destination

KYOTO

A traditional machiya reimagined with contemporary comfort, in a quiet Kyoto neighbourhood. Natural wood, washi textures, and unhurried rest.

KAMOGAWA RIVER, KYOTO

Set directly on the banks of the Kamogawa River, with views over the water to the Higashiyama mountains, and Michelin-starred dining just off the lobby.

HIGASHIYAMA, KYOTO

Woven into Kyoto's best-preserved historic district, beside a 19th-century teahouse, with views of Yasaka Pagoda from just 70 rooms in total.

ARASHIYAMA, KYOTO

Reached only by a short private boat ride up the Katsura River, this riverside ryokan in Arashiyama pairs tatami suites with total seclusion from the city.

TAKAGAMINE, KYOTO

A secluded former textile-museum garden in the northern hills, with just 26 rooms, suites, and pavilions — widely considered Kyoto's most serene stay.

HIGASHIYAMA, KYOTO

Built around a 800-year-old pond garden near Sanjusangendo, blending a traditional Kyoto landscape with spacious, thoroughly modern rooms.

SETAGAYA, TOKYO

A serene retreat in Setagaya blending minimalist Japanese design with an open-air onsen, a short ride from Shibuya's energy.

ROPPONGI, TOKYO

Occupying the top nine floors of Tokyo Midtown, roughly 250 metres above the street, with some of the highest hotel views anywhere in the city.

MARUNOUCHI, TOKYO

Facing the Imperial Palace gardens across the moat, with the brand's signature in-room technology and a rooftop restaurant looking straight down Hibiya-dori.

SHINJUKU, TOKYO

Perched on the top 14 floors of the Shinjuku Park Tower, with the New York Bar's skyline views made famous by Lost in Translation, and a wood-panelled calm throughout.

NIHONBASHI, TOKYO

Set on the top floors of a Nihonbashi tower, with sweeping views over the city and Mount Fuji on a clear day, and three Michelin-starred restaurants downstairs.

OTEMACHI, TOKYO

Occupying the top six floors of Otemachi Tower, with a 30-metre atrium lobby and vast rooms built around a minimalist, washi-paper calm above the city.

ISE-SHIMA

Aman's first onsen resort, set in Ise-Shima National Park, with villas and suites above Ago Bay and natural hot-spring bathing.

SAKAE, NAGOYA

A long-established hotel in the Sakae district of central Nagoya, with calm modern rooms, an indoor pool and several restaurants, close to the city's shopping and dining streets.

YUNOMINE ONSEN, HONGU

An old inn in Yunomine Onsen, founded in the mid-Edo period by a former Shinto priest, close to Kumano Hongu Taisha on the Kumano Kodo.

KAWAYU ONSEN, HONGU

A hot spring inn on the Oto River at Kawayu Onsen, where hot spring water rises from the riverbed and guests can dig their own bath on the bank.

NEAR OKUNOIN, KOYASAN

A temple lodging close to the entrance of Okunoin, with a morning fire ritual, vegetarian temple cuisine and an onsen on site.

KOYASAN

An 800-year-old temple lodging on Mount Koya, the only one with a natural hot spring.

Add-On Experiences

Shape Your Journey by Adding the Experiences That Move You

No ready-made experiences are listed yet in Kumano, Ise. We arrange private experiences there on request.

✓ Included Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

TOKYO, JAPANPrivate Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master

A private tea ceremony in Tokyo hosted by an Urasenke tea master: taste koicha and usucha with sweets and learn the thinking behind the ceremony.

✓ Included Toyosu Market Tour and Sushi Making

TOKYO, JAPANToyosu Market Tour and Sushi Making

Walk Toyosu Market with a master sushi chef, visit the wholesaler he buys from, then learn to make Edomae nigiri at his restaurant.

✓ Included Omotesando Architecture Walk

TOKYO, JAPANOmotesando Architecture Walk

Walk Omotesando and Harajuku with an architecture expert and see how western Tokyo went from rice fields to skyscrapers.

✓ Included Geisha Entertainment in Asakusa

TOKYO, JAPANGeisha Entertainment in Asakusa

Dine at a ryotei in Asakusa's old entertainment district with geisha and rare male hokan entertainers.

✓ Included Matcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

KYOTO, JAPANMatcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji

In Uji, home of matcha, grind tencha on a millstone in a rarely opened tea room and taste thin tea made with your own matcha.

✓ Included Maiko Dance and Tea in Kamishichiken

KYOTO, JAPANMaiko Dance and Tea in Kamishichiken

A private teahouse visit in Kamishichiken, Kyoto's oldest geisha district: watch a maiko dance, share matcha and sweets, and play a banquet game.

✓ Included Private Toji Temple Tour with a Monk

KYOTO, JAPANPrivate Toji Temple Tour with a Monk

A monk guides you round Toji Temple and a subtemple, including areas usually closed to the public, then you copy sutras and receive a temple stamp.

✓ Included Incense Making at a Koyasan Temple

KOYASAN, JAPANIncense Making at a Koyasan Temple

Make incense powder with the temple's traditional fragrance at a Koyasan head temple, with a tofu lunch.

✓ Included Evening Tea Ceremony in Nagoya

NAGOYA, JAPANEvening Tea Ceremony in Nagoya

Take part in an Omotesenke-style tea ceremony at night in a tearoom in Nagoya, beginner-friendly, with optional kimono.

✓ Included Matured Sushi and Sake Pairing

TOKYO, JAPANMatured Sushi and Sake Pairing

A fully private dining session at a two-Michelin-star sushi restaurant in Futako-tamagawa: matured sushi made in front of you, paired with four sakes.

✓ Included Kintsugi in Minami-Aoyama

TOKYO, JAPANKintsugi in Minami-Aoyama

Practise kintsugi in a Minami-Aoyama gallery space: mend a vessel with lacquer and gold or silver powder and take it home the same day.

✓ Included Noh Masks and a Private Stage Session

TOKYO, JAPANNoh Masks and a Private Stage Session

On a Noh family's private stage in Tokyo, meet the head of the family, see his collection of masks and costumes, and watch two shimai dances.

✓ Included Shamisen Lesson and Lunch in Akasaka

TOKYO, JAPANShamisen Lesson and Lunch in Akasaka

A shamisen master performs and guides you in playing, in a private tatami room at a long-established Akasaka restaurant, followed by a seasonal lunch.

✓ Included Ikebana Lesson in Akasaka

TOKYO, JAPANIkebana Lesson in Akasaka

A private ikebana lesson with a master-rank instructor in an Akasaka school headquarters designed by Kenzo Tange: make two arrangements.

✓ Included Incense Blending in Ginza

TOKYO, JAPANIncense Blending in Ginza

Blend your own incense pouch from over a dozen fragrance ingredients at a 440-year-old incense shop in Ginza, and take seasonal incense home.

✓ Included Sumi-e Ink Painting in Minami-Aoyama

TOKYO, JAPANSumi-e Ink Painting in Minami-Aoyama

Learn classical Edo Rimpa ink-painting in a private Minami-Aoyama atelier, reproduce a masterpiece by hand and take your painting home as decor.

✓ Included Private Zazen at an Asakusa Temple

TOKYO, JAPANPrivate Zazen at an Asakusa Temple

Sit zazen at an Asakusa Zen temple founded in 1611, guided by a monk and the head priest, then take matcha and sweets.

✓ Included Chopstick Making in Kuramae

TOKYO, JAPANChopstick Making in Kuramae

Make your own chopsticks in a Kuramae workshop with a century of Edo woodworking history: choose a fine wood, shave it and finish it with oil.

✓ Included Yukata and Mizuhiki Accessory Making

TOKYO, JAPANYukata and Mizuhiki Accessory Making

In a 100-year-old Japanese residence in Ueno-Sakuragi, learn to wear a yukata, make a matching mizuhiki accessory and keep both.

✓ Included Whetstone Making and Knife Sharpening in Kameoka

KYOTO, JAPANWhetstone Making and Knife Sharpening in Kameoka

In Kameoka, process a natural whetstone, sharpen a Japanese knife, then tour a whetstone museum privately. Take home the stone and an engraved knife.

✓ Included Washi Papermaking and Journal Craft

KYOTO, JAPANWashi Papermaking and Journal Craft

Make washi paper by hand with fourteen-century-old techniques, beginners coached, then use it for the cover of a temple-stamp journal.

✓ Included Ikebana and Tea in a Kyoto Machiya

KYOTO, JAPANIkebana and Tea in a Kyoto Machiya

Learn the basics of ikebana in a 130-year-old Kyoto machiya near Shijo Karasuma, hear about its household customs, then take tea and sweets.

✓ Included Incense Appreciation Overlooking a Temple Garden

KYOTO, JAPANIncense Appreciation Overlooking a Temple Garden

Learn kodo, the art of incense, in the Mishina Oheryu tradition, seated at a counter in a temple-owned space overlooking a Kyoto garden.

✓ Included Private Zazen at a Kodaiji Subtemple

KYOTO, JAPANPrivate Zazen at a Kodaiji Subtemple

Sit zazen in Gesshin-in, a Kodaiji subtemple usually closed to the public, then stroll its garden beside Nene-no-michi.

✓ Included Pottery Wheel Class in Higashiyama

KYOTO, JAPANPottery Wheel Class in Higashiyama

Throw two pieces on the wheel in a family pottery studio with a folk kiln, in the Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki traditions; they are fired and delivered to you.

✓ Included Wagashi and Warabi-mochi Making

KYOTO, JAPANWagashi and Warabi-mochi Making

Shape seasonal wagashi and warabi-mochi with a 300-year-old confectioner, then taste them.

✓ Included Private Kendo Training in Kyoto

KYOTO, JAPANPrivate Kendo Training in Kyoto

A private kendo introduction at a Kyoto dojo: hear the history from an instructor of a long martial lineage, learn the basics, then try a bout in armour.

✓ Included Rock Garden Tour and Meditation in Iwakura

KYOTO, JAPANRock Garden Tour and Meditation in Iwakura

A private after-hours tour of Jissoin, an 800-year-old temple in northern Kyoto: meditate in a usually closed room, take matcha and see the rock garden.

✓ Included Ukiyo-e Stencil Dyeing Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANUkiyo-e Stencil Dyeing Workshop

Colour a Hokusai Mount Fuji motif with a brush in a Nihonbashi gallery, guided by a kataezome artist.

✓ Included Pure Silver Bangle Making in Asakusa

TOKYO, JAPANPure Silver Bangle Making in Asakusa

Spend a day as an apprentice in Asakusa: shape your own bangle from 99.9% pure silver with a silversmith whose family has worked silver for twelve generations.

✓ Included A forge fire with glowing coals and a smith's tongs and tools, as used to forge a small katana

TOKYO, JAPANSmall Katana Forging in Ome

Forge a small katana from tamahagane steel with a husband-and-wife team of bladesmiths on the edge of Tokyo.

✓ Included A soba master rolling out noodle dough

TOKYO, JAPANSoba Noodle Making Workshop

Roll and cut soba by hand the way it was made four centuries ago, taught by a leading soba master.

✓ Included Shojin Ryori Cooking with a Monk

TOKYO, JAPANShojin Ryori Cooking with a Monk

Learn Buddhist vegetarian cooking from a temple monk in Akasaka, then eat your meal in the temple's main hall.

✓ Included Kabuki Workshop with a Professional Actor

TOKYO, JAPANKabuki Workshop with a Professional Actor

Learn kabuki acting and training techniques from a professional actor, at a prestigious traditional restaurant with a kaiseki meal.

✓ Included Sake Brewery Tour in Ome

TOKYO, JAPANSake Brewery Tour in Ome

Tour a brewery with over 300 years of history in the hills of western Tokyo and taste five sakes with paired snacks.

✓ Included Mount Mitake Shrine Hike

TOKYO, JAPANMount Mitake Shrine Hike

A guided day hike up Mount Mitake in western Tokyo to the 'Shrine in the Sky', with lunch at a temple lodging.

✓ Included Nihon-ga Painting in Minami-Aoyama

TOKYO, JAPANNihon-ga Painting in Minami-Aoyama

Paint in the classical Rimpa tradition with a nihon-ga artist, using brush and, if you wish, gold and silver leaf.

✓ Included Kumihimo Silk Braiding in Ueno

TOKYO, JAPANKumihimo Silk Braiding in Ueno

A private tour, limited to six guests a day, of a 360-year-old kumihimo silk-braiding workshop in Ueno, then make a braided accessory with master artisans.

✓ Included Wagasa Parasol Making

KYOTO, JAPANWagasa Parasol Making

Make a traditional Japanese parasol from bamboo and coloured paper at Kyoto's last remaining wagasa shop.

✓ Included Kana Calligraphy on a Fan

KYOTO, JAPANKana Calligraphy on a Fan

Learn Japan's own kana script from a Kyoto family of calligraphers and write your choice of words on a traditional fan.

✓ Included Red urushi lacquer bowls and trays

KYOTO, JAPANUrushi Lacquer Pen Workshop

Tour a lacquer workshop that has traded since 1909 and decorate a fountain pen with urushi.

✓ Included Dashi Tasting & Cooking Class

KYOTO, JAPANDashi Tasting & Cooking Class

Learn how dashi, the base of Japanese cooking, is made at a Kyoto dashi store founded in 1903.

✓ Included A sake flask and small cups on a lacquer tray

KYOTO, JAPANKoji Making & Sake Pairing in Umekoji

Make koji in a traditional koji room a short walk from Kyoto Station, then taste fermented snacks with seasonal sake.

✓ Included Antique Gallery Tour & Tea in Gion

KYOTO, JAPANAntique Gallery Tour & Tea in Gion

Handle Edo-period art with an expert in tea-ceremony art, then drink tea and sake from antique vessels.

✓ Included Curator-Led Museum Tour in Arashiyama

KYOTO, JAPANCurator-Led Museum Tour in Arashiyama

A private curator-led tour of an Arashiyama art museum on TIME's 2023 list, with works by Ito Jakuchu and Hokusai, before opening or after hours.

✓ Included Edo Woodblock Printing Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Woodblock Printing Workshop

Print ukiyo-e patterns on washi paper at a woodblock workshop with 160 years of history, and turn them into a bamboo-handled fan.

✓ Included Edo Glass Cutting Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Glass Cutting Workshop

Cut a pattern into an 8-ounce cup of two-colour Edo overlay glass with a seasoned glassmaker.

✓ Included Edo Paper Lantern Making

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Paper Lantern Making

Paint your own Edo paper lantern at a shop that has been in business for over a hundred years, and take it home.

✓ Included Edo Komon Tenugui Dyeing

TOKYO, JAPANEdo Komon Tenugui Dyeing

Stencil-dye a tenugui hand towel at a studio that has kept the Edo komon tradition alive for over a century.

✓ Included Maki-e Lacquerware Decoration

TOKYO, JAPANMaki-e Lacquerware Decoration

Decorate a piece of lacquerware with maki-e metallic powder at the main store of a century-old lacquerware shop in Nihonbashi.

✓ Included Mizuhiki Knots & Washi Wrapping

TOKYO, JAPANMizuhiki Knots & Washi Wrapping

In a Yoyogi studio, learn basic mizuhiki knots with an artist and practise wrapping with handmade tesuki-washi paper, including gift envelopes.

✓ Included Japanese Scent Making in Kudan

TOKYO, JAPANJapanese Scent Making in Kudan

Blend your own natural fragrance from Japanese plants with a scenting designer at a historic house in Kudan.

✓ Included Bonsai & Tea at a Bonsai Museum

TOKYO, JAPANBonsai & Tea at a Bonsai Museum

Tour a garden of over a thousand bonsai, shape a tree yourself, and finish with tea ceremony.

✓ Included Katana Polishing Workshop

TOKYO, JAPANKatana Polishing Workshop

Polish a real katana on a whetstone with one of Japan's professional katana polishers in Setagaya.

✓ Included Beer Museum Tour & Tasting in Ebisu

TOKYO, JAPANBeer Museum Tour & Tasting in Ebisu

Go behind the story of one of Japan's best-loved beers at a brewery museum in Ebisu, with a tasting and food pairings.

✓ Included Japanese Dance at a Ryotei in Akasaka

TOKYO, JAPANJapanese Dance at a Ryotei in Akasaka

Watch a private nihon-buyo performance and learn its movements from a master instructor, followed by kaiseki.

✓ Included Kanji Calligraphy with a Master

TOKYO, JAPANKanji Calligraphy with a Master

Learn kanji calligraphy at a ceramics shop in Yanaka from a calligrapher who draws on a background in psychology.

✓ Included Bean Paste Flower Wagashi Class

TOKYO, JAPANBean Paste Flower Wagashi Class

Make modern wagashi flowers from sweet bean paste, free of dairy and gluten, and enjoy them with tea.

✓ Included Dyed Flower Making in a Couture Atelier

TOKYO, JAPANDyed Flower Making in a Couture Atelier

Cut, dye and layer silk and lace into a flower in the atelier of a renowned couture flower artist.

✓ Included Mount Takao Hike & Shojin Lunch

TOKYO, JAPANMount Takao Hike & Shojin Lunch

Hike sacred Mount Takao with a certified guide, then eat shojin cuisine made from local vegetables.

✓ Included Organic Tea Plantation Tour in Ujitawara

KYOTO, JAPANOrganic Tea Plantation Tour in Ujitawara

Tour a pesticide-free tea plantation in the birthplace of Japanese green tea with its 21st-generation head.

✓ Included Kyo-Yuzen Silk Painting

KYOTO, JAPANKyo-Yuzen Silk Painting

Visit the Nakagyo workshop of a Kyo-Yuzen kimono dyer who trained under a Living National Treasure, see demonstrations and try silk painting yourself.

✓ Included Kyoto Roof Tile Kiln Tour

KYOTO, JAPANKyoto Roof Tile Kiln Tour

See how the roof tiles of Kyoto's temples and teahouses are made at a long-running kiln, and take a tile home.

✓ Included Arashiyama Houseboat & Bamboo Flute

KYOTO, JAPANArashiyama Houseboat & Bamboo Flute

Drift along the Oi River on a houseboat to the sound of the shinobue bamboo flute, as aristocrats did a thousand years ago.

✓ Included Folding Fan Painting in a Machiya

KYOTO, JAPANFolding Fan Painting in a Machiya

Paint your own Kyoto-made folding fan in a historic machiya townhouse, with a tour of the house, tea and wagashi.

✓ Included A shamisen player in a bamboo grove

KYOTO, JAPANShamisen Lesson at a Kyoto Temple

Learn a traditional melody on the shamisen in a private room at a Buddhist temple, then hear your teacher play.

✓ Included The red pagoda of a Kyoto temple rising above the city rooftops

KYOTO, JAPANTemple-Stamp Journal with Kyo-Karakami

Make a goshuin temple-stamp journal using Kyo-karakami, Kyoto's decorative paper printed with old woodblocks.

✓ Included Make Your Own Miso in Kyoto

KYOTO, JAPANMake Your Own Miso in Kyoto

Tour a century-old Kyoto miso brewery with its fourth-generation owner, then make 1 kg of miso by hand to take home and taste miso with cooking tips.

✓ Included Noh at Kamigamo Shrine

KYOTO, JAPANNoh at Kamigamo Shrine

Explore Kamigamo Shrine through the Noh play it inspired, followed by a private performance.

✓ Included Kabuki Lecture & Premium Seats at Minamiza

KYOTO, JAPANKabuki Lecture & Premium Seats at Minamiza

Take a private lecture from a kabuki actor, then watch him perform from premium seats at Minamiza Theatre.

✓ Included Kinsai Gold Leaf Gilding Workshop

KYOTO, JAPANKinsai Gold Leaf Gilding Workshop

Gild a fabric panel with a kinsai artisan after touring the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design.

✓ Included Pilgrimage to Kasagidera

KYOTO, JAPANPilgrimage to Kasagidera

Walk the ascetic Shugendo trail of Kasagidera, a mountain temple in southern Kyoto famous for its huge rocks, led privately by its vice head priest.

✓ Included Kogin-zashi Embroidery in a Machiya

KYOTO, JAPANKogin-zashi Embroidery in a Machiya

Make a kogin-zashi embroidered accessory in a historic Kyoto townhouse with a kogin-zashi artist.

✓ Included A hand-carved wooden statuette of a standing Buddhist figure

KYOTO, JAPANBuddhist Statuette Carving in Yase

Spend a day in verdant Yase carving your own palm-sized Warabe Jizo with a Buddhist sculptor.

✓ Included Suiboku-ga Ink Painting in Higashiyama

KYOTO, JAPANSuiboku-ga Ink Painting in Higashiyama

Learn suiboku-ga ink painting from a ninth-generation Maruyama-Shijo school artist in a restaurant reserved just for you.

✓ Included Shimabara Walk & Kyoto Lunch

KYOTO, JAPANShimabara Walk & Kyoto Lunch

Stroll through Shimabara, one of Kyoto's three historic entertainment districts, with a local restaurateur, and have lunch.

✓ Included Kodo Incense Ceremony in Nagoya

NAGOYA, JAPANKodo Incense Ceremony in Nagoya

Experience the kodo incense ceremony, a Nagoya tradition, in a tearoom normally closed to the public.

✓ Included Nagoya Folding Fan Making

NAGOYA, JAPANNagoya Folding Fan Making

See how folding fans are made at a fan shop near Nagoya Castle, founded in 1912, then finish your own fan with a Nagoya Castle or painting design.

Reviews

Hear From Travellers Who Have Journeyed
With Haven Japan

4.9·Based on 487 guest reviews

“Our guide Joshua was amazing, loved his job, and it showed as he toured with us. We loved our day, and all we experienced.”

Dori E.19 Oct 2026

Top Rated Certificateverified by Trustindex Read our guest reviews

Inclusions

Private guide on the guided days, in English or French
Private transfers by Toyota Alphard or equivalent, and wherever the road is not the best way, a private car, a taxi or reserved Shinkansen seats, all arranged for you
Entrance fees and activities listed in the itinerary
Accommodation chosen to your taste and booked for you
A local SIM card with unlimited data, if you would like one
Luggage forwarding between hotels, if you would like it
Round-the-clock support from our Japan-based team
A certified local Kumano guide on the walking days

Pricing

2027

Prices in JPY, per person, for two travelling together, with accommodation included. Every Haven journey is quoted individually, once we know your dates, party size and preferences.

One team plans and books your whole journey, so you have a single person to speak to from the first call to the last morning. Your quote sets out everything that is included, day by day.

¥0Price From

¥0Deposit From

Questions About This Journey

How many days is Twelve Days, Kumano Kodo and Ise and where does it go?

Twelve Days, Kumano Kodo and Ise runs 12 days and visits Tokyo, Kyoto, Koyasan, Kumano, Ise and Nagoya. The day-by-day route, with a map, is shown above.

Is this journey private, and can it be changed?

Yes. Every Haven journey is private, just you and your party, and tailor-made. This route is an example of how a journey can unfold: tell us your dates, interests and pace and we will adapt the days, the places and the stays.

How much does it cost?

Prices start from ¥960,000 (see the pricing section above). The final price depends on your dates, the hotels you choose, the experiences you add and the size of your group, so we confirm an exact quote after your enquiry.

What is included?

The inclusions are listed in the pricing section above. Unless stated there, entrance fees and meals are not included, and our guides are happy to recommend restaurants. An all-inclusive package is available for a custom Japan journey.

Where do we stay?

You choose your stay in each destination from the hotels and ryokan shown on the page. If you prefer another property, tell us and we will look at it.

When should I book?

Japan is a country where travellers plan well ahead, so we recommend contacting us about 6 months before your ideal departure date, especially for spring and autumn. Last-minute requests may be possible with some limits.

What languages do your guides speak?

Our tours are conducted in English, French and Japanese. If you need another language, tell us in advance and we will do our best to arrange it.

How do I pay?

We accept payment in Japanese yen and major international credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

What is the cancellation policy?

If we receive your cancellation 91 days or more before the first day of service, only the deposit is kept. It is 50% of the price 61 to 90 days before, and 100% 60 days or less before. Cancellations are made by email to contact@havenjapan.com. The full policy is in clause 5 of our Terms and Conditions.

Can I add experiences such as a tea ceremony or an onsen stay?

Yes. The experiences section above lists what you can add, from tea ceremonies and craft workshops to private onsen. Each day can also include free time to explore on your own.

Begin Your Journey

What you've just explored is a starting point, the beginning of a journey that's entirely yours to shape from here. Every detail can move: your pace, your interests, your Japan.

Make an
Enquiry

Send us the itinerary as you have shaped it, with your dates and who is travelling. A first call and a short exchange by email are free. When we design your full proposal, a fee of ¥30,000 applies, and it is deducted from your deposit when you book.