Japan with Michael Cimarusti

Day 1

Yōkoso to Kyoto! Our journey begins early, as we meet Michael, then go deep into timeless Kyoto. A ginkgo tree-lined path leads us into the fabled Imamiya Shrine, where we make a wish with the ahokashisan stone then try aburi mochi, a roasted rice cake that’s been served here for a thousand years. Then we take a meditative stroll through the sprawling Zen gardens of the Daitoku-Ji Temple and feel a connection to the Buddha. We’ll cap off lunch at a local restaurant with a traditional tea ceremony led by a local master who will teach us the intricacies and history of the practice.

This evening, we peek into the Geisha’s world by wandering past theaters, teahouses and restaurants in Kyoto’s iconic Gion district. Appetites raised, our welcome dinner will be unforgettable. Surrounded by gardens and pines, our restaurant looks like a temple, with rooms peering over the skyline. As we feast and toast cups of sake, traditional performers pluck the three strings of the long-necked shamisen. What a start!

Day 2

Everything is art in Kyoto. First we drop by a miso brewery and learn how this fermented paste of soybean and koji mold has ancient origins—and is used more than just as an earthy base for ramen! Afterwards we visit a four century-old soy sauce factory that artfully bottles highest quality sauces tailored for dishes, salads or soups. We’ll sample both, while learning of the city’s fetish with custardy yodofu tofu, at today’s traditional restaurant, then spend the afternoon exploring on our own. 

Brace yourself for an epic night. Japanese cuisine changed Michael’s life, and will change ours during our dinner feast created by Michael—and us! He’ll walk us through how to build a masterpiece, beginning by choosing local ingredients, then assembling a banquet step by step. Then, we eat in an unforgettable setting as the Kyoto night envelops us.

Day 3

Our journey into serenity deepens today, as we relocate to the nearby Sea of Japan coast and settle into our ryokan—a traditional inn with attentive staff handing out slippers and ushering us into rooms overlooking the lush gardens.

Few foreign visitors make it here, but the scenery around Miyazu is of Japan’s most storied. We’ll feel it deeply with a monk-led meditation ceremony at the celebrated, mountain-top Nariaji Temple dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. We follow by immersing ourselves in the art of rice vinegar at one of Japan’s most famous breweries. We’ll see how the artisanal vinegar is made, and sample how it’s used. Back at our ryokan, we’ll dine together on a traditional kaiseki, a meticulously plated multi-course feast designed to embody omotenashi, or wholehearted hospitality.

Day 4

We all love sashimi. Today we see where much of Kyoto’s is sourced by visiting the quiet fishing village of Ine, almost a secret to most area visitors. We’ll walk along some of the 200 funaya boathouses huddling along a snaking bay below a skyline of lush mountains, then drop by the Mukai Sake brewery to see (and taste) how its iconic rice wine is made. Lunch is a feast of fresh seasonal fish and thickly sliced sashimi in a waterfront restaurant overlooking the bay’s gentle, clear waters.

Back in Miyazu, we’ll admire one of the fabled “Three Views of Japan.” The meandering Amanohashidate, or “Bridge to Heaven,” is a natural land bridge between mountainous coasts connecting Tango peninsula. It’s lovely to see, even if locals prefer seeing it upside down from the matanozoki platform!

Day 5

Today, we pack up and say sayonara to the sea and return to Kyoto, where we set up in its leafy fringes on the riverside, the perfect base for temples and personal reflection. We begin our welcome back with a traditional vegetarian Buddhist lunch, or shojin-ryori, inside the grounds of a Tenryu-ji Temple with stellar views of its Zen garden. Then, it’s a visit to hilltop Okochi Sanso, the beloved villa of late actor Denjiro Okochi (who starred in the film version of the classic Kyoto-based novel, The Tale of Genji). We’ll peek into the home and amble about the intricate gardens with towering views of the city. 

Next, we move on to the atmospheric Gio-ji Temple to meander over its stepping stones through bamboo forests where moss gardens loom in the mist. Washed over with a tranquil feeling, we head back to the hotel for dinner on our own tonight.

Day 6

It’s our last day together, but our Kyoto immersion is far from over. As with food, handwriting is a beloved art. In our lesson of shodo calligraphy, we learn beauty and balance comes not just in what you write, but how you make flowing strokes with a deft brush. Afterwards, we’ll take our freshly dried scrolls, and drop by Kyoto’s iconic five-block Nishiki market, where we’ll pass the hundred food stalls serving the city’s freshest snacks, like the savory, pork-and-shrimp okonomiyaki pancakes topped in dry seafood.

But don’t snack too much! We’ll have a traditional lunch, then get some free time for last-minute souvenir hunting, before setting off for an all-timer dinner finale. We’ll enjoy a last meal together capped with sake toasts and enjoy how nightfall breathes Kyoto into a new mystic light.

Day 7

After a thrilling experience, we meet for breakfast, then pack our things and newly made impressions, and transfer to the airport for our flights home where we’ll approach every endeavor with a new sense of calm and care. Until next time!