The cultural roots of Japanese food, tea ceremony, traditional arts, crafts, zen and other countless sensibilities can be traced to the Kansai region and the remarkable people who still uphold its customs. These Exclusive Expeditions will take you into the heart of Kansai to meet with Japan’s living treasures. Come and see the intersection of masterful, world-class artisans as they share their craft in idyllic spaces, now available online via our platform of luxury experiences. For a fully exclusive offline expedition, we await you in Kansai.

Kansai region, a sacred place for the spiritual culture of Japan. Start your journey one step at a time firstly.

Imagine, the sun rises above the horizon, the curves of mountains, the lines of coasts and the veins of roads. Enjoy the view of Japanese gardens of traditional temples, walking along the old pilgrimage routes, and getting the benefits of the onsen. Meditating body and mind. The arts passed down from generation to generation. Master of martial arts. Buddhist cuisine served in the colored leaves in autumn. Experience the spirit of hospitality as well as to enjoy the tea. Kansai, a region where is filled with hospitality.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs designates stories of Japan’s unique regional culture and traditions as Japan Heritage. This action was started in fiscal 2015 to vitalize regional economies. The attractive tangible/intangible cultural properties which are essential for telling those stories are collected and utilized in a comprehensive manner by local initiative of each region, and strategically advertised home and overseas.

Ningyo Joruri (puppet theater) originally developed from the Ebisu-Kaki of Nishinomiya. Ningyo Joruri then spread to Tokushima from neighboring Awaji Island. Thereafter, it continued to develop and spread to the Kansai area and then to the rest of the nation. This long history is referred to as the “Historic Road of Ningyo Joruri” and we are working hard to promote puppet theater through our various activities.

Kansai, the region that has been weaving the threads of its history since ancient times.

In the Kansai region, where various cultures have bloomed, there are festivals and dances that have been passed down for a long time. Once you enter the region, you can feel the breath of people who continue to pass them down from the past to the present, and into the future. Let’s begin a new journey to discover the origins of festivals and dances in Kansai.

Leaflets of “Pilgrimage to 33 Places on the Road of Dramas” and “Road of Dramas Ⅱ － 20 Sentimental Journeys,” listing a number of famous places in the Kansai region, which appear on Noh, Joruri puppet theatre, Kabuki and Nihon-buyo (Classical Japanese dance) are prepared this time. Please enjoy the journey to stages or scenes of Japanese classic musical drama in Kansai beyond time and space.

Experience the realistic, uplifting, and heart-enriching prayer ""matsuri"" to the fullest!

Here are some festivals held in Kansai's two prefectures.