EXPERIENCE THE QUINTESSENTIAL

Kappabashi Kitchenware Town：Kappabashi is one of the best places in Tokyo to window shop and learn about traditional Japanese dining culture, with all sorts of cooking utensils and crockery for sale.
Some of the highlights you’ll find along the store-lined street include plastic food samples, engraved knives and custom-made pots and pans.
One of the places to stop and photograph during your stroll around the neighbourhood is the golden kappa statue.

Sushi-making experience (Hassan)：The highlight here is the hands-on sushi-making experience led by a professional sushi chef, who teaches you how to make your own makizushi rolls and nigiri sushi.
By the end of the short lesson, you’ll be able to eat your own sushi creations, along with a number of other tasty Japanese dishes.
The sushi-making skills and trade-industry tips and techniques you’ll pick up during the lesson will help you to recreate some amazing sushi for friends when you return home, and you’ll also receive a personalised “graduation certificate” signed by the chef himself, as a memento of the experience.

Ameyoko (Shopping Street)：Ameya Yokocho, or “Ameyoko” as it’s affectionately known, is a popular destination for tourists, who come to soak up the lively market-style atmosphere while strolling through the narrow stall-lined streets.
There are plenty of vendors selling everything from snacks, sweets, and fresh produce to clothing, accessories and souvenirs, and staff hold up signs while shouting out limited-time sale announcements to passersby.

Dinner at Tsujigahana (Ueno location)：One of the surprising things about dining out in Tokyo is the fact that you can find hidden gems tucked away inside random buildings on floors high above eye-level from the street.
Tsujigahana is one of these hidden gems, accessed by an elevator that whisks you away from a busy street and up into a beautiful traditional dining area.
Here you can dine in private rooms, choosing a la carte or from the course menu, with pork and vegetables steamed in bamboo boxes being one of the must-try specialties.

ANA Domestic flight：Flying with ANA is so smooth and easy. The flight from Tokyo to Oita is about 90 minutes, and it’s a comfortable way to travel from the mainland to the southern island of Kyushu, where Oita is located.
Even flying within Japan, free drinks are served and free Wi-Fi is also available on some flights.(Routes and aircraft are limited)

Oita Airport ：Oita Airport is a delightfully small and stress-free terminal that introduces you to the wonders of Japan’s “onsen prefecture” from the minute you step off the plane.
There’s a foot bath filled with local hot spring water, a giant faux hot tub for visitors to sit in, and a huge plate of sushi sitting on the revolving conveyor belt where you pick up your luggage!

Kitsuki Castle Town：Kitsuki Castle Town is a beautiful place to explore, and if you have time, stop by the Warakuan kimono store to get dressed by ladies who can style you in traditional dress in minutes. Strolling through the residence in kimono makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the Edo period
Some of the picturesque locations here include the beautiful “Vinegar Slope”, which is so pretty it’s been used in historical films and television dramas, and a number of beautifully preserved samurai residences.

Lunch at Wakaeya：Wakaeya is a special gem that’s been serving the same prized tai chazuke dish for more than 300 years.
The delicious sesame sauce flavoured red snapper and rice dish is known locally as “Ureshino”, after a feudal lord tried it at Wakaeya centuries ago and uttered the words “Ureshino” (lit. “I’m so happy”).
Tasting a dish with such history behind it is an incredibly special experience, especially once you learn that the restaurant is still being run by the same family, with the 16th generation currently overseeing operations to ensure that the culinary history is preserved.

Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center：This was a nice stop on the tour which showcased local bamboo crafts in a fun and engaging manner. The intricate designs and large works created with bamboo were all amazing to look at, while the interactive woven bell-making course was a lot of fun and easy for both adults and children to take part in. The bamboo bell ball makes for a great souvenir afterwards, and there are plenty of gorgeous objects to purchase in the attached gift shop as well!

Dinner at Accommodation：Dinner at Yufuin Hotel Shuhokan contained a delicious array of local delicacies, served in a brightly lit communal dining room with views out to the surrounding countryside.
Each dish was beautifully prepared and presented on plates and bowls adorned with seasonal motifs, enhancing the dining experience.

Yufuin Onsen (Yufuin Hotel Shuhokan)：I felt the history of Yufuin Hotel Shukuhokan from this building. There was a nice view from the hotel room. Some rooms offer the view of Mt. Yufudake. You will be able to relax in the public bath. They also have a footbath in the garden, and it is an easy way to enjoy Japanese onsen culture.

Lake Kinrin：Lake Kinrin was a lovely pocket of nature teeming with fish and wildlife, thanks to the hot springs that bubble up through the lake bed, creating an ideal spa-like environment. A short stroll takes you all around the lake, making it a beautiful, serene place to stop and breathe the fresh mountain air.

Hita Gion Yamaboko hall：The Hita Gion Yamaboko hall is a site that’s well worth a visit as it contains some of the largest and most impressive festival floats you’ll find in all of Japan.
These floats are paraded around the streets once a year for the annual Hita Gion festival in late July, and for the remainder of the year they’re housed here for people from around Japan to admire.
Gazing up at the huge floats and discovering all their intricate details makes for an awe-inspiring experience.

Lunch at Ginsushi：If you want to eat like a local, Ginsushi is the place to go. The homely, family-run eatery specialises in Hitan sushi, which uses fruit and vegetables as toppings for sushi instead of the usual raw fish.
Meals here offer a surprising array of different tastes and textures, all of which are delicious and beautifully presented and prepared. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike are sure to be incredibly impressed by the delicious meat-free morsels on offer!

Mameda walking tour：Walking around the beautiful Mameda district is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, as it has a traditional, laid-back atmosphere and a variety of small stores and eateries to pop in and out of as you explore the narrow streets.
This is the best place to pick up a pair of locally made geta sandals, with a huge selection of styles available, and you can find the largest cedar geta in all of Japan!

Ontayaki no Sato：One of the highlights of the tour, this tiny, tranquil pottery village and its brilliant soundscape–one of the 100 best Soundscapes of Japan–will leave a lasting impression on you long after you’ve returned home. The sound of the water-powered wooden clay-crushing devices and the charm of the local families that sell their beautiful wares make this a must-visit spot.

Dinner at Accommodation：One of the best things about staying at a ryokan inn is the meals, which come in feast-like proportions, featuring fresh local ingredients and beautiful seasonal embellishments.
Ukiha Bekkan Shinshiyo knows how to treat their guests to stunning meals, served in private rooms with gorgeous views and attentive staff to help guide you through each course.

Accommodation (Ukiha Bekkan Shinshiyo)：Ukiha Bekkan Shinshiyo in Amagase Onsen is a quiet haven with an inn-like atmosphere that makes you feel instantly at home.
The staff are incredibly attentive and helpful, and they go out of their way to ensure that your stay is comfortable and pleasant.
The rooms are clean and modern, and some even come with their own rotenburo hot spring outdoor baths on an attached terrace where you can relax and gaze out at the surrounding scenery.

Lunch at Shozan：Shozan is such a good restaurant that locals line up to dine here, where the specialty is Usa City’s regional delicacy, fried chicken.
Their round, ball-like chicken pieces are so crispy and juicy you’ll be wanting to eat them every day, and adults and children alike will fall in love with them, as they’re easy to eat, come served in generous portion sizes, and can be ordered as part of a set with rice, salad, tea, and miso soup.

Usa Jingu Shrine：Usa Jingu contains a wide variety of sacred sites, and visitors can get a deeper understanding of each site on the shrine grounds with a fun-to-use interactive audio guide that comes with multi-language options.
This is how you’ll learn about things like “meoto iwa”, two flat stones on the steps leading to the main shrine. Partners who hold hands whilst standing side-by-side on the stones are said to receive happiness.

Futago-ji Temple：This ancient temple enhances your sense of adventure and deepens your connection with the sacred atmosphere of the site.
It’s a stunning place to explore, and the English-language guide map is very helpful so you can walk through the grounds on your own.

This tour is a great introduction to two very different sides of Japan, allowing you to gain a greater understanding of city life and country living through hands-on activities and visits to renowned sites.
Every stop makes for a truly memorable experience!