Japanese Cultural Experiences

Kimono

Sanko Inari Shrine in Inuyama City

Sanko Inari Shrine, located in Inuyama City, is a charming place with an old-fashioned townscape. It is perfect for donning kimonos and capturing picturesque moments for your social media.
Osu, a traditional neighborhood in Nagoya City, brims with the nostalgic charm. If you dress in a kimono against the backdrop of the vibrant red lanterns lining the shopping street, you're bound to capture impressive photos.
Both Inuyama City and Osu offer kimono rental shops, allowing you to easily engage in the experience of wearing a kimono.

Tea Ceremony Experience

The tea ceremony experience in Nishio
(courtesy of Aiya - Waku Waku Matcha Museum in Nishio)

For a taste of Japan's refined tea ceremony, we highly recommend Nishio City. With a tea history spanning over 700 years and renowned for its abundant production of matcha, Nishio provides the perfect opportunity to fully embrace your senses, learn about matcha, and take part in tea ceremony experiences while savoring delightful matcha sweets.

Tamesaburo Memorial Museum Café

Tamesaburo Memorial Museum Japanese Garden

Located in Nagoya City, the Tamesaburo Memorial Museum, a branch of the Furukawa Art Museum, allows you to explore a serene Japanese garden and traditional tea rooms. Additionally, the museum features a charming café where you can indulge in matcha tea and traditional Japanese sweets. Step into the world of refined tea ceremony culture within the elegant premises of this former residence of a prosperous merchant.

Traditional Crafts

Arimatsu Shibori

Pottery wheel workshop

Cloisonne ware

Aichi Prefecture is a region deeply rooted in a variety of traditional crafts.

Seto City and Tokoname City, renowned for their 1,000-year legacy in pottery production, hold a special place as home to six distinguished kilns in Japan. Here, you can engage in various hands-on experiences, including crafting tea bowls and plates, painting beckoning cats, and more.

In Ama City, you can unleash your creativity by crafting your unique cloisonné ware, such as accessories and hand mirrors. This intricate art form involves the application of vivid glassy glazes in an array of colors to metal surfaces.

Arimatsu, situated in Nagoya City, is renowned for its 400-year-old Arimatsu Shibori tie-dyeing technique. You can witness mesmerizing shibori demonstrations by skilled traditional craftspeople and even partake in the hands-on experience of shaping handkerchiefs and tenugui (hand towels) using shibori techniques.

By engaging in these timeless experiences deeply rooted in the region's history, you can appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of traditional Japanese culture.

Festivals

Inuyama Festival

Toyohama Sea Bream Festival

Toyohashi Gion Festival

Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival)

Aichi Prefecture hosts an array of intriguing traditional festivals.

During April, the Inuyama Festival takes place amidst the enchanting cherry blossoms. The festival is highlighted by the grandeur of the yama floats, towering and majestic, as they gracefully proceed through the festivities.

Come July, Minamichita hosts the Toyohama Sea Bream Festival, renowned as the strange festival on Earth. Witness the spectacle of a colossal sea bream, ingeniously crafted from bamboo and wood, weighing approximately one ton. This magnificent creature parades through the town, leaving spectators in awe. Meanwhile, in Toyohashi, the Toyohashi Gion Festival dazzles attendees with a unique fireworks display. Fireworks are launched into the sky using handheld devices held skillfully under the arm.

At the onset of each year, on the 13th day of the first lunar month (typically falling around January or February in the Gregorian calendar), the Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri unfolds. This extraordinary event sees thousands of courageous men, adorned solely in sarashi loincloths and white tabi socks, strive to touch the chosen man, known as the shin-otoko, to pass on their future misfortunes to him.

These traditional festivals, deeply rooted in the local community, with their exceptional and extraordinary celebrations, are bound to ignite a passionate frenzy within you.

Industrial Experience

Aichi Prefecture thrives as a region famous for its manufacturing prowess. Consequently, the prefecture is adorned with an abundance of industrial sightseeing destinations.

Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

Automobile Pavilion at the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

Aichi Prefecture has gained widespread recognition as a prominent industrial hub and the birthplace of the Toyota Group.

If you're interested in exploring the remarkable journey of the Toyota Group, which originated in the textile machinery industry and later achieved worldwide acclaim for its automobile business, why not visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology? There, you can witness the evolution of Toyota cars across generations and delve into the fascinating story of how this company grew into a global powerhouse.

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

Trains at the SCMaglev and Railway Park

At the SCMaglev and Railway Park, explore the fascinating world of high-speed railway technology. The museum showcases an impressive collection of trains, including steam locomotives, conventional trains, the iconic Tokaido Shinkansen, and superconducting linear trains.

One of the museum's highlights is its expansive railroad diorama, one of the largest in Japan. Additionally, you can enjoy a realistic driving experience using a simulator based on the training equipment utilized by JR Tokai's training facilities and train crews. This unique feature ensures that the museum offers an engaging experience for children and adults alike.

INAX MUSEUMS

Kiln Plaza and Tile Museum buildings at INAX MUSEUMS

Shiny Clay Ball Workshop

INAX (now LIXIL), a globally recognized manufacturer of sanitaryware ceramics, has established a museum featuring six pavilions. Here, you can delve into the history and beauty of Japanese clay and ceramic.

The museum conserves kiln structures and chimneys dating back over 100 years, housing a carefully curated collection of over 7,000 tiles from across the globe. There is also a Shiny Clay Ball Workshop for children and adults.

Mizkan Museum

Exterior of the Mizkan Museum

Sushi-making experience

The Mizkan Museum is dedicated to the history of vinegar and run by Mizkan, a renowned Japanese food brand with a history spanning 200 years.

The museum delves into vinegar brewing from the Edo period (1603-1868) to the modern era. There are also fun, hands-on sushi-making experiences for both children and adults to enjoy.

Islands (Sakushima, Himakajima, Shinojima)

Sakushima East House

Himakajima Lover's Swing

Aichi Prefecture boasts three captivating islands: Sakushima, Himakajima, and Shinojima.
Sakushima is an artistic haven with 22 diverse creations, including East House, blending seamlessly with nature's beauty.

Himakajima Island stands out for its octopus and pufferfish delicacies. Lover's Swing overlooks the vast sea leaving you feeling airborne, making for a refreshing and serene vacation.
Shinoshima Island holds a spot among Japan's top 100 sunset-watching destinations, painting the sky in breathtaking hues.

Mountain Climbing and Skiing

Mt. Sanage

Mt. Horaiji

Mt. Chausu Plateau (Chausuyama Kogen) Ski Resort

Aichi has a bounty of nature.
Engage in outdoor pursuits in Aichi like Mt. Sanage which offers an accessible start for beginners, while Mt Horaiji's maple foliage is famed. The Imo Wetlands, a national natural treasure, captivate with their charm.

When winter blankets the landscape, Mt. Chausu Plateau (Chausuyama Kogen) Ski Resort beckons skiers. Throughout the year, diverse outdoor experiences await adventurers of all kinds.

Excursions

LEGOLAND® JAPAN

LEGOLAND® JAPAN ©2022 The LEGO Group.

Situated in Nagoya, LEGOLAND® Japan stands as a vibrant theme park tailored for families with children aged 2 to 12, promising a day filled with excitement.
Adorned with a staggering 10,000 LEGO® models crafted from an astounding 17 million LEGO® Blocks, this park is a haven for nurturing young minds' boundless creativity.
Spanning eight distinct themed zones, the park boasts over 40 attractions, captivating shows, engaging theaters, and interactive workshops, ensuring endless entertainment for children from morning to night.

Fruit Picking

Strawberry picking

Grape picking

Orange picking

Aichi Prefecture, blessed with its gentle climate, stands as a fruit paradise cultivating a variety of produce like mandarin oranges, juicy grapes, luscious melons, flavorful blueberries, and succulent strawberries.

Numerous orchards invite you to partake in the joy of fruit picking. Places like Gamagori Orange Park and Strawberry Park Mifune offer easy access to this delightful experience. So, pick your preferred farm and relish the pleasure of savoring these freshly harvested fruits.