JAPAN
WILD TERRAINS X JAPAN
8 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS
A rare opportunity to see Japan through the eyes of the women who live there. Our 8-day Japan group trip takes you off-the-beaten-path to places like Kyushu and Naoshima, and includes special invitations into the homes of Japanese women for deep cultural conversations. You’ll attend a modern tea ceremony, soak away stress at the onsen, learn to make sushi and udon, and forge meaningful connections with inspiring women along the way.
TRIP DATES | THE ITINERARY | ACCOMMODATIONS | WHAT’S INCLUDED | TRIP LEADERS | FAQ
JAPAN GROUP TRIPS
Prices start at USD $8,990 per person. Click on individual trips to see pricing by trip.
JAPAN ITINERARY
DAY ONE - KYUSHU
Our journey starts on the southern island of Kyushu in the city of Fukuoka, where we’ll meet to travel down the coastline to the seaside town of Karatsu. After dropping our bags at Karatsu Seaside Hotel, we’ll head to a swanky dinner party at Mirukashi Salon, the home of cook Prairie Stuart-Wolff and renowned ceramist Hanako Nakazato. On the menu? Cocktails shaken up with seasonal flair, a gorgeous feast showcasing the best of Japanese cuisine, a crash course in Japanese table manners, and plenty of lively discussion about Japanese culture and the unique female perspective in Japan.
Meals included: dinner
DAY TWO - KYUSHU
Rise n’ shine to your oceanfront view! We’re headed back to Mirukashi Salon with Prairie to learn to make Temari Sushi - a form of sushi perfect to pack for a picnic. Our picnic location will change with the seasons, always showcasing the magical landscape of rural Japan. We’ll take our time to enjoy every bite, and end things on a sweet note with classic Japanese desserts and hand-whisked matcha.
Then, it's off to Hanako's studio for a deep dive into Karatsu's pottery history and her innovative approach. Get ready for a live demo of her pottery skills, plus an exclusive chance to snap up some pieces from her private collection. The evening is yours to zen out in the hotel’s thermal baths or enjoy dinner in town.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
DAY THREE - KYUSHU TO NAOSHIMA
We’ve got an early wake up call and places to be, like the famous Art Islands of Japan. It’s a journey to get there - the kind that involves trains, planes ferries and automobiles - but our lengthy travel day will bring us to the sanctuary that is Naoshima Island.
We’ve worked up an appetite after all that travel, so our first order of business is to meet local chef Kazuko Sanda for a heart-warming udon workshop. Afterwards, we check ourselves into the luxurious ROKA Ryokan - where you'll have the afternoon to kick back and relax in your very own private soaking tub, before we reconvene for a delicious dinner featuring the freshest bounty from the Seto Inland Sea.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY FOUR - NAOSHIMA
Today we embrace our creative side as we explore Naoshima Island on bicycles with local artist Eri Motohashi. Nestled in the Seto Inland Sea, Naoshima is an art lover's paradise, dedicated to contemporary art, scattered with impressive museums and immersive outdoor sculpture gardens. With Eri leading the way, we're in for a full-day immersion into the vibrant world of contemporary art, with a spotlight on the incredible works of some of Japan's leading ladies artists, including the legendary Yayoi Kusama.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
DAY FIVE - NAOSHIMA TO KYOTO
We’re leaving island life behind for the Buddhist temples, imperial palaces, and traditional wooden homes of historic Kyoto. After a travel day, we’ll make ourselves cozy at Hana Tsukamoto and Irene Chang’s stunning Maana Homes (one of the only 100% women-owned hotels in Japan - we have yet to find another!). In the evening, we’ll gather for a delicious Kyoto dinner experience - but, shhhh it’s a surprise!
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
DAY SIX - KYOTO
We’re spending the morning with Fumie Okumura, founder of TOKA Tea, at her elegant teahouse for a full-body sensory experience highlighting the Japanese rituals around tea and fragrance.
After we've achieved peak relaxation, we’ll spend the rest of the day exploring Kyoto. For those who want a guided afternoon, your Trip Leader Rei will take you to her favorite spot for ramen and then on a serene stroll along the famous Philosopher's Path. If instead you’re craving a solo adventure, this will also be a great afternoon to do your own thing!
Meals included: breakfast, lunch (optional)
DAY SEVEN - KYOTO
The morning is yours to play tourist! We’ll give you a list with our favorite ways to spend this time — from wandering the ancient temples to indulging in some retail therapy for Japanese ceramics, paper treasures, and sake to bring home.
In the afternoon, we're invited to the countryside home and studio of ceramist Masako Nakagami. She’s cooking a special Japanese feast made with fresh, seasonal delights. Just as we started the trip, we’ll spend our final evening enjoying an intimate dinner party appreciating Masako’s ceramic collection over one-too-many cups of sake, and sharing stories about the memories we’ve made over the past week.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
DAY EIGHT - KYOTO
Say it isn’t so! Our trip has come to an end. We’ll have an early breakfast before we travel as a group to Kyoto Station, where we’ll say our goodbyes. If you're planning to extend your stay in Japan, we'll help you get to the right place (with some travel tips, of course!).
Meals included: breakfast
Please note this is a sample itinerary and some variations will happen between trips due to our partners’ schedules,
but in general the itinerary will be very similar!
WHAT'S INCLUDED
ALL ACCOMMODATIONS (7 NIGHTS)
MEALS AS LISTED ABOVE
ALL ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE
TRANSPORTATION TO & FROM ACTIVITIES
WILD TERRAINS X JAPAN TOTE BAG
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO/FROM JAPAN
DOMESTIC TRAVEL TO MEET YOUR GROUP IN FUKUOKA
MEALS NOT LISTED ABOVE
MANDATORY TRAVEL INSURANCE
INCIDENTAL & PERSONAL EXPENSES
WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
KARATSU SEASIDE HOTEL
KARATSU, KYUSHU, JAPAN
not women-owned* | all private rooms
Regardless of whether you have booked a private or shared spot on the trip, all rooms at Karatsu Seaside Hotel will be private rooms with a single queen bed in each. We hope this will allow for restful sleep as you recover from the travel jet lag.
ROKA RYOKAN
NAOSHIMA ISLAND, JAPAN
not woman-owned* | private and shared rooms
ROKA Ryokan is a small boutique hotel on Naoshima Island with a thermal baths in every room, and a beautiful restaurant where breakfast and dinner is served. Beds are a modern, more comfortable version of traditional Japanese futons, which sit directly on the floor. All shared rooms have separate beds.
MAANA HOMES
KYOTO, JAPAN
woman-owned | private and shared rooms
Maana Homes is a set of beautifully renovated wooden townhomes in Kyoto. Our group will take over several townhomes, all within a short walking distance of each other. Because of the design of traditional Japanese homes, communal spaces will be shared regardless of whether you have booked a private or shared room. Beds are a modern, more comfortable version of traditional Japanese futons, which sit directly on the floor. We have two shared rooms with separate beds, and one shared room with a queen bed (only suitable for close friends or family comfortable sharing a bed)
*While we always try to stay in women-owned hotels, these areas of Japan are extremely remote and a women-owned hotel does not exist here yet. As soon as one does, we will support it!
MEET YOUR TRIP LEADER
BEST TIME OF YEAR
TO VISIT
We like to travel to Japan during the shoulder seasons (March-May and October-December), avoiding peak times like Cherry Blossom week and the hot and humid summer months
(June-August).
WEATHER
Japan has four distinct seasons with a climate ranging from subarctic in the north to subtropical in the south. Our trips focus on the southern half of the country, which tends to have hot, humid summers, and mild, cool winters.
WOMEN YoU’LL MEET
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