Nara has a long history and is renowned for having three World Heritage sites; “Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area,” “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara,” and “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” Because of its long history, various Japanese cultures originated in Nara, and here are some programs for you to experience them.

Sumo Premium Tour

It is believed that the first bout of Sumo took place in Nara between “Nomi no Sukune” and “Taima no Kehaya,” who was living in current Katsuragi-city, Nara. In 1990, Kehayaza Sumo Museum was built in Katsuragi-city.

“Sumo Premium Tour” offers you various exciting experiences related to Sumo at “Kehayaza.” The highlight of the tour is a full-sized Sumo ring called “Dohyo,” where you can try Sumo wrestling. Also, enjoy a traditional song “Sumo Jinku,” which is unique to Sumo and usually performed at the Grand Sumo Tournament. This museum houses more than 12,000 materials such as books related Sumo, “Banzuke” rankings, and “Hoshitori-hyo” matches and results.

* Please check our hands-on experience program
Sumo Premium Tour with private transfer

Tea Ceremony at Jiko-in Zen Temple

The tea ceremony, one of the exceptional Japanese culture, teaches the beauty of simplicity “Wabi and Sabi.” It was also born in Nara, so it is said.
A custom of drinking tea has existed since ancient times, but the current style of the Japanese tea ceremony was established in the 15th century by “Murata Juko” of Nara. In the 16th century, many tea masters surged including renowned “Sen no Rikyu” while the tea ceremony blossomed, and various schools of the tea ceremony evolved. One of the schools was “Sekishu-ryu” based in Yamatokoriyama-city, Nara, which was started by “Katagiri Sadamasa”, a feudal lord of this area. In the Edo period (17th-19th century), this school became the official style of the Tokugawa shogunate, and thus favored by the feudal ruling class of Japan at the time.

In this tour, you will attend an authentic tea ceremony at Jiko-in Zen Temple that was founded by Katagiri Sadamasa. The whole grounds of Jiko-in Zen Temple was designed as one tea-ceremony house. Once you step into an approach to the temple grounds from the first gate, you are guided to a drawing room where you can see a pristine, manicured garden. There are also small tea rooms that make you feel like you’ve slipped back in time. All necessary settings for inviting people to the tea ceremony are here. It is a precious place, and rare even in Japan, where you can be in the scene staged by the great tea master from 300 years ago to find peace.

* Please check our hands-on experience program
Tea Ceremoney at Jiko-in Zen Temple with Private Transfer