Masa's "Kyoto Culture"

Kyoto Culture Liaison: Masa Fujiwara
Kyoto Culture Tours Reservation Request Form

Welcome to Masa Fujiwara's "Kyoto Culture Tours"

This is your chance to have an exclusive, privately-guided cultural insight into the historic capital of Kyoto. Masa Fujiwara is an experience cultural liaison who has worked with some of the top travel agencies in the United States, and he will take you places tourists never have the opportunity to visit. With his special cultural and artistic connections, you will get a first-hand look inside Kyoto's 2,000 year old culture. Masa will create a cultural activity catering to your personal wishes.

Masa will also provide you with practical information such as what to see, where to go, what to do, and where to dine for newcomers to Kyoto and Japan. Masa offers the ultimate "insider's knowledge" of Japan, and can help you with your travel plans and any special interests you have about Japan.

Please pay Masa directly in advance in Japanese Yen only

Here is a list of what Masa has to offer you:
Tour #1 -Traditional Architecture and Gardens
Tour #2 - Japanese Tea Ceremony
Tour #3 - Kyoto-style Cuisine
Tour #4 - Kyoto Arts and Crafts

Tour #1 -Traditional Architecture and Gardens
Masa Fujiwara can provide tours of Kyoto (and Nara) temples, shrines, and gardens. He can also take you to intimate Zen gardens, merchant houses, the Imperial Palace, and other special places of interest.
Masa will:
-book all advanced reservations on your behalf (some places are open only a few weeks during a season and reservations are required in advance)
-make appointments with Zen temple priests so you can learn first-hand the history of the temples and their gardens
-suggest the best time of the year to visit the temples, shrines, and gardens (as each place has its best season)
Details:

• a morning tour; a lunch break; an afternoon tour
• 40,000 yen for a 1 day tour
• please pay Masa directly in advance in Japanese Yen only

Tour #2 - Japanese Tea Ceremony
Take tea ceremony and Japanese flower arrangement lessons at a historic Zen temple or a Kyoto teahouse.

Details:

• tea ceremonies at a Kyoto teahouse are held only on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
• all short tea ceremonies are held at the Kyoto teahouse (30 minutes long)
• all long tea ceremonies are held for larger groups (5 or 6 clients), and they are held together with either a lunch or a dinner
• please pay Masa directly in advance in Japanese Yen only

Tour #3 - Kyoto-style Cuisine
On this unique tour Masa will teach you how to prepare:

a home cooked Japanese-style meal or
a Japanese "kaiseki" meal (formal, traditional Japanese-style meal)

Masa will first take you shopping for cooking ingredients and utensils at Kyoto's famed "Nishiki Market." During this shopping trip, Masa will teach you all about the different ingredients and utensils used in Japanese cuisine. After the shopping trip, Masa will take you to his Japanese-style home and here you will learn how to prepare a Japanese-style meal and later dine on what you have prepared.
Details:

• shopping at Nishiki Market from 10:00am; the cooking lesson begins at 12:00 noon at Masa's home; and dining begins at 2:00pm (these times may vary depending on your schedule)
• from 2 to 3 clients to a maximum of 10 clients
• please pay Masa directly in advance in Japanese Yen only

Tour #4 - Kyoto Arts and Crafts
With Masa's special artistic and cultural connections, you will visit some very special Kyoto potters and craft artisans in their traditional country farmhouses. You will be able to meet potters and craft artisans in their studios and workshops, and have the opportunity to watch artists do pottery, lacquer ware, paper-making, calligraphy, and bamboo crafts. You can even join in and make the pottery and crafts yourself. Masa can also set up a special tour to nearby Shigaraki and visit some Shigaraki potters. This tour is combined with a visit to the world famous Miho Museum. You will have the chance to purchase the arts and crafts directly from the potters and craft artisans too.

Details:

• advanced reservations are required
• please pay Masa directly in advance in Japanese Yen only

Kyoto Culture Reservation Request Form

Responsibility
These Cultural Liaison activities are operated with the member's understanding that Japanese Guest Houses acts only as an agent for the participants and such parties, firms, or corporations providing services herein. By promoting these activities, Japanese Guest Houses does not assume liability or costs for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity due to weather or any act or default of companies or persons engaged in providing these services. Japanese Guest Houses reserves the right to change or modify the itinerary as circumstances may require to expedite these activities and assure the safety of its members. Japanese Guest Houses has the right to decline, accept or retain any person as a member of these activities at any time. Registration is your agreement to these terms.