InsideJapan Tours has announced Spirit of Samurai, the latest addition to its collection of custom, small group journeys. Led by photographer and Japan expert Everett Kennedy Brown, the new Spirit of Samurai itinerary is a 12-day trip starting in Tokyo and taking travelers through Japan's northern mountains.
Highlights of the photo-driven tour include early-morning training rituals at a sumo stable, a journey through sacred mountains to meet shugendo priests, an excursion on a yakatabune long boat lined with red lanterns, a meet-and-greet with a modern-day samurai, and a photo session with Japan's only male geisha. A welcome dinner, guided street photography tour, and martial arts and Kodo drum practice are also included with the tour.
Kennedy Brown (whose work appears in National Geographic, Time, Newsweek and The New York Times) provides guidance and access to relationships he has developed while living in Japan over the past 25 years. On the Spirit of Samurai itinerary, he introduces travelers to geisha, monks, sumo wrestlers, chefs, falconers and other local figures.
Spirit of Samurai are on-demand, customizable tours and pricing is dependent on group size and departure date. Note: There are no fixed departures and the maximum group size is 12 people. Tip: For guests looking to experience a more recent piece of history, InsideJapan Tours can also provide special access inside the Fukushima nuclear exclusion zone in partnership with a guide from a local tourism initiative.
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