Samurai

JNTO FamTrip 2015: Himeji Castle

By Unique Japan Tours on 05/11/2015 in Japan, Trains, Traditions, Beauty, History, Himeji, Knowledge, Travel, Samurai, Tours, Autumn, Castle, Culture

In late September and early October, Unique Japan Tours joined a familiarization trip organised by the Japan National Tourist Organisation. The purpose of these trips is to introduce new, unique places in Japan to promote trips there. The familiarization trip

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Towns of Japan: Kawayu Onsen

By Unique Japan Tours on 21/08/2015 in Summer, Japan, Traditions, Beauty, History, Knowledge, Travel, Samurai, Tours, Culture, Hiking, People, Winter, Onsen

The Kumano Kodo is a religious experience in itself, a multi-day mountain hike (though you can also go by bus), following in the footsteps of royalty, visiting some of the most magnificent temples and shrines on the islands of Japan.

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Unique Japan Tours Kumano Kodo Naichi Waterfall

Japanese Pilgrimage Route: The Kumano Kodo

By Unique Japan Tours on 24/07/2015 in Osaka, Japan, Traditions, Beauty, History, Knowledge, Travel, Samurai, Tours, Culture, Hiking, Shrine, Religion, Nara, Kyoto, Buddhism, Shinto, Ritual

The Kumano Kodo are a series of pilgrimage trails, located in the Kansai region of Japan, south of Kyoto and Nara. Kumano is the name of the area, and “kodo” means the “old ways”, so the name literally translates as

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Samurai Postal Routes: The Nakasendo, Tsumago & Magome

By Unique Japan Tours on 17/07/2015 in Japan, Traditions, Beauty, History, Knowledge, Samurai, Tours, Culture, Magome, Tsumago, Edo

In our last blog post we talked about the Gokaido, the five routes built in the Edo period of Japan, which connected the capital of Edo, modern Tokyo, with the outer provinces of the country. We also talked about the

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Unique Japan Tours Tokaido Hoeido 26 Nissaka 26 Station

Samurai Postal Routes: Gokaido and Tokaido

By Unique Japan Tours on 15/07/2015 in Japan, Tokyo, Traditions, Beauty, History, Knowledge, Samurai, Autumn, Culture, People, Takayama, Magome, Tsumago, Edo

In 1601, soon after he came into power, the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu started to build five routes connecting the capital of Edo (modern day Tokyo), with the other provinces. These routes were essential for the success of the Sankin-Kotai system,

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Kanazawa: 2015 Holiday Hotspot

By Unique Japan Tours on 07/01/2015 in UJT News, Japan, Trains, History, Knowledge, Travel, Samurai, Tours, Castle, Culture, Tea House, Cherry blossom, Winter, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Honeymoon, Geisha, Discount, Offer, Guardian

You may have seen Kanazawa was selected by the Guardian newspaper as one of their Holiday Hotspots for 2015. Kanazawa features on several of our tours, both small group and self-guided, and is a favourite destination among everyone …

Unique Japan Tours Japan Discovered Discount Reduced Special Price

Japan Discovered: The Ultimate Introduction to Japan

By Unique Japan Tours on 19/12/2014 in UJT News, Japan, Tokyo, Trains, History, Knowledge, Travel, Samurai, Tours, Castle, Culture, Takayama, Kyoto, Edo, Discount, Offer

We run a small group tour called Japan Discovered, and it really is a great way to discover what Japan is all about. You will experience everything you could hope to experience on this tour: from the neon …

Unique Japan Tours People Polite Service Bow

Reasons to Honeymoon in Japan

By Unique Japan Tours on 16/12/2014 in Osaka, Japan, Tokyo, Trains, History, Knowledge, Travel, Samurai, Tours, Culture, Takayama, Nara, Kyoto, Honeymoon, Kobe, Hiroshima, Questions, Illumination, Amami

We’ve talked a lot recently about honeymoons in Japan. We told our story of how we helped a friend, Mary, organise her dream honeymoon to Japan. We’ve highlighted romantic activities in Tokyo. We’ve talked about the tropical …

Tsumago to Magome Traditional Samurai Postal Route

By Unique Japan Tours on 31/12/2012 in Japan, Travel, Samurai, Tours, Testimonial, Magome, Tsumago

Spectacular scenery but word of warning – leave your baby behind!!

Myself, my husband (Japanese), and my soon to be two year old daughter arrived at Nagiso station after a one hour train ride from Nagoya. The journey from Nagoya …

Fortresses of breathtaking beauty

By Unique Japan Tours on 22/08/2012 in Osaka, Japan, Himeji, Knowledge, Travel, Samurai, Tours, Castle, Matsumoto, Kumamoto

Many people say that much of modern-day Japan exists because of its samurai roots. The samurai may no longer exist but a symbol of their power and strength does: castles.

Estimates vary in the number of castles still standing today

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Samurai

JNTO FamTrip 2015: Himeji Castle

Towns of Japan: Kawayu Onsen

Japanese Pilgrimage Route: The Kumano Kodo

Samurai Postal Routes: The Nakasendo, Tsumago & Magome

Samurai Postal Routes: Gokaido and Tokaido

Kanazawa: 2015 Holiday Hotspot

Japan Discovered: The Ultimate Introduction to Japan

Reasons to Honeymoon in Japan

Tsumago to Magome Traditional Samurai Postal Route

Fortresses of breathtaking beauty

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