Escorted by C. Colston Burrell and Maurice Horn

Join us for a journey of immersion into Japanese gardens, culture and cuisine. On our tour we plan to visit a broad spectrum of gardens from the most well known, including Tenryu-ji, to less familiar treasures like Enko-ji. As we make our way from Tokyo and Kamakura, we explore the countryside around Hakone and catch vistas of snow-capped Mount Fuji. Then on to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Kyoto where we visit both the Golden and Silver Pavilions; Sosho-in, a famous mountain retreat; a complex of Zen temples; and the Arashiyama area celebrated for its stunning autumn landscape. Nara is the site of one of the most ancient capitals of Japan and there we visit Todai-ji, the largest wooden structure in the world.
 
Along the way, we sample fine, traditional Japanese food including classic Zen cooking, delicious handcrafted soba noodles, fresh seafood, and contemporary fusion cooking. Clematis hybridizers Tomoko and Mikiyoshi Chikuma invite us to their clematis nursery and their traditional home to share a bento box lunch. In addition, enjoy beautiful botanic gardens, art museums, a folk craft center, and a stroll through a quiet residential Kyoto neighborhood. Bring your cameras, your walking shoes, and your sense of adventure as we explore the wonders of Japan.