Koyasan Temple Stay in Japan

Spend the night in Japanese temples stay, the official called "Shukubo", refers to the temple prepare lodging place for the traveling monks and Buddhist. In the edo period, the temples gradually began to accept the general public.

Koyansan, as the well-known Japanese Buddhist sanctuary, monasteries everywhere, solemn atmosphere environment quiet calmness, attracting many believers come to pilgrim. Even if the ordinary tourists, also might as well to the lodge here a few days, listening the morning bell and evening drum in a monastery, lay down the worry, trouble for the moment, empty mind, for the rare quiet.

But after all, the facilities of the temple is different from the general accommodation facilities such as hotels, is very simple, offer the visitors the bathrobe and clogs, and simple toiletries.

During the temple stay, you can experience a variety of culture. The experience items vary from the Shukubos. Generally you will experience copying the scriptures and meditation, can also taste their distinctive "diligence cuisine", called “Shojin Ryori”. Normally the temple stay will offer half board, the dinner and next day breakfast are available.

But the guests need to abide by the minimum provisions, in particular, most temples have entrance guard time, for the next day practice, bedtime most early, please do well at night time management. Other specific provisions vary from Shukubos, so it will be better to learn it well before accommodation confirmation. With Diper Tour, will save time and make you worry-free.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of the oldest shrine in Kyoto city, also one of the most worshiped shrine, mainly enshrine “Inari Ōkami”.

“Inari Ōkami” is the god of grain and food in Japanese mythology, agriculture and business. Pilgrims come to worship for farming harvest, the business thriving, and traffic safety. Inari Ōkami has two fellow---two white foxes.". So the image of Inari Ōkami and the fox are always appear together.

People would first think is Senbon Torii at the mention of Fushimi Inari Shrine. The Fushimi Inari Shrine Torii’s color is red. If some enterprise benefit is very good, will offered a Torii to the shrine, it is said that there are a total of 10000 toriis. Through the illuminate of sunshine, dense red Senbon Torii is particularly charming, quite shocked on the vision.

There are a variety of sacrifice in Fushimi Inari Shrine every year. The most famous sacrifice are the welcome the New Year's day and the New Year's eve to remove the grey. The Pilgrims numbers reach to the peak at the start or end of the year. There are also many on behalf of Kyoto temples and historic buildings surrounding, you can enjoy good luck and sightseeing at the same time, therefore very popular with tourists.

Come with Diper Tour to tailor make your unique Kyoto Tour!

Jeju Characteristic Experience

Jeju-do, is the largest island off the coast of South Korea. Thanks to its beautiful beaches, fascinating landscape, lush seaside hotels, various interesting museums, it becomes country’s favorite domestic holiday destination. Jeju Island offers variety of characteristic experiences to make your trip interesting and stunning!

Seogwipo Submarine

Can’t dive, but want to see the outstanding coral reefs, colorful schools of fish, and rich seaweed, Seogwipo submarine offers you a chance to experience it. The submarine is down to a depth of 30m-40m around Munseom Island for about 70 minutes. Enough amount of porthole windows let you get good view of underwater kingdom.

Nanta Show Jeju

As a “must-see show”, Nanta Show, you can watch it not only in Seoul also in Jeju. Nanta Show is a non-verbal performance, which has become a representative cultural tourist item in Korea now, also is the most popular events among local/international visitors. No matter which language you use, you can enjoy this non-verbal performance.

Yacht

Embrace the endless and harmony sea, ride a yacht and head out to center of sea, if you want a new experience and romantic holiday. If you dream of experiencing the luxury life of Korean drama characters, the yacht tour will be your best choice!

Horse Riding

Horseback riding is an exercise that raises your flexibility and a sense of balance. There are many places provide horseback riding for tourists in Jeju, such as Jeju Horse Park, Udo Island…

Hop a ferry to Udo Island

Beautiful beaches, sweeping cliffs, woven back streets and rural country charm… It’s all worth a day trip to Udo Island which is a tiny, romantic island. Horse riding, ATV riding, hiking, sea fishing, bicycle riding, speed boat… You won’t be disappointed in Udo Island.

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Ninja

Ninja training must start from small kids, and all members of the family of a ninja, both men and women, old or young, all unconditional inherit ninja occupation. Ninja must master tracking, reconnaissance, espionage, bodyguard, assassination and etc. They are skilled, good at use various weapon such as sword, hook, darts and other concealed weapon. Also have various survival skills, such as with knowledge of herbs, familiar with all kinds of animal behavior, astronomy geography knowledge and so on.

In Nagano Togakushi, we can close contact with and experience the ninja life, explore the history and reality of this mysterious profession, the children can experience the climbing skills in the "kids ninja village", adults can also get a lot of fun here.

The kids ninja village has a three-dimensional maze, you can play with the chamber of secrets escape, walk though the mobile walls, open the hanging scroll, looking for trapdoors; can wear ninja suit, experience the sword, darts and other ninja weapons; Here also support the rock climbing and many other outdoor sports facilities, all are in the characteristics of ninja, such as climbing the wall with hands, fun and healthy.

There are also two spots to experience the Ninja Culture in Nagano, the Togakure Ninpo Museu (the features a variety of displays showcasing Ninja was and Ms. Ueda Castle Ruin, if you just visit Tokyo area, but want to experience a Ninja Culture, then the Nikko wonderland is also a good choice, where you can enjoy the excellent Ninja show.

In recent years, Japan February 22 become the unofficial ninja festival, the Iga city and Kōka city, these two ninja birthplaces have set this day as a festival to celebrate the Ninja cultural tradition. On this day, the local government officials are wearing ninja clothing to work. Come with Diper tour to tailor make your special ninja tour itinerary.

Mt. Seorak Hiking

As the third highest mountain in South Korea and the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range, Seoraksan has a special charm that captures many hikers’ hearts. Spreading across 4 cities and counties, Seoraksan National park has a total area of 163.6 square kilometers. The park is valued for its rare 1,400 plant species and 2,000 animal species.

There are 4 entrances to Seoraksan. Among them, the most popular one is from Sinheungsa Temple in Sokcho city. There are different hiking courses for hikers. If for the non-professional hikers, the several-hour courses or half-day courses would be good choices. If for professional hikers, there are several-day courses. During the hiking courses, you will face with many beautiful valleys, waterfalls and temples, such as Gayadong Valley, Heullimgol Valley, Suryeomdong Valley, Biryong Falls, Seorak Falls, Daeseung Falls, Baekamsa Temple, Naksansa Temple, etc. Here is a site of castle ruins at the top of Seoraksan Mountain –Gwongeumseong Fortress. The 1-mieter high fortress structure remains half only. The cable car is available to the Gwongeumseong Castle, which takes only 5 minutes. For hikers, there is a path that takes over an hour to the Gwongeumseong Castle.

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Fuji Shibazakura Festival

The Fuji Shibazakura Festival is the maximum level pink moss festival in the capital-circle, which is located a short distance south of Motosuko Lake. It holds from Mid Apr. to late May every year. There are about 800,000 Chicago sakura (pink moss) blossom out under the Mount Fuji on that time, as "rainbow" on the ground. Hundreds of thousands of flowers in various colors, blue sky and snow on Mount Fuji produce breathtaking scenery. At the same time, there will be food festival.

The Chichibu Hitsujiyama Park is another best occasion to see pink moss (shibazakura), about 2 hrs from Tokyo by car. There are 400,000 pink moss are in full bloom from early April to early May. Moreover, approximately 1,000 cherry trees, including yoshino cherry, weeping cherry, and double-petal cherry trees, planted in the park, blossom out in April.

If you like the flower paradise or amateur photographers, let’s start to create your ”Dream Journey”, make sure you have enough battery on your camera and think of different poses you want to for your picture taking experience.

Japan Tea Ceremony

Tea is a necessity to Japanese daily life. Drinking tea is even an artistic. The artistic named Tea ceremony/Sado. The Japanese Sado culture rooted in China, in China Tang Dynasty, the Tang ambassador and Buddhist firstly take the tea back to Japan. Then it is very popular in royalty and nobility. As trade & academic exchanges close, the drinking tea activity stopped. Drinking tea is popular again until the Buddhist took the tea seed back from China in Kamakura era. And now it has been existed as a symbolic signal of Japan s traditional culture. The tea ceremony is a great start point and a pleasant way to get in touch with this cultural ceremony.

The tea ceremony normally is held in traditional tea house. The tea house host is very friendly and knowledgeable. Will demonstrate every step of the tea ceremony and explain the concepts and history of its development clearly. If you want to experience the Sado, you can try the Tokyo tea ceremony & sushi making tour package or Kyoto culture tour package.

Some Tea Ceremony allows everyone to have a go at making their own green tea/macha. The Japanese spirit can be felt during the experience. If you are interested in the mysterious Japanese Sado culture, come on！Join the tea ceremony, tell your friends what do you think of it after the experience.

Specialty Museums in Jeju

There are about 60 different museums in Jeju Island, various museums about history, art, science, nature, and many specialty museums.Don't forget to put one or two into your travel plan based on your interests and hobbies. Below are five recommended museums for your reference.

Teddy Bear Museum

Even grown up, many of us still love childish things. Teddy Bear Museum is a good choice for us to relive great childhood moments and remain innocence. Teddy bear has been loved for more than 100 years all over the world. You can see various and all sizes teddy bear in this big enough museum. Some Teddy bears play historical figures and relive historical moment, some of them show Korean custom and wear hanbok, some tell you stories in new technology way. Van Gogh is painting “Starry Night”, PSY is dancing “Gangnam Style”, you can also see British Queen, USA spacemen, Terra0Cotta Warriors… After visiting, buy one of them as souvenir, your family and friends will love it.

O'Sulloc Tea Museum

Tea museum was chosen as one of top 10 museums in the world because the entire building looks like green tea cup. Enter the museum, it teaches you about Korea’s traditional tea culture, history and background. At the O’sulloc Museum, not only can visitors enjoy unique green teas, but you can relax next to the lotus pond in the indoor garden, and take photos in big outdoor green tea field. One important reason to visit O’sulloc Museum is delicious greet tea related food and drink, including green tea cake, ice cream.

World Automobile Jeju Museum

If you are car lover, this museum should be a must-visit place. There are plenty of cars exhibited, including antique cars and modern cars, also many limited-edition cars and some of them are even the only one in the world. Besides, if you come with kids, they can drive a car around a track to make fun and have driving experience.

Repley's Believe It or Not Museum

This place is full of hard to believe facts, artsy stuff and little experiments. It is a good place to get some good pictures due to fantastic architecture, and learn a lot of new things at the same time. Definitely spare some time for this place, you and your family members will enjoy and it makes your trip funny and interesting!

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Robot Cabaret Show

How to spend the evening in Tokyo? Choose a Robot restaurant to watch a Robot cabaret show is a good idea, which is suitable for all ages. The Robot show last for about 1 hour, full of flashing lights, taiko drums and techno music. See girls dressed colorful outfit dance with a giant panda, dinosaurs, samurais, ninjas and robots on stage! Normally you can get 1 complimentary drink. Drinks include draft beer, canned beer, sake, mineral water and various soft drinks.

Arrive 40 minutes early at the Robot Restaurant, after checking in and selecting a drink, wait in the lounge until you are escorted to your seat for your electronic evening.

No hesitate to contact with Diper Tour and visit the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo, enjoy the unforgettable evening!

Hanbok Wearing Experience

Compared with the Japanese kimono and Chinese cheongsam, Korea's traditional dress -- known as hanbok, and worn by women and men -- has remained under the international fashion radar.

Hanbok is characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines without pockets. Hanbok colors are decided according to the "five colors theory" ("obangsaek" in Korean), which refers to the theory of yin and yang and the five elements. The hanbok commonly makes striking use of naturally-occurring colors.

There are many kinds of headgears and accessories worn together with hanbok. For example, the hair of a woman wearing hanbok is decorated with a binyeo (Korean traditional hairpin). Norigae, also is one of the major accessories for women.

Hanbok has a history of over 1,600 years. Though there have been slight changes in hanbok over time in terms of material, preferred colors, and the length of the skirt or jacket, the hanbok's basic format has more or less remained the same for the past 1,600 years. People worn hanbok daily up until just 100 years ago, but nowadays it is only worn on festival or for celebrations. It is a formal dress and many Koreans keep it for special times in their life. Children wear hanbok on their first birthday and adults wear it for their wedding ceremony and their 60th birthday.

As Korean traditional clothes, hanbok wearing experience has been one of culture experience for foreigner tourists in Korea. Also, tourists buy hanbok as souvenir because of its unique design and vibrant colors. Hanbok can be bought in many markets and shops, but the quality and price is so different. The finest custom-made hanbok can be found at Dongdaemen Shopping Complex, price start from US$ 1,000 because of high quality and tailor-made.

Many places provide hanbok wearing experience in South Korea. If you want to add it into your itinerary, please feel free to let us know.

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Sushi Making

Sushi is one of the most famous Japanese food in the world, it can be the main dish or snack for Japanese people. Traditional Sushi is made of Japan premium rice & raw fish, low in fat, high in protein. There are many types of Sushi. Such as:

Nigiri (Rice balls with fish/shellfish/tuna/shrimp on the top)

Gunkan (Rice cup and dried seaweed filled with seafood/ fish eggs)

Norimaki (Rice rolled in dried seaweed sheets with seafood/ vegetables inside)

Temaki (Big size of Norimaki in nori seaweed, hand roll)

If you plan to visit Japan with families/friends, then the Sushi making lesson is highly recommended to you, which is very informative, interactive and fun. During the lesson, you can learn how to choose the fresh ingredients, learn the Japanese food culture, and learn how to make beautiful and tasted Sushi and the manner to eat them, share the new and delicious self-made sushi with Families/friends.

Besides, some sushi making lesson is held in the citizen house, you can learn the Japanese living culture deeper in person. Believe me, you will smile from the beginning to the end in the lesson. It is very worthy to experience the sweet cooking and interactive time.

So exciting, what are you waiting for? Come and join Diper Tour, you can make the good-looking and yummy sushi with families/friends/stranger in the future.

Korean Fashion & Traditional Show

Watching performance is one must-do thing for a trip. There are variety fashion or traditional shows to choose in Seoul. Below five wonderful performances for your reference, if you want to know more about them, please leave your email address and questions in the box on the right. Useful information and itinerary will be sent to you in 24 hours.

Nanta Show (Non-verbal Performance)

Nanta Show is a “must-see” performance in South Korea. If you ask us to recommend one performance for first time to Korea, Nanta show should be the one. It is a non-verbal performance integrates Korea’s traditional rhythm, samulnori, with comedy and drama in the kitchen. Audiences of all ages and nationalities can enjoy it. Also, there are several Nanta Show theaters in Seoul and Jeju.

The Korea House (Folk Performance)

Korea House is located in the center of Seoul, and it has been a venue for Korean traditional performing arts for more than 20 years, presenting various musical performances, court dances, and folk dances. At Korea House, clients can feel the unique Korean culture by their five senses in antique and elegant buildings. In the yard, surrounded by antique traditional Korean houses and a rear garden, a major life event such as a wedding can be conducted according to the formal rituals for traditional wedding on the basis of ancient literature. On the other hand, tourists can enjoy Korean traditional cuisine and have Korean culture (food, handicraft, arts) experience at Korea House.

K-live (K-pop Experience)

K-live, the world’s first K-pop hologram performance hall invites you to a world of hallyu fantasy. The experience is made even more immersive with the combination of augmented and virtual reality technologies. Audiences can watch their favorite artists projected onto a 270-degree media facade, which is accompanied by a 14.2 channel surround sound system. Hope all visitors to K-live can forget reality for a moment, and enjoy the dreams and pleasures of fantasy.

Miso Show (Traditional Korean Performance)

MISO, a Korean word that means “beautiful smile”. It is Korean traditional performance. The Miso performance is ranked by foreign visitors as the number one artistic performance to watch in Korea and loved by people from all over the world, due to its high-level of praise received from both professional critics and normal viewers (via a survey conducted in 2012 by the Korea Tourism Organization).

Jump! (Comic Martial Arts Performance)

Jump is a Korean comedic theatrical performance involving martial arts, acrobatics, and dance moves. Ever since first hit the stage in July 2003, Jump has been incredibly popular in Korea. It also has had remarkable international success. In 2005 and 2006 it took the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by storm, and then went on to tour around the world, ending up on London’s West End and New York’s off-Broadway, proving that this musical comedy has universal appeal. This innovative show incorporates many of Asia’s martial arts, including Korea's Taekwondo and Taekkyeon, as it tells the story of a family of martial arts specialists who have to defend their house from robbers.

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Japan Farm House Stay

Gifu Shirakawa-go is the model of symbiosis between Japanese wisdom and nature, unique Gassho-zukuri been listed as world cultural heritage, the village from the south to the north, quiet rural scenery like a beautiful picture. Here, you can not only feel the Japan country primitive simplicity, also can feel the medieval European peaked cottage romance.

When building the house, in order to obtain the effect of warm in winter and cool in summer, take into full consideration ventilate, sunlight and other conditions, most of these houses in one direction. The roof faces east-west direction. The inclination of the roof is 50-60 °. In addition to prevent the heavy snow from crushing the cottage, also can reduce the burden of snow removal.

Since more and more travelers choose farmhouse to overnight. Around 1973, Shirakawa-go started farmhouse stay facility business project. To cater the tourists living habits, made a modification, but the Gassho-zukuri maintain the architectural appearance, added modern household facilities, equipped with televisions, refrigerators, washing machines and other household electrical appliances, and washing equipment, kitchen gas burner, etc. In the new modern family environment, still retains some can see historic local toy and the farm tools of the countryside in the past, travelers can feel the simplicity of rural living environment.

Here, the city people can deeply feel the long-lost quiet and comfortable. On the outside environment of the farmhouse stay facility layout, everyone used plant flowers or different crops in front of their house to decorate beautification environment, the farmhouse stay increased the special scenery for the local tourism industry.

Shirakawa-go farmhouse stay facility have Japanese extremely unique character and style, generally adopt half board (live one night including breakfast and dinner), provide the most considerate service and Japanese authentic cuisine, and meticulous and unique farmhouse stay facility design details, will make you very surprise, a thoughtful farmhouse will make your trip memorable.

Come with Diper Tour to enter the fairyland to learn the local architectural culture and traditional culture.

Temple Stay in Guinsa Temple

Located on Mt. Sobaeksan in Danyang, Guinsa Temple is the head temple of Korean   Buddhist Cheontae Order. With an area of 15,014 square meters, the temple presides   over 140 temples across the nation. Comparing to many other temples in Korea, Guinsa is a  new one, being founded by Sangwol Wongak in 1945. The original was burned down during the Korean War, and the one we sea today is reconstructed in 1966.

Must-see parts in the temple are Deabeopdang Hall and Beopeobi Monument. The 5-story Deabeopdang Hall is the main sactuary. It's the largest Buddhist sanctuary in Korea and 5,000 people can sit inside. Beopeobi Monument is a Buddhist stone sermon monument engraved with the teachings of the Great Monk Sangwol.

In order to enhance the public’s understanding of Korean Buddhism, many temples in Korea offer a unique cultural program – Temple Stay. A typical temple stay program includes the main activities of an overnight stay at the temple, Barugongyang (monastic formal meal), Yebul (ceremonial service), Dado (tea ceremony), Chamseon (zen meditation), outdoor meditation, lotus lantern making, painting, folk games, hiking, bead crafts, etc. During the temple stay, it is very important to keep quiet and gentle.

Besides of Guinsa Temple in Danyang, some other temples that offer temple stay program in Korea are Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju (UNESCO World Heritage site), Jogyesa Temple (located in Seoul downtown), Beomeosa Temple (located on the Mountain Geumjeongsan in Busan), Woljeongsa Temple (in Pyeongchang), Yongjusa Temple in Hwaseong (surrounded by beautiful mountains and crystal clear waters), Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon (UNESCO World Heritage site), Seonunsa Temple in Gochang (the view of camellias flowers is very beautiful in spring), Magoksa Temple in Gongju (a representative temple of the Chungcheongnam-do Province), Donghwasa Temple in Daegu, Yakchunsa Temple in Jeju, and so on.

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Japan cherry blossom

Japan is called the "the country of Cherry blossom". Cherry blossom named Sakura in Japan, which is the Japan people’s most favorite flower. For Japan people, Sakura is the symbol of love and hope. Year Mar.15 to Apr.15 for the Cherry Blossom Festival has a thousand years of history.

During the Cherry blossom, people will celebrate it with Hanami(cherry blossom viewing)parties under the tree, People invite their families/friends to chat or draw or do a variety of activities, wearing the beautiful Kimono and carrying the rice, wine, dessert and so on to make a hearty banquet. As the dusk come on, all the lamps will be lighted up, the night cherry blossom viewing become wonderful suddenly.

The cherry blossom can be white, pink, red, small or big. There are dozens of different kinds of cherry blossom tree in Japan. But all of them only bloom for about one week, which make the Hanami(cherry blossom viewing)very precious.

Normally the Sakura first blooming is the in southernmost of Japan, Okinawa, then Kyushu area, then to the north direction, Kansai area, Kanto area, the last blooming is in Hokkaido.

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There are many very good spots to enjoy the cherry blossom viewing, If you visit Hiroshima in Sakura festival, try to take a ferry to Miyajima island to enjoy the Sakura viewing, there are about 1300 cherry tree around the shrine and walking trails. If you visit Kyoto & Osaka in early April, try Philosopher's Path/Arashiyama, Osaka castle(over 4000 cherry blossom tree around it .), to enjoy the night cherry blossom viewing, try Maruyama Park. If your itinerary includes Tokyo, you can visit the Shinjuku Gyoen, including over 1000 early and late blooming trees. Take a boat flowing in the Sumida River, feel the breeze blowing over your face, enjoy the both sides charming Sakura blooming, ect.

Would you want to know do the cherry blossom turn into cherries? Would you want to take part in the grand cherry blossom festival? Come, find it and experience it in your Japan tours.