4 ways to experience Japan at its most authentic

Enveloping the south-western tip of Honshu, Yamaguchi mixes mountains and paddy-filled valleys with towns nestled in bays. Don’t miss Nagato, where Yamaguchi’s highlights all converge…

Japanese gardens aren’t just exercises in minimalism; they’re manifestations of the Buddhist philosophy. XPERISUS, experts in planning immersive trips, can connect you with master gardeners in Nagato/Yamaguchi. It’s a chance to learn how the surrounding nature is incorporated into a garden’s composition and why stones are prized over flowers. The master can help you understand the foundations of Japanese garden design; however, as Buddhists often say, oku ga fukai (‘the way is deep’).

Nagato has five famous onsen (hot spring) resorts, each steeped in local folklore. Nagato Yumoto Onsen, the oldest in Yamaguchi, is said to have been discovered by a 15th-century priest after a sea god told him of a healing spring, while Yuya Bay Onsen began either with a mystical rabbit or in the dreams of a legendary monk. Regardless of their roots, Nagato’s springs all offer different benefits, from moisturising skin to alleviating pain and stiffness caused by rheumatism.

Fugu famously contains a lethal poison within the fish’s internal organs. But in Yamaguchi, it is a regional speciality, albeit one that only licensed chefs may serve. From October to March, when this fish is fattiest and most flavourful, locals dine on fugu in Kiraku or the Bettei Otozure ryokan (traditional inn). Use XPERISUS to make bookings.

To learn about the local pottery scene, meet artisans and watch them work at the Nagato Yumoto Onsen. Some 20km along the coast from Nagato lies Hagi, one of Japan’s most famous pottery towns. Here you’ll find Hagi-yaki pottery, a rustic style that boomed in lockstep with Japan’s flourishing arts scene in the Edo period (1603–1868). XPERISUS can arrange tours to the three museums in town
displaying this style of pottery. You can also meet artisans running workshops at the Yoshikataibi Memorial Museum, who can teach you some of the secrets of their centuries-old techniques.

And that’s not the only luxury trip XPERISUS can organise beyond Nagato. Go to Shimonoseki to enjoy fugu at its best or enjoy a Japanese garden creation experience in Yamaguchi. Visit Iwakuni’s revolutionary sake brewery, Dassai, or tour Kitakyushu with an expert to explore the humanity and culture that breathe life into the city. From delving into Nagato to cultural immersion in other parts of the country, the experts at XPERISUS will ensure you experience Japan at its authentic best.