1. Japanese-style Confections and Handicrafts
Japanese-style confections are so artistic and delicate, it's almost a shame to eat them!
Guests will visit a machiya, or traditional merchant house that was common in large cities 100 years ago, and watch an experienced artisan use finely honed techniques to create confectionaries.
Afterwards there will be a tea ceremony where they can enjoy sweets they’ve made themselves.
Kyoto is a center of handicrafts designed for everyday life.
After the machiya, guests will visit a studio where they can create their own gold foil cup, the perfect souvenir of their trip to the ancient capital.

2. Incense Burning and Sake Tasting
Sado (tea ceremony) and kado (flower arrangement) are popular Japanese arts, but a close relative is koudo (incense burning).
The formalities of koudo have been passed down for hundreds of years, and it can create a mood that is both tranquil and somewhat intense. Guests will be introduced to the customs and traditions, many of which may seem far removed from daily life. Sake tasting will be held at a sake museum in Fushimi, a center for brewing since olden times.

3. Tofu and Kyocera Corporate Headquarter
Japanese cuisine is popular for its sophisticated techniques and health benefits. One of its most typical components, tofu, has become a common food overseas as well. On this program, guests can make their own tofu and enjoy their fresh creation.
Afterwards, they will visit Kyocera corporate headquarters, home to the Kyocera Museum of Art and Kyocera Museum of Fine Ceramics. The art museum possesses Qianlong glass, chalcography by Picasso, and modern Japanese drawings, while the Museum of Fine Ceramics displays the history of and technology behind fine ceramics as well as Kyocera products.

4. Arashiyama Hanatouro
Guests are certain to enjoy one of the biggest events of the Kyoto Winter Special, Arashiyama Hanatouro (lantern decorations and ikebana). The program begins in the afternoon with a tour of the Arashiyama / Sagano bamboo forests, followed by a gourmet tofu dinner, and then a return to the bamboo forest for the nighttime illumination.
This is a unique and enchanting experience only available in Kyoto in the winter!!

5. Meditation and Morning Rice Porridge
This exclusive program will be held in a private space at Kodaiji -Temple. Early winter morning meditation will help guests experience a spiritual state of nothingness.
The meditation session is followed by a meal of rice porridge, a traditional breakfast for monks, and tour of Kodaiji -Temple.
This program will be especially appealing to those who have an interest in Zen.

6. Rare National Treasures and Fine Gardens
During the Kyoto Winter Special Campaign, several cultural assets usually not on public display will be on open for a limited time! For example, guests will be allowed to view the inside of the symbol of Kyoto, the five-tier pagoda at To-ji Temple. This is the first time the inner pagoda and its sculptures will be open to public, and is a fantastic opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.