The Kumano Kodo is a more than 1000-year-old ancient pilgrimage trail in Japan, where people from all walks of life – imperial families, aristocrats, shoguns, samurais, and commoners – walked for spiritual cleansing and virtual rebirth. Today, the ancient trails are a registered UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. In this seminar, we will virtually walk the trail and discover the beautiful history, culture, and life in Kumano.

Walking mountain trails in Japan is one of the best ways to see "real" Japan, and together we will discover the unique, beautiful history and culture of Kumano doing this virtual walk. There are five routes for the Kumano Kodo, with the route that the Imperial family once walked (Nakahechi) as the most frequented. We will also take this route. We will visit the Kumano Sanzan, the 3 Grand Shrines of Kumano, walking from village to village. We will also virtually experience Japanese traditional accommodation, wearing yukata cotton kimono for dinner, taking an onsen (hot spring bath), and sleeping on a futon.

90-minute online tea ceremony experience with the discussion of how to implement Zen philosophy in the busy daily lives to stay focused and stay centered, followed by demonstration of tea ceremony and detailed insturction of how to make tasty matcha.

In the online class, you will experience and learn a modern tea ceremony that we conduct at a table, so you can casually try with utensils you already have at home.

＊If you have your own matcha set (details to be sent in the booking confirmation email) please follow what Kana does as she gives detailed instruction.  In that case please prepare your matcha tea set prior to the session. But this is optional, so if you just want to watch and learn, you don't have to prepare anything and please enjoy watching the choreographed movements, which are very calming.

The structural differences between western clothes and kimono come from differences in the fundamental philosophies running behind each culture.

In this class, we will discuss 1) the definition of kimono, 2) different types of kimono for both men and women, 3) philosophy reflected in kimono, 4) how to wear kimono, and 5) dignified posture when dressed in kimono.

Guests will come away with increased and deepened understanding of the beautiful philosophy behind the Japanese national garment.