A journey through Japan between volcanic landscapes and ancient roots: from the vibrant energy of Tokyo northward into the lands of Hokkaidō, to encounter Ainu culture up close, and then along the Tōhoku region in the footsteps of the Jōmon period (the great Japanese “Neolithic”), which also interests us for its symbolic interpretations linked to an archaic and matrifocal imagination.

This journey will focus on northern Japan: after a few days in Tokyo, we will fly to Sapporo and travel on to Shiraoi, where we will enter Ainu territory. Here, we will visit the Upopoy National Ainu Museum, which is not just a museum but a true meeting place with the indigenous identity of the archipelago: history, objects, narratives, aesthetics, and the memory of a people who have preserved a profound relationship with the landscape, the spirits of nature, and communal traditions.

After this cultural immersion, we will move among local shrines and the powerful landscapes of Hokkaidō, reaching the volcanic valley of Jigokudani (Noboribetsu), with its sulfuric vapors and nature trails. We will explore the area around Lake Tōya and Mount Usu.

The journey continues to Tōhoku, reaching Aomori to visit Takayama Inari Shrine, famous for its pathway of red torii gates dedicated to Inari and the fox.

In this part of Japan, we will immerse ourselves in the Jōmon period, the great Japanese Neolithic, with a stop in Hachinohe at the Korekawa Jōmon-kan Museum and the adjacent archaeological park.

On our return to Tokyo, we will spend a day in Kamakura (with the Great Buddha and Hase-dera Temple) or in Nikkō, with its historic shrines and waterfalls set in a powerful natural landscape.

During the journey, there will also be sessions of shamanic practices immersed in Japan’s powerful and magical natural environment. The practices will be guided by Morena Luciani Russo.

The group will be accompanied by Silvia Luccarini, translator and expert in Japanese culture.

All details are available from the office by writing HERE.