From Tokyo to the volcanoes of Kagoshima, a side of Japan that’s off the beaten track

A singular and impressive experience, the tea ceremony (chanoyu) is a thousand-year-old highly choreographed art form that follows a strict, rule-bound structure. To fully grasp its many rules and gestures and understand which postures to adopt, enthusiasts are recommended to be guided through the ritual by an expert. This is a tradition that has remained unchanged for centuries, and it is as much about aesthetics as it is about spirituality. Tokyo is home to many teahouses where masters of the ceremony offer introductions to this unique tradition.

Whether you follow the path that runs alongside the Gokase River or prefer to rent a boat and explore it on the water, Takachiho Gorge offers visitors an unforgettable experience. Formed around 120,000 years ago following a series of eruptions of the Aso volcano, the gorge is now home to waterfalls, lush vegetation and remarkable basalt columns (which, for locals, resemble dragon scales). The highlight is the superb 17-meter-high Minainotaki waterfall, which sprays visitors with water as they pass by.

The Sengan-en garden–also known as Iso-teien–was designed in 1658 by the Shimazu family, powerful lords of the region. With its ponds, bridges, sculptures, rocks, bamboo grove, shrines and tea houses, the garden is what is considered in Japan to be a ‘borrowed landscape'–rather than adopting the careful ornamentation so characteristic of Japanese gardens, it celebrates the innate beauty of its natural surroundings. The smoke rising from the Sakurajima volcano in the middle distance, and the waters of Kinko Bay in between, almost seem like an extension of the garden itself.