WINTER JAPAN — THE SETSUBUN FESTIVAL (Japanese Carnival)
9 DAYS
24 PEOPLE
3590 EURO
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Japan is an amazing country, filled with countless unique places and fascinating traditions. You can visit Japan many times and keep discovering new facets of this incredible land.
This program is designed both for those visiting Japan for the first time but seeking an unusual route, and for those who have already fallen in love with the Land of the Rising Sun during spring or autumn trips and wish to deepen their acquaintance.
Setsubun is one of the most interesting rituals of traditional Japan. Picture this: as the seasons shift and the cold February air still carries winter's breath but hints at the promise of spring, all of Japan prepares for the ancient festival — Setsubun. It is more than a date on the calendar. It is a mystical turning point — a day when the boundaries between worlds blur, and everyone has a chance to drive out the demons of the past year and invite good luck, happiness, and prosperity into their lives.
The theme of the festival is linked to one of the central concepts of Chinese philosophy — yin and yang, the two opposing forces of the universe. Good and evil clash at the change of seasons, potentially summoning various misfortunes and demons called “oni.” Hence, the tradition of driving away demons during Setsubun, in which we will actively participate.
In addition to Setsubun, which we will celebrate in Kyoto, we will also experience a one-day festival of a thousand lanterns lighting up in Nara’s Kasuga Shrine; visit the stunning monastic complex Koyasan and spend the night in a temple lodging (shukubo); see Japan’s largest rock garden; walk through samurai castles in Osaka and Matsumoto; travel along the historic Nakasendo post road; meet the famous “snow monkeys” of Jigokudani Park; eat lucky ehomaki sushi rolls, and much more.
Our journey from February 1 to 9, 2026, is a unique opportunity to dive into the heart of Eastern mystical events in the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara. The program will be rich, vivid, and fascinating — all in one breath. We can’t wait to go! Since our Japan tours are in high demand, we recommend booking now so you don’t miss this extraordinary trip.
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ROUTE THREAD
- High-speed train tickets as per the itinerary;
- Private comfortable buses for necessary transfers as per the itinerary;
- Headphone rental (audio guide) for the entire duration of the trip;
- Excursions along the itinerary with professional local guides who speak Japanese and Russian;
- Accommodation in 4* hotels with double occupancy (single occupancy available upon request for an additional fee);
- Accommodation in a traditional shukubo monastery hotel in Koya-san;
- Vegetarian monastic dinner in a traditional shukubo monastery hotel;
- Breakfasts and lunches as specified in the program;
- Visit to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park;
- Entrance tickets to museums, temples, and national attractions as specified in the program;
- Services of Paganel Studio guides.
- Flight from your city to Japan and back;
- Airport transfer;
- Meals not specified in the program;
- Surcharge for single occupancy;
- Additional excursions, as well as optional activities and transportation on free days.
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Price for citizens of Ukraine: 110 - 120 dollars
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Features of receiving: With a visa agency through a courier in Warsaw, Kishenev
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Other citizenships that do NOT require visas: USA, Great Britain, EU
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Other nationalities that require a visa: Moldova, Kazakhstan (to be specified)
ITINERARY
Day 1
01.02.2026
Arrival at KIX Airport (Osaka). Meeting at the airport with our representative, who will help you purchase SIM cards, assist you in boarding the high-speed train to Kyoto, and provide all the necessary instructions. If you arrive in Japan before the official start of the program, you will receive detailed instructions for independent travel and leisure activities during your additional days.
Upon arrival in Kyoto — check-in at a comfortable 4-star hotel. Quick shower and snack. Put on comfortable shoes and meet together at 16:00 in the hotel lobby. We will get acquainted with our local Japanese guide and receive headphones to hear everything the guide says. Evening walk through the traditional historical districts of winter Kyoto.
Teramachi Craft Street, Sanjo and Tatsumi-bashi bridges, the geisha districts of Gion, Pontocho, and Miyagawa.
After the walk, enjoy dinner on your own at one of Kyoto's many delicious traditional restaurants. Return to the hotel. Rest.
At the beginning of the trip, each participant will be provided with headphones for sightseeing. Please treat this gadget with care. At the end of the trip, the headphones must be returned. The penalty for loss is 100 euros.
Day 2
02.02.2026
Wake up. Rejoice in the new day. Enjoy a delicious breakfast at our hotel. Dress for the weather. Meet our expert Japanese guide in the hotel lobby. Check that you haven't left your headphones in your room. Once outside, you will feel the city buzzing with anticipation for the festival. The air is filled with the aroma of roasted soybeans — the main weapon against evil spirits — and the subtle scent of incense from the temples. Today, you are not just a spectator, but a participant in living history.
The heart of the festival beats in the shrines and temples of Kyoto, at the entrance to the legendary geisha district of Gion. Here, on a special stage, a real miracle unfolds. Like delicate camellias blooming in the snow, maiko girls — young geisha apprentices — take to the stage.
Their faces, covered with white powder like porcelain masks, their luxurious kimonos shimmering with silk and gold, their intricate hairstyles adorned with trembling kanzashi hairpins—all of this seems to have come straight out of ancient engravings. To the sounds of the shamisen and drums, they perform ritual dances — smooth, refined movements honed over centuries, each one a prayer for peace and prosperity.
But then the graceful ceremony is replaced by the noisy and cheerful ritual of mamemaki — throwing beans. Shouts ring out from all sides: “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” — “Demons out! Happiness in!”
Actors wearing demon masks rush onto the stage with roars and noise, while priests, geishas, and celebrities enthusiastically throw handfuls of lucky beans at them and the crowd. Catching one of these beans brings good luck for the whole year!
Strolling along the stone streets of Nene-no-michi and Ninenzaka, past the Yasaka-no-to pagoda, you feel as if you are traveling back in time.
Every turn reveals a view of old wooden houses, from behind whose paper shoji screens a geisha hurrying to a banquet could flit out at any moment.
Lunch in the middle of the day. After lunch, free time to explore Kyoto.
There are many ways to spend your free afternoon in Kyoto. For example, you can walk around the city, go shopping, stroll through the old quarters, and sit in a cozy restaurant. Or you can take a trip on your own to Fushimi Inari Shrine, a place of worship in Kyoto and throughout Japan. It is simply incredible.
Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is one of the most beautiful places in Japan! It is mainly known for its countless torii gates, which were donated by believers. The gates are located along the road to the shrine, which leads up a wooded mountain to Inari-san, where the main shrine building is located. It takes about two hours to walk to the shrine along this path. On the way to the top, passing through the torii gates, you will see small shrines, graves, and statues of foxes, which are messengers of this god. You don't have to rush to the top to fully experience this place.
You will have enough time to take the best photos, go for a walk, and then, without losing momentum, go down to the train station and return to Kyoto by electric train. Another leisure option will be of interest to all the girls in our group, who can be dressed in traditional geisha-maiko schoolgirl outfits and go for a walk through the ancient streets of the city with such an incredibly beautiful company.
It is very beautiful, stylish, and interesting. The process of dressing in a maiko takes place in a real salon run by geisha in the Gion district.
All clothing (kimonos, garters, jewelry, embroidered silk belts) is authentic and colorful. The process of transforming from a paganelka into a real maiko takes much longer than the usual process of changing clothes for a modern person. In these same outfits, you can stroll through the streets of Kyoto. The photos will be the brightest memories of your visit to Japan for a lifetime. Changing into a maiko is a very interesting and fun activity.
In the evening, at one of the city's many restaurants, after ordering delicious sushi or yakiniku meat, we will spend the evening getting to know the Paganels and handing out expedition T-shirts.
We will spend the night in a comfortable 4* hotel.
(Meals included: breakfast and lunch)
Day 3
03.02.2026
We wake up. We have a delicious breakfast. We pack our things and leave them at the hotel reception. We gather in the lobby. We meet our local Japanese guide, an expert, and go to see the Setsubun celebration.
Maiko dances and traditional music and theater performances in Kyoto's central temples.
After gathering impressions and catching lucky beans, which will be scattered from the stage by maiko girls, we go for a delicious lunch. Then we return to the hotel, pick up our suitcases, and set off for the ancient capital of Japan—the fairy-tale city of deer, Nara.
As dusk falls, we arrive in Nara, and the magic of Setsubun takes on a new, mysterious tone. Here, in the ancient park where sacred deer roam freely, one of Japan's most mesmerizing spectacles awaits you—the Mantoro lantern festival at Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Imagine three thousand stone and bronze lanterns covered with centuries-old moss. On this night (and only on this night!), each of them is lit with a living flame. They line up in endless flickering alleys leading deep into the sacred forest.
The warm light of the candles illuminates the scarlet columns of the temple, ancient trees, and the shadows of passing deer, creating a truly otherworldly, fairy-tale atmosphere. This is not just lighting; it is a prayer frozen in thousands of lights, each lit with faith and hope.
However, our magical evening does not end there. The culmination of this magical day will be a quiet and very personal ritual. You will receive an “Ehomaki” — a “roll of good fortune.” This is not just sushi. It is a thick, uncut roll filled with seven “lucky” ingredients symbolizing health, longevity, and good fortune.
The ceremony requires adherence to certain rules. All participants remain silent. Once you have found this year's “lucky direction,” announced by the main temple, you turn in that direction. Closing your eyes and making your most cherished wish for the coming year, you must eat the entire roll in complete silence. In this silence, broken only by the beating of your own heart, each bite of the roll becomes not just food, but a symbol of hope, a promise you make to yourself on the threshold of a new spring.
This trip to Setsubun is not just an excursion. It is a complete immersion into the soul of Japan, an opportunity to touch its living traditions, experience moments of pure delight and mystical awe, and find your personal supply of luck for the whole coming year.
We return to the hotel. Those who have the energy can go to dinner, although after eating the sacred “Ehomaki,” you are unlikely to be hungry.
We spend the night in a comfortable 4* hotel.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and Ehomaki).
Day 4
04.02.2026
We wake up. We have breakfast. We check out. We meet our local Japanese guide. We collect our belongings and board the comfortable bus waiting for us at the hotel, which will take the Paganels to one of the most sacred places in Japan, Mount Koya.
Koyasan is a sacred city in the snowy mountains of Japan, home to 117 temples and a mecca for people seeking their path and harmony. It is one of the most vivid and unusual places we will visit in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The bus ride takes about two and a half hours, but it is not just a transfer, it is a gradual ascent from the mundane world to the spiritual world. Outside the window, plains will give way to wooded hills, and the road, becoming increasingly winding, will lead you deep into the cedar forests of the Kii Peninsula, to a monastery complex hidden at the top of a plateau.
Upon arrival, you will immediately feel the special, peaceful atmosphere of this place, the center of esoteric Buddhism of the Shingon school.
Our tour will begin at the Danzō-garan complex, the sacred heart of Koyasan, founded by the monk Kūkai (Kōbō-daishi) himself in the 9th century. You will see its central feature, the majestic Konpon Daito pagoda, whose bright red color stands out against the backdrop of evergreen cedars. It is not just a temple, but a three-dimensional mandala, the center of understanding the universe.
Next, we will visit Kongobuji Temple, the main temple of the Shingon school. We will be able to stroll through its spacious halls with magnificent painted fusuma screens depicting scenes from nature and history.
Banryutei, Japan's largest rock garden, is also located here. Its rock composition depicts two dragons protecting a sacred site and emerging from a sea of white gravel symbolizing clouds.
The highlight of the tour will be a walk through Japan's largest ancient cemetery, Okunoin. It is not just a cemetery, but a mystical forest and a place of pilgrimage. We will walk along a path under the canopy of giant centuries-old cedars, past countless moss-covered tombstones of famous samurai, members of the imperial family, and poets. The air here is filled with silence and the scent of incense.
Next, we will check into a shukubo, a monastery hotel. This is a unique opportunity to experience the daily life of monks and feel the authentic spirit of Koya-san.
In the evening, you will be served shōjin ryōri, a traditional vegetarian meal eaten by monks. These dishes are made from seasonal vegetables, tofu, and roots, prepared according to strict Buddhist rules. They not only nourish the body but also calm the spirit.
For those who wish, a nighttime walk through Koya-san will be organized after dinner. In the light of stone lanterns, the path to Okunoin Cemetery takes on a completely different, mysterious, and magical atmosphere. The silence, broken only by the sounds of the night forest, and the flickering light create an unforgettable impression.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Day 5
05.02.2026
We wake up quite early at the monastery. We dress warmly, paying special attention to warm socks. Before breakfast, you will have a unique opportunity to attend morning service at the temple. Getting up early will be rewarded with the opportunity to see and hear the monks chanting sutras and feel the vibrations of ancient rituals.
The deep sounds of gongs, the aromas of incense, and the rhythmic chanting create a powerful meditative atmosphere that fills you with energy and calm for the whole day ahead. It is the perfect end to your deep immersion in the spiritual world of Mount Koya.
After walking around and saying goodbye to the sacred Koya-san, we gather our belongings, load them onto our comfortable bus, and set off for Osaka. After a couple of hours, we arrive in the city and go for a walk around the beautiful and famous Osaka Castle in the adjacent park. It is much warmer here than on Mount Koya, and we can take off some of our warm clothes.
Next, we have a pretty busy schedule, so let's not relax. First, we rush to the observation deck of the famous Umeda Sky Building skyscraper, and from there we go for a walk along the equally famous Dotonbori street and Ebisu Bridge.
During the city tour, we will enjoy a delicious Japanese lunch. In the evening, we will arrive at a cozy 4* hotel. Check-in. Then, free time. Relax after a busy day of traveling.
(Meals included: breakfast and lunch).
Day 6
06.02.2026
We wake up. We pack our suitcases. We have a hearty breakfast. We say goodbye to the beautiful city of Osaka. We check out and rush to the train station, where we board the bullet train, the Shinkansen.
Today we are heading to the city of Nagoya, where we will board a comfortable bus and set off to explore the ancient Nakasendo postal route.
From the early 17th to the late 19th century, Nakasendo was an important trade route connecting Kyoto, then the capital of Japan, and Tokyo.
Along Nakasendo, there were 69 post stations located approximately ten kilometers apart. Here, merchants, samurai, wandering monks, and other travelers were offered rest, lodging, and entertainment. Sections of the old road, along with the post stations and their surroundings, have been preserved to this day.
In Nagano Prefecture, a section of the road that ran through the Kiso Valley is carefully preserved as a historical and cultural monument. There were 11 stations along the road in the valley, some of which have been preserved as open-air historical and ethnographic museums. These are the ones we will visit. Lunch will be provided during the excursions.
Snow is possible again, so be prepared for different types of Japanese winter weather. It could be light snow, then sunshine, then snow again. Or rain. Either way, it will be beautiful and interesting. We will have lunch during our walk along Nakasendo at one of the post stations.
Next, we will travel by bus to Matsumoto City. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner. In the evening after dinner, you can take a walk to Matsumoto Castle, where we will have a big tour the next day. In the evening, this castle is beautifully illuminated and reflected in the surrounding pond. If we are lucky, we may see the famous night laser show at Matsumoto Black Castle.
Return to the hotel. Rest.
(Meals included: breakfast and lunch)
Day 7
07.02.2026
Wake up. Today is a very busy day. If you are a photographer and the weather is good, we recommend getting up before dawn to take pictures of Matsumoto Castle in the morning rays of the rising sun.
If you are a simple traveler from the Paganelli family, then wake up and have a leisurely breakfast. Pack your suitcases. Go down to the hotel lobby, where a local Japanese expert guide is already waiting for you. Load your luggage onto the bus, and go on a grand sightseeing tour to the castle you have already seen.
Matsumoto Castle, along with Himeji Castle and Kumamoto Castle, is considered one of the three most beautiful castles in Japan. The main tower of the castle is designated as a National Treasure of Japan, and the castle has been unofficially nicknamed “Black Crow Castle” due to the black color of its walls.
The walls of the castle tower on each floor are covered with white plaster at the top and black lacquered boards at the bottom. During the day, the black parts stand out, and at night, when the castle is illuminated, the white parts are more noticeable, making the castle look different during the day and at night.
In addition to the main tower, the castle also has several secondary towers, including a tower for moon viewing. Lunch during the tour.
Next, we will travel by bus to the city of Nagano, which hosted the 18th Winter Olympic Games in 1998. However, we will not linger in the city, but will go straight to the famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.
Only during the winter months does Jigokudani Park offer visitors the unique opportunity to see wild Japanese macaques warming themselves in a bath filled with hot mineral water from underground springs.
The sight of monkeys sitting in a bathtub filled with water under falling snow is one of Nagano Prefecture's “trademarks.” Accustomed to the constant presence of spectators, the macaques are not afraid of people and allow them to approach and photograph them from close range.
Japanese macaques live in large groups with a complex social hierarchy. When a large group of macaques settles down for a temporary rest in a bath, observers have a rare opportunity to see the relationships within the monkey group and draw amusing analogies with some human social structures.
The park has rules that should be followed for your own safety. Do not touch, pet, feed, or tease the monkeys. Throwing snowballs at them is also not recommended. Try not to smile too broadly: adult males may perceive exposed teeth as a threat. And under no circumstances should you bathe in the macaque spring!
The path to the snow monkeys runs along a beautiful road through a lovely Japanese forest, about half an hour's walk away.
After admiring the snow monkeys to our hearts' content, we return to the road, where we board the bus and drive to Nagano Station.
At Nagano Station, we board the evening Shinkansen bullet train and rush to Tokyo, where we arrive late in the evening.
Transfer to a cozy 4* hotel in the Ginza district. Check into your rooms. Freshen up and, if you still have energy, go out for a delicious sushi dinner.
After dinner, take a stroll through elegant winter Tokyo.
Return to the hotel. Rest.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch).
Day 8
08.02.2026
We wake up slowly in the morning. We enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel. We meet our Japanese expert guide in the hotel lobby. We set off on a long and interesting tour of Tokyo.
First, we go to one of the oldest and most cultural areas of Tokyo—Asakusa, with its Nakamise shopping street and Sensoji Temple with its majestic Kaminarimon thunder gate.
Sensō-ji is Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 645. Back in the Middle Ages, the temple became the city's calling card
and remains so to this day, attracting millions of tourists from all over the world.
The magnificent Kaminarimon Gate with its huge paper lantern, the five-story pagoda, and the Nakamise shopping street leading to the temple will help you imagine life in the Japanese capital before the advent of skyscrapers and shinkansen trains.
Nakamise Street is an old shopping street in the Asakusa district, which, according to legend,
is several hundred years old. The 250-meter-long street, lined on both sides with
small shops selling traditional sweets and souvenirs, leads from the Kaminarimon Thunder Gate to the main grounds of Sensoji Buddhist Temple. Here you can watch Tokyo's ningyo-yaki sweets being baked, try crispy traditional crackers, and experience the vibrant and lively atmosphere of the usually sedate Japanese capital.
Walk through the historic center and learn about the history of Edo-Tokyo - the Ginza, Marunouchi, and Nihonbashi districts. We will have a delicious lunch in the middle of the day. Then we will have free time for shopping, souvenirs, or just walking around on our own. Those who wish can visit the famous intersection near Shibuya Station, the busiest intersection in Tokyo and one of the busiest in the world.
The green light of the traffic light comes on simultaneously on all four sides, and several hundred people—up to 1,000 during rush hour—rush off in all directions, managing to dodge each other with a casual ease honed over years of practice. The intersection is beloved by filmmakers for its picturesque yet orderly human throng and is known worldwide for its appearances in TV series, feature films, and commercials.
At Shibuya Station, there is a monument to Hachiko, a loyal dog who waited for his owner, a professor at Tokyo University, at the same spot every day. After the professor's sudden death, the dog continued to come to the station every day for nine years, waiting for his master to return, becoming a symbol of loyalty in the eyes of local residents and then all Japanese people. In 2023, the Hachiko monument will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
In the evening, we gather at one of the restaurants in our area for a farewell dinner. We exchange impressions and photos of our wonderful trip through the unique and inimitable Japan.
We return to the hotel. Rest.
(Meals included: breakfast, lunch).
THE COST
2890 Euro
Day 9
09.02.2026
Saying goodbye to winter holiday Japan.
Unfortunately, everything comes to an end, and it's time to go home. Suitcases are packed, hundreds of photos have been taken, and we are left with many pleasant memories of the country, new friends, and our winter trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. Some of us will stay for another day or two to hang out in Tokyo. Everyone's flights are at different times, so we'll be making our own way to the airport. Shinkansen trains leave Tokyo Station for Narita every half hour. Haneda Airport is very close by taxi.
We wake up in the morning. We have breakfast. We say goodbye to each other and the guides. Tears of parting. Sadness...
We make our own way to the airport.
Flight home.
(Meals included: breakfast)
We are unique
For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.
WHY WITH PAGANEL?
Creation
The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!
Interest
By joining our team, you join a kind of club-family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
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