This women’s small group journey moves from the cultural richness of Kyoto to the lesser-known island of Shikoku, weaving together essential landmarks with thoughtfully chosen detours known to our expert female guides. Traveling in a group of no more than eight, you reach places that remain out of view for larger groups—an overnight in a 300-year-old farmhouse, an afternoon shaping soba noodles in a local kitchen. These are the spaces where Japan’s female artisans shine, and where its hidden layers reveal themselves.