Nature & the Outdoors
Area
Season
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Enjoy the Onsen Culture and Natural Beauty of Shiga Kogen: "Long-Stay Nature Tour" and "ONSEN Gastronomy Tour"
[Long-Stay Nature Tour]
・Get an up-close view of wild monkeys bathing in the hot springs at the ever-popular Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, wild snow monkey park.
・A guide will take you through the winding streets of the Yudanaka, Shibu, and Kanbayashi Onsen areas. The labyrinth-like alleys will make you feel as if you're on a journey through another world.
・These onsen towns have thrived thanks to the blessings of the surrounding mountains. With a nature guide by your side, you’ll explore the natural and cultural beauty of Shiga Kogen. A gondola ride to an altitude of 2,000 meters ensures that even those worried about their stamina can comfortably participate.
・Most accommodations have onsen or large baths within facilities, so after a day of hiking, you can soothe your tired body and fully appreciate the healing power of the hot water.
[ONSEN Gastronomy Tour]
・On the first day, you’ll participate in the PREMIUM ONSEN Gastronomy Walking Tour, strolling about 5km through the onsen towns and enjoying the local produce of Yamanouchi Town like fruit and sake at various gastronomy points.
・After the walk, relax and unwind with a soak in one of the area's hot springs.
・On the second day, you’ll explore various spots that allow you to experience the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the Yudanaka & Shibu Onsen Resort, including a visit to Jigokudani Yaen-Koen.
・Yamanouchi Town, home to the world’s only place where wild Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) bathe in hot springs, is also where you’ll find the "Yudanaka & Shibu Onsen Resort", with a history dating back 1,300 years. The stone-paved streets in Shibu Onsen and traditional eaves of this onsen town evoke a nostalgic atmosphere.
・It is possible to book this tour as a one-day walking event. -
Kanmon Straits Infrastructure Tourism
The Kanmon Straits area, which lies between Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture and Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, has long been a strategic location connecting Japan with the rest of the world.
Here you will find the world's first undersea tunnel, the Kanmon Bridge that connects Honshu and Kyushu, the Kanmon Road and Pedestrian Tunnel that mark where there are underwater prefectural borders, and the Kanmon Passage where the two prefectures are linked by boat. The Kanmon Straits are known to have one of Japan's three largest tidal currents, so the infrastructure here that links everyday life with the natural environment is the fruit of Japanese technology, which is highly regarded around the world. While Japanese technology is exported and shared abroad, on this tour, we showcase the technology that our predecessors built more than half a century ago which is still in use today—even as a tourism destination! Not only can you visit areas that are not open to the public, such as the world's first undersea tunnel and the backstage tour of the national highway tunnel, but you can also enjoy exclusive food experiences from this region. -
Urban Legend Taxi
A first of its kind, Urban Legend Taxi is an hour-long immersive horror experience tour that is brought to life with surround sound and 3D video using the latest technology from Sony, the pride of Japan. With the help of 3D video, 360 Reality Audio, and sound AR technology, you will be taken on a tour of secret urban legend spots around Tokyo. Escorted along in one of S.RIDE's premium vehicles, you will experience fear and horror in luxury!
Inside the vehicle, you can watch a program about the urban legends on a Sony Spatial Reality Display. Strange things will start to occur as you see thrilling urban legends take place in real time. The sound AR app Locatone™ is used to enhance the audio experience and make each spot you visit even more immersive.
This horror experience has been overseen by Haunted House Obaken, which has produced numerous haunted houses and horror events in Japan and overseas, so you will be sure to have an authentic horror experience.
Guidance on the tour is available in Japanese, English, and Chinese, so tourists from outside Japan are also welcome. Investigating urban legend spots with the help of a chauffeur brings the experience to life and makes the horror even more real. Whether you are someone who loves urban legends or you just want to a new way to experience horror, this tour is for you. Who knows? Perhaps in the darkness and terrors of Tokyo, you will create a new urban legend of your own…
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Special Experiential Tour of Oshi Culture: The Rare Remnants of a Culture with a 1,200-Year History
・This is a guided tour to experience the history and practices surrounding Mt. Mitake, a culture which dates back 1,200 years.
・An oshi is a practitioner of mountain worship who lives on a mountain and guides the faithful.
・Mountain worship refers to a belief in self-improvement, in which the mountains themselves are viewed as sacred objects to be honored. It is because of this that oshi work to carefully preserve and pass the mountains on to their descendants. The practice is based on sustainable living.
・The tour will include waterfall training and meditation practices under the direct guidance of an oshi. This sort of practice is the origin of modern day practices like Zen and mindfulness.
・The accommodation for participants of this program will be at a lodging house run by an oshi, known as a shukubo.
・The guide will take participants to hidden gems that one might normally pass right by, such as Musashi Mitake Shrine, Okunoin Temple and its sacred statue, and the Futomani Festival site. This is a secret festival that has been passed down since ancient times.
・Participants will be accompanied by a guide that is familiar with the area, so they will be able to experience the local lifestyle and culture in depth, and even enjoy interacting with the locals.
・This is a guided tour to experience a traditional Japanese style of sustainable living.
・The guides that will accompany the tour are internationally certified in outdoor first aid, environmental ethics, and outdoor activity skills.
・The location is very accessible, as it is only about 90 minutes away from central Tokyo. -
MT.IWAFUNE EXPLOSION EXPERIENCE
1. "Henshin with Kamen Rider #1: Transformation and Explosion with Hiroshi Fujioka"
In this exclusive experience, you’ll learn the iconic “henshin pose” from Hiroshi Fujioka, the original Kamen Rider #1, and join him in an electrifying explosion scene.
2. "Become a Hero: Wire Action and Explosion"
Step into the role of a hero where you'll perform wire-action stunts. Guided by a former stuntman, you'll experience high-flying action and cinematic explosions.
3. "Anniversary Explosion Shoot in a Kimono"
Wear a beautiful kimono and capture unforgettable moments with a unique explosion photo shoot. Perfect setting to make your special day a cinematic masterpiece. -
Special Spectator Tour of the D1 GRAND PRIX, the Pinnacle of Drift Racing (in Oita and Tokyo)
This special spectator tour is a premium plan to experience the full excitement of drift racing, a motorsport that originated in Japan.
The D1 Grand Prix is the pinnacle of competitive drift racing, a sport that has been gaining popularity around the world in recent years.
This tour will take you to the seventh and eighth rounds of the D1 Grand Prix 2024 series, which will be held at Autopolis in Oita Prefecture on October 26 and 27,
and the ninth and tenth rounds, which will be held at a special venue in Odaiba, Tokyo on November 9 and 10.
The highlights of the program include a ride around the circuit in a professionally driven D1 car, VIP seats, and pit area tours.
There will be a talkshow and autograph session with legendary drivers, and giveaways of not-for-sale trading cards.
A dedicated interpreter will be present, so participants can enjoy the event without any language barriers.
English-language live streams will also be available during the race, so that those new to drifting can follow along.
Recommended for all motorsports fans.
(Content will differ slightly between Oita and Tokyo) -
Enjoy the Great Outdoors in a Spectacular Location Overlooking a National Park! Premium Mobile Home Stay with Sauna and Special Dinner
This plan allows guests to enjoy a sense of oneness with nature as they overlook the national parks of Joshinetsu Kogen and the Myoko-Togakushi Mountain Range from a premium mobile home with a sauna. Enjoy an exclusive view of scenery that can only be seen here and changes with the time of day.
Participants will be treated to a special dinner made with local ingredients.
The tour also offers optional guided cultural experiences in the area as part of the basic plan, such as a special guided tour of the temple grounds by a Zenkoji monk and high-quality shojin ryori (vegetarian Buddhist meal) with an explanation of the cuisine.
There is also the option of an all-inclusive tour complete with private cabs for guests visiting from the Tokyo metropolitan area. Transportation within the region will also be through private cab, ensuring each aspect of the tour (experience, transport, and accommodation) will be private. -
The Tradition of Japan's Ama Divers: Ocean Lunch Tour
This tour will give you an authentic ama experience, allowing you to forge a connection with the earth and nature through food. The accommodation, Oyado the Earth, is located within Ise-Shima National Park. The tour begins on the grounds of the hotel. Participants will cross a beach only accessible at low tide to reach a private beach with small, isolated ama huts. Walking along the pebbled beach, with its natural hills and valleys, and listening to the crash of the waves, participants will gain firsthand insight into the unique lives of these ama divers. They will witness the cycles of nature, the lived experience of the ama divers as the seasons change, and the ways in which this culture has been preserved. Participants will arrive on the beach around the time that the ama divers return from their dive. The sight of these ama divers, emerging drenched from the waves, speaks to a hidden world that lies within the ocean. On the beach in front of the ama huts, close enough to feel the spray of the waves, participants will be treated to an aperitif selected by the accommodation’s sommelier and a chef’s lunch made with the ama’s catch. Afterwards, participants will head to the harbor to take in the lively scene of the ama divers unloading their catch of turban shells and abalone so they can be taken to market. Outside the fishing season or in case of bad weather, special permission is granted to enter the ama huts. Participants will be able to speak to the ama divers and gain deep insight into their experiences as they prepare for their dive. It is a truly special experience to able to visit a real ama hut rather than a reconstruction. The tour offers not only a walk on the unspoiled beaches of Ise-Shima National Park but also a glimpse into the real fishing and daily life of the working ama divers.
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Explore the Secrets of the Jomon Period and Its 10,000 Years of Peace 「JOMON Peaceful Spirits Tour」
Japan’s Jomon period was a period of peace that lasted for over 10,000 years, making it a unique period of time in the world. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russo-Ukrainian War and Israel-Hamas War in Gaza have threatened world peace. In addition to the food crises caused by these wars, more and more attention is being given to food crises caused by climate change. A growing number of people believe that the Jomon culture of Japan can provide us with insights to achieve world peace and live in harmony with nature in order to protect the Earth. This hands-on program held in the Yatsugatake Mountains and the village of Hara in Nagano Prefecture—an area that flourished during the Jomon period and is considered a Japan Heritage Cultural Property—will explore the peaceful spirit behind the Jomon era and the secrets behind its peace.
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Environmental Studies and Noh Plays on the Lake: an Overnight Tour on a State-of-the-Art Yakatabune Boat
On the tour, participants will visit Lake Biwa (Japan's largest lake in area and water capacity) to experience its nature and culture.
Noh is a classical Japanese performing art with a history of over 600 years. In this tour, guests will experience Noh theater firsthand by wearing Noh costumes, using Noh tools, and receiving direct instruction from a Noh performer who has been designated a National Important Intangible Cultural Property. Participants will also get a chance to watch professional Noh performances.
Participants can also explore Lake Biwa by cruising and canoeing on Shiki, a modern yakatabune boat that blends Japanese and Western style and design. The 400,000-year-old Lake Biwa has a unique natural environment is home to more than 50 species of indigenous freshwater fish and a distinct community of reeds.
On the yakatabune, participants will enjoy dishes featuring fish caught in Lake Biwa, as well as Shiga Omi beef. During the cruise, participants can take in beautiful views of Ukimido, a floating Buddhist temple built in the lake, from the water.
An experienced guide and interpreter will accompany participants throughout every part of the trip.
*Some itineraries may be subject to change due to weather conditions or other reasons.