6 Night Journey Within Tour
This course would see your clients beginning their journey by arriving at Okayama station via Shinkansen where they will be greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable bilingual guide who will take them by private car to the famed Bikan district of the centuries old merchant town of Kurashiki. Here they will be pampered in the sublime elegance of Ryokan Kurashiki. An afternoon tour of the town will be followed an amazing Kaiseki dinner and some free time for an evening stroll along side the canals and quaint streets of the Bikan.
Ryokan Kurashiki in the historic merchant district of Bikan.
After a great breakfast your clients will travel down to Uno Port to catch a ferry over to Shodoshima island for a taste of 'real Japan'. On Shodoshima your clients can enjoy visits to Nakayama Senmaida, a valley of over 70 terraced rice fields, the ancient mountain top temple of Nishi-no-taki where they can experience the ancient rituals of the fire ceremony, and a tour of a centuries old soy sauce factory. Enjoy sampling the regions famed Olive Beef and locally brewed sake while overnighting at the sublime Mari ryokan.
Two images of Nishi-no-taki temple and a traditional soy sauce factory on Shodoshima island.
We'll enjoy a mid morning ferry ride to Takamatsu and then drive on to the town of Kotohira to visit Konpira shrine. The 785 steps leading to Konpira's main shrine (and the additional 583 steps leading to the inner shrine) are one of the most iconic spiritual climbs in all of Japan. The steps of the omotesando (main street) leading to the shrine are lined with numerous shops, cafes, and artisans studios. Your guests will overnight in a centuries old villa at Kotohira Kadan.
After breakfast, we’ll drive through the dramatic Oboke Gorge and over the mountains pass to the fabled Iya Valley. Here we’ll visit the “kazurabashi” vine bridges and the town of Kakashinosato, populated almost exclusively by handmade life-sized dolls. Late in the afternoon, we’ll arrive at the beautifully restored thatched roof farmhouses of Tougenkyo in the village of Ochiai, where local women will prepare a delicious local meal right in the farmhouse. After a peaceful night’s sleep and restorative bath, guests can prepare breakfast in the well-stocked modern kitchen prior to departing for the historic town of Uchiko in Ehime Prefecture.
The mythical Iya valley
The beautifully restored thatched roof farm houses of Iya valley
The kazurabashi vine bridges of the Iya valley
Uchiko is a lovely town reminiscent of “old Japan” as it’s remained largely unchanged over the past 150 years. Traditional Japanese architecture captivates visitors, along with local culture and crafts. Cafes, shops, and galleries line the main street, along with a traditional “washi” (Japanese handmade paper) factory and a gorgeous villa once home to a wealthy candle merchant. We’ll overnight at Auberge Uchiko in elegant glass and washi pavilions that appear to float effortlessly above the cityscape at night.
The last full day will see your clients traveling to Matsuyama where they will visit the fascinatingly eclectic Ishite-ji temple, Matsuyama castle, and Dogo onsen (Japan's oldest and most famous hot spring bath). After overnighting at the luxurious Obora Zukiyo ryokan your guests will be escorted to Matsuyama airport or Matsuyama rail station according to their itinerary.
Prices starting from US$950 / day / person (double occupancy)
The eclectic Dogo station
Wonderful shines and temples within walking distance of Dogo station in Matsuyama
