Monet's Pond, Knife‒city Seki & Washi‒hometown Mino
Joined 2015
In a small pond called 'Monet's Pond', many fancy Japanese carps 'KOI' are swimming through water-lilies and algae to make you feel relaxed. After having Unagi‒lunch at Seki and visiting the Traditional Swordsmith Museum, you move to Mino where you stroll around well-preserved traditional housing streets visiting old Washi merchant houses, paper museums and souvenir shops.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At JR Gifu station or at JR Nagoya station
JR Gifu station
Monet's pond
Monet's Pond is located in a small village in mountains. Many beautiful colored Japanese carps 'Koi' are swimming through waterlilies and algae. It just looks like one of Monet's paintings which makes you so relaxing and feel comfortable and happy.
Seki city
you have a lunch break eating delicious Japanese dish of 'Unagi' (eel) and visit the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum and Gifu Cutlery Hall. You will learn why this small town has developed as one of the most famous three towns for manufacturing knives in the world.
Mino old town district
you visit Mino, a hometown of traditional hand‒made paper ’Washi’. You will stroll around the important Traditional Preserved Buildings Area dropping by some museums and shops.
JR Mino-oota station
JR Gifu station
Ending Point
At JR Gifu Station
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee and hotel pick-up
transportation fee about 6000yen/person for both guests and guide, lunch fee 3500yen/person for guests and guide, entrance fee 800yen/person for guests
Tour Important Information
1) Monet's Pond is located in the deep mountains and the condition of transparency is influenced by the weather since the previous day. Therefore, depending on the comprehensive situation, the destinations might be changed.
Important message from the supplier
I can guide in Kyoto in case you support transportation fee.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2015
About Tour Guide Tetsuji Y.
Hello everyone. I am Tetsuji. I worked as a public servant in the local government for 35 years. I belonged to the department of Redevelopment, Town-Landscaping, Preserving historical areas and Architectural Guidance. (I have a national 1st-class architect license.) I devoted myself to revitalizing the city by making plans and improving infrastructure for citizens.
Gifu is located in central Japan near Nagoya. As just being the crossroads of the West and the East, there are many unique attractions that are hard to discover in hectic big cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. I had a hand in restoring and preserving some of them throughout my career and want to introduce them to tourists from abroad. That’s why I became a guide-interpreter in Gifu.
I also enjoyed traveling around the world. My favorite part of each trip was walking around the city and talking with local residents. Traveling has taught me lots of things during my lifetime. Now, I would like to help others have similar experience in Japan. Shall we enjoy fantastic journey in Gifu?
Reviews
“Shirakawa-go Day Tour from Takayama ”
Our group of 3 booked Tetsuji for a day trip to Shirakawa-go from Takayama. Tetsuji was incredibly responsive during the planning process and even helped us reserve transportation and a restaurant which took all the fuss out of the process! His demeanor was incredibly friendly and professional across the trip, always happy to tap into his knowledge of the location's heritage and goings-on to answer whatever questions we had (with a particular focus on the architectural structure and development of the town's Gassho-Style Houses). Tetsuji's planning allowed every location enough breathing room for us to take them in, with plenty of photo opportunities too! Though he expressed modesty about his English proficiency at the start, we had no trouble communicating at all (you could drop him in England, and he'd probably be fine honestly). All in all, a well-prepared, well-travelled, and well-mannered guide. If we're ever back in the area, we'd have no qualms contacting Tetsuji again!
Tetsuji Y.
I truly appreciate your kind words and generous praise. It means a lot to me. Honestly, I feel a little embarrassed accepting such compliments as mine, but your thoughtful words are incredibly inspiring and give me the confidence to take on new challenges. I am really looking forward to seeing you and your family again Please give my warm regards to Chris and Jimmy.
Shwe M.
One Day Tour of Takayama & Shirakawago
Customized
“Takayama and Shirakawago”
Tetsuji is the perfect guide for the historically inclined. His background in town planning and architecture mean that he truly understands the importance of preserving traditional ways of life for future generations to enjoy. He perfectly structured our day, without ever making us feel rushed, and booked the best restaurant in Shirakawago for us (which is booked up to a month in advance). He is also an avid photographer and we are looking forward to seeing all the photos he took of us on our trip with him!
Tetsuji Y.
Thank you for describing nice review. I am very happy to hear that you are satisfied with my tour. Please give my best regards to Conner.
“Great tour of Takayama and Furukawa”
Tetsuji is a patient, knowledgeable guide who managed to fit all the highlights of two towns into a relaxed-feeling day. He introduced us to many under the surface aspects of local culture that we would have overall missed. And he made us feel comfortable traveling with children with constant food and bathroom needs. A five-star guide and great person!
Tetsuji Y.
Thank you for excellent praise for my tour. I am very happy to hear that you are satisfied with my guiding. I hope you could come back to Japan again and enjoy traveling around my area with me. I believe you still have a lot of places to visit and know the details. Please give my best regards to your family members.
$119/ per group
More tours by Tetsuji Y.
Discover Authentic Japan in Tsumago & Magome, Nakasendo
You hike an old highway Nakasendo walking through two posttowns. Strolling around the most famous traditional post towns, Magome & Tsumago, takes you back to nostalgic Japan. The moment you enter these towns along Nakasendo highway, you will feel as if you are in a time warp back in the Edo period, where local people spend their daily lives as well as welcoming tourists, preserving buildings and the landscape.
Best Choice for one-day Takayama tour
Takayama is a small city in a mountainous area. The tour includes some healing spots in addition to popular highlights like Miyagawa Morning Market, Higashiyama Walking, Old Town and Hida-Furukawa. I'm sure you’ll be able to see why Takayama mesmerizes tourists so much through this tour.
One-day-tour of Shirakawa-go
Shirakawa-go is a mountain settlement that is famous for uniquely designed Gassyo-style buildings and registered as one of the World Cultural Heritage sites. In Ogi-machi, over sixty Gassyo-style buildings will welcome visitors. Enjoying the whole landscape of the village from the hill, you will stroll around the village visiting some traditional Gasho-style buildings such as Wada House, Nagase House and Myozenji Temple Museum.
Cormorant fishing viewing on the Nagaragawa River
Gifu Castle standing on the Mt.Kinka provides visitors with nice panoramic views day and night. You also enjoy watching a traditional unique event Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River while eating dinner in a viewing boat. Sir Charlie Chaplin visited Gifu twice to enjoy this unique traditional event. Besides, a photogenic street Kawara-machi and the Great Buddha statue in Shoboji-temple move you so much.
Other Popular Highlights Tours in Gifu
Takayama 4 Hour Town Walk Tour
Let's walk one of the most popular traditional town in Central Japan. Your guide will pick you up at the reception of your hotel and walk with you throughout the old town of Takayama city. There are many traditional Japanese architectures and cultural museums in Takayama. You can also enjoy talking with local store clerks via your guide's translation. And you can optionally drop by some sake breweries, food stalls and have lunch in highly recommended Hida beef restaurant
Discover the Water city/Gujo Hachiman one day tour
Gujo Hachiman a Castle town where people live with clean water. Gujo city is situated at the uppermost region of the Nagara river. Local people cherish and preserve the clean water and beautiful streams as the pride of their hometown. We would enjoy real clean water city!
Takayama half day walking tour
- 4 to 8 hours walking tour in Takayama - a comprehensive tour guide will show you the best of Takayama
Gujo Hachiman walking tour
Gujo Hachiman is located in Gifu Prefecture. This town is well known as a town with clear water. You can spend a relaxing time walking around this town feeling tranquil atmosphere. Only 84 minutes bus ride brings you to Gujo Hachiman from Gifu station.
