Tired with crowded major sightseeing spots? This tour gives you a unique experience in a typical Japan's rural town in Miyagi Pref. which is about 450km north of Tokyo. You can meet local people and experience real Japan’s rural life there. Staying in a local home and joining various activities, communication with local people makes your travel very special.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
At your hotel lobby in the Tokyo 23 wards
8:30 Meet at your hotel
I will take you to an exciting trip to Miyagi from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen Bullet Train.
You will enjoy 300km/hr speed and changing sceneries from the urban city to rural rice paddy fields with beautiful mountains in the background.
11:30 Arrive at the Kurikoma Kogen Station in Miyagi
First thing first, let's go to a local restaurant for lunch.
12:30 Check in the local house accommodation run by an old local couple
13:30 Start activity
You'll have choice of activities such as
- Going bike riding around the lake,
- Chopping firewood with the house owner
- Strawberry picking (Jan-May), etc.
There is a big lake near the house called Izu-numa. The lake is designated as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention. Swans and geese flown from Siberia stay here in winter. Lotus flowers flourish all over the lake in summer.
Please let me know your preference at least a week in advance of the tour. I will arrange the activity.
In the evening, you can experience local food cooking with the house owner. After dinner, you can talk with them in a comfortable living room with a fireplace.
8:30 Breakfast prepared by the landlady
You'll have choice of activities such as;
- Morning Lotus Flower Boat Ride (before breakfast in summer)
- Morning Lake Bird Watching (before breakfast in winter)
- Harvesting/Seeding Experience of Agricultural Produces such as tomato, cabbage, lavender, watermelon, etc. depending on season
- Private hot spring tour to a mountain cottage and refresh yourself in an open-air bath (about one-hour ride by taxi)
Again, please let me know your preference at least two weeks in advance of the tour.
16:00 Take the Shinkansen from Miyagi to Tokyo
18:30 Arrive at Tokyo Station
Around 19:00 Arrive at your hotel with me
At the hotel in the Tokyo 23 wards
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Guide fee
Hotel pick-up
Travel movie (Edited into about 5 minutes for your memory)
Transportation fee from Tokyo to Miyagi (you and the guide, about 25,000 yen per person for round trip)
Taxi fee in Miyagi (depends on distance but about 3,000 yen per ride on average or 7,000 yen per hour)
Lodging charge including dinner and breakfast (5,000 yen per person per night)
Any meals enroute (you and the guide)
Any admission fees (you and the guide)
- It gets cold in winter (around Nov-March period) outside and may snow in Miyagi so please wear warm.
- The availability of activities depends on weather and time. I will try to meet your request but I might have to provide alternatives.
- Basically, we use taxi for transportation in Miyagi which you are asked to cover the cost.
- You need to bring your nightwear with you.
- Reservation has to be made 2 weeks in advance or earlier than tour date to coordinate the activities.
See my calendar for availability
Hi, my name is Ken. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in Japan.
I’ve been living in Yokohama, west of Tokyo, for more than 20 years.
Since 2018 I have been enjoying guiding guests from all over the globe to various attractive places in Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji, and so on.
I can also bring you unique experiences such as sake tasting, car factory, beer brewery, fish markets as well as rural town in Miyagi pref., where I was born, by riding on the Shinkansen bullet train.
Please think I’m your friend in Japan. Tell me where you want to go, see, or experience. I can customize the tour for you.
My hobby is walking and jogging. I made 42K runs 9 times so far, but I take it easy recently:-)
Having worked globally in the food industry for 35 years, I love local foods of Japan and other countries.
I’ll try my best to make your visit a memorable one.
I’m looking forward to meeting you soon!
“A wonderful guide in Yokohama ”
Ken showed us all of the highlights of Yokohama He is knowledgeable, friendly, speaks good English and His tour was a highlight.
Ken T.
(4 reviews)Thank you very much for writing encouraging feedback to the tour. It was my pleasure to introduce the essence of the city to you and your lovely friends. As you found, Yokohama is a showcase of Japan's modern history from the end of the Edo period to today. The Chinatown doggy and I are looking forward to seeing you again!
Norman H.
Customized Tour in Yokohama for Mr. Norman H. - 9 Hours
Customized
“This man does his homework”
My wife and I booked with Ken at Yokohama pre-cruise and he came prepared with notebook in hand. Despite our impulsive changes on the fly he knew how to compensate venues and was very patient every step of the way. His English was totally understandable as well.
Ken T.
(4 reviews)Thank you very much for your wonderful remarks. I hope you found Yokohama is an attractive city where tells you the history of Japan's modernization from the Edo period to the current, and toward the future. Because the city was one of the ports that started trading with other countries from the end of the Edo period, it retains multi-cultural features, Japanese, Western and Chinese as you eye witnessed. Although it was a full-day tour, it was not enough for me to introduce the charms of the city. I am looking forward to having you here again!
Janelle J.
Customized Tour in Yokohama for Janelle J. on March 17th, 2024
Customized
“Our guided tour of Yokohama with Ken T.”
An enjoyable day was had with Ken. We experienced local bus and train and did a lot of walking. He was very knowledgeable about local history. We visited a Shrine, went to the 69th floor of Landmark Tower and looked out onto the city of Yokohama, enjoyed a local coffee and lunched at a Japanese restaurant and Chinatown . Lastly, the highlight of the day was Sankeien garden. We would highly recommend Ken to anyone wanting to sightsee in Yokohama.
Ken T.
(4 reviews)Thank you for contributing a wonderful review for today's tour. I am glad you liked my hometown, Yokohama, although it might be a bit long day for you. Please enjoy the rest of your trip and see you again in the future! Ken Takahashi
$517/ per group
Reserve