Kibiso Shop

Silkworm house, 150 years old

Inside the Silk Miraikan

Silk industry exhibition

Samurai Silk and History of Shonai Domain

Car Tour (driving guide)

Joined 2023

Hiromi O.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Yamagata

Japanese (Native), English

4 hours

Private tour (only you and Hiromi O.)

Up to 2 people

Visit Matsugaoka in Tsuruoka City, where the entire process from sericulture to silk product manufacturing is still preserved. Tsuruoka and the surrounding Shonai region are the only areas in Japan that offer the full silk supply chain.

Learn the fascinating history of the samurai who traded their swords for hoes, planting mulberry trees to support Japan’s modernization.

Enjoy shopping for authentic, sustainable silk products made locally in the Shonai region.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

10:00 AM

Meeting Point

JR Tsuruoka Station or your hotel

- -JR Tsuruoka Station: In front of the ticket gate at JR Tsuruoka Station (there is only one gate). Hotel: Lobby *For guests coming from the Yamagata City area by highway bus, the meeting point can be changed to the Shonai-Asahi bus stop.

10:20 AM

Matsugaoka Craft Park

Visit Matsugaoka Crat Park. Take a look at the old silkworm houses, Cultivation Memorial Hall, and enjoy a nice walk around the buildings from 150 years ago.

11:30 AM

Lunch

Enjoy lunch at a nearby Italian restaurant with an attached winery, featuring spectacular views of the three mountains of Dewa.

If you have any dietary restrictions, such as vegetarian, vegan, or allergies, please notify the guide at least 3 days in advance.

01:00 PM

Silk Miraikan

Visit Silk-Miraikan to see silk industry exhibition. Enjoy shopping in Kibiso Shop where genuine and authentic silk products made in Shonai are available.

01:40 PM

Depart from Matsugaoka

Get in the car and head back to JR Tsuruoka Station or your hotel.

For guests traveling to the Yamagata City area by highway bus, the drop-off point can be changed to Shonai-Asahi bus stop.

Ending Point

Drop-off at JR Tsuruoka Station or your hotel by 2:00 PM at the latest.

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

What‘s included

-Guide fee

-Gasoline fee

-Transportation (via TOYOTA Roomy)

What‘s not included

-Lunch - Please pay at the restaurant for both the guide’s and your own meal.

-Admission to Matsugaoka Cultivation Memorial Hall (300 yen) – Please pay upon entry.

-Toll fees - This tour does not normally use toll roads; however, if the itinerary changes and toll roads are used, please cover the cost.

-For vegetarian/vegan diets or any food allergies, please notify the guide at least 3 days in advance.

Tour Important Information

Please take out travel insurance

Car used for this tour is TOYOTA Roomy

The facility is closed on Tuesdays.

The facilities are closed on Wednesdays.

Important message from the supplier

**For my Car Tours**

Please note that I set the maximum number of guests at 2, to ensure comfort and allow space for luggage, as my car is not very large. However, if there are 3 people with minimal luggage, it may be possible to accommodate all three. In that case, please consult with me in advance before booking.

**Akita tour available**

I can guide you in Akita prefecture if you pay my public transportation fee to Akita.

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 2023

Hiromi O.

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Hiromi O.

I'm a National Licensed Guide Interpreter based in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. After working for a global investment bank in Tokyo, I returned to my hometown to reconnect with nature and a slower pace of life.

Yamagata is a wonderful destination for those who appreciate nature and rural charm. Tsuruoka and its surrounding area, nestled between the Sea of Japan and scenic mountain ranges, offer cultural experiences you won't find anywhere else. Highlights include visiting temples of Sokushinbutsu (self-mummified monks), climbing 2,446 stone steps to the summit of a sacred mountain, encountering the mystical world of jellyfish, enjoying a rich culinary heritage, exploring local crafts, and much more.

I truly love my hometown and am passionate about helping visitors create unforgettable memories here. I look forward to meeting you and sharing the beauty and culture of Tsuruoka!

By JR - Take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Niigata, then transfer to the Limited Express Inaho bound for Tsuruoka. The total journey takes about 4 hours from JR Tokyo Station.

By bus - Overnight buses depart around 10 PM from Shinjuku and Shibuya in Tokyo, arriving in Tsuruoka around 6 AM. Please check the bus company’s website for details.

By air - ANA operates direct flights between Haneda Airport and Shonai Airport approximately five times a day.