Where Nature, Culture, and Taste Meet: Japan’s Most Immersive Travel Experiences

Aqua Vista Kushimoto is a small-group diving service located in Kushimoto, Wakayama—the southernmost tip of Japan’s mainland. Surrounded by the world’s northernmost coral reefs, we offer a variety of programs including introductory dives, fun dives, and license courses. English-friendly and beginner-friendly, our experienced guides ensure safe and enjoyable dives for all levels. Discover the beauty of Kushimoto’s underwater world and create unforgettable memories with us.

Website：https://aquavista-kushimoto.my.canva.site/

This facility offers a relaxing time interacting with dolphins in the Seto Inland Sea. In addition to feeding experiences that everyone from small children to seniors can participate in, there are also programs such as trainer experiences where you can give signals for the dolphins to jump. We recommend the dolphin swim, where you can swim and play with the dolphins. Even if you can't swim, you can enjoy it by wearing a wetsuit that floats in the water. Holding onto a dolphin's dorsal fin and swimming around the pool is the best. Each experience program has a set start time and capacity, so advance reservations are recommended. Even with just an admission ticket, you can observe the training and see the dolphins perform impressive jumps right in front of you. There are also handmade craft classes and seasonal events. When you get tired, you can relax at the attached cafe while gazing out at the sea.

Website：https://www.j-dc2.net/

Nippon Journey offers Japanese cultural experiences such as calligraphy and origami in Hiroshima.
Hiroshima is Japan's leading brush-producing region and a city known worldwide as a symbol of peace.
Through authentic experiences unique to Hiroshima, we provide enjoyable and memorable experiences to take home.

Business Hours: Monday–Saturday 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, Closed Sundays
Address: 4F, 9-13 Komachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture 730-0041

Website：https://nippon-journey.com/

Embark on a journey to savor Japan's wine culture as a story.

Wintage Tour offers bespoke custom tours centered around Yamanashi, visiting wineries to connect with the winemakers' passion and the land's history.

Each journey is individually planned for every guest, not packaged. We design experiences unique to that day and moment—strolling through vineyards, conversations with artisans, exclusive tastings.

Wine deepens with time. So does travel.

May the story that begins with a single glass become a special moment that lingers in your heart.

Discover the charm of Japanese wine, still unknown to the world, alongside moments of pure quality.

Website：https://wintagetour.com/

Enjoy the magnificent scenery of the San'in Kaigan Geopark in Iwami Town, Tottori Prefecture from the sea on this sightseeing cruise.
Experience up close the dynamic landscapes created by nature: the crystal-clear emerald blue sea, bizarre rock formations, sea caves, and sheer cliffs.
Relax and take in the views on the island-hopping sightseeing boat, or opt for the smaller Uradome-go for a more thrilling experience!
The high-speed RIB boat “AQUA,” launched in 2025, is recommended for those seeking an even more exhilarating experience.
The boarding area features dining spots serving fresh seafood dishes like seafood rice bowls, cafes offering seafood burgers and coffee, and a shop stocked with original products and local souvenirs. It's a spot where sightseeing, gourmet dining, and shopping can all be enjoyed at once.

Address: 2182 Oya, Iwami-cho, Iwami-gun, Tottori Prefecture (Uradome Coast Island Tour Boat Terminal)

Island Tour Boat Operation Period: March 1st to end of November
Departures: 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM (departures every hour)
*Suspended due to sea conditions *For other course details, operation status, and the latest information, please check the website.

Website：https://yourun1000.com/

Tamashige Koto Workshop, founded in 1894, has preserved the traditional craftsmanship of Japanese musical instruments, specifically the koto, to this day.
Carving the wood, polishing it, applying decorations, and stringing the instrument—every step is grounded in the craftsman's belief of “working earnestly and honestly.

Its quality has been highly recognized both domestically and internationally, evidenced by performance evaluations by Living National Treasures and dedications to Meiji Shrine. Currently, the fourth generation carries on the craft, passing this culture to the next generation.

Please experience the traditional Japanese beauty and craftsmanship embodied in each koto.

Website：https://tamakoto.com/

Oyama Shrine, perched atop a small hill in Habu-cho, Innoshima, Onomichi City along the Shimanami Kaido, occupies a location offering breathtaking views of the beautiful islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
Founded in 773, it is said to have enshrined a branch spirit from Oyamazumi Shrine on Oomishima in Iyo Province, venerated as the Great Deity of Oshima.
As Innoshima's oldest shrine, records concerning it are preserved in the Shiroku no San-dai (Chronicles of the Three Generations).

It garners devotion as a guardian deity for architecture, hearing, bicycles, and pets.

It is considered a sacred place that empowers visitors, enshrining deities believed to open fortune and connect paths.

Website：https://ooyamajinja.net/

Hattendo Cafe Rier is located within Hattendo Village, an experiential food theme park. The shop name “Cafe Rier” represents “Cafe + Atelier = the fusion of cafe and atelier,” and is a participatory experience store where you can discover the surprise, deliciousness, and fun of sweet breads.
The cafe offers a lunch menu featuring specialties like omelet rice, along with the popular signature sweet menu item, the “Cream Pan Cake.”
Additionally, the “All-About Hachidou” program offers a “Bread Making Experience” where you can shape dough into your own designs, along with Hachidou history exhibits, VR factory tours, and a “Pan Deco” decoration experience. Running year-round, it's perfect for creating memories.
The Hachidou flagship store is also on-site for shopping.

Address: 10064-190
Yokurayama, Zennyuji, Hongo-cho
Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture 729-0416
Business Hours:
Weekdays: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Website：https://hattendo.jp/shop/

The former Kōkuni residence—once the shōya’s house of the Himeji domain—has long been regarded as the inner sanctum of Himeji Castle. Located in Fukusaki, north of Himeji and known for its yokai folklore, this historic residence is believed to have been built in 1601, making it eight years older than Himeji Castle itself and giving it over 400 years of history.

Tracing its origins to the Muromachi period, the former Oguni residence served as the village headman’s house during the Edo era. It is also the birthplace of Oguni Tetsujuro, a local hero who stood up for impoverished farmers during the Bantan Ikki uprising in the early Meiji period—his legacy remains celebrated in the region today.

Later, the residence played an important role in community healthcare as an obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Medical books, signs, house-call bags, and rickshaws from that time are still displayed on-site.

Today, the building has been carefully renovated, preserving Edo-period pillars and beams while integrating modern comforts. Inside, restored family furniture—chairs and chests—create a nostalgic atmosphere, complemented by a semi-open-air cypress bath, soft sunlight through shoji screens, and a peaceful Japanese garden, where BBQs can also be enjoyed.

To enrich your stay, a wide range of cultural experiences is available, including:

Tea ceremony
Flower arrangement
Kimono dressing
Yoga
Floral design
Aromatherapy massage
Reflexology
Earthen wall restoration workshop

The grounds also feature a natural yeast bakery, Oriental aromatherapy salon, organic flower shop, sea bream soba & rice restaurant, and a casual Japanese eatery, providing even more ways to enjoy your visit.

This is a place where you can relax as if returning home—surrounded by the warmth of nature and the quiet beauty of time-honored architecture.

Access
Himeji Castle: 25 min by car / JR Fukusaki → Himeji 25 min by train (17 min by limited express)
Himeji Central Park: 25 min by car
Taiyo Park: 30 min by car

Website：https://qr.paps.jp/hBmZG

KochiAmigo offers experiential tours based in Kochi Prefecture, allowing visitors to savor the local culture and nature with all five senses. For travelers visiting Kochi on a Japan cruise or those seeking more than just tourist spots, we plan small-group package tours and custom private tours. Our programs include experiencing Yosakoi dance, visiting rare fermented tea production areas, and harvesting yuzu citrus, all while interacting with locals. Additionally, active adventures like cycling and trekking to experience Shikoku's landscapes firsthand are popular. We specialize in “hybrid tours” combining cultural experiences with nature activities, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the local way of life and values often missed by typical sightseeing. Your guides are Japanese locals fluent in English who deeply understand the area. They carefully convey the region's background and the thoughts of its people, enriching your understanding of the journey. Casual conversations along the way and the stories woven into the quiet mountain landscapes will surely make your trip special. Kochiamigo tours deliver more than just sightseeing; they offer journeys where you meet authentic locals.

208-12 Asakura-hei, Kochi-shi, Kochi, Japan

Website：https://kochiamigo.jp/en/

ShikokuAdventure offers small-group cycling tours covering all of Shikoku over 8 to 9 days. Enjoy a comfortable yet deeply immersive cycling journey that takes you not only to popular spots like the Shimanami Kaido, but also through hidden shortcuts known only to locals and mountain roads with unexpectedly beautiful scenery. English-speaking Japanese cycling guides accompany the group, and along the way, you might find yourself having casual interactions with locals. The appeal lies in experiencing the “real local” through your journey. You can choose between e-bikes and road bikes at no extra charge, making it accessible even for those concerned about their fitness level.
Beyond cycling tours, we also offer multi-activity tours traversing Shikoku that combine trekking, kayaking, and cycling. These popular journeys let you experience Shikoku's nature with your whole body, set against mountains, rivers, and the sea. By actively moving while enjoying interactions with local people and the changing scenery, you create special, memorable experiences.

Website：https://shikokuadventure.jp/

Get up early for a trekking tour of Mt. Futaba with an open-air tea ceremony near Hiroshima station. After meeting your guide, head to Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine where you can view important cultural assets and other buildings on the grounds. Trek through Inari Shrine in the mountains of Futaba. After trekking, reach the Peace Pagoda and enjoy a spectacular view of Hiroshima City, the Seto Inland Sea, and Miyajima from the top of the mountain. Then begin the Nodate tea ceremony, a traditional open-air ceremony, where the guide will make you green tea outdoors. 

Adress: 1-45 Hikarigaoka, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, 732-0057 Tour time: 7:30-10:30&10-1pm

Website：https://myjapan.or.jp/experiences/asageshiki

From Shiga Prefecture to Kyoto, the Biwako Canal quietly flows through the city.
This waterway is more than mere infrastructure; it is the lifeline that opened Kyoto's future during the Meiji era. The grand vision of drawing water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto was the crystallization of the passion of our predecessors who challenged modernization, and their achievements still breathe life into every corner of the city today.

In spring, cherry blossoms paint the water's surface; in summer, deep greenery brings coolness; in autumn, autumn leaves envelop the canal. The scenery along the canal, richly changing with the seasons, is now one of the attractions drawing not only Kyoto citizens but travelers from around the world.

To experience the story of the Lake Biwa Canal more deeply, we recommend boarding a boat and traveling along the route constructed in its earliest days. Passing through tunnels excavated with the most advanced technology of the Meiji era, through sluice gates, and along stone-piled embankments, you'll traverse a waterway where the monumental achievements of that time and the history that followed blend together, still alive today. It envelops you in a sensation as if traveling back in time. The aspirations of our ancestors, etched into this National Treasure, and the determination of the Meiji-era people to restore Kyoto's prosperity are quietly conveyed.

During the cruise, you'll navigate zones offering distinct scenery—the Keage area, the Yamashina area, and the Otsu area—while a guide shares the history and stories tied to each location. In autumn, the waterway is embraced by trees ablaze with color, offering a truly new journey through Kyoto, woven from water and landscape.

The Biwako Canal continues to bring vitality to Kyoto's cityscape and offers visitors a quiet sense of wonder.
Embark on a journey to encounter the history, culture, and beauty carried by water. When visiting Kyoto, be sure to follow this special waterway.

Website：http://www.biwako-sosui.jp/

The Venus Line, located within a national park. A panoramic vista unfolds, offering sweeping views of the Japanese Alps, Mount Fuji, and the Yatsugatake Mountains. You'll breeze up the 1,000-meter elevation gain using an e-bike. Along the way, you'll ascend to Tateishi Park, a location featured in anime, where a guide will share the history of Lake Suwa's formation. Afterward, you'll ride through Kirigamine and Kurumayama Highlands with the breeze at your back. The dynamic Yatsugatake Mountains and Mount Fuji spread out before your eyes. Enjoying a food truck in this scenic area feels like the ultimate luxury.

Website：https://gravbicycle.com/

No matter what kind of adventure or cultural experience you seek, Japan offers endless opportunities to connect with its people, landscapes, and traditions. As new tours and activities continue to emerge across the country, every trip becomes a chance to discover a different side of Japan—one that is authentic, inspiring, and uniquely your own.