Meet your local host Michiyo and let her introduce you to the special menu of the day, before you start your hands-on cooking experience in her Kyoto kitchen. Michiyo truly enjoys sharing her knowledge on Japanese cooking techniques that she has perfected over the years. You will learn to make dashi stock (a fundamental building block of Japanese cuisine), and to perfectly prepare sushi rice for chirashi-sushi that you will later garnish in a traditional wooden bowl. The cooking portion of the experience will take about an hour and half before you and Michiyo will sit down together to enjoy the authentic Japanese meal you helped prepare paired with carefully selected alcohol to accent the delicious food. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture and cuisine with the help of authentic food and a local's heart-warming hospitality!

Just a 20 minute shinkansen ride from Kyoto to our starting point, we offer an easy way to explore small town rural life in Japan on this leisurely beginner-friendly ride, with a local resident guide, fluent in English, to help you enjoy our area’s unique geographical and historical points of interest. This 13km course features a broad range of sights such as rice and agriculture fields, historic trade routes, local villages combining old and new ways of life, a temple and shrine, a brief hike, and the shores of Lake Biwa, all in about 3 hours. In our tours, we hope to both share and preserve our local culture and traditions. Toward this goal, we also work closely with municipalities and residents to ensure that we always respect the wishes and needs of the local communities that we visit. Our convenient location and short tour time make it easy to explore more before or after your tour too, such as visiting Hikone Castle, or Lake Biwa!

Just one hour from Kyoto, this immersive cultural experience takes you to the quieter shores of Lake Biwa, where daily life has long been shaped by water, faith, and the changing seasons. Guided by a Buddhist monk and his wife, a multilingual local guide, you’ll go beyond sightseeing to explore a historic town, observe temple life, and learn how spirituality is woven into everyday routines. The journey continues with a visit to a traditional sake brewery for a tasting, followed by scenic viewpoints overlooking Japan’s largest freshwater lake. Blending nature, history, and living traditions, this thoughtfully paced tour offers a genuine connection to rural Japan—ideal for travelers seeking depth, calm, and meaningful cultural encounters. Operates year-round and in all weather conditions.

Experience the beauty of Sakamoto and Mount Hiei on our exclusive tour. Start with a scenic ride on the Sakamoto Cable Car, Japan’s longest cableway, offering stunning views of Lake Biwa and misty forests. At the top, visit the sacred Enryaku-ji Temple, a historic Buddhist site with deep spiritual significance. Then, explore the charming town of Sakamoto, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Immerse yourself in this unforgettable journey through the spiritual and natural wonders of the region. Book your tour today!

Enjoy Nagahama on a guided walking tour of the city, including traditional Soy sause tasting. After this private guided tour, you can enjoy sightseeing as you like. Be careful, you may notice that 1 day is too short to enjoy Nagahama city enough, because of too much contents may catch your curiosity! We will help you Save your time on sightseeing spots researching and trip planning Flexible route options to suit your schedule Explore Nagahama with your eyes and tastebuds without language barriers Let's explore Nagahama, food, sake, nature, history, culture, shopping, everything exists!

We will hold an experiential activity where you can actually cook teppanyaki under the guidance of a chef while eating. It will be a valuable experience. You will enjoy your meal and then have the opportunity to try flambéing the steak for the main course. The menu is based on French cuisine that combines high-quality ingredients from various regions with local ingredients, and is prepared on a hot plate, with each dish prepared with care. Enjoy the delicious food prepared by the chef at a high-end teppanyaki restaurant and have a valuable experience that you cannot have anywhere else, making it even more enjoyable. You will enter the kitchen and experience cooking various ingredients under the guidance of the chef, grilling them on a teppanyaki grill, flambéing them, cutting them, plating them, etc. This experience is available to those who want to have a valuable experience in Japan, those who are interested in cooking, and families with children, from age 10 onwards.

Experience to meet "Funasushi" origin of "Sushi" in Japan. Try 3types of Funasushi with local Sake "Shichihonyari" chosen by Kuramoto.This experience is held at private cozy Machiya Bar. Funasushi is only served in Shiga prefecture in Japan, If you like Sushi, fermentation food, Sake, you must try it! Good access from Kyoto, Osaka, Gifu.

Mount Hiei, home to the revered Enryaku-ji Temple, is a central site in Japanese Buddhist history. Visitors can take a scenic cable car ride to the temple, enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes. Enryaku-ji has played a crucial role in Japanese Buddhism, shaping both the imperial court and samurai throughout history. The temple remains an active center for spiritual practice, offering a serene environment steeped in tradition. On this tour, you'll explore Enryaku-ji's rich heritage and ongoing spiritual significance, guided by insights into its historical impact and cultural practices. Experience the majestic setting of Mount Hiei and the profound legacy of Enryaku-ji for a memorable journey through Japan's spiritual history.

Would you like to immortalize your trip to Japan with a one-of-a-kind pottery creation? In the serene surroundings of Hieizan Yamanakacho, our studio offers an immersive pottery experience steeped in Japan's rich ceramic heritage. Guided by seasoned artisans, you'll learn traditional techniques for molding your pottery piece. Experience the pliability of soft clay as you shape it with your creativity. Gain insights into Japanese pottery's history and culture, enriching your stay in Japan. Nestled amidst Hieizan Yamamakacho's scenic beauty, a 15-minute walk unveils shrines, temples, and stone buddhas, inviting exploration of Japan's history and allure. Following your stroll, partake in our Japanese home cooking class led by local homemakers. Utilizing fresh, locally sourced ingredients, master the art of crafting traditional seasonal Japanese dishes. Immerse yourself in Japanese hospitality, relishing the flavors of nature and the region's culinary legacy.

The two waterfalls we visit are spectacular. The first, Hira Falls, is just a quarter mile (400 meter) hike from the car park. From there we hike to the even more dramatic Yobai Falls, feeling the splash of cool water. The round trip hike is only one mile (1.5 km) but the trail is rocky and steep, so a reasonable degree of fitness of required. From there we go to the shore of Lake Biwa where we ride kayaks, swim, or hang out on the beach. This tour is perfect for travelers who want to escape the crowds and heat of Kyoto and Osaka and enjoy nature.