This is an example of a standard 2-night, 3-day plan.
With this plan, you can experience life in satoyama villages and small castle towns while also feeling their historical background.
By engaging more deeply with local residents, you’ll begin to feel as if you truly live here.
Essence of Japan
（3 Night, 4 Days）
This plan is just one example of our tours. Each tour transforms with the guests, the season, and the weather — no two are ever alike. What we offer is a one-of-a-kind journey made only for you.
Day 1
14:00 Gujo Hachiman Station
Our town is located in Gifu Prefecture, near the center of Japan. We will meet at Gujo Hachiman Station. There is free parking available at the station.
14:18 Take a small local train
Let’s enjoy a short train journey while taking in the beautiful Japanese countryside, scenic rivers, and charming rural towns.
14:40 E-bike Tour start
Switch to an E-bike and cycle toward the satoyama where you’ll spend a little time living like a local. The rich natural scenery will warmly welcome you.
15:30 Greet the gods
We’ll stop by a shrine located at the entrance of the village where our accommodation is.
In Japan, it is believed that each place has its own local deity.
It is customary to greet the guardian spirit when entering a new area, as a sign of respect.
16:00 Arrive at hotel
We’ve arrived at the accommodation, nestled in the heart of beautiful nature.
A clear, scenic river flows just in front, and the nearby mountain is home to wild animals.
Take a moment to relax in your room and let the peaceful surroundings wash away the fatigue of your journey.
16:30 Enjoy the river
A beautiful river flows right in front of the hotel. Enjoy swimming in the crystal-clear water or catching fish. It will make you feel like you’ve gone back to the pure, carefree days of childhood.You can eat the fish you catch for dinner.
17:30 Outdoor Sauna
Just outside the hotel, you’ll find an open-air sauna. Step inside and let the heat melt away your travel fatigue. After your session, cool off in the beautiful river and enjoy a refreshing outdoor bath in the crisp, clean mountain air.
19:00 Have dinner
sushi chef will prepare countryside-style sushi right in front of you — the kind you can’t find in Tokyo or Osaka.
Watching the chef’s masterful knife work and the vibrant, beautiful ingredients will make this an unforgettable dining experience.
You can also try making sushi yourself.
21:00 Go to bed
The night is incredibly quiet — the only sound you’ll hear is the gentle flow of the river.
Step outside and gaze up at the beautiful starry sky.
Enjoy a deep, restful sleep and let your body recover from the day’s journey.
Day 2
8:00 Have breakfast
Breakfast is a light meal prepared by the sushi chef, featuring a traditional local dish from this countryside region.
It’s a type of sushi wrapped in a large leaf from the magnolia tree, known for its subtle fragrance and connection to rural Japanese culture.
9:00 Relax time
After breakfast, you’ll have free time to spend as you like.
You might enjoy a peaceful walk, or relax in the sauna.
We especially recommend taking a dip in the river flowing right in front of the lodge after your sauna session — it’s an invigorating experience.
12:30 Have lunch
Riding our e-bikes through forest trails, we make our way to a tofu workshop nestled deep in the village at 800 meters above sea level.
Lunch features a healthy tofu-based meal.
For the appetizer, you’ll enjoy fresh yuba (tofu skin) — gently scooped by yourself as it forms right in front of you.
Tasting freshly made yuba is a rare and special experience.
14:30 Zen
After lunch, you’ll experience Zen meditation.
Take time to empty your mind and simply be present, free from thoughts.
Rather than seeking answers from the outside, you may discover a sense of inner peace and clarity within yourself.
15:30 Tea
Enjoy tea time surrounded by the timeless beauty of traditional Japanese architecture.
Let your senses come alive as you take in the stunning scenery, savor the rich aroma and flavor of Japanese tea, and delight in the delicate sweetness of traditional confections.
It’s a moment that touches all five senses — a true harmony of taste, sight, sound, scent, and feeling.
16:00 Take a nap
After tea time, explore a beautifully preserved example of traditional Japanese architecture.
From there, take in the serene landscape that once inspired poets to compose waka verses, and spend time simply slowing down and being present.
As you gaze out at the timeless scenery, you may begin to understand why this village is known as a “village of poetry.”
For an even deeper sense of calm, we recommend lying down for a short nap on the tatami mats—just as people have done here for generations.
17:00 Catch fish
When you look into Japan’s beautiful rivers, you can see many fish swimming below the surface. Let’s try catching them. Small fish are easy to catch, while larger ones require a bit more technique.
For those who are interested, we also offer a nighttime river-diving fishing experience.
19:00 Dinner
Let’s enjoy a barbecue in the garden of the inn. Grill the fish you caught yourselves, along with vegetables and shiitake mushrooms from the mountains. You can of course try the famous Hida beef, and during hunting season, you may even get to taste venison from the surrounding forests. The countryside offers a variety of delicious seasonal ingredients throughout the year.
21:00 Stargazing
In the countryside of Japan, the night sky is filled with beautiful stars, and it’s not uncommon to see shooting stars. We provide reclining chairs, so you can lie back and enjoy the stunning sky for as long as you like from the garden of the inn.
Day 3
8:00 Have breakfast
Let’s try yaki-onigiri—grilled rice balls brushed with soy sauce, a popular food in rural Japan.
Crispy and fragrant, they are a beloved Japanese breakfast enjoyed by everyone, from children to adults.
9:00 Feel nature
Let’s visit a mystical waterfall said to have been a place of training for monks over 1,300 years ago.
Beyond its beautiful scenery, the clear air and pure water will leave your mind feeling refreshed and cleansed.
10:00 E-Bike Tour
We travel by e-bike to places rich in history and culture.
These sacred places are not tourist attractions, but places used daily by local residents.
Step into the simple, ordinary rhythm of everyday life in Japan.
11:00 Lunch
We will stop by a shrine and a temple with over 1,300 years of history to offer a greeting to the local deities.
In rural Japan, there are many small shrines and temples scattered throughout the landscape.
They may not be as grand as those in Kyoto, but each one holds a special place in the hearts of the people who live there
12:00 Lunch
Even in this small town, you’ll find many local shops.
We’ll pick up a bento from one of the town’s popular bento shops and enjoy lunch at tables set within the shrine grounds.
A bento eaten outdoors is delicious anywhere in the world—and here, surrounded by nature and quiet, it tastes especially good.
14:00 Farming experience
We’ll stop by a farm run by a friend of our guide and harvest fresh organic vegetables together.
Grown in the clean water and rich soil of Gujo City, these vegetables are full of flavor and incredibly fresh.
We’ll take them back to the inn and enjoy them as part of our dinner later that evening.
15:30 E-Bike
Japan’s small villages are connected by narrow mountain paths.
Before cars existed, people traveled between neighboring settlements on foot or by horseback.
As you ride your e-bike back to the inn, imagine life in those earlier days and the quiet rhythm of the countryside.
Encounters with wild animals along the way are also quite common.
16:30 Lunch
After returning to the inn, why not cool off in the river flowing just outside your door?
Its clear, pure water will refresh both your body and your mind.
This is a rare luxury—immersing yourself fully in the beauty of Japan’s natural world.
Before you know it, this place will begin to feel like your second home.
19:00 Japanese home cooking
A friend of your guide will prepare a meal of Japanese home cooking just for you.
More heartfelt and deeply Japanese than anything you’ll find in a restaurant, this is food made with care—and it’s something you can never order from a menu.
Gather around the table with your guide, the innkeeper and their family, and the friends you’ve made along the way.
Share stories, laughter, and a memorable final evening together.
By the end of the night, you’re no longer a visitor.
You are part of the community.
Day 4
8:00 Have breakfast
Let’s have breakfast at a small countryside café where foreign tourists never go. In Japan, many people enjoy eating breakfast at local cafés, and it’s a place where the community gathers and chats. You can join them and enjoy becoming part of their morning routine.
9:00 Feel nature
Let’s enjoy the nature around you. The beautiful river, the beautiful sky — everything you see is stunning. We’ll take you to our favorite local spots that only the people who live here know about. Amazing views are waiting for you.
11:00 Zen
You can visit a temple to experience Zen meditation, and you can also try copying Buddhist images with a brush. It’s a chance to connect with Japanese traditions. At noon, you can even take part in ringing the temple bell that signals the time to the people living in the town.
12:30 Lunch
Let’s stop by a small countryside restaurant for lunch. There are many different places to choose from, so we can match your preferences.
13:00 Gujo Hachiman
Let’s explore Gujo Hachiman, a small castle town often called “Little Kyoto.” We’ll cycle through the area while passing traditional shops, old-style houses, and temples that feel like stepping back into Japan’s past. Everything you see will fill you with excitement and wonder.
16:00 Gujo Hachiman Station
After spending a relaxing afternoon, you’ll return to Gujo-Hachiman Station. From there, you can take a train or bus to Nagoya or Hida-Takayama.
Using the express bus, you can reach both Nagoya and Hida-Takayama in about one hour.
Price
2 people 664,000 yen (332,000 yen per person)
3 people 960,000 yen (320,000 yen per person)
4 people 1,260,000 yen (315,000 yen per person)
The price includes:
Transportation, cycling tour, accommodation, 3 breakfast, 3 lunches, 3 dinner, drinks, insurance