Feel the richness of everyday life, get into the authentic spirit of travel
A glimpse into the natural beauty, the rituals and the local products of a rural village in Kumamoto Prefecture

"Farm Stay and Rural Traditions Tour in Hitoyoshi"

3 days: 30 January - 1 February

Reservations for this tour have stopped.

Imagine green hills veiled by a white mist, clean water cutting its way through the mountains, ancient traditions rooted in indigenous religion. Now imagine wise farmers who welcome you into their houses and offer products collected through their hard work and the generosity of nature's bounty. This is Hitoyoshi, a place of simple rural life and folk wisdom; a good getaway from the hectic pace of life in Tokyo.

This tour begins with a stop at Aoi Aso Shrine: a national shrine of the Shinto religion. Shinto faith is based on daily life and expresses the gratitude of local people to the benevolence of nature's deities. Aoi Aso Shrine is the center of Hitoyoshi's rituals and festivals that accompany the farming season - from the prayers for a rich harvest to the thanksgiving for crops -- all of which beat to the rhythm of holy music and dances.
During the second day of the tour, the farmers themselves will introduce you to their culture and let you participate in farming activities. Becoming a farmer for a day will allow you to understand the quality of the local food and better appreciate the lunch, which will be not a usual one for sure!

A big nabe (a hot pot dish made with seasonal ingredients) will be prepared during this popular festival. If you have been in Japan long enough to know what a nabe is, you will surely understand its cultural role and its power to create shared experiences in a relaxed environment. A lot of fresh food cooked together with the farmers who produced it: that's Hitoyoshi's way of celebrating the new crop!
You will have also the opportunity to visit a distillery where the famous Japanese alcoholic drink shochu is made. Fans of Japanese drinks know that Kyushu means shochu!

The Kuma Valley near Hitoyoshi boasts a 500-year tradition of shochu production from rice. Knowing how farmers cultivate rice and then turn it into shochu will be an occasion to understand the importance of this beverage for the Japanese and learn how to appreciate its taste, which is certainly different from well-known drinks like sake or wine.

The last experience of the tour will be rafting on the Kuma River rapids, one of Japan's three fastest rivers. A thrilling and fun experience, you will shoot the rapids in a rubber boat while dodging the rocky stretches that flash by. Local expert guides will lead you to the exciting discovery of the Kuma Valley's gorgeous nature.
This tour is all about human feelings, cultural exchange and reunion with nature. After all, that is the authentic spirit of travel: appreciating the simplicity of small things and seeking genuine contact with local people.

Tour Outline

3 days: 30 January - 1 February

30 January
- Depart from Haneda Airport in the morning
- Visit Aoi Aso Shrine
- Visit the Hitoyoshi area (The castle, the rice fields and a miso or soy sauce factory)
- Cultural exchange event with farmers
- Farm stay

31 January
- Participate in farm activities
- Nabe festival (optional)
- Visit a shochu distillery (optional)
- Stay at a ryokan (Japanese inn)

1 February
- Kuma River rafting
- Depart from Kagoshima Airport in the afternoon

Up to 15 people.

Until 18 January.

Participants of any age, gender, or nationality are free to join this tour; however children 15 years of age or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Tour participants must be able to communicate in English or Japanese.
- Participants must not have any health conditions preventing fishing or harvesting activities.
- All participants must have and provide a viable contact method so that they are contactable up until the day of the tour.

JPY 42,810 per person. (Adult/child price is the same.)

Note: Transportation, lodging, meals, service charges, and taxes are included.

Reservations for this tour have stopped.