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Private Tour: Tranquil Japanese Countryside Escape
4.9
113 Ratings
Hanno
Embark on a private journey through rural Japan on our Tokyo Countryside Tour. Experience local food, stunning views, and encounters with wildlife. Escape the tourist traps and immerse yourself in the tranquility of the Japanese countryside.
Embark on a private journey through rural Japan on our Tokyo Countryside Tour. Experience local food, stunning views, and encounters with wildlife. Escape the tourist traps and immerse yourself in the tranquility of the Japanese countryside.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Hanno - Experience the Bamboo Temple nestled deep within the mountains. This ancient temple is dedicated to the Buddhist King Gozu, who is depicted with the head of a cow and the body of a man. The temple complex is home to gentle wild deer and monkeys, who observe visitors with a shy demeanor.
- Saitama Prefecture - Visit Koma Shrine,…
- Hanno - Experience the Bamboo Temple nestled deep within the mountains. This ancient temple is dedicated to the Buddhist King Gozu, who is depicted with the head of a cow and the body of a man. The temple complex is home to gentle wild deer and monkeys, who observe visitors with a shy demeanor.
- Saitama Prefecture - Visit Koma Shrine, dedicated to the Korean kings of the Tang Dynasty.
- Ne-no-gongen - Following the Bamboo Temple, explore the nearby Ne-no-gongen Shrine. Situated atop the mountains, it offers stunning views for hikers and is a place to pray for healthy legs and backs.
- Ogose-machi - Discover the mountains, temples, shrines, and waterfalls of rural Japan. Visit the Dragon Taming Temple, where the monk communicates telepathically with the carp in the pond beside the temple. Enjoy the serene Japanese countryside.
- Saitama - Explore the Torii Pagoda, located deep in the mountains. It once housed the bones of Xuanzang, the Chinese monk who traveled to India during the Tang Dynasty.
- Saitama - Drive past Lake Arima Dam, the inspiration for the Ghibli film, “My Neighbor Totoro.”
What's Included
- Lunch
- Lunch
Additional Information
This is a private tour. Experience the local cuisine while enjoying the picturesque countryside. Although it’s close to Tokyo, it feels like a different world. Escape the crowds just 1.5 hours from Tokyo. The lush green moss conceals the countryside from the city. The wildlife, including wild deer, boar, monkeys, and occasionally bears, are ready to…
This is a private tour. Experience the local cuisine while enjoying the picturesque countryside. Although it’s close to Tokyo, it feels like a different world. Escape the crowds just 1.5 hours from Tokyo. The lush green moss conceals the countryside from the city. The wildlife, including wild deer, boar, monkeys, and occasionally bears, are ready to welcome you. The views are breathtaking, and the locals are incredibly friendly. Join the operator on a journey to the mountains, exploring rural Japan, a place rich in history spanning thousands of years. Every season showcases its magic in vibrant colors here. Avoid the typical tourist spots and visit where many Japanese go to unwind. It’s a place frozen in time, magical in its beauty, where you can relax away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the peace. The tour’s uniqueness lies in experiencing the drive through the countryside, with occasional stops at scenic spots, waterfalls, lakes, shrines, or temples.
- I cannot take people mobility issues because it is not safe for people with wheelchair chair clients.
Location
Hanno
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(113 Ratings)
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Peter_g
Apr 7, 2025
A beautiful day outside of Tokyo - Jeremy was very friendly and knowledgeable tour guide and a great driver as well. He took me on a tour of beautiful countryside of Japan on beautiful mountain roads, where the air was fresh and clean.
He took me to see a few ancient temples, a few beautiful lakes with cherry blossom surrounding them as it was cherry blossom season and a delicious lunch at an authentic Japanese restaurant was included as well.
All in all I’m happy I did the tour and got a day outside of Tokyo.
Review provided by Viator
Doug_c
Apr 6, 2025
Good Vibes in the Countryside! - I truly can't say enough about this wonderful tour. Jeremy curates an outstanding day of beautiful and unique locations and views in the countryside and shares his wealth of knowledge about Japan and its culture, history and people. Julian is also a wonderful guide whose native knowledge is outstanding. Jeremy and Julian make an outstanding duo to guide you through your back country day. My wife, 19-year old son, and I Ioved our experience - we were sad to leave them when the day was over! We will be back for more tours next time we come back to Japan. I can't say enough about this amazing day. Great guides, great locations, great learning and great vibes! I highly recommend you join Jeremy and Julian for an afternoon the countryside!
Review provided by Viator
Ayleigh_s
Mar 30, 2025
What a great tour. ... - What a great tour. Jeremy and Julian were so knowledgeable and helped us learn so much about Japan and the culture. Getting out of the city was stunningly beautiful. It was a terrific day and I would highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Dianacv1002ik
Mar 25, 2025
It’s Like a Trip with Friends - It was me and my 13 year old son and we both loved it. First off Jeremy and Julian were so kind in fully including my kiddo and managed to keep him interested the whole time (not always easy). Jeremy is a fountain of knowledge but rather than talk at me he tailored the information to my level when I told him I was a newbie on-the subject matter. I learned so much and it was so great to get a moment of zen and peace away from the bustle. The sights were awesome and I felt so rejuvenated just being out there in nature that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lilmamaduck
Mar 21, 2025
Unforgettable Adventure - Julian & Jeremy were so much fun to spend our last day in Japan with. They are very knowledgeable about the history & area we visited. Getting out of the city for an unforgettable adventure & shared laughs was exactly what we needed. Arigato gozaimasu (for everything)! Would definitely book again...
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharontf7740cw
Mar 11, 2025
Relaxing and serene trip with great stories - It was a very memorable and relaxing trip to the Tokyo countryside. The temples and mountain paths were so serene and tranquil compared to the hustle and bustle of the city. Jeremy and Julian were amazing tour guides, very knowledgeable about the places that we visited and had lots of interesting stories of Japanese history. We really appreciated how polite and kind the locals at the lunch restaurant was as well. Overall it was an unforgettable and unique experience that takes you off the beaten path!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris_p
Mar 10, 2025
Nature of Japan - This is a must do tour. Get out of the city and explore what was and still is without the tourism. Get out into the countryside and explore the nature that is Japan. You won’t be disappointed.
Review provided by Viator
Steve_p
Nov 29, 2024
Had a great time and... - Had a great time and jeremy was keeping me well informed along the way, he is really a wealth of knowledge..
Really enjoyed the day and would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting something a little different to the norm..
Review provided by Viator
Peter_l
Nov 18, 2024
Fascinating Tour with Jeremy - We had a great experience touring the countryside with Jeremy and Julian. We visited a number of shrines, temples, statues and towns. In some cases Jeremy had discovered them in out-of-the-way places while on his motorcycle. In every case Jeremy was very knowledgeable and provided us with historical background on the site and in some cases recommended books and videos that would add to the experience.
Jeremy has led a very interesting life and we also time had time during our private tour to discuss our experiences and world events. Lunch was included at an authentic Japanese restaurant. At the conclusion of the day Jeremy thoughtfully provided us with a full written summary of our adventures and recommendations for further books and films related to our journey.
In addition, Jeremy responded immediately when we reserved the trip, kept in regular contact with us, the vehicle is very comfortable and the hotel pick up and drop off is very helpful too.
We highly recommend this tour which provides a very different experience to visiting the crowed sites in Tokyo as we were usually the only people visiting some of the shrines and temples.
We will always treasure our unique, personal and magical adventure with Jeremy and Julian. We saw parts of Japan that are only known to locals and insiders. Definitely a once-in-a lifetime experience!
Review provided by Viator
Monika_m
May 16, 2025
Our private tour to... - Our private tour to explore the Tokyo countryside had its ups and downs. The pick-up time was scheduled for 9:00 AM, but Jeremy, our guide, called around 7:45 AM to inform us that he would arrive by around 8:00 AM due to light traffic. He assured us that it was no problem for him to wait in the car until we were ready.
Throughout the day, Jeremy frequently mentioned that he was feeling awful due to a shoulder inflammation. He shared that he had been uncertain about conducting the tour and had hoped to sleep in the car while his colleague Julian, who was unfortunately sick, would drive. Jeremy also mentioned that his guests from the previous day had offered to end their tour early and that canceling tours could affect his ranking on Viator.
We had approximately 30 minutes to visit the first temple and about 15 minutes to admire some statues with an amazing view mostly from a distance. After lunch, we visited another temple, where we also had around 40 minutes for exploration. Additionally, we drove past a reservoir and a lake.
On the way back to the hotel, Jeremy's car unfortunately grazed a truck on the highway. Fortunately, it was only minor damage, and Jeremy immediately checked to ensure we were unharmed. Once all formalities regarding the accident were settled, Jeremy arranged a taxi for us, as his car needed to be towed.
It is worth noting that Jeremy possesses an incredible wealth of knowledge about Japanese culture, and the sites we visited were among the most beautiful we encountered during our tour of Japan.
Review provided by Viator