Join this first-of-its-kind private tour to discover an incredible hidden treasure not far from Tokyo. You will discover an ancient Buddhist temple carved out of rock, and see glimpses of Japanese rural life.
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The Highlight
- You will reach Mt. Nokogiri by ropeway, from which you will enjoy stunning views of Tokyo Bay
- You will explore the ancient Buddhist complex of Nihon-ji, and its thousands of stone sculptures
- Indulge your taste buds with local cuisine. (Meals not included in the cost of the tour)
- You'll appreciate an authentic Japanese countryside sceneries: terraced rice paddies surrounded by bamboo forests (from May to November) and a romantic sunset on Tokyo bay in winter
- You will cross Tokyo Bay via the Tokyo Aqua Line
The Experience
If it's your umpteenth time in Japan and you're looking for some exciting new discoveries, this tour is the breakthrough you've been looking for!
Chiba Prefecture, known to many for its Narita Airport and its famous entertainment theme parks, is actually a treasure trove that is little known to most.
After picking you up at your hotel, we drive to Chiba Prefecture, where we take the cable car to the highlight of the tour, the ascent of Mt. Nokogiri. In Japanese, "Nokogiri" means "saw", due to the jagged shape of the mountain, which in the past was mined for marble and stone. Some of these materials were used to build Nihon-ji, a huge Buddhist complex.
From the top of the mountain's observatory, located about 400 m above sea level, you can admire the entire Tokyo Bay and, if the weather is clear, you can distinctly distinguish the skyline of the metropolis and, on some days, even Mount Fuji in the distance!
Browsing the Nihon-ji area will take about 2 hours. Among the attractions of the complex is the Hyaku-Shaka Kannon, a huge bas-relief about 30 meters high depicting the bodhisattva Kannon.
The "Jigoku-Nozoki" (ravine of hell) is a popular spot to get your adrenaline flowing! Of course, safety railings are present but, trust me, if you suffer from vertigo, move on!
The Great Buddha of Nihon-ji, despite its impact, is little known to most. A mighty stone Buddha carved out of rock in a placid garden welcomes you to the heart of the complex.
On the way back, you will walk along a path flanked by hundreds of small and large statues of buddhas, bodhisattvas and other Buddhist figures.
After visiting Nihon-ji, we descend to sea level for lunch (not included in the cost). The guide will introduce you to a number of options, ranging from the fresh local seafood to quaint cafes or even some unexpectedly good European dishes made with local ingredients!
The last stop will depend on the date of your booking. From May to mid November we will visit Oyama Senmaida—the nearest terraced rice field to Tokyo. Nestled in the mid-mountain region of Kamogawa it is recognized as one of Japan's top 100 terraced rice fields, it holds cultural significance and was visited by the Emperor and Empress of Japan in 2010.
These picturesque fields harmonize nature and human activity. Despite recent challenges, efforts to protect terraced rice fields are underway nationwide. Discover the beauty and cultural heritage of Oyama Senmaida, a timeless destination.
In winter, when the rice paddies have dried up, we will instead stop at the romantic Okamoto Pier jutting out into Tokyo Bay, where you can enjoy a sea breeze and perhaps a stunning sunset with Mount Fuji on the horizon!
The return to Tokyo will be no less exciting! We will drive through the Tokyo Aqua Line, an incredible engineering marvel that traverses Tokyo Bay from northwest to southeast, connecting the city center with Chiba Prefecture. The Aqua Line consists of an almost 10-kilometer tunnel under the seabed, which resurfaces, in the middle of Tokyo Bay at the Umi Hotaru, a unique service area on which we will take a short break at the return.
- If you have any special allergies, please let us know when booking; if you prefer non-fish food, we suggest you book the plan without a meal, and help yourself at one of the facilities nearby (other restaurants, combini etc…). ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー Tour Operator Information Company Name: H.I.S. Co.,Ltd. Address: Kamiyacho Trust Tower 5F 4-1-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6905, JAPAN Registration No: No.724 by Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency
Tour Information Departure and Destination: From TOKYO to CHIBA Number of days: 1 day Means of transportation: car or minivan Bus Company Name: YAMATO KANKO Meals: NO Minimum number of passengers: 2 Number of GUIDE(s): 1 Please, read and understand the terms and conditions about our travel packages at the following link: https://www.his-j.com/company/yakkan/boshu_j_2009.pdf Please, read and understand the terms and conditions about this product at the following link: https://www.his-j.com/company/yakkan ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Guide Services
Languages Spoken by Guides
- English
Itinerary
- 08:00Departure from your hotel in Tokyo 23 Ward or Western Chiba Prefecture (the actual pick-up time will be communicated a few days before your day)
- 10:00Arrival in Hama-Kanaya and transfer to the top of Mt. Nokogiri by Ropeway
- 10:30Enjoy the visit of the Nokogiriyama Park and the Nihon-ji Temple with its incredible rock scupltures.
- 13:00Lunch at a local restaurant (at the guest's expense)
- 15:00Visit of the Oyama terraced rice fields
- 15:00Visit to the Okamoto Pier (only in winter)
- 16:30Break on the Umi Hotaru Island Service Area
- 18:00Back to Tokyo
Price Details
How to Use
- Voucher will be sent via email. Please show your e-voucher at designated location.
Purchase Notice
- Please note that due to force majeure, such as traffic congestion, the tour itinerary may be changed or the time spent at each site may be shortened.
- Mt. Nokogiri is recommended for those with a minimum level of fitness, as there are sections of uneven terrain with tree roots and rocks, and several hundred steps.
- For the same reason, we ask you to wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking, with good grip.
- Especially in hot weather, you are going to sweat a lot, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids on the way and bring a small towel and possibly an extra T-shirt with you.
- Depending on when to visit, the rice paddies may still be dry or already harvested.
- Those who have difficulty walking alone may not be allowed to participate.
- Failure to show up by the departure time of the tour will be considered a no-show and will result in no refund. Delays in transportation to the meeting point are not considered grounds for requesting an exception.
Important Booking Information
- Please wear seat belts on the tour bus as required by Japanese law.
- No pick-up service is provided, so please arrive at the meeting point on your own. Please allow plenty of time to arrive as public transportation is very busy during the morning hours.
- Please be aware that due to traffic congestion or other reasons, the duration of the tour in each area and the time of return may vary significantly.
- Please be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.
- There is no restroom available on the car or van, but we will take some toilet breaks on the way.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation made at least 2 day(s) before departure date, Fully refundable (100% refund)
- Cancel during 0 ~ 1 day(s) of departure, Non-refundable (0% refund)