Connecting with the Heart of Ancient Traditions and Untamed Nature.

This region is famous as the setting for Japanese mythology (ancient stories of Japan’s founding). With your tour guide, trace the source of the Hii River, deeply connected to these myths, and climb Mt. Sentsu. After a short hike to breathe in the fresh air of the San’in region and refresh yourself, visit the Adachi Museum of Art, consistently ranked the world’s finest Japanese garden for over 20 years by the Journal of Japanese Gardening. Experience the essence of Japanese art by encountering the culture of wabi-sabi and the aesthetics of borrowed scenery. At your lodging, enjoy an evening banquet featuring the local traditional performing art, the Yasugi Bushi, with its songs and comical dances.
Stay at a Ryokan in Yasugi City.

Another day with your guide.
Experience firsthand the beauty of a traditional thatched-roof farmhouse by the shores of picturesque Lake Shinji. Through hands-on involvement in renovating this over 120-year-old Japanese house—a structure that embodies the charm of Japan’s beautiful countryside—you’ll joyfully discover the spirit of Japanese artistry, the craftsmen’s dedication to architecture, and the essence of sustainability. Afterwards, visit Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, one of Japan’s two most important shrines, where deities playing pivotal roles in Japan’s founding history are enshrined.

You then move to the small fishing village settlement of Sagiura, strolling through the streets to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of a beautiful rural fishing town.
That night, we stay at Wajimaya, a beautifully renovated former abandoned traditional house repurposed as lodging. Enjoy a conversation with the local carpenter, the inn’s owner, who has an American father, was involved in renovating this inn, and deeply loves Japanese architecture.

Follow the footsteps of ancient merchants along a historic trail that once transported silver to the sea with your experienced tour guide.

The Ginzan Kaido is a historic trade route connecting the World Heritage-listed Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine to its shipping port. We’ll walk part of this route linking the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea. Bamboo groves and natural half-pipes along this ancient path, once traveled by our ancestors, add variety to the course and delight walkers. The Omori settlement is a town that once prospered thanks to the silver mine. We’ll wander through the town, take an electric cart to the entrance of the mine shafts (kan-do), and then enter the tunnels where silver was once mined to walk through them. In the evening, we’ll enjoy the hot springs in Yunotsu, the premier hot spring town in the region. Then, we’ll experience Iwami Kagura, the traditional dance dedicated to the gods and the region’s greatest identity, performed at night in the shrine’s Kagura Hall.
The aggressive movements, vibrant costumes, and rhythmic music bring ancient myths to life in an intimate shrine setting. It is a powerful display of community tradition that you will not soon forget.

Stay at a Ryokan in Yunotsu.

Discover a "little Kyoto" tucked away in a verdant valley. Tsuwano, a small castle town, is the jewel of San’in.
Your morning begins with a moment of stillness during a Zen meditation session at a peaceful temple.

Afterward, you will visit a local home to gather fresh vegetables and learn the secrets of a regional specialty dish from a local resident. Explore Taikodani Inari Shrine, a dramatic hillside shrine famous for its hundreds of vibrant red gates forming a tunnel up the mountain. From the ruins of the Tsuwano Castle, you will look down upon the entire town, seeing the red-tiled roofs that give this hidden gem its unique character. This is a day for slow exploration and genuine local encounters.

Stay at a Ryokan in Tsuwano City.

Embark on a scenic cycling journey themed around sake in the outskirts of Hagi. You will gain exclusive access to the inner workings of a sake brewery, witnessing the meticulous process of rice polishing and the hidden spaces where the brewing magic happens. Taste the refined flavors of the region before heading to a welcoming rural home.
Spend the evening living like a local as you prepare dinner together with your host family. Sharing a meal and stories in a private home provides a rare and heart-warming insight into the everyday life of the Japanese countryside.

Waking up in a Japanese house, expereincing the real moment of Japanese morning.
Making Bento box with the host family is something you can experience here.
A hike through a forest of thousands of camellia trees awaits at Mt. Kasayama. The trail takes you up a small volcanic peak, known as the “world’s smallest volcano” and “Japan’s lowest volcano.” rewarding you with panoramic vistas of the deep blue sea and scattered islands.

This is your chance to explore Hagi city on your own without a guide. You will have options to either grab a bicycle to explore a perfectly preserved samurai district or ride past white-walled storehouses and grand gates that once belonged to elite warriors.
If may even enjoy the sea breeze, a white sandy beach and yummy shaving ice along the coast line fulfilling you with a peaceful spot for a sunset stroll. The town is yours to discover at your own pace, with hidden cafes and craft shops around every corner.

Hagi is the city that produced Japan’s highest number of prime ministers—four in total. This is because it was the city where the young samurais who ended the old samurai world ruled by shoguns through revolution and established a modern nation modeled on Western society were raised. You will walk the ancient Hagi Okan trail, once trodden by those patriots. Stroll along this samurai trail, where centuries-old stone pavements remain beautifully preserved, feeling the local nature.
After your trek, you will visit a master potter’s studio to discover the world of traditional ceramics. Learn about the subtle aesthetics of local stoneware that is prized by tea masters across the country. Your journey then takes you to a renowned hot spring town, where you can soak in mineral-rich waters that have been celebrated for their healing properties for over eight hundred years.

Getting pumped up with the Japanese breakfast, you will reach down to visit Yamaguchi city. A city selected by The New York Times as one of “52 Places to Go in 2024.” You will witness the beautiful Japanese garden at Jōei-ji Temple and the five-story pagoda at Rurikō-ji Temple, a National Treasure. This area is also famous for Yuda Onsen hot springs, where you soothe our tired bodies and minds.
Stay at a Ryokan in Yuda Onsen.

Your final morning begins with a relaxing breakfast at your accommodation, offering a peaceful moment to reflect on your journey before your departure. Enjoy the gentle start to the day as you prepare for the next leg of your adventure. After checking out, you will take a taxi to the main regional station. As your exploration of these hidden gems concludes, you will carry with you a wealth of memories from the historic streets and serene landscapes of Western Japan. This is not the end of your discovery, but a gateway to your next destination, filled with the inspiration you have gathered along the way.