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Offered languages
- Japanese
- English
Explore the rich cultural landscape of Minamiboso over two days, guided in Japanese by Naotsugu Kuroda, a travel culture researcher. The tour features exclusive access to a closed fisheries facility and Japan's only shrine dedicated to cooking. Engage in a traditional Hocho-shiki knife ceremony, try your hand at flower picking and arrangement, and enjoy strawberry picking amidst seasonal blooms. Experience local cuisine, including grilled eel, while staying at the coastal Hotel Nankaiso with ocean views.
- Limited to 30 participants for a personalized experience
- Special access to a normally closed fisheries facility
- Includes flower picking and traditional knife ceremony
- Enjoy meals featuring local specialties and a stay at a seaside hotel
What's Included
Lunch
Meeting and pickup
Meet near the "Parks Ueno Store" Park Information kiosk at JR Ueno Station Park Exit. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled meeting time. The tour conductor will be holding a flag and a placard with the local tour operator's logo.
Itinerary
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1
Meet your tour conductor and hop on a comfortable sightseeing coach. During the outbound journey, enjoy an approximately 45-minute onboard presentation by Naotsugu Kuroda introducing the culture of the Kuroshio Current and the history of Minamiboso. Please note that this special lecture is conducted in Japanese only. After approximately 140 minutes of travel, visit Higashi Awa Fish Farm. This special visit offers rare access to a normally non-public fisheries facility. Learn about the region's aquaculture industry and the deep connection between the people of Minamiboso and the surrounding sea, which has shaped local livelihoods and cuisine for generations.
50 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
After approximately 25 minutes of travel, enjoy lunch at Shinmiyako in Chikura. The meal features grilled eel served over rice as the main dish, accompanied by local horse mackerel specialties from Minamiboso that have been recognized as a "100-Year Food" by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs.
50 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
After approximately 15 minutes of travel, visit a flower farm in Shirahama. Meet growers whose flower cultivation heritage dates back to the Taisho era and learn about their passion and growing techniques. Enjoy flower picking and create your own floral arrangement while experiencing one of Minamiboso's most famous agricultural traditions. The mild climate created by the Kuroshio Current allows flowers to bloom early in the season. The best viewing period is typically from early January through late March.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
After approximately 30 minutes of travel, enjoy dinner in Chikura. Dinner features local fisherman-style cuisine, including namero, a traditional dish made from finely chopped and seasoned fish. You will also enjoy dishes incorporating edible flowers, reflecting the region's unique connection to both agriculture and the sea. After dinner, check in to Hotel Nankaiso in Minamiboso. All guest rooms offer views of the Pacific Ocean, allowing you to enjoy the coastal scenery from your room. During your stay, relax in the waters of Shirahama Nojima Onsen, a hot spring known for its seaside setting. Accommodation is provided in a Japanese-style room, Western-style twin room, or Japanese-Western room with private bath and toilet facilities. Single occupancy rooms are provided for all participants.
1 hour 10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for another day of cultural and seasonal discoveries. After approximately 25 minutes of travel, visit Takabe Shrine, believed to be the only shrine in Japan dedicated to the deity of cooking. Here, witness the traditional Hocho-shiki knife ceremony. Originating as an elegant court ritual, the ceremony was later performed by samurai leaders, including Oda Nobunaga, before important campaigns. Using only a knife and chopsticks, the practitioner prepares fish without directly touching it by hand, demonstrating both culinary mastery and spiritual devotion. Today, the ritual remains one of Japan's most fascinating culinary traditions.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
6
After approximately 10 minutes of travel, continue to the Shirako District. Learn about local efforts to restore abandoned farmland and return it to productive agricultural use. You will also enjoy a strawberry-picking experience and sample one of the region's most popular seasonal treats.
50 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Kamogawa
After approximately 40 minutes of travel, visit Kamogawa, where fields of bright yellow canola flowers bring an early touch of spring to the Boso Peninsula. The flowers are typically at their best between early January and early March, creating colorful landscapes against the area's coastal scenery. A boxed lunch is included during the day's activities.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
After approximately 100 minutes of travel, arrive at the Ishigami Canola Flower Fields. In addition to admiring the seasonal scenery, learn how these beautiful landscapes have been preserved and passed down through local community efforts. The fields are among the region's most celebrated spring vistas and offer a deeper understanding of the relationship between local culture, agriculture, and the natural environment. After approximately 125 minutes of travel, return to Ueno Station, arriving at approximately 6:30 PM.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
The Sea, Food and Flowers of Minamiboso
Culinary Traditions and Early Spring Landscapes
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour is operated for both Japanese and foreign customers. A Japanese tour conductor will accompany the group and provide key information using a translation app. Please note that the tour conductor is not a tour guide and will focus on sharing essential information during the tour.
- Please note that we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests, including food allergies. If you have specific dietary needs, we recommend making your own meal arrangements. No refunds will be provided for meals.
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour is operated for both Japanese and foreign customers. A Japanese tour conductor will accompany the group and provide key information using a translation app. Please note that the tour conductor is not a tour guide and will focus on sharing essential information during the tour.
- Please note that we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests, including food allergies. If you have specific dietary needs, we recommend making your own meal arrangements. No refunds will be provided for meals.
- According to traffic conditions etc, the order of the itinerary may be changed
- Delays or omissions made to the itinerary due to traffic, weather or other circumstances that are beyond the control of the tour operator are not subject to refund
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be contacted 14 days prior to your travel date and offered an alternative or full refund.
- Infants (0-2 years old) are free of charge with no seat and no bed or any other arrangements. Infant meals are also not included
- Child (3-5 years old) rates includes bus seat only.
- When staying in a Japanese-style room or a Japanese-Western style room, guests may be asked to lay out their own futons
- As this tour takes place before the blooming season, the visit to Ishigami Nanohana Field is not intended for viewing rapeseed blossoms.
- Best viewing period for Kamogawa rapeseed blossoms: Typically from early January to early March. Best viewing period for the flower fields of Shirahama, Minamiboso: Typically from early January to late March. Flowering periods may vary depending on weather conditions.
- The accompanying navigator schedule is current as of October 2026 and is subject to change. Due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, the scheduled navigator may be unable to join the tour. In such cases, a substitute navigator, lecturer, or guide may accompany the tour, or you may be asked to change your departure date.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 6 full days before the experience’s start time.
- For a 50% refund, you must cancel 2–6 full days before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 2 full days before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
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