Kitakata Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

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6 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: Japanese and 1 more

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced English speaking tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Kitakata!

Blessed with an abundance of water and rice, Kitakata is known for its love of ramen and, also, for its most excellent sake. Walk around the town center and see the many remaining kura, or traditional Japanese storehouses, that have been converted into inns, shops, breweries, and specialty stores. Many of them are concentrated in the city center.

Your guide will start your day with a morning pickup at your hotel. Let us know what special requests you have for the day and we will customize your itinerary in advance!

Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.

What's Included

Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Kitakata
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list
Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Private transportation
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

This private tour is a walking day tour. A private vehicle is not included. Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with the guide after a reservation is finalized. Please have Japanese Yen on hand for your transportation costs. If you wish to arrange for a private vehicle, please contact us directly. All Private vehicles must be booked 5 days in advance. Maximum number of passengers: 7.

Itinerary

Duration: 6 hours (approximately)
  • 1

    Established in 1993, Kitakata Kura no Sato is a base for passing down the cultural tradition of building kura (traditional warehouses) and magariya (L-shaped houses), which are valuable parts of the lifestyle heritage of the Kitakata area. Ten traditional-style buildings stand within this 4,500 square-meter area. These include a mise-gura (a kura used as a shop), a miso-gura (kura for preserving miso paste), a kokumotsu-gura (a kura for storing grain), and a kura-zashiki (a kura used as a residence), as well as the residences of local officials (Go-gashira and Kimoiri) constructed around a courtyard.

    2 hours • Admission ticket not included
  • 2

    Kitakata’s ramen museum – full of everything ramen – has finally been completed! A ramen shrine was built in conjunction with the museum, where information about the history and story of Kitakata Ramen is exhibited. There is even a big ramen bowl at the centre of the shrine, where visitors can pray for good luck in love! Check out the shrine to find out if Kitakata Ramen will bring you romance!!

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 3

    Established in 1790, this is an old sake brewery shop. Various sake making tools are displayed in the oldest warehouse, “Edo Warehouse”, built during the Edo period. You can also see in part how sake was made in those days. In the shop on the premises there is a sake tasting corner where you can taste over 10 different kinds of Yauemon rice wine for free. You can enjoy tasting as well as purchasing the sake which has been made from chosen local ingredients for local consumption.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 4

    Built in 1055, the Nagatoko is Shingu Kumano Shrine's worship hall and translates to “long floor”. It is designated as a Nationally Important Cultural Asset. Built as the main structure during the Heian period to the Kamakura period, its thatched roof is supported by 44 massive pillars, each one 45 cm in diameter. This comprises a single large, open stage with no walls, and is said to have been used for ascetic training by priests, as well as kagura dance festivals. Housed inside a nearby large wooden frame is the shrine bell, which visitors to the shrine are welcome to hit with the wooden rod. There is also a famous copper pot where, allegedly, rice was rinsed before being offered to the gods; it was designated as an Important Cultural Property in 1959. This treasure is housed at the shrine along with many others and are on display for visitors along with national and prefectural designated cultural assets.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Wheelchair accessible
Supplied by Japan Guide Agency
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Tags

Half-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
Historical Tours
Rail Tours
Walking Tours
City Tours
Sake Tasting
Sake Brewery Tour
Public Transportation Tours
Zombie
Zombie Slice
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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