- Follow Oiwa Shrine’s sacred forest trail after a traditional ritual
- Meet Machiya residents and discover everyday life in rural Ibaraki
- Create your own ikebana arrangement using freshly picked local flowers
- Cook a seasonal homemade lunch alongside your local Machiya host
- Hike around Fukuroda Falls with routes matched to your ability
Sacred Trails and Villages of Ibaraki Add-On
There’s a side to Japan that makes much more sense on foot. Just 90 minutes from Tokyo, this three-day add-on heads into northern Ibaraki, where forest trails, small rural communities and local encounters provide a marked contrast to Japan’s major cities. The journey begins at Oiwa Shrine, a sacred site surrounded by towering cedar trees, where you’ll take part in a short ritual with a shrine maiden before hiking through the forest towards the summit. The following day is spent in Machiya, a rural village where the focus shifts to everyday life. Walk through rice fields and along riverside paths, visit a family-run sake and wine brewery, pick flowers for an ikebana arrangement and prepare lunch with your local host using seasonal ingredients.
The pace is active without trying to cover too much ground, with walking used as a way to experience the landscape and spend time in communities you might otherwise pass by. On the final day, head towards Fukuroda Falls, one of Ibaraki’s best-known natural sights, with a choice between a gentler 4.6-kilometre walk along an old road or a more challenging mountain route. Stop for tea and traditional sweets at a converted watermill before finishing among the retro streets and renovated old houses of Daigo. This is an add-on itinerary and must be booked as part of a longer holiday to Japan. Contact our Travel Specialists to include these three days within a tailor-made Japan itinerary.
Tour Itinerary
Meet your guide at Hitachi Station and pick up locally loved onigiri before travelling to Oiwa Shrine, set among tall cedar trees in the mountains of northern Ibaraki. Begin with a short ritual led by a shrine maiden, followed by time to explore the grounds and learn about the shrine’s history and importance to the local community. Continue on foot along the forest trail towards the summit. The moderate hike opens up to wide views across the surrounding landscape, where you’ll stop for a picnic lunch before descending. Afterwards, visit a local home in the small village at the foot of the shrine. It is a chance to move beyond sightseeing and meet people who live here, gaining a more personal introduction to rural life in Ibaraki.
Spend today in Machiya, a quiet rural village where local residents are working to bring new life to the community. Your host, Ikeda-san, runs Machiya Laboratory, a café that has become a gathering place for both residents and visitors. Explore the village on foot, stopping at a family-run sake and wine brewery to sample its drinks and hear about life in the area. Continue through rice fields and along riverside paths to a local flower garden, where you’ll choose blooms to make your own ikebana arrangement. Back at the café, prepare a homemade lunch together using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Afterwards, explore independently with a hand-drawn map or take a short hike up Kuroiso Bakke for panoramic views over the town. (B)
The final day explores the forests around Fukuroda Falls, one of Ibaraki’s best-known waterfalls. Choose how active you want to be, with either a lighter 4.6-kilometre nature walk along the historic Tsukii Old Road or a more demanding climb of Mount Namase-Fuji, nicknamed the “Gendarme of Ibaraki” for its ridgeline terrain and views. After the walk, visit Okuno Takisanso, a riverside guesthouse created from an old watermill. Sit down for tea and traditional sweets with the Fujita family before continuing to central Daigo. Finish the trip wandering its retro shopping streets, where old houses have been repurposed as cafés, shops and izakaya-style pubs while retaining much of the town’s Showa-era character. Afterwards, continue your onward journey as part of your wider Japan itinerary. (B)
Pricing Information
Price Includes
- All taxes and charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrance fees on sightseeing tours as specified
Price Excludes
- International and domestic flights
- Train journeys to and from Ibaraki
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Price Notes
- Shinkansen fares at the start and end of this itinerary are not included; please speak to one of our travel specialists if you would like to tailor this journey, including rail arrangements or extend it into a longer Japan itinerary designed around your preferences.
- Price is per person based on 2 adults travelling together with a 5 June 2027 departure
- Please speak to one of our Travel Specialists for single supplement pricing.
- This tour is available to depart on any day, subject to availability at the time of booking.
- Hotels featured in this itinerary are subject to change depending on availability at the time of booking.
- Holiday and peak season surcharges are not included in the above prices. Additional charges may apply during peak travel periods, including 15 December to 10 January, and will be confirmed at the time of booking.
- This is a suggested itinerary that can be customised to suit your preferences. We can remove certain excursions or add other destinations as needed. This provides an overview of what you can experience in the area, but it is by no means exhaustive. Please reach out to one of our travel specialists to help you create your ideal holiday.
Tour Route Map
- Japan, Hitachiota
- Japan, Daigo
Tour Accommodation
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