Tour summary
Deep in the mountains of northern Ibaraki lies Satomi — a quiet village where faith, food, and craftsmanship remain part of everyday life.
This immersive one-day journey introduces you to the people who cultivate, create, and sustain this mountain community. Beginning at the valley’s guardian shrine and continuing to an organic farm, the experience unfolds through encounters shaped by land, forest, and tradition.
In the afternoon, guests choose how they wish to explore Satomi’s living culture — through sake brewing or woodcraft — each offering a different expression of the same rural spirit.
In detail
09:30 Depart JR Hitachi Station View on map
10:30 Shrine visit
12:00 Farm-to-table experience & lunch
14:30 Afternoon experience (Option A or B)
16:00 Depart Satomi area
17:00 Arrive JR Hitachi Station / Tour ends
The schedule is indicative and may be adjusted depending on local conditions and the rhythm of the day.
Morning – Ōnaka Shrine
Visit Ōnaka Shrine, regarded as the guardian shrine of the Satomi area.
With guidance from the priest, learn how rituals, seasonal events, and the surrounding landscape shape everyday life in the valley.
Guests may explore parts of the satoyama environment surrounding the shrine, offering a gentle introduction to the connection between belief and nature in this rural community.
Midday – Konosato Farm
Continue to Konosato Farm, an organic farm rooted in sustainable practice for over two decades.
Harvest seasonal vegetables with farmer Miki Fuse and prepare lunch using traditional tools and local recipes.
The shared meal becomes a moment of exchange — food not simply as cuisine, but as a reflection of land and choice.
Afternoon – Choose Your Experience
Option A: Isaka Brewery – Water & Fermentation
Visit Isaka Brewery, a small family-run sake brewery that uses the clear water of the Satokawa River.
Tour the brewery and enjoy a tasting while speaking with the brewmaster.
This experience reflects the valley’s cycle of belief, harvest, and water — expressed through fermentation.
Note: Brewery visits are not available from December to February.
Option B: Wood Workshop SEEDS – Forest & Craft
Visit Wood Workshop SEEDS and meet a craftsman whose work is rooted in the surrounding forest.
Learn about regional forestry and carve your own pair of chopsticks using local timber.
A tactile encounter with the mountain landscape — shaped by hand and carried home.
Your Guide
- Miyuki Abe
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A certified local guide from Hitachi-Ota with deep ties to the community. Fluent in English and Japanese, Miyuki offers guests not just guidance, but access to meaningful local interactions and hidden cultural gems.
Location
- Meeting / End Point:
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JR Hitachi Station (JR Joban Line), Ibaraki Prefecture
More information
| FIT / Group | Both |
| Min. and Max. # of Participants | 2 min / 6 max (larger groups by request) |
| What is Included in the Price | English-speaking guide, activities, local transportation, admission fees, lunch, insurance |
| Duration | 7.5 hours |
| Start/End Time | 9:30 – 17:00 |
| Meeting / Departing Point | JR Hitachi St. View on map |
| Transportation | Chartered car |
| Notes: dietary restrictions, age limit. etc. | This tour includes farm cooking and meals; dietary restrictions must be advised in advance. Moderate walking may be required on uneven rural terrain. Program details may be adjusted depending on weather and local circumstances. |
| Cancellation Policy | 21 – 30 days before the day of the start of the tour: 30% 7 – 20 days before the day of the start of the tour: 40% 6 – 2 days prior : 50% 1 day prior & on that day : 100% |
※Available by 2026. Jun 30th
Scenes from the Tour
