Yazu Town, Hattō Area – 3-Day /
2-Night Premium Rural Tourism Tour
~ A slow trip touring the village of persimmons and fruit trees dyed in orange, satoyama experiences, Japan Heritage Ota Residence, waterfalls of Moroga Valley, and the starry sky of Mt. Oginosen ~
Price per person JPY58,000
Tour Overview
Yazu Town Hatto District, Tottori Prefecture. This place is a sanctuary for slow travel, enveloped in the beautiful colors of special persimmons and ripe fruits, and a rich golden rural landscape.
This tour is an all-inclusive 3-day, 2-night slow trip aimed at Europe's sustainable/nature demographic and Taiwan's premium demographic to fully experience Yazu Town's rich nature, traditional culture, and advanced sustainable agriculture (biochemical farming). Rather than mere sightseeing, it offers a special time to touch upon authentic Japanese rural life and "Nature Positive" attempts through deep dialogues with community-rooted "half-farmer, half-guide" experts and local farmers.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
From Doing to Being. 3 days enveloped in rich nature and human activities
Sustainable experience visiting 2 Ministry of the Environment "Nature Coexistence Sites": Visit the region's proud "Hatto Furusato no Mori" and "Funaoka Nature Farm", both recognized as Nature Coexistence Sites. Fresh local vegetables you hand-pick yourself at Funaoka Nature Farm will be deliciously enjoyed as premium ingredients for lunch and dinner on the second day.
Science of "Biochemical Farming" turning abandoned bamboo groves into resources: Learn locally about "Nature Positive" circular agriculture that powders bamboo from abandoned bamboo groves (a local environmental issue) and utilizes it as fertilizer. Visit persimmon orchards, as well as biochemi-grown apple and pear orchards depending on the season, approaching the secret of their overwhelming sweetness and deliciousness.
Japanese traditional farming experience "Rice harvesting/Hasa-gake" OR "Threshing/Milling/Hagama pot rice": Depending on the season, challenge manual rack-drying (sun-drying) rice harvesting, or threshing to milling and making special rice balls cooked in a traditional Hagama iron pot. Experience the essence of slow food, tasting the blessings of agriculture with your five senses.
Touring the famous "Ooshika Waterfall" in Moroga Valley and "CATCH the STAR" at Furusato no Mori: Enjoy a hiking trip in the mystical Moroga Valley to bathe in clear streams and negative ions, including Ooshika Waterfall. At night, appreciate a 360-degree panoramic starry sky at Hiroruno Plateau with no light pollution, offering ultimate relaxation.
Local ingredient charcoal BBQ & All-inclusive: Enjoy slow food unique to the region, such as a charcoal BBQ in the garden (indoor hot grill in case of rain), local sake pairing, and dinner at Hatto Furusato no Mori.
ITINERARY
【Day 1】
[Koge Station] ──(Wakasa Railway)──► [Ota Residence] ──► [Accommodation Check-in] ──► [Persimmon/Apple/Pear Orchard & Biochemi Walk] ──► [Garden Charcoal BBQ & Local Sake]
【Day 2】
[Local Bread Breakfast] ──► [Funaoka Nature Farm Veggie Procurement] ──► [Rice Harvesting OR Threshing/Hagama Rice Balls] ──► [Moroga Valley/Ooshika Waterfall Tour] ──► [Furusato no Mori Dinner] ──► [Hiroruno Plateau Starry Sky]
【Day 3】
[Freshly Pounded Mochi Breakfast] ──► [Roadside Station Shopping] ──► [Wakasa-juku Short Walk] ──► [Koge Station Dismissal]
Detailed Itinerary
■ Day 1: Japan Heritage "Ota Residence", Retro Local Railway, and Satoyama Welcome
11:50 | JR Koge Station (Platpia Yazu) Gathering: Welcomed by a dedicated half-farmer, half-guide. Tour orientation will be held, and Wakasa Railway free passes will be distributed.
12:03 | Board the Retro "Wakasa Railway" (Koge Station ⇒ Tanpi Station): Start a local train journey running through idyllic rural landscapes, swaying in warm wooden train cars designed by Eiji Mitooka.
12:28 | Get off at Tanpi Station & Special Viewing of Japan Heritage "Ota Residence": Visit the Ota Residence, a wealthy farmer's estate from the Edo period open exclusively by reservation, accompanied by a guide. Appreciate the profound wooden architecture and traditional gardens that have coexisted with the harsh winter climate.
15:30 | Accommodation Check-in & Welcome Fruit Time: After moving to the accommodation, enjoy freshly picked sweet fruits (pears, grapes, etc.) grown using biochemical farming methods along with a welcome drink.
16:30 | Satoyama Walk and Biochemi Farming "Circulating Soil and Bamboo" Tour: Stroll through persimmon orchards heavily laden with fruit, and apple/pear orchards that have introduced biochemical farming. Learn through your five senses at the site of "Biochemical Farming," which turns abandoned bamboo groves into resources and increases the sugar content of fruits and the taste of rice.
18:00 | Garden Charcoal BBQ and Yazu Local Sake Pairing Dinner: In the open garden, enjoy a charcoal BBQ of Yoshikawa brand pork, gibier (venison), and biochemi vegetables (indoor hot grill in case of rain). Spend a rich time talking with farmers and guides over Japanese sake from local traditional breweries and additive-free fruit cocktails.
■ Day 2: Traditional Farming Experience, Procuring Local Veggies, Moroga Valley Waterfalls, and Starry Sky
08:00 | Western Breakfast with Local Bread and Freshly Harvested Tastes: A Western-style breakfast centered around delicious local bread. Accompanied by locally sourced egg dishes, yogurt with Mr. Yamada's homemade fruit jam, and warm soup.
10:00 | Depart Accommodation ➔ Vegetable Selection at Nature Coexistence Site "Funaoka Nature Farm": Visit "Funaoka Nature Farm," another Nature Coexistence Site in Yazu Town. Buy (harvest) fresh and robust vegetables grown here yourself, procuring them as special ingredients for today's lunch and dinner.
10:45 | Traditional "Hasa-gake Rice Harvesting" OR "Threshing/Milling/Hagama Rice Cooking Experience" OR Pear/Persimmon Picking: Enter the golden rice fields and challenge manual rack-drying (sun-drying) rice harvesting. *Depending on the season, you can enjoy threshing and milling experiences, Hagama rice cooking experiences, or fruit picking.
12:30 | Special Hagama Cooked Rice Balls & Fresh Vegetable Lunch Enjoyed on the Ridge Path: Taste a fresh lunch of freshly cooked biochemi rice balls you mold yourself and the freshly harvested vegetables procured at Funaoka Nature Farm.
14:30 | Touring Clear Streams and Famous Waterfalls including "Ooshika Waterfall" in Moroga Valley: Head to the mystical Moroga Valley. A refreshing walk touring beautiful waterfalls full of negative ions, including "Ooshika Waterfall," touching the coldness of the clear stream, and exploring lush moss and virgin beech forests with your five senses.
17:30 | Arrival at Hatto Furusato no Mori & Relax Time: Move to Hatto Furusato no Mori, a Ministry of the Environment "Nature Coexistence Site."
18:30 | Furusato no Mori "Blessings of Great Nature Dinner": Taste hot pot dishes luxuriously using fresh vegetables from Funaoka Nature Farm, salt-grilled Yamame trout, and local vegetables.
20:30 | Full Starry Sky Observation Walk: At night, move to Furusato no Mori at a higher elevation. Appreciate an authentic starry sky (CATCH the STAR) completely free of light pollution.
■ Day 3: Slow Food Morning, Hatto Roadside Station, and Souvenir Shopping
08:00 | Freshly Pounded Mochi and Local Soup Breakfast: A mini mochi pounding experience using biochemi glutinous rice. A rich breakfast enjoyed with freshly pounded mochi.
09:30 | "Hatto Roadside Station / Fruit Sightseeing Farm" Shopping & Local Exchange: Shopping for specialty rice, fruits, and regional crafts. The guide will support interactions with locals.
11:42 | Wakasa Railway Stopover Journey (Short trip from Tokumaru Station ⇒ Wakasa Station): Move to the terminal "Wakasa Station". Observe the steam locomotive (SL) on the premises and stroll through the retro post town "Wakasa-juku" where old storehouses and Kariya streets remain.
13:24 | Wakasa Station ⇒ Tanpi Station / Accommodation Check-out, then Tour Ends & Dismissal: Tour officially concludes.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
What's Included
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2 Nights, 6 Meals (including pairing drinks)
Dedicated "Half-farmer, Half-guide" accompanying fee
Participation fees for all experience programs (Nature Coexistence Site visits, farming experiences, waterfall tours, etc.)
Wakasa Railway free pass
Domestic travel accident insurance
Required Gear (Alpine-Level)
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Comfortable clothing suitable for moving around and farming experiences (clothes you don't mind getting dirty)
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Comfortable walking shoes (sneakers, etc.) and shoes for valley walking
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Rain gear (Rainwear)
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Warm clothing (as a countermeasure against the cold in the mornings, evenings, and during starry sky observation)
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Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent goods
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Toiletries, sleepwear (There are no amenities at the accommodation.)
Sustainability Efforts (Give Back)
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A portion of the participation fee for this tour will be returned as conservation activity funds for Hatto Furusato no Mori and Funaoka Nature Farm, which are Ministry of the Environment "Nature Coexistence Sites", as well as funding for the maintenance of abandoned bamboo forests, a local environmental issue. Enjoying your trip directly supports the protection of Yazu Town's beautiful natural environment.
Course Number / Name
R001 / Yazu Town Hatto District Rural Tourism 3-Day, 2-Night Premium Tour
Price
58,000 JPY Per Person
Group Size
Small group limited tour (2 to a maximum of 6 people)
Duration
3 Days, 2 Nights
Meeting Time & Place
11:50 at JR Koge Station (Platpia Yazu)
Dismissal Time & Place
14:00 in Hatto District, at the accommodation
Accommodation Info
El Bosque Guesthouse or Green Tourism Yamada (Private whole-house rental space)
BOOKING & CONTACT
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Planning & Operation: El Bosque Inc.
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Email: info@hattofurusato.com
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Cancellation Policy Please note that cancellation fees will be charged as follows:
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3 days (72 hours) to 48 hours prior: 30% of the total fee
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Less than 48 hours prior: 50% of the total fee
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Less than 24 hours prior (or No-Show): 100% of the total fee