Unzen, Onsen Ryokan and Samurai Town Tour Package
2 Days and 1 Night in Shimabara, and Unzen
Highlights
See the real Japan by driving through its rural countryside, and experience a new way of living
Reach breathtaking and exciting sightseeing locations and attractions, places you cannot find by staying on the beaten path!
Visit Shimabara and take a step back in time to the Edo period
Climb to the top of Mt. Unzen, an active volcano
Experience an authentic Japanese Onsen Ryokan, with refreshing hot spring baths
Description
Embark on an adventure through the Japanese countryside, the Japan that you will only find on the road less traveled. This private and customizable tour package will show you the best of Nagasaki city, Shimabara and Unzen from hidden shrines, to active volcanoes. The following outline is just an example, as we will be building this tour around your needs. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Itinerary: Shimabara
Shimabara is a quiet, historic town on the eastern coast of the Shimabara Peninsula boasting a towering white Castle built early in the Edo period. This town is known as the “Town of Water” for its famously clear spring water running alongside the town's walkways and roads. You can even see beautiful koi fish swimming through them, traveling the town just as you are. Here, you can take a step back in time and envision life during the Edo period.
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Visit a sake brewery on our way to Shimabara and learn about the sake making process. Kinokawa’s sake is some of the best in Kyushu, and u can taste it for yourself at the brewery
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Upon our arrival in Shimabara, we will stop for lunch at Inohara, a hardware store that doubles as a cafe. After trying their delicious katsu curry, you can browse their selection of kitchenware and household goods, as well as view their museum-like gallery. Now is a good time to start thinking about gifts and souvenirs!
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Shimabara Castle, a magnificent white fortress that is now outfitted with a history museum, containing everything from Samurai armor to relics of the hidden christians of the region. At the very top you will get a perfect view of the sea as well as our next stop, Mount Unzen.
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the Samurai Houses, are the traditional homes of the samurai that have been passed down and maintained by their descendants. Along one street, there are many of them in a row. Take a walk and explore the life of the samurai during the Edo period
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Small but interesting local museum showing many artifacts of the edo period.
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Serene and beautiful tea house showcasing the clear waters that Shimabara is famous for. Enjoy matcha tea while viewing the koi pond
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A unique cafe next to a large koi pond. The cafe sels many fun Shimabara Souvenirs, as well as delicious sweets such as Mochi, and teas from the area
Itinerary: Unzen
Unzen, Japan’s first National Park, is an Onsen town with famous sulfuric waters said to yield a variety of health benefits. This active volcano's history is deeply intertwined with Nagasaki’s cultural and religious history, and is now one of Japan’s most famous locations to enjoy a nice hot spring bath.
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Unzen Jigoku, which translates to “Unzen Hell”, is a large sulfuric hot spring on the incline of Mt. Unzen. It earned the name “Hell” in the early 1600’s when the Tokugawa Shogunate used these heat vents to torture practitioners of christianity. Today this is a much more relaxing location than it was in the 1600s, as it is home to many Onsen Ryokan.
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Ride the Ropeway’s cable-car to the Mt. Unzen observatory. This high up perch gives you an incredible panoramic view of the entire Shimabara Peninsula
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An active volcanic group consisting of several overlapping stratovolcanoes. In 1792 an eruption occurred causing a tsunami to hit Kumamoto, resulting in 15,000 deaths. In 1991, another eruption here resulted in 44 deaths due to a pyroclastic flow. The more recent eruption caused the volcano to gain 406 feet of height. This powerful force of nature can be seen from the Unzen Observatory.
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Onsen Ryokan, also known as “hot spring hotels” are luxury hotels built around offering hot spring baths with the earth’s natural springs as their source. The onsen waters in Unzen are famous for their sulfuric qualities, which are said to help with stress, circulation, joint-pain, and a myriad of other ailments. The hotels typically serve traditional Japanese cuisine for dinner and breakfast. Onsen Ryokan is one of those things you simply can’t miss when visiting Japan!
Itinerary: Obama and Tachibana
Obama and Tachibana are seaside towns at the base of Unzen. They make for a fun stop on the way through, as Obama is home to many delicious seafood restaurants, and Tachibana’s shrine is one of the largest in all of Japan.
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A restaurant with a wide array of seafood caught that morning. Select any of the fish or shellfish, and they will cook it for you using the steam coming straight from the earth’s mantle. They also have vegetables, eggs, and pork buns that can be steamed. A very unique dining experience!
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The longest foot bath in Japan! Located along the sea, soak your feet in the natural onsen waters while taking in the beautiful ocean view.
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Tachibana Shrine is home to over 1000 Sakura trees. During the spring, these trees finally blossom and create a surreal scenery. The Tachibana clan has been serving the Emperor longer than any family in Japanese history. This shrine in particular is to enshrine General Tachibana and his ancestors. If you have gotten a shrine stamp book, please get it stamped here!
Itinerary: Omura (Option if departing from Nagasaki Airport)
Omura is an old castle town which still holds many relics of its tumultuous past. You can walk the ruins of the Omura Castle while viewing some of Japan’s most beautiful Sakura trees here. The Nagasaki Airport is located here, making it an ideal first, or last, stop of your Nagasaki journey.
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Home to a gift shop and cafe where you can get souvenirs, Gosyuin, Ramen, Taiyaki, and Karaage. Visit the Japanese Garden behind the tourist center (especially Sakura season) and take in the well cared for beauty
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The site where Omura Castle once stood tall is still home to remnants of its glorious past, as well as the Omura and Kushima Shrines. This site is one of the top 100 Sakura viewing spots in the country, and its winding paths are home to hundreds of years of history. In the middle of the site you can eat some of Omura’s famous snack “Umegaemochi”.
There are over 2000 sakura trees here from over 20 different varieties, one of which is native to Omura and boasts the largest and most elegant pedals.
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From 1666 to 1738, these houses were home to the samurai of the Dobashi family. Adjacent to the Dobashi house is the Kusumoto house, where you may enter and explore. These houses are still maintained by the family’s ancestors.
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Omura’s beach was long plagued by plastic drifting onto its shores. To combat this, they recycled this plastic into a sand beach, where the plastic sand resembles a beach of multi-colored glass.
Details
| Price | Starts at $3800 for two people, depending on chosen accomodations |
| Tour Departure | between 9:00a.m. and 2:00 p.m. |
| Duration | Typically 4 nights, 3 days |
| Langauges Offered | English |
| Includes | Admission, Transportation, Accommodation, Tour Guide Fee |
| Excludes | Unspecified food and drink, airfare, transportation to Nagasaki |
| Meeting Location | Flexible, we can meet you at your accomodation in Nagasaki City |
| Special Notes | Availability for certain accomodations varies, Minimum number of guests is 2 |
| Cancelation Policy | 100% if canceled at least 3 days before the scheduled tour |
| Rain Policy | This tour runs rain or shine |
Tour Route Map
Contact us.
This is a custom tour so the price varies depending on the attractions, transportation, and accomodations. Please contact us if you have any questions or are interested in building a trip with us! We will respond as soon as we can. Thank you for your time!