Just 80 minutes from Kyoto Station. Escape the city bustle and immerse yourself in Sonobe—Kyoto's hidden gem nestled in the forest—for a luxurious satoyama experience where you fully savor nature, culture, and daily life with all five senses. Feel the gentle satoyama breeze on an electric-assist E-Bike while enjoying: ● Culinary experiences exploring soba noodle making and local honey terroir ● Learn regional history at Sonobe Castle, “Japan's Last Castle” ● Pay respects at Makigami Shrine, deity of agriculture and food ● Experience silent zazen meditation at Ryounji Temple, an ancient temple founded in the late Muromachi period
This program is designed as an immersive experience, incorporating the journey itself, to connect you with Kyoto's profound culture and the cycle of nature.
Connect with the lives of satoyama people, nature's bounty, and the spirit of harmony, allowing your mind and body to quietly align. This unique Kyoto tourism experience transforms “immersing yourself in the landscape” into the journey itself.
Options
Plan for 2 Person
Plan for 3~8 Person
The Highlight
・ E-Bike Tours: Where Travel Itself Becomes the Experience E-Bikes make participation easy for everyone, regardless of age or fitness level, effortlessly conquering hills. Experience a special immersive journey feeling the breeze as you explore riverside satoyama landscapes, farmlands, traditional farmhouses, and shrines. ・ “Soba × Honeybee” Experience: Learning Food Cycles Soba cultivation is unique to satoyama, where it's grown specifically for honeybees to gather nectar. Learn about the bees' work among the flowers, then hand-knead soba noodles from buckwheat flour and savor them. A one-of-a-kind program to experience the natural connections behind the act of “receiving” food. ・Learn the Story of Sonobe Castle, “Japan's Last Castle,” On-Site Built during the Bakumatsu to Meiji periods, it is Japan's newest castle. Through existing structures like the yagura gate and guardhouse, learn about the atmosphere of this turbulent era and local history via a picture-story-book format. ・Learn about the “God of Food” at Makiji Shrine, a treasure trove of cultural assets Pay homage to Ōmisamitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, the deity presiding over agriculture and food, at this venerable shrine listed in the Engishiki, boasting one of Kyoto Prefecture's largest thatched roofs. A precious opportunity to decipher the background of satoyama food culture through “myth and prayer.” ・Zazen meditation at an ancient temple founded in the Muromachi period—Experience Kyoto's “beauty of stillness” Zazen at Ryōon-ji Temple offers a time to clear your mind as the journey concludes. Surrounded by the nature of the four seasons and enveloped in silence, it is an experience where the essence of the “Japanese spirit” truly resonates.
The Experience
10:20 Arrival at Sonobe Station / Briefing The Sonobe Culture and Tourism Association will explain today's route. Your Satoyama time begins here with E-Bikes. 10:40 Transfer to Sonobe Castle (E-Bike / 10 min) ▶ Kamishibai Guide at Sonobe Castle, “Japan's Last Castle” (10 min) Built during the Meiji period, Japan's newest castle structure. Tour the surviving Yagura Gate, Tatsumi Tower, and Guardhouse. 11:10–13:10 Soba Noodle Making Experience & Lunch (Former Maki Elementary School / 2 hours) ▶ Soba Noodle Making Experience Using locally sourced buckwheat flour / Taste freshly made noodles on-site. ▶ Honey Experience (30 min) The relationship between buckwheat fields and honeybees The process of harvesting buckwheat honey Learn how nature's cycle transforms into food. 13:10 Transfer to Maki Shrine (E-Bike / 10 min) ▶ Visit Maki Shrine (15 min) An ancient shrine listed in the Engishiki Worships Ōmisamitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, god of agriculture and food Kyoto Prefecture's largest thatched-roof shrine hall 13:50 Transfer to Ryōonji Temple (E-Bike / 10 min) 14:15–15:45 Zazen Meditation Experience at Ryōonji Temple (90 min) Founded in 1509, an ancient temple of the Soto Zen sect A time of tranquility embraced by the satoyama landscape A “calming the mind” program to conclude the journey 15:45 Move to Sonobe Station (E-Bike / 30 min) Around 16:00 Closing ceremony and disband at Sonobe Station
Guide Services
Languages Spoken by Guides
- English
Itinerary
- Include: Lunch
- Sonobe Station Arrival & Orientation
- Kamishibai Guide at Sonobe Castle(10 minutes)
- Soba-Making Experience & Lunch at the Former Maki Elementary School(120 minutes)
- Honey Experience(30 minutes)
- Visiting Makigami Shrine(15 minutes)
- Zazen Experience at Ryuonji Temple(90 minutes)
- Closing and dispersal at Sonobe Station
Price Details
How to Use
- Voucher will be sent via email. Please show your e-voucher at designated location.
Purchase Notice
- This is a private tour. Only your group will participate.
- You can customize it as you like. If you have any requests please let us know in advance.
- If you want to change your schedule even on the tour day, your guide is always happy to help you.
- You can skip the spot where you don't go (※in this case we do not refund any fees) or change it with another place.
- If you add some new spots by your request, please pay the ticket fee on the spot. (Note that you may need to pay extra transportation fee)
This product is sponsored by loulou Trading Co., Ltd.
Important Booking Information
Course Notes ・Age range: 12 to 70 years old Participants must be junior high school age or older and able to ride a bicycle. A consent form will be sent individually; a signed document from a legal guardian must be submitted on the day. ・This program includes E-Bike transportation, hill riding, and zazen meditation at temples, making it non-barrier-free. Participants with concerns about walking or bicycle operation cannot join. ・Must be able to ride an E-Bike (no impediments to bicycle operation) ・Wear comfortable clothing and cold-weather gear ・Skirts and tights are not permitted for the zazen experience ・Bring a raincoat in case of rain ・Cannot participate if feeling unwell (e.g., body temperature 37.5°C or higher)
※ Honey extraction experience is available only from May to August 15th. During other periods, experience the centrifuge and honey purification process. ※ Not available on event days at Ryunji Temple, the zazen hall.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation made at least 7 day(s) before departure date, Fully refundable (100% refund)
- Cancel during 1 ~ 6 day(s) of departure, will charge 50%
- Cancel on activities date, Non-refundable (0% refund)