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• Incredible Glimpse into Authentic Japan

  0gall,2025年4月7日

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The time we spent in Shimane Prefecture with ThoughINAKA was incredible. We discovered and experienced a different side of Japan - unique, beautiful, and unlike the big cities we visited during most of our trip. We’re truly grateful for the opportunity. This experience will remain one of the highlights of our journey! We deeply appreciate the patience, insightful explanations, and the wonderful way our guide helped us connect with the real people of Japan. We also got to see traditional Japanese craftsmanship up close, which was unforgettable. The private tour was thoughtfully tailored to our specific interests, and every moment of it felt special - truly an incredible experience from start to finish.

• Incredible Cultural and Mythological Experience in Shimane!

  Trip61514584785,2024年11月4日

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I recently took an unforgettable tour in Japan's Shimane area that immersed me in the deep cultural and historical roots of the region. From the very first day, I was captivated by the beauty and heritage of this area. We started in Okuizumo, visiting the sacred Kumano Shrine on the Mt. Hiba, which includes what is said to be Izanagi's grave. There was also a charming kamishibai performance that truly brought Japanese folklore to life. My first night was spent in a lovely renewed and luxurious kominka where I was treated to a private chef experience—a delicious meal crafted with local flavors, absolutely amazing. The second day was all about Japan’s tatara iron-making tradition. I had the chance to see the fields in which the iron sand was collected through the river stream,then I visited the Okuizumo Tatara Sword Museum, and even make my own knife (!!!), which was an extraordinary hands-on experience. I stayed overnight at a super comfy lodge named Tsukaru, where the lovely owners, also a skilled chef and his assitant, prepared a fantastic dinner and breakfast. I also had the chance to visit local, very traditional onsen, absolutely a mus for those who want to experience real Japanese country life. On the third day, I visited the Itohara family museum, where I met the 15th generation heir—a highlight for anyone interested in Japanese family heritage and history. The tea ceremony was a serene experience, followed by a visit to the sacred Izumo Taisha shrine, steeped in mythology. Every guide on this tour was exceptionally knowledgeable, professional, and fluent in English, which made learning about Japan’s tatara traditions and mythology, so enriching! This tour is a must for anyone interested in Japan’s origins and artisanal heritage! Thank you Sameer for organising such a wonderful tour! Highly reccomended!!!

  

• A Great experience!

  VicBlanc13,2024年10月22日

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  A great experience, Samira is very knowledgeable and well connected all around izumo, we had several different experiences from travelling to museums and historic landmarks, making soba, sake tasting and making our own knife! He was always very pleasant and helpful!

• Memorable Okuizumo Experience

  E6288ATclairet,2023年12月7日

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Excellent service and a wonderful and warm experience! We engaged though_inaka for a private day excursion to Okuizumo from the port of Sakaiminato during our circle Japan cruise. Sameera helped put together a tour for 4 of us based on our interest in tatara iron and sword-making. He was very accommodating and easy to work with, given our limited timeframe in port. In Okuizumo, the iron museum and sword-forging demonstration by a master forger was unforgettable. We thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on soba-making and delicious lunch in a traditional house that is wonderfully maintained by the community group. We were also treated to samisen and singing by our personable soba-making hosts. Sameera was very informative and enlightening on the Okuizumo legacy of iron making and sword forging, as well as rice cultivation practices. Culturally, it was very rewarding to see the inner countryside and meet its warm-hearted residents. All in all, a high-quality experience...next time I will allot more time! I would highly recommend though_inaka to those that want to go off the beaten path and explore a piece of the "heart" of Japan.

• Amazing experience

  791monac,2023年10月12日

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  This tour was recommended by a friend of mine. Before visiting Simane, Sammera was very helpful to answer my questions. Our tour guide Shino was friendly and knowledgeable. Shino introduced us the history of Matsue castle, and then took us to Tanabe art museum. We got to see a collection of historical pottery for tea. Later on, we visited an organic tea farm and got to make our own tea. It was such a fantastic experience that I never had it before. In the evening, we had a tea ceremony in our Ryokan. It was very interesting that the utensils were resembled to what we saw at the art museum. Next day we visited Itohara Memorial Museum and Tatara factory. The food through the tour was extremely good and I really enjoyed it. By joining this tour, it gave me an opportunity to explore the rural area of Japan. The environment, people, food, everything was so wonderful. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who visits Shimane.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Hidden Treasures

  ベサニ,2023年8月9日

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I took this tour in July of 2023 and it was such a delight. It had an easy to understand theme and each activity made sense within that theme. The tour organizer was very friendly and knowledgeable. I had been wanting to come to see Izumo-taisha for awhile now and was able to explore it deeper than I would have had I come together with friends independent of the tour. The storytellers we met were incredibly informative and easy to talk to. They had answers to every small obscure question we could think of. Interacting with the locals was also a delight. Some came out of their way to deliver ice cream to us on a very hot day although their “stage” of the tour had already ended. None of my friends believed me until I showed them the videos, but we made soba noodles AND a knife! Coming back home, I was able to share with my Japanese friends a rich history, including customs that are unique to the area, and photographs of beautiful landscapes that they didn’t even know existed. I can’t wait to come back!

  

• Amazing traditional Japanese tour in Shimane

  ConstanceL303,2023年7月26日

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  I had an absolutely amazing tour of Shimane organized by Sameera. Right from the start, Sameera was extremely helpful with suggestions on which bus to take, meeting us at the bus terminal and organizing private transportation throughout the tour. He was extremely knowledgeable about each site that we visited, adding to the already impressive amount of information provided by our wonderful tour guides. The food at our traditional country house in Okuizumo was incredible, with a traditional Japanese setting and flavors prepared by Lisa and her partner. We got to harvest some of the herbs and vegetables for dinner, as well as preparing a traditional Japanese bath with wood fire. Our hosts were so lovely and accommodating, answering all of our questions and taking us to visit the local shrine. The support staff on the trip were also incredible. Chie and Shino were our tour guides for the Izumo Taisha Shrine and the Okuizumo Tatara Sword Museum respectively. Both guides were so kind and knowledgeable, making the tour such an enjoyable experience. The soba making class was a great experience and we had so much fun with the soba master. He was also so kind, bringing us ice cream when we were at the Unshu Chuzen knife making class. The knife making class was so much fun and we had the chance to buy high quality traditional Japanese knives from the family. They customized my knife by carving my family name into the knife at no additional cost, which I thought was really special. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone interested in Japanese culture, as you will experience so many different things that you would not usually and everyone you meet is so kind and friendly.