Imabari attractions

You will take part in a private tea ceremony in an authentic tea room located in the Ninomaru Garden at Matsuyama Castle. The experience lets you make matcha yourself using traditional tools, while enjoying the formal but calm rhythms of an authentic tea ceremony set within a historic garden. The setting is quiet and reserved, offering a calm moment amid the castle’s visitor areas. The session is held in a private space for a small number of people, so you can relax and take your time. Instructions are easy to follow, so even first-timers and families can join with confidence. The garden’s traditional scenery provides attractive photo opportunities, making it suitable for couples, families and anyone wanting a gentle cultural experience in a historic location.

Saijo is one of Japan’s three major sake brewing regions. Within roughly one kilometre of Saijo Station you’ll find seven traditional breweries. As you move between them, an English-speaking guide will explain the history of the area and introduce the sake produced at each brewery. Along the way you’ll sample the bottles recommended by each brewery. Tastes may include a range of styles such as Daiginjo, Junmai and even frozen sake, so you can compare different flavours and textures. Some breweries do not usually offer tastings on weekdays, so having access to samples from all seven is particularly valuable. This is a tasting tour — you should note that it does not include a view of the sake brewing process. By the end, you may well have found a new favourite sake. Legal drinking age in Japan is 20; participants under 20, including infants, cannot join.

You will explore Onomichi, a compact town on the east coast of Hiroshima prefecture often called the miniature garden. The experience will take you to several of the town's notable Buddhist sites, including well-known temples such as Senkoji, which sits at the top of a mountain and is accessible via a mountain ropeway. Along the way you will learn more about Buddhism in Japan and see the charm and traditional atmosphere that characterise the town. The tour also includes a scenic boat ride on the Seto Inland Sea and access to one of the neighbourhood islands, Ikuchijima. On Ikuchijima you will visit the Kosanji Temple Grounds, where the temple complex houses striking features such as the ornate Koyomon Gate, the Thousand Buddha Cave, and the marble garden known as the Hill of Hope. Together, the coastal views, island landscape and temple architecture will give you a clear sense of Onomichi’s beauty, culture and religious heritage.

In Saijo, you will join a guided visit to three local sake breweries and learn about the town’s long brewing tradition. As you move through each brewery, you will hear about the history and culture of sake and how it is shaped by the local environment, the community and the people who make it. Along the way you will taste sake from each brewery and note the different characteristics that reflect their individual approaches and passion for craftsmanship. At Sanyotsuru, you will take part in a special calligraphy experience that uses the same spring water employed in their brewing. You will grind ink and write your own sake label on the special paper typically used for authentic labels. This handmade label may serve as an original souvenir of the visit. The experience aims to provide an authentic glimpse of Japanese hospitality and the deeper cultural spirit behind sake.

Explore Matsuyama Castle with an audio guide that brings its history to life. As you move through the site, a Ninja guide will lead you by voice, sharing rich historical context and local stories that you might otherwise miss. The commentary is written to spark curiosity and give you a deeper sense of the castle’s past. You will use your own smartphone to play the audio, so you can explore at a pace that suits you. Along the way, the guide offers engaging insights and local knowledge to help you connect more closely with the place. The experience is self-directed, simple to use and focused on enhancing your visit to Matsuyama Castle.

Japan is known for three concentrated sake-brewing regions: Nada in Hyogo Prefecture, Fushimi in Kyoto and Saijo in Hiroshima. This tour visits Saijo, where a guided tasting takes place at a local brewery. Saijo sits facing the Sanyo Expressway and, blessed with excellent water, grew rapidly as a sake-brewing town after the railroad was built. It went on to export sake mainly to western Japan and even overseas. Along the way you will taste a variety of Saijo sake and learn about its character and production. The region’s flavour is often described as clean with a gentle sweetness. That mellow taste is known to pair well with a wide range of meals. Your guide will share context about Saijo’s brewing history and the local qualities that shape the sake, so you’ll enjoy both the flavours and the story behind them.

This e‑bike tour takes you around Omishima's southern half‑circle, combining cultural stops with coastal scenery along the Shimanami Kaido. As you move through the island, you will visit Oyamazumi Shrine and see exhibits at Tokoro Museum and the Ken Iwata Mother and Child Museum. Along the way you will pass local wineries and brewery shops and enjoy scenic views of the coastline. Casual pit stops at Kaeru Bakery are included as part of the ride, offering a relaxed break. The outing will conclude with a meal at Shimanami French Filer, giving you a chance to reflect on the day's discoveries while savouring local flavours.

On the E-bike and God's Island trekking experience you will explore Kamishima Island, departing from WAKKA guest house on Omishima. You will ride E-bikes across the island’s generally flat terrain, making cycling accessible and easy. Along the way you will visit the 2,600-year-old Oyamazumi Shrine, known as the Island of the Gods. A mildly challenging trek will take you up to Mt Anjin, which rises to 266 metres. The ascent passes stands of mature camphor trees and leads to viewpoints overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. The experience includes local flavours, especially the renowned Kamishima Manju. As you move through the island you will encounter quiet landscapes and a calm atmosphere that many visitors find restorative. Overall, the day combines gentle electric-bike riding, a short mountain trek and opportunities to learn about the island’s shrine, natural trees and sea views, with a taste of local speciality along the way.

In Onomichi you’ll explore a compact, artistic coastal town set on scenic hills. You’ll start at the Onomichi City Museum of Art, redesigned by Tadao Ando. Its minimalist architecture frames rotating exhibitions and offers striking views across the sea. The setting itself is part of the experience: the building’s design and outlook help put the local art into context. From there you’ll take the cable car up to Senko-ji Temple, founded in 806. The temple’s vivid red main hall provides panoramic views over the Seto Inland Sea. As you move through the town, a stroll along the Literary Path and Temple Walk will lead you past small temples, independent art galleries and cosy cafés. The experience ends at Onomichi U2, a converted waterfront warehouse where stylish shops and design boutiques sit alongside places to enjoy a light meal or a glass of wine by the water. Along the way you’ll get a sense of Onomichi’s mix of culture, architecture and seaside atmosphere.

This experience takes you into Onomichi’s long connection with red vinegar (akazu) and shows how it shapes sushi tradition. Onomichi Zousu, with over 440 years of history, will be introduced as the maker of pure red vinegar. You’ll learn that their vinegar is made from sake lees aged for at least three years, using 100% Hiroshima-grown lees, and that this process gives sushi rice a subtle reddish hue along with a rich aroma and umami. Along a guided walk, you’ll explore why Onomichi became a vinegar hub and see a historic vinegar brewery up close. The evening continues at Sushi Yakushido, a reservation-only sushi venue that serves just eight guests per night. There you’ll savour a premium sushi course that highlights seafood from across Japan and is finished with the region’s prized red vinegar. The combination of the brewery visit, the local history, and the intimate sushi service gives a focused look at how Onomichi’s red vinegar influences traditional Edo-style sushi.

On a private cruise along the Shimanami Kaido you will enjoy views of the Seto Inland Sea and the islands that dot its waters. The experience is based near Onomichi city in Hiroshima Prefecture, and you can start from different arrival points such as Onomichi, Sakaigahama, Omishima or Imabari to suit your plans. Along the way you will take in the changing colours and coastal scenery that make this route distinctive. You will travel on a private charter cruiser that accommodates up to 11 people and includes a bedroom, a shower room and a Jacuzzi for your comfort. From spring to autumn you will savour the seasonal atmosphere of the inland sea. Dining options typically include a BBQ, French cuisine or a lavish buffet, so your meal onboard may be chosen to match the occasion. The overall experience will combine comfortable private facilities with panoramic sea and island views for a personalised luxury outing.

A government-licensed, experienced English-speaking guide will lead a customised walk through Onomichi, a gritty, old‑time seaport town whose hills are dotted with temples, literary sites and cats. Along the way you'll see examples of the town’s retro‑chic charm as local businesses revive its quaint, nostalgic streetscape. For many travellers, Onomichi also serves as the base for cycling the Shimanami Kaidō, the network of road bridges that links islands across the Inland Sea to Shikoku, and you’ll hear about that connection as you explore. Your guide will tailor the itinerary to your interests, and you can choose two to three sites from the “what to expect” list to shape the tour. As you move through the town, expect a mix of temple visits, literary landmarks and atmospheric alleyways where cats are often spotted, plus context on Onomichi’s maritime history and evolving cultural scene. Bicycles are not permitted on this experience.

This experience takes you through Onomichi with a government-licensed, experienced English-speaking guide who will tailor the outing to your interests. Onomichi is a gritty, old-timey seaport town set among hills dotted with temples, literary sites and cats. Along the way, you’ll see small businesses that embrace a retro-chic charm and get a sense of a more quaint Japan of yesteryear. You can pick 3 to 4 sites from the provided “what to expect” list to shape your itinerary. After booking, tell your guide which places you’d like to see and they will customise the route for you. The town is also a common base for travellers planning to cycle the Shimanami Kaidō, the series of bridges that let people island-hop across the Inland Sea to Shikoku, so you’ll hear about that connection as you explore. Please note that bicycles are not allowed on this experience.

This guided tour offers a short, immersive way to see the highlights of Onomichi. You'll ride the Senkoji Ropeway for views across the Seto Inland Sea from the Senkoji Summit Observatory PEAK. As you move through the town, you will visit Senkoji Temple, noted for its striking red hall and distinctive rock formations, and admire the Tenneiji Three-Storied Pagoda rising within the cityscape. Along the way you'll stroll down Neko no Hosomichi (Cat Alley), a quiet path lined with cat-themed art and tucked-away cafés. At Tenneiji Temple you will see the Five Hundred Rakan statues, each carved with its own expression. Your guide will share insights into Onomichi’s history, artistic heritage and spiritual traditions, helping to put what you see into context. This tour will give a clear snapshot of Onomichi’s cultural landmarks, scenic viewpoints and hidden gems.

Takehara, known as Hiroshima’s Little Kyoto, will invite you to stroll through a preserved townscape that faces the Seto Inland Sea. As you move through the Takehara Townscape Preservation District, you will see historical buildings from the Edo to the Showa eras set within a nostalgic landscape. The district is designated as a Japan Heritage site, and the town’s traditional streets will give you a clear sense of its long architectural and cultural history. The ecotours in Takehara will give you the opportunity to see art‑making processes and to experience the “artistic space of hospitality” created by shohekiga paintings. Along the way you will also learn about local crafts and food production, including saké brewed using Hiroshima’s distinctive “soft water brewing method” and wa‑en (和塩, Japanese salt) that is valued for its mineral content and nutrition. This experience will suit anyone interested in art, history, nature and traditional culture, offering close-up views of how the town’s natural blessings shape its cultural products.