Kansai in Sightseeing tour/Guided tour Page 3

• Age 0～Age 100
• 1～2 hours
• 10:00 / 11:00 / 13:00 / 14:00 / 15:00

The ruins of Shichi Castle are said to have once been the castle of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's military strategist Kuroda Kanbei and Kato Yoshiaki, one of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake. The representative of the "Society for Preserving Shichi Castle," which is dedicated to preserving the castle every day, will guide you through this precious historic site, which was an important base for the Awaji Navy under Hideyoshi. Located in Shichi, Minami Awaji City, near the Seto Inland Sea and the Naruto Strait, Shichi Castle is said to have been built by Suga Izuminokami Michitada during the Kamakura period, and was surrendered in 1581 when Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked Awaji. After that, it was guarded by his vassal Kuroda Kanbei (Kuroda Yoshitaka), and from 1585, Kato Yoshiaki, one of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake, became the lord of the castle. The Awaji Navy, which had Shichi Castle as one of its bases, achieved great success in Hideyoshi's conquests of Kyushu, Odawara, and Korea, and there is no doubt that Awaji Island and Shichi Castle were important naval bases for Hideyoshi. However, the valuable historical site where Kuroda Kanbei and Kato Yoshiaki once lived has been swallowed up by bamboo forests in recent years and is on the verge of being forgotten by local residents. At that time, the local volunteers "Shichi Castle Preservation Society" stood up, worried that the valuable remains would disappear if things continued like this. In order to let many people, not just the locals, know about the Shichi Castle ruins and to pass on the story to future generations, they have been clearing the bamboo forest every day for about five years, and have been carrying out maintenance activities such as installing entrance roads and signs. This is a tour of the Shichi Castle ruins guided by Mr. Sekiguchi, the representative of the "Shichi Castle Preservation Society" who has a stronger passion for Shichi Castle than anyone else! The Shichi Castle ruins are currently being maintained, and recently wells and stones that are thought to be old stupas from that time have been discovered one after another. Perhaps you, as a participant of the tour, will discover an important relic! ■Experience schedule (if departing at 10:00) 10:00 Meet at the parking lot (north side of Shichi Castle ruins, across the street from the main entrance of Super Marunaka *see photo below) 10:00-10:05 Use the handmade sign as a landmark to move to the remains of the Honmarudai 10:05-10:15 Guide explains the history and characteristics of Shichi Castle 10:15-10:55 After viewing the remains such as the Taiko stone, the remains of the turret, and the old well, walk around the moat to Ise Shrine and Shomyo-ji Temple 10:55-11:00 Return to the parking lot and disband

• For Rainy Days
• For Family

• Age 0～Age 100
• 1～2 hours
• 09:00 / 10:00 / 11:00 / 13:00 / 14:00 / 15:00 / 16:00

Awaji tiles have been around for 400 years since the Edo period. As one of the three major tile production areas in Japan, tiles are still being manufactured there. The craftsmen who make onigawara and decorative tiles by hand are called "onishi", and it is a valuable experience to be able to see the craftsmanship of the onishi, who know the soil. Awaji tiles have been around for 400 years since the Edo period. As one of the three major tile production areas in Japan, tiles are still being manufactured there. The craftsmen who make onigawara and decorative tiles by hand, which are indispensable for temples and shrines, are called "onishi", and their numbers are decreasing, with only about 10 on the entire island of Awaji (about 50 nationwide). Tatsumi Co., Ltd., which you will visit on this plan, has five onigawara. The factory tour is a private plan limited to one group per time. With the guidance of the potter's president, Okitsu Yusuke, you will observe the tile manufacturing process and the techniques used by the onigawara craftsmen to make the onigawara tiles. You will also be able to talk to the onigawara craftsmen, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Afterwards, in the exhibition area, valuable pieces made during the Azuchi-Momoyama period are on display, giving you a glimpse into the evolution of this traditional craft that has continued for 400 years. Another attraction is that all the onigawara craftsmen's works from the Azuchi-Momoyama period to the present day are on display in one place. After the experience, you will be given a souvenir aromatic tile to choose from and can take home with you. Below is the experience schedule. You will be guided through the tour as follows: 1. Manufacturing site 2. Onigawara craftsmen at work 3. Onigawara collection (exhibition area)

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity
• For Family

• Age 12～Age 100
• 1～2 hours
• 10:00 / 13:00

Surrounded by nature at the foot of a small hill, Shunyoso shows off the graceful expressions of the four seasons that are unique to Japanese-style architecture. The owner, who is also a certified old house appraiser, will guide you through the house and explain the traditional techniques that are difficult to reproduce today, the design that highlights the playfulness of the craftsmen, and the immeasurable historical and cultural value. After the tour, Shunyoso will quickly transform into a sweets shop. Enjoy an elegant moment with tea and Japanese sweets in an elegant space. Shunyoso is a masterpiece of modern Japanese architecture that was designed in 1941 by architect Toyoen Yamamoto, an authority on the study of home orientation, based on the ideas of feng shui, and was completed over a period of seven years by local carpenter Sankichi Saito and others. Further on, in 1983, the walls, gateposts, doors and gardens were renovated by architect Izue Hiroshi, who was even called a "master" by the famous architect Kurokawa Kisho, and they now harmonize beautifully to create a magnificent architectural landscape. The vast grounds of 1320m2 (approximately 1,400m2) contain eight buildings, including the guest house, storehouse, reception hall, sleeping hall and permanent residence, and in 2004 it was designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and in 2017 it was designated as an important structure for the formation of the Hyogo Prefectural Landscape. However, with the aging of the population and a social trend in recent years that only pursues efficiency, it became difficult for the previous owner to maintain and manage the buildings, and they gradually deteriorated, leading to a long period of time when the gates were closed. The turning point came in 2015. In order to preserve this precious cultural asset for future generations, the fourth-generation owner purchased it and began repairs and renovations. Finally, in October 2016, Shunyo-so was revived and reborn as a new international tourist resource for Awaji Island. In this experience program, the owner himself will guide you through the house, explaining the charms of the house, such as the traditional techniques that are difficult to reproduce today, the building materials that are also difficult to obtain today, the designs that highlight the playfulness of the craftsmen scattered throughout, and the elegant furnishings, based on the historical background of Shunyo-so. Please enjoy this space, which is filled with history and culture and represents the best of traditional techniques, to the fullest. After the tour, you will be served tea and Japanese sweets in the tea room or one of your choice. Please enjoy not only as a precious cultural asset, but also as a sweet shop. *Guides in English are also available, so we can accommodate customers from overseas. *A five-minute walk from Shunyoso is the historic and prestigious "Takenoguchi Hachiman Shrine," which celebrated its 1,100th anniversary in 2021. Why not visit the shrine as well? You can also enjoy a stroll through the historical and atmospheric streets of the Takenoguchi area. Experience schedule (The schedule below starts at 10:00, but please read the time differently if starting at 13:00) 10:00 Meet on site 10:05 Check-in and briefing Guided tour of Shunyoso 11:00 Enjoy tea and Japanese sweets in the teahouse. 11:30 End

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity

• Age 6～Age 100
• 2～3 hours
• 10:00 / 13:00 / 15:00

At Senkoji Temple, which boasts a history of 1100 years and has a temple on the summit of Sakiyama, a sacred mountain on Awaji Island, you can visit the main hall while enjoying the view of Sumoto City, one of the eight scenic views of Sumoto, and experience a sutra copying experience in a mysterious silence, which is an extraordinary experience. If you wish, you can also visit Iwato Shrine after the experience. Sakiyama, also known as Awaji Fuji, is said to be the first mountain created in Japan in the legend of the creation of the world by the gods Izanagi and Izanami. At Senkoji Temple, which has a temple on the summit of Sakiyama, you can experience copying sutras. First, you can climb about 200 steps to tour the grounds of Senkoji Temple, learn about the origins of Senkoji Temple, and see the place where the Awaji Island custom of "Dango Korogashi", which is rare nationwide, is performed at the temple. You will also be greeted by a lion-like boar, instead of a lion-dog, enshrined in front of the main hall. Because it is a temple on the mountaintop, you can see the central and southern part of Awaji Island, and if the weather is good, you can see the Naruto Strait and Wakayama. Return to the temple office and go to the "Daishido" to experience copying sutras. In copying sutras, you will copy the general Heart Sutra. Place the paper on top of the model Heart Sutra and copy it with a brush pen. Beginners are also welcome. By copying the characters in a solemn space, you can spend a valuable time reflecting on yourself. You can donate the copy to the temple or take it home. After the experience, you can also visit "Iwato Shrine", a popular power spot that enshrines a huge rock where Amaterasu Omikami hid herself, about 10 minutes down from the temple. (Please note that this is a full-scale mountain path) Experience schedule (for example, if the tour starts at 13:00) Meet at 13:00 *Walk around the temple grounds, including visiting the main hall (guided by the head priest Okazaki) 14:00 Experience copying sutras at the Daishido (approx. 30 minutes to 1 hour) 15:00 Scheduled end *After the tour, you can walk around the temple grounds and visit Iwato Shrine (on your own). It takes about 10 minutes to walk one way up the mountain path to Iwato Shrine.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity
• For Groups

• Age 12～Age 100
• 2～3 hours
• 10:00 / 14:00

Naohara Gyokusei is a master of Nanga painting who grew up on Awaji Island. He is also a Rinzai Obaku sect monk, and at Kokusei Zenji Temple, which he rebuilt, you can enjoy a beginner-friendly zazen experience and appreciate Gyokusei's friendly Nanga paintings that he personally painted. After the 60-minute zazen experience, you will listen to the current chief priest explain the Zen teachings contained in Gyokusei's works while drinking tea, then move to Minami Awaji City Takikawa Memorial Museum Gyokuseikan (5-minute walk) and view the diverse works of Naohara Gyokusei that are housed in the museum. This is a special experience that expresses the trinity of Nanga, haiku, and Zen, and allows you to feel the spirit of "kugazenichinyo" and reflect on yourself. Naohara Gyokusei is a master of Nanga painting who has ties to Awaji Island. He was also a painter and haiku poet, and a Rinzai Obaku sect monk, and became the chief priest to rebuild the dilapidated Zen temple Kokusei-an (later Kokusei Zenji) on Awaji Island where he grew up. At Kokusei Zenji Temple, which was magnificently rebuilt by Gyokusei, you will first complete a beginner-friendly zazen experience (about 60 minutes), after which you will listen to the current head priest explain the Zen teachings contained in Gyokusei's works while drinking tea, and then view Gyokusei's intimate works, which are privately painted by Gyokusei and housed in a storehouse within the temple grounds. You will be able to view rare sliding door paintings and other works up close without any partitions. After that, you will move to the Takikawa Memorial Museum of Art Gyokuseikan (about a 5-minute walk, 200m), where many of Gyokusei's paintings are on display, and finally view the masterpieces housed in the museum's collection. You will be able to experience a special time to reexamine yourself through the spirit of "Kuga Zen Ichinyo," which expresses the trinity of Nanga, haiku, and Zen that Naohara Gyokusei loved.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity
• For Groups