Tohoku in Strolling tours / Walking tours

• Age 10～Age 80
• 4～5 hours

[January to March] Snow trekking to the frozen waterfall called Hyobaku in Zao, Yamagata. Every winter, the entire huge waterfall freezes, creating a frozen waterfall about 30 meters high and several tens of meters wide. Its power cannot be conveyed in a photo. This area, which has long attracted ice climbing enthusiasts, is called the Ice Garden, and is a world of ice like in a movie. Step into the frozen world of Senninzawa Ice Garden in search of unknown spectacular views. On the way there, head downhill from the end of the lift at Zao Liza World Ski Resort. The end of the second lift is a field of frost-covered trees lined with large ice monsters. You can also enjoy viewing the frost-covered trees. Put on crampons from the end of the lift and trek for about an hour to Senninzawa Ice Garden. Rental snowshoes and other lightweight gear were introduced two seasons ago. Once you arrive, it's time for lunch while watching the frozen waterfall. The guide will provide hot water, so please bring a lunch such as instant noodles to warm you up. A tent-type toilet will also be set up during lunch, so you can use the restroom. You can hydrate without worrying about the toilet. After enjoying the mysterious world of ice, you will climb back up the steep slope and change into snowshoes. You can walk on the fluffy new snow, slide on your buttocks, and on the way back, you will walk down to the ski resort without using the lift. Those who are new to snow mountain climbing can participate, but you will need the stamina to walk for more than four hours on your own feet with a backpack on. There are some steep descents and ascents. *If the route to the ice waterfall cannot be safely walked due to field conditions, we may change to a walk around the area on snowshoes. <Equipment> Snowshoes: ATLAS Helium BC 23,26 (Innovative light and portable mountain snowshoes) Poles: Montbell Fall Line Poles (Lightweight backcountry poles) Light crampons: Montbell Snow Spikes 10 (Required for steep slopes up to the icefall) Helmet: Montbell Alpine Helmet (Wear when approaching the icefall. Store in a backpack while moving) <Not included in the price> Parking fee (1,000 yen on weekends and holidays only, free on weekdays) * Recommended age: 10 years old and above * Please contact us in advance if you have a chronic illness or are worried about your physical strength. * Pets are not allowed. * Our guides can speak English, so English speakers are welcome to join.

• Age 0～Age 99
• 2～3 hours
• 10:30 / 14:15

Take a tour with your guide through the quaint street lined with Japanese old houses! Masuda Town has prospered as a merchant town since the Edo period. Because this town has been the transportation hub, a variety of agricultural products gathered here. Merchants amassed wealth in their fields and created mansion towns. Inside these mansions, "Kura'' or a storehouse was built by wealthy merchants to store documents and household furniture. This storehouse is still inhabited and rare even in Japan. Feel the elegance in the detailed decorations such as white plaster, polished black plaster and lacquered interior. The townscape is home to many historic buildings of this area. Masuda town was designated as a National Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 2013. Find the storehouses of each mansion with its structure unique and decoration. In this guided tour, you will be able to visit two to three mansions with storehouse while receiving an explanation.

• For Rainy Days
• For Family

• Age 0～Age 100
• Within 1 hour
• 09:00 / 09:30 / 10:00 / 10:30 / 11:00 / 11:30 / 12:00 / 12:30 / 13:00 / 13:30 / 14:00 / 14:30 / 15:00 / 15:30

<About Korakukan> Korakukan was built in 1910 as a welfare facility for employees of Kosaka Mine in Akita Prefecture. It is characterized by its blend of Japanese and Western styles, which was rare at the time. What is noteworthy is that it is still an active playhouse. From late April to early November, popular plays and revue shows are performed once to three times a day. During the winter months, when there are no performances, the museum is open as a tour facility.

• Recommendation for Foreigner
• For Rainy Days
• For Groups
• For Family

• Age 10～Age 99
• Within 1 hour
• 10:00 / 11:00 / 13:00 / 14:00 / 15:00

★A special experience wearing armor in one of only five restored wooden castle towers in the country★Enjoy the experience of wearing armor at the Shiroishi Castle tower in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture. "Ashigaru-san" will dress you in armor modeled after famous warlords (Katakura Kojuro Kagetsuna, Sanada Yukimura). Although the armor is simpler than full-scale armor, you can fully enjoy the atmosphere by wearing a helmet, torso, gauntlets, etc. ~Experience flow~ ① Gathering and experience explanation (5 minutes) The flow of the experience will be explained carefully. ② Dressing in armor (15 minutes) "Ashigaru-san" will dress you with all his heart. ③ Teaching how to draw a sword, posture, and manners (20 minutes) Teaching how to handle a sword while wearing armor. ④ Commemorative photo (10 minutes) You can take a commemorative photo with your own camera. ⑤ Undress and disband the armor Finally, you will undress the armor and the experience will end.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity
• For Groups

• Age 10～Age 80
• 3～4 hours
• 09:00 / 13:00

Experience Buddhism at Ryusenji Temple. Learn about Buddhist teachings while worshiping rare Buddhist statues. You can unify your mind by copying sutras. (You can also meditate instead of copying sutras) You can make a bracelet with your own prayer beads. Take it home as a souvenir. ~Experience flow~9:00 Experience Buddhism Information about the history and traditions of Ryusenji Temple9:15 Visit to the Buddha statue Visit cultural assets and rare Buddha statues10:15 Sutra copying experience Copy the Heart Sutra using a brush and ink. Take a break after finishing (approximately 15 minutes)11:00 Making a prayer beads bracelet Make your own bracelet from prayer beads. Each bead has a prayer meaning, and you can choose your own. ~12:00 Question response We will answer any questions you may have or would like to ask.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity
• For Groups

• Age 10～Age 50
• 3～4 hours
• 10:00

"Enjoy the scenery of the UNESCO World Heritage Shirakami-Sanchi" Walk the mountains of Noshiro in full pilgrimage attire with Noen Haruharu, a guide from Ryusenji Temple! You can hear about history and faith from your guide, and about trees and flowers from Noen Haruharu. Experience Buddhism by walking through the mountain scenery of the four seasons. Pick seasonal wild vegetables, cook them yourself, and eat them. Enjoy seasonal wild vegetables with rice balls, pickles, and miso soup. At the end, there is a 15-minute Buddhist talk in English. ~Experience flow~ 9:00 Mountain hiking Content changes depending on the season Pick wild vegetables Take a break at the peak and drink Noen Haruharu's herbal tea Heart Sutra reading in the hall (reading sutras together) 12:00 Return to Ryusenji Temple Cook wild vegetables yourself Don't worry, we will prepare extra if there is not much to pick. Lunch is rice balls with wild vegetables, miso soup, and smoked daikon radish while looking at the Shirakami Mountains. You can listen to a 15-minute talk on Buddhism in English from the head priest. Until 13:00 Q&A We will answer any questions you may have.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity
• For Groups