A Japan frozen in time. A green Japan. Serene and inviting. The Japan of deep history and culture. The Japan of friendly farmers. The Japan of ancient superstitions is on 45 minutes from Ikebukuro on the Tobu Tojo line. I pick up at 10:00 everyday from Sakado Station. I will be standing by the ticket gates with my Japan Rural Tours sign and guide you to my mini bus. We will drive through rice paddies to the Black Mountain Lake to enjoy grilled salted iwana fish. We move on to the Dragon Taming Temple. 1250 years old. Home to the resting place of Ota Doukan the samurai who designed Edo. The monk here has telepathic power with the carp in his pond. The sculptor’s of this temple has work for the imperial family for thousands of years. We head to the top of the mountains, stopping at scenic spots on the way. We enjoy lunch at the top of the mountains, admiring the glorious views. We head down the valley to the Bamboo temple. The monk here has a remarkable resemblance to the Star Wars Yoda and timid deer lurk in the forest, grazing but alert to the new arrivals. We head down the mountains to Koma Shrine, built by the Gokuryeo family after their defeat to the Chinese Tang armies. Time prevailing and for the willing, we can can finish the tour exploring a deserted , haunted hotel in the mountains.
This is not your conventional tour but it will wetten your taste buds to what Japan is really like. Hopefully it will give you a clearer understanding of Japan.