Visitors can enjoy the hike to the top of Mt Yahiko by gondola and a 15-minute walk to the very top of the mountain to visit the uppermost Yahiko Shrine. Please take a panoramic view of the Sea of Japan and the vast Echigo Plain. Cherry blossoms in spring and beautiful colored leaves in autumn are marvelous to see. Make a wish at main worship hall of Yahiko Shrine for a good memory. Also you will visit Teradomari Fish Market to nibble on some grilled seafood.
Niigata Station Bandai Exit / Tsubame-Sanjo Station/ Hotel
You will enjoy nice Italian cuisine at a restaurant in the Teradomai area near Yahiko. Their ingredients are fresh from Teradomari Fish Market.
You will visit Takarayama Sake Brewery with a long history. They will tell you how sake is brewed and have you taste different kinds of sake for free. You will find your favorite kind there.
Niigata Station Bandai Exit/ Tsubame-Sanjo Station/ Hotel
Visitors are to walk between JR Yahiko Station and Yahiko Shrine, which is a good excercise and gives a good chance to see the local shrine town. You can buy one or two snacks on the way to and from the shrine such as Panda-yaki rice pancakes and konnyaku. Breathe in serene air in the woods of the precinct to get to the gondola station. The gondola ride takes 5 minutes to get to the top and visitors take a 15 walk to the uppermost shrine if the weather is fine. (No walk on snowy days.) After getting down to the ground, visiting deer and messenger birds is waiting for fun. Enjoy feeding sacred deer wishing good fortune. Then please do not forget the main event, to visit the main worship hall of Yahiko Shrine. Practice 2 bows, 4 claps and 1 bow manner at Yahiko, which is different from most other shrines in Japan. This tells how unique Yahiko Shrine is. Yahiko is also well-known as a hot spring resort, so please soak your feet into a foot bath prepared for visitors to the town at Omotenashihirowa.
Guide fee
*Transportation fee (you and guide), lunch, snacks, entrance fee, etc.
*Hotel pick-up: JPY1,000, tobe paid in cash at the site.
*Guide's driving expense: gas and highway toll tobe paid in cash at the site.
Available every day except Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The cable car services are given all year around except : November 28~30, February 6-9 & 19-22, and March18-27 for maintenance (2023-2024). Guide does not drive to guide during the winter time due to the safety reason.
*We will move by taxi(s).
*We will walk a lot so please be prepared with sneakers, or mountain climbing shoes are recommended. In case of bad weather, please come along with rain or snow gear.
*Gondra fee is 1500 yen for a round trip.
* Hiring a medium size taxi for 4 people including guide is approx. JPY3,250 per 30 min.; a van type taxi car for 8 people including guide is approx. JPY4,900 mer 30 min.
*If the group is small with upto 3 people, I will drive you along all the way. In the case, please pay me the gas and highway toll in cash at the site.
We had a beautiful day out in Sado island. We enjoyed our guide and the driver did his job very well. We thank you for the tour!
Melissa san, It is so good to hear from you. I have been worried about one of your daughters health condition. I hope she is all right now. I am glad to know you had a good time in Sado and I hope you also did in other parts of Japan.
We focus on history and off the grid local spots. Mutsuko was very knowledgeable and well spoken. Trip timing and planning was exceptional. It was great!
Steve san, Thank you for your great feedback. You two are energetic and curious about things in town. I enjoyed guiding you around the city on such a beautiful spring day! Please enjoy the rest of your trip. I am looking forward to guiding you again.
Mutsuko provided us with a very informative tour and meet all of our expectations. We had ask to see and do other things besides the activities on her suggested itinerary. She made it all happen! Plus her English is excellent. Thank you Mutsuko and Triple Lights.
Sandra san, Thank you very much for your wonderful comment on my tour! I'm a lot flattered. I also enjoyed your company and it was another reward for me beside the fun to guide my city. Please visit Niigata again and explore more. I'm looking forward to guiding you and your family next time you visit Japan. Please enjoy the rest of your days in Japan. Please send the best regards for everyone for me. Mutsuko