For Tourism Businesses
(Land Operators, Accommodation Providers, etc.)Iseshima Ultimate Private Taxi Experience
We propose a special experience for comfortably exploring iseshima region dotted with historical, cultural, and natural landmarks such as Ise Jingu Shrine—by private taxi. This premium plan combines sightseeing with transfers from major cities like Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagoya, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing and comfortable journey. By solving common travel challenges for international visitors and boosting their satisfaction, this plan directly contributes to stronger inbound tourism results.
Our local drivers, who know the area inside and out, will efficiently guide you to famous spots such as Meoto Iwa (Married Couple Rocks) and Mikimoto Pearl Island. Interpreter-guide options are also available, making this plan ideal for international group tours and VIP clients. Below, you’ll find sample model courses, and we also welcome customization requests such as changes to pricing or pick-up/drop-off areas. Please feel free to contact us through the inquiry form to discuss a tailored plan. Take advantage of this service to strengthen your appeal to international visitors and develop travel products that truly stand out.
*General customers are also welcome. Please contact us for details.
Benefits for Tourism Businesses
- Easy to integrate into your existing tours and accommodation packages.
- Differentiates your product by offering a package with a dedicated transfer service.
- Arrangements and bookings are completed entirely online.
- Easing the burden of taxi arrangements and itinerary planning.
Places to visit on this course
- Ise Jingu Outer Shrine Pilgrimage + Sengukan Museum
- Oharaimachi/Okage Yokocho
- Ise Jingu Inner Shrine Pilgrimage
- Futami Okitama Shrine
- Yokoyama View Point
- Katsuo no Tenpaku
- Ama Hut Experience Satoumian
- Pearl Miki
- Shirataki Daimyojin
- Mikimoto Pearl Island
- Free Time for Lunch in Toba City
- Island Kayak Tour or Toba Aquarium
DAY1Culture and History
A Journey to Ise Jingu Shrine, which has coexisted with the local community for over 2,000 years.
Explore the lasting traces of “omotenashi”—the spirit of hospitality that lives on in the Ise pilgrimage.
After immersing yourself in the sacred atmosphere of Ise Jingu Shrine, embark on a special journey that traces the unique hospitality culture of “omotenashi,” a tradition passed down for generations in this sacred region. In the past, it was said that one in three Japanese people made the pilgrimage here. By exploring iseshima, a place that has welcomed countless travelers since antiquity, you can connect with its rich history and feel the spirit of hospitality that lives on to this very day.
11:00
Ise Jingu Outer Shrine Pilgrimage + Sengukan Museum (75 min)
The Outer Shrine is a serene sanctuary set within a dignified forest, where Toyouke-Omikami, the deity of food, clothing, and housing, is enshrined. The tradition of Shikinen Sengu—the complete rebuilding of the shrine every 20 years—has been kept alive here for approximately 1,300 years. At the on-site Sengukan Museum, you can explore this history, learn about the artisans’ skills, and see an impressive, full-scale model of the main sanctuary.
Sengukan Museum:
- Admission:
- Regular 300 yen/Elementary and Junior High School Students 100 yen
- Closed:
- 2nd/4th Tue. (open during national holiday but closed the following day)
*Temporary closures may occur
12:30
Oharaimachi/Okage Yokocho (90 min) * Free Time for Lunch
Oharaimachi, located in front of Ise Jingu Shrine’s Inner Shrine, is a walking street stretching 800 meters along the Isuzu River, lined with souvenir shops and restaurants. Halfway down the street, Okage Yokocho features 55 shops, including the famous Akafuku main store, where you can enjoy local cuisine and traditional crafts through food tours and shopping. The streets, with their buildings relocated and restored from the Edo period (17th-19th century) to the Meiji era (late 19th-early 20th century), allow you to experience the unique culture and lively atmosphere of Ise, with festivals, taiko drum performances, and more.
Please note that you are responsible for paying for all meals and facility admission fees within Oharaimachi and Okage Yokocho. Please also be aware that some facilities may have irregular closing days.
14:00
Ise Jingu Inner Shrine Pilgrimage (90 min)
The Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu Shrine is the Kotai Jingu, which enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, the ancestral deity of the Imperial Family and the guardian of the Japanese people. There are only two main sanctuaries—the Outer and Inner Shrines—and the tradition of Shikinen Sengu, where the shrine buildings are completely rebuilt every 20 years, has been practiced for about 1,300 years. Cross the Uji Bridge, purify your spirit in the clear waters of the Isuzu River, and walk the gravel path to enter the sacred grounds. Here, you can experience the traditional Japanese landscape often referred to as the nation’s “spiritual home.”
15:30
Futami Okitama Shrine (Meoto Iwa) (30 min)
Futami Okitama Shrine is a seaside shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko Okami, a deity believed to bring good luck and household safety. The Meoto Iwa (Married Couple Rocks) in front of the shrine serve as a torii gate for worshipping the sacred stone Okitama Shinseki and the sun deity in the distance. Their joined appearance has made them a popular symbol of marriage and strong relationships. In the past, this was a place for the purification ritual Hamasangu before the Ise pilgrimage. Today, visitors can perform a similar purification ritual called Mukushio-harai. The shrine grounds are also known for the Futami frogs that have been offered to the shrine, and on the 23rd of every month, a special commemorative goshuin (stamp obtained from Shinto shrines) is available for visitors.
17:00Hotel Arrival (Within Shima)
Please arrange your own accommodations.
We do not provide accommodation arrangements.
DAY2Industries
You can feel the heartbeat of the people who have lived in harmony with the nature of iseshima.
The people of Iseshima have long lived close to nature, cultivating their culture and industries by working with its blessings. This harmony is beautifully symbolized by the pearl rafts floating in Ago Bay and the many dishes that highlight the region’s rich local ingredients. Experiencing the dedication of those engaged in pearl cultivation and savoring the local seasonal flavors invite you on a special journey—one where you can truly sense the harmony between nature and the people of iseshima.
9:00Hotel Departure (Within Shima)
10:00
Yokoyama View Point (20 min)
Yokoyama View Point, at an elevation of 140 meters, is a scenic spot with a superb view of Ago Bay. The landscape is a perfect example of a ria coastline, where sixty small islands and complex peninsulas meet, and is uniquely iseshima for the pearl rafts scattered across the water. It’s a place where you can enjoy a scenery that beautifully blends nature and industry. A walking trail, visitor center, observation decks, and a café are also available, allowing you to relax and enjoy the beauty of this coastal area.
*The walking trail is a mountain path, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothing.
11:00
Katsuo no Tenpaku (60 min)
At the Tenpaku bonito smoking hut on the tip of Cape Daio in Shima, the traditional Ise Nakiri-bushi is made using Japan’s oldest smoking method, called Tebiyama-shiki, and firewood that is usually used to make binchotan charcoal. Visitors on a tour can enjoy the savory aroma and witness the artisans’ skills. You can also taste freshly shaved bonito flakes. This workshop, which continues an ancient technique, offers a great way to experience iseshima’s food culture.
- Closed:
- Every Wednesday and Sunday
*Temporary closures may occur
12:20
Ama Hut Experience Satoumian (Lunch) (70 min)
Satoumian is an Ama Hut Experience restaurant with a view of Ago Bay. The restaurant’s design imitates the huts where traditional female divers (ama) used to rest. While dining on fresh, seasonal seafood from iseshima, you can listen to stories from active or former ama female divers. The food is charcoal-grilled over an open hearth, enhancing the flavor and allowing you to appreciate the gifts of the sea and land with all five senses. The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner, offering a unique opportunity to learn about the lifestyle and stories of the ama divers.
Satoumian
Meals are not included. For two people, the cost is 4,950 yen per person (other rates also apply).
- Reservations:
- 2 days prior to reservation date
- Reservation Contact:
- Number (only Japanese language support available)
- Reservation:
- Customers should book their own reservations
- Closed:
- Irregular holidays
13:35
Pearl Miki (Pearl Picking Experience) (85 min)
At Pearl Miki, you can participate in a pearl extraction experience on a raft at a pearl farm in Ikaura, a location that preserves the feel of the early Showa period. From the raft, you can also observe fish and sea urchins swimming below. The workshop allows you to try making a strap or pendant and learn about the process from the growth of the shell to the creation of a pearl. The pearls you extract have a unique shine, and many visitors describe the experience as finding “a one-of-a-kind treasure.”
Pearl Miki
Pearl Discovery and Accessory Making Experience 2,000 yen + 1,500 yen and up
- Reservations:
- Please make your own reservation.
- Reservation Contact:
- 0596-88-3592 (only Japanese language support available)
- Closed:
- Irregular holidays
16:00Hotel Arrival (Within Shima)
Please arrange your own accommodations.
We do not provide accommodation arrangements.
DAY3Nature
A journey of relaxation and rejuvenation, wrapped in the sea breeze of Iseshima and savoring the blessings of nature.
Surrounded by the gentle sound of waves and the refreshing ocean breeze, you can indulge your senses in the natural and culinary treasures of Iseshima. Set against the backdrop of Ago Bay, this experience allows you to escape the everyday and witness up close the strength and resilience that has sustained the region’s 3,000-year-old ama (female diver) culture. Enjoy exquisite cuisine crafted from seasonal ingredients nurtured by the abundant sea and land. Let your mind and body unwind and immerse yourself in a luxurious time in harmony with nature.
9:20Hotel Departure (Within Shima)
10:00
Shirataki Daimyojin (30 min)
Shirataki Daimyojin is a shrine where the entire mountain, Mt. Gyoja, is considered a sacred object. It is a holy site for mountain ascetics and is said to grant blessings for good harvests, safe voyages, and household safety. The path also includes Mikasa-zuka, a mound for those seeking success in love. This is the only location in iseshima where you can experience takigyo, or waterfall meditation. Getting doused by the pure waterfall and feeling at one with nature offers a purifying experience for your mind and body. The site provides guides, white robes for rent, and facilities that ensure female visitors feel safe and secure, allowing you to experience a deep connection with iseshima’s natural environment.
Shirataki Daimyojin Shrine Support Association
Shirataki Waterfall Meditation Experience: ¥3,500
Reservations required (Please make reservations yourself)
- Closed:
- None
*Please allow approximately 1 hour for the waterfall meditation session.
10:30
Mikimoto Pearl Island (90 min)
On Mikimoto Pearl Island, where the world’s first cultured pearl was born, you can visit the Pearl Museum to learn about Mikimoto Kokichi’s accomplishments and the history of pearl cultivation. You can also watch a demonstration by traditional Ama divers wearing their iconic white diving uniform. The island’s Pearl Museum displays an antique jewelry collection from various parts of the world, letting you see the beautiful history of pearls up close. The island also has shops and restaurants, so you can enjoy a quality experience that includes culture, art, and great food.
Mikimoto Pearl Island
Meal charges are separate (¥4,950 per person for 2 guests, etc.)
- Admission:
- Adult 1,650 yen/Elementary and Junior High School Students 820 yen
- Closed:
- 2nd Tue. in Dec. for 3 days (annual closure)
12:00
Free Time for Lunch in Toba City (90 min)
In Toba, a port town filled with fresh seafood, you’ll find numerous restaurants where you can enjoy local flavors like seafood donburi and sashimi set meals. Many are located near the fishing port or overlooking the bay, providing a special dining experience with views of the fishing boats and a refreshing sea breeze. The best way to enjoy your free time in Toba is to stop by one of these spots during a walk and try the fresh seafood and local specialties of the day.
13:30
A Plan
Kaito Yumin Club/Uninhabited Island Kayak Tour (90 min)
Enjoy a sea kayaking experience on the peaceful Ago Bay. This is an active way to spend your time, as you feel the deep connection between the natural environment and the local Ama female diver culture.
Kaito Yumin Club
- Uninhabited Island Kayak Tour:
- 6,000 yen per person
- Reservation Requirements:
- Those weighing over 100 kg must consult us first.
- Closed:
- Irregular holidays
B Plan
Toba Aquarium
Toba Aquarium, one of Japan’s biggest, features the country’s largest variety of exhibits. Enjoy a full day exploring freely among approximately 1,200 species, including the dugong, which is found only here in Japan, and other popular animals like sea otters and Commerson’s dolphins.
Toba Aquarium
- Admission:
- Adult 2,800 yen/Elementary and Junior High School Students 1,600 yen/Preschoolers (ages 3 and above) 800 yen
- Closed:
- Open year-round