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Private tour in Onomichi Matthew W
Onomichi to Shikoku Art and Architecture Tour
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10 hours
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10 hours
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Matthew W.
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I have been a guide in Hiroshima since 2001. I speak English and Japanese. I run tours all across Japan, but especially in the traditional heartland around Hiroshima and the Shikoku countryside. I also have a traditional ryoukan hotel and school attached to my licensed travel agency. If you would like to meet locals with the same interests, I am sure it will be the highlight of your trip. My main interests are Japanese history, food, traditional arts, gardening and bird watching. My wife is also a professional cooking instructor, tea master and licensed kimono teacher. I am happy to show visitors around my farm on one of the islands between Hiroshima and Shikoku where I keep many kinds of animals. After visiting over 70 countries, what attracted me to Japan was the sense of community. Japanese aim for perfect harmony. There are rules for everything - many having lost their purpose over time. I would be very happy to help you understand the often complicated Japanese mind. I can accept any size group. I have my own cars and buses. For many years I have been introducing foreign school groups and clubs to Japanese schools and arranging cultural exchange classes.
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Art and Nature of the Shimanami Kaido
Overview of your Onomichi tour
Embark on a ten-hour private journey across the Seto Inland Sea along the Shimanami Kaido, connecting Fukuyama to Imabari. Tailored for art and design enthusiasts, this curated van tour pairs island views with Japan’s finest modern architecture and contemporary art installations. Begin at the Shinshoji Zen Museum, home to Kohei Nawa’s Kohtei pavilion—a cypress vessel housing an immersive light-and-water installation—and Terunobu Fujimori’s organic visitor center. On Ikuchijima, explore Miraishin no Oka, an expansive 5,000 m² sculpture garden crafted from thousands of tons of Italian Carrara marble. On Omishima, discover Pritzker-winner Toyo Ito’s Museum of Architecture alongside the open-air coastal displays of the Tokoro Museum. Finish atop Mt. Kirosan on Oshima, where Kengo Kuma’s subterranean observatory frames sunset vistas over the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge. With private transport handling all transfers and bridge tolls, enjoy a seamless voyage through Setouchi's premier art destinations.
Your Onomichi tour itinerary
- Departure: JR Fukuyama Station Meet your driver and head south toward the Numakuma Peninsula. - Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens See Kohei Nawa's Kohtei pavilion—a light installation in a cypress hull—and Terunobu Fujimori’s pine visitor center. - Expressway Scenic Drive Cross Nishi-Seto Expressway bridges spanning the Seto Inland Sea to Ikuchijima. - Ikuchijima (Miraishin no Oka and Lunch) Ascend Itto Kuetani’s white marble hill sculpture. Enjoy local citrus specialties and seafood in Setoda. - Omishima Island Architecture Visit Toyo Ito’s Museum of Architecture (Steel and Silver Huts) and Tokoro Museum's cliffside sculpture terrace. - Oshima and Kirosan Observatory Cross to Oshima to explore Kengo Kuma’s subterranean observatory on Mt. Kirosan for late-afternoon bridge views. - Drop-Off Drop-off at Imabari Station/Hotel (6:30PM) or return to Fukuyama Station (7:00PM).
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Transport details
Type: Private Transportation / Category: Minivan
I have a range of vehicles for any group size: Car (~3), van (~13) or bus (~24). All vehicles have complimentary unlimited WiFi internet access.
What's included
What's not included
Meeting location
Fukuyama Station, 30 Sannomaruchō, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan
Meet inside Fukuyama station (just outside McDonald's). Alternatively, I can pick-up from your hotel in Onomichi or Hiroshima city, or Hiroshima Airport.
- You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
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Languages
English
JapaneseActivity level
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10 hours
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Tour date
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10 hours
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
How it works
- Your credit card will be authorized only for the deposit amount.
- Funds will not be withdrawn until your tour booking is fully processed.
- The remaining balance will automatically be charged to your credit card 30 days before your tour date.