3-Day Northeast Japan - Shiroishi Samurai Premium Tour: Castle Dining Experience & Luxury Hot Spring Ryokan Stay (Round Trip from Tokyo) | All plans

8 - 20 days prior to the departure date of the tour	20%
2 - 7 days prior to the departure date of the tour	30%
the day immediately before the departure date of the tour	40%
before the departure time on the departure date of the tour	50%
after the departure time or no cancellation notice is received	100%

8 - 20 days prior to the departure date of the tour	20%
2 - 7 days prior to the departure date of the tour	30%
the day immediately before the departure date of the tour	40%
before the departure time on the departure date of the tour	50%
after the departure time or no cancellation notice is received	100%

Armor Dress-up Experience
Shiroishi Castle
kokeshi
Katakura Family Samurai Residence　　　 Shiroishi Umen Premium Course Lunch

Tour Details

・Located in northeastern Miyagi Prefecture, the city of Shiroishi flourished as a castle town and retains a strong presence of samurai culture to this day, allowing visitors the opportunity to feel as if having traveled back in time and become a samurai.
・The journey begins with a welcome ceremony by the matchlock squad. Shiroishi Castle, a wooden reconstruction that faithfully recreates its appearance in the century, is especially reserved for a premium dinner experience, with a meal prepared by seasoned chefs.
・ Enjoy various experiences such as lunch at a former samurai residence, as well as learning techniques and history from a kokeshi doll craftsman with a Prime Minister's Award while painting a kokeshi doll or making a wooden sake cup.
・This tour offers the luxurious experience of staying in an accommodation opening in September 2025 where all rooms are suites with an open-air bath, located in Kamasaki Onsen, which is said to have been visited by samurai to heal their wounds.
・This is a private tour where a charter vehicle is provided for a group of 2-6 customers along with a guide.
・On this tour, customers can select between an English-speaking guide or Chinese-speaking guide. (*Only an English-speaking staff will be present at Tokyo Station on Day 1. ) Enjoy the tour without language barriers.
About Initiatives for Sustainable Tourism:
This tour promotes Environment(Eco)-friendly efforts, Cross-cultural Understanding, and Social Contribution as stated under Sunrise Tours' Sustainable Development Goals.
We advocate for responsible travel, and urge one and all to become responsible travelers.
Please check the following page for details.
http://jtbgmt.com/en/g-web/sdgs

Tour Overview

Req. to Run Tour: 2guest(s)

Req. per Booking: 2guest(s)

Departs: Tokyo

Guide Service: English

Tour Guide/Conductor Language: Not Available

Audio Guide: Not Available

Tangential multilingual assistant or multilingual reception accepted: Not Available

Meeting Place/Time: Front Desk of Prior Night's Hotel in Tokyo / A letter will be sent to the front desk. Please pick it up at check-in and confirm the meeting time.

Included: Dinner (Day 1, Day 2); Lunch (Day 2); Breakfast (Day 2, Day 3); Accommodation charge; Bathing tax; Admission fees, experience fees, and transportation costs included in the itinerary; Day 1-3 guide/assistant

Not Included: Drink charges; Day 1 Lunch; Day 3 Lunch

Remarks

Planning Company：JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc.
Address：2-3-14 Higashi Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Japan Tourism Agency Registered Travel Agent (No. 1723) A member of the Japan Association of Travel

[Reception Method]
At reception, please show the reservation confirmation sheet or e-mail (printout/digital copy on mobile device) to staff.　
[Cancellation Charge]
- Cancellation fees will be charged from 20 days in advance.
[Operation Conditions/Tour Conditions]
- The number of customers for 1 group booking for this tour is 2-6.
- If the minimum number of participants (2) is not met by 31 days before the scheduled date, the tour on that date may be canceled.
- The last reception day (reservation deadline) is 31 days prior to the tour.
- For requests regarding tours where answers from the tour operator are required in advance, please input in the Remarks field and contact the tour operator.
[Exemptions/Itinerary Guarantee: Itinerary/Destinations]
- The order of activities and arrival times may differ on the day depending on reasons such as road conditions and congestion at destinations.
- Depending on the number of tour participants, transportation to be used may be other than a hired car, a large bus (mid-size bus, small bus), or a train or route bus on some parts of the tour.
- Seats may not be designated.
- For dinner on Day 1 and lunch on Day 2, the actual menu may vary due to seasonal or daily availability of ingredients.

[Important Notes/Supplements: Guide/Tour Conductor]
From Day 1 to Day 3, there will be an accompanying English- or Chinese-speaking National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter or assistant. (Only an English-speaking assistant will be present from the prior night's hotel accommodation in Tokyo to Tokyo Station on Day 1. )
[Important Notes/Supplements: Regarding Children/Infants]
Children up to 5 years old may join free of charge, but will not be provided with Shinkansen seats. If there are many participants, the child may have to sit on the lap of their parent or guardian during the hired car ride. Furthermore, meals will not be provided. If Shinkansen/hired car seats or meals are required, please make a booking under the child rate.
- During the Japanese sake tasting experience at Zao Shuzo, children will be served amazake or juice.
[Important Notes/Supplements: Regarding Meals]
- Vegetarian meals are available and must be requested at the time of booking. Please input ""0"" if there are no customers requesting a vegetarian meal.
- For those who would like an allergy-friendly meal, please indicate any relevant allergies when booking. Please input ""0"" if there are no customers requesting an allergy-friendly meal.
If requests are not provided in advance, same-day changes cannot be accepted.
- Muslim-friendly meals, gluten-free meals, etc. are not available.
[Day 1 Dinner & Day 2 Lunch]
- If there is a vegetarian meal request, please note that the vegetarian menu will be served for all members of the group.
- Requests regarding ingredients or other food items that guests cannot consume are accepted only for dinner on Day 1. Please make a request when booking. Please input ""0"" if there are no food preference-related requests.
[Important Notes/Supplements: What to Wear/Bring]
- Each customer is allowed to bring only 1 suitcase. As 2 or more suitcases cannot be brought during the tour, please have them delivered in advance, or leave them in a locker at the station, etc. or at your hotel before participating.
- As there are many areas to walk and stairs to use, please participate wearing comfortable, broken-in shoes. Bringing rain gear in case of inclement weather is recommended.
[Important Notes/Supplements: Accommodation Information]
- Requests regarding hotel rooms are accepted, but are not guaranteed. For any requests, please input in the Remarks field and contact the tour operator.
- Baby cots are available for a charge at some facilities. Please pay at the location. Also, children sharing beds with adults are limited to 1 child per bed.
[THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch]
1 Kamazaki, Fukuoka Kuramoto, Shiroishi-shi, Miyagi Prefecture
Guestroom Type: River View Suite
[Important Notes/Supplements: Bus/Hired Car Company]
TS Kanko; Togatta Bus Kanko; Takeya Kotsu; Shiroishi Taxi
*Depending on the number of tour participants or circumstances, transportation to be used may be other than a hired car (passenger vehicle, van, minivan), a small bus, or a taxi.
[Important Notes/Supplements: Language Support]
Guide Language Support: Select between English and Chinese. Please indicate your preferred language.
*Drivers do not work as guides.

In the event that a bus company not listed in the Remarks/Important Notes will be used, customers will receive a separate confirmation document via email at least 1 day in advance.

Tour Calendar

2025

＜

＞

Seats available
Few seats available
Not available
Requests Accepted

Number of stocks
Request date
Price (per person)	Adults (20-99) JPY children (6-19) JPY Infants (0-5) JPY
Number of People	Adults Children Infants

Payment in Advance Total: JPY

Please agree to the following before booking.

The Terms & Conditions Document will be delivered via electronic means.
Customers are to check and save the content themselves.
The [Plan Name], [Tour Date], [Tour Price], [Tour Outline], [Remarks/Important Notes], and [Itinerary] on the booking screen are part of the Terms & Conditions Document (Important Items). Print or save as PDF.
The Terms & Conditions Document (General Items) has been displayed and saved.
Payments must be made using credit card.
After the payment has been processed, the travel contract will be finalized once the customer receives a reservation confirmation email along with an attached reservation confirmation sheet.
The cancellation policy has been checked and agreed upon.

To Booking Request

Itinerary

The information displayed for this tour is valid for the next possible departure date.
This date was automatically selected. Please select a departure date to show the most accurate information for that date.

	[Day 1] Pick-up Service (From Prior Night's Hotel Accommodation in Tokyo to Tokyo Station) Please be at the front desk of the prior night's hotel accommodation in Tokyo. A letter will be sent to the front desk of the customer's hotel accommodation in Tokyo for the night prior to the tour. Please pick it up at check-in and confirm the meeting time. A drop-off service by taxi from the prior night's hotel accommodation in Tokyo to Tokyo Station is available. *There is an accompanying English-speaking assistant. Customers will be guided until boarding the Shinkansen at Tokyo Station.
(110分)	From Tokyo Station to Shiroishi-Zao Station From Tokyo Station to Shiroishi-Zao Station (Yamabiko Shinkansen, reserved GranClass seat) GranClass features premium leather seats with electric reclining, different from regular reserved seats. Enjoy a comfortable Shinkansen ride. Guides and other staff do not ride on the Shinkansen with tour participants. An English-speaking or Chinese-speaking guide will meet customers at the station platform.
(30分)	From Shiroishi-Zao Station to Shiroishi Castle Take a hired car from Shiroishi-Zao Station to Shiroishi Castle.
15:00 - 15:30 (30分)	Armor Dress-up Experience Wear authentic armor and feel like a Sengoku warlord. Enjoy taking commemorative photos inside the castle where visitors can feel the history, and experience Japanese samurai culture firsthand.
15:45 - 16:45 (60分)	Welcome Ceremony by Matchlock Squad Behold a gun salute welcome by the Katakura matchlock squad. *As the gun salute welcome is not possible in case of rain, the welcome ceremony will be held at Shiroishi Castle.
17:00 - 18:00 (60分)	Shiroishi Castle A beautiful castle restored in traditional Japanese architecture. Inside the castle are exhibits showing the history and life of samurai. Enjoy a view of the town from the main keep.
18:00 - 20:00 (120分)	Premium Dinner at Shiroishi Castle After exploring Shiroishi Castle, relish a special dinner menu supervised by the head chef at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch with the entire castle privately reserved. A menu exclusive to Shiroishi Castle prepared with an abundance of carefully selected ingredients from eastern Japan will be served. After dinner, delight in the night view from the 3rd floor of Shiroishi Castle along with a live Tsugaru shamisen performance.
(15分)	Transfer Take the hired car from Shiroishi Castle to THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch.
- 20:30	Arrive at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch In a land embraced by forests and rivers, where untouched nature has been preserved as it is for 500 years, the traditional spirit of hospitality of the Ichijoh lineage, intertwined with new sensibilities, represents the evolution of a well-established ryokan. Take some leisurely time to reset body and mind and feel rejuvenated.
	Stay at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch
09:50 - 10:00	[Day 2] Meet at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch Front Desk After finishing breakfast, please be at the tour meet-up. Meet at 09:50, Dep. at 10:00
(10分)	Transfer Take the hired car from THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch to Yajiro Kokeshi Village.
10:10 - 11:40 (90分)	Yajiro Kokeshi Village - Kokeshi Doll Painting/Wooden Sake Cup Making Experience In a workshop where a government-certified traditional craftsman usually works, learn about the techniques, the history and types of kokeshi dolls, and points of appreciation. Afterwards, customers will receive direct instruction on painting kokeshi dolls and making wooden sake cups with their own hands. Customers can take home the completed craft on the day as a memento of a one-of-a-kind experience.
(15分)	Transfer Take the hired car from Yajiro Kokeshi Village to Katakura Family Samurai Residence
12:00 - 13:30 (90分)	Katakura Family Samurai Residence Shiroishi Umen Premium Course Lunch　 Slurp on some Shiroishi umen noodles prepared by Yamabuki-tei, which reserved the Katakura Family Samurai Residence which has a 300-year history, and hosted passengers of JR East's luxury sightseeing train, "Shiki-shima."
(10分)	Transfer Take the hired car from Katakura Family Samurai Residence to Zao Shuzo
13:40 - 14:40 (60分)	Zao Shuzo Observe the rarely seen Japanese sake production process inside a sake brewery. After touring the sake brewery, enjoy tasting some sake made at Zao Shuzo. *During the Japanese sake tasting experience at Zao Shuzo, children will be served amazake or juice.
(10分)	Transfer Take the hired car from Zao Shuzo to THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch.
- 14:50	Stay at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch Arrive at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch and relax at the ryokan.
- 11:00	[Day 3] After having breakfast, customers are to check out on their own.
(15分)	From THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch to Shiroishi-Zao Station Take a taxi or the lodging shuttle service to Shiroishi-Zao Station.
(110分)	From Shiroishi-Zao Station to Tokyo Station From Shiroishi-Zao Station to Tokyo Station (Yamabiko Shinkansen, reserved GranClass seat) GranClass features premium leather seats with electric reclining, different from regular reserved seats. Enjoy a comfortable Shinkansen ride. Guides and other staff do not ride on the Shinkansen with tour participants. Please wait about 30 minutes until the Shinkansen boarding time.
- 13:50	Arrive at Tokyo Station Drop-off Service (From Tokyo Station to Following Night's Hotel Accommodation in Tokyo) An English-speaking assistant will meet customers at Tokyo Station. A drop-off service by taxi to accommodations within the city area is available. *Please note that the tour conductor will not accompany the tour to hotels.

Itinerary

	[Day 1] Pick-up Service (From Prior Night's Hotel Accommodation in Tokyo to Tokyo Station) Please be at the front desk of the prior night's hotel accommodation in Tokyo. A letter will be sent to the front desk of the customer's hotel accommodation in Tokyo for the night prior to the tour. Please pick it up at check-in and confirm the meeting time. A drop-off service by taxi from the prior night's hotel accommodation in Tokyo to Tokyo Station is available. *There is an accompanying English-speaking assistant. Customers will be guided until boarding the Shinkansen at Tokyo Station.
(110分)	From Tokyo Station to Shiroishi-Zao Station From Tokyo Station to Shiroishi-Zao Station (Yamabiko Shinkansen, reserved GranClass seat) GranClass features premium leather seats with electric reclining, different from regular reserved seats. Enjoy a comfortable Shinkansen ride. Guides and other staff do not ride on the Shinkansen with tour participants. An English-speaking or Chinese-speaking guide will meet customers at the station platform.
(30分)	From Shiroishi-Zao Station to Shiroishi Castle Take a hired car from Shiroishi-Zao Station to Shiroishi Castle.
15:00 - 15:30 (30分)	Armor Dress-up Experience Wear authentic armor and feel like a Sengoku warlord. Enjoy taking commemorative photos inside the castle where visitors can feel the history, and experience Japanese samurai culture firsthand.
15:45 - 16:45 (60分)	Welcome Ceremony by Matchlock Squad Behold a gun salute welcome by the Katakura matchlock squad. *As the gun salute welcome is not possible in case of rain, the welcome ceremony will be held at Shiroishi Castle.
17:00 - 18:00 (60分)	Shiroishi Castle A beautiful castle restored in traditional Japanese architecture. Inside the castle are exhibits showing the history and life of samurai. Enjoy a view of the town from the main keep.
18:00 - 20:00 (120分)	Premium Dinner at Shiroishi Castle After exploring Shiroishi Castle, relish a special dinner menu supervised by the head chef at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch with the entire castle privately reserved. A menu exclusive to Shiroishi Castle prepared with an abundance of carefully selected ingredients from eastern Japan will be served. After dinner, delight in the night view from the 3rd floor of Shiroishi Castle along with a live Tsugaru shamisen performance.
(15分)	Transfer Take the hired car from Shiroishi Castle to THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch.
- 20:30	Arrive at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch In a land embraced by forests and rivers, where untouched nature has been preserved as it is for 500 years, the traditional spirit of hospitality of the Ichijoh lineage, intertwined with new sensibilities, represents the evolution of a well-established ryokan. Take some leisurely time to reset body and mind and feel rejuvenated.
	Stay at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch
09:50 - 10:00	[Day 2] Meet at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch Front Desk After finishing breakfast, please be at the tour meet-up. Meet at 09:50, Dep. at 10:00
(10分)	Transfer Take the hired car from THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch to Yajiro Kokeshi Village.
10:10 - 11:40 (90分)	Yajiro Kokeshi Village - Kokeshi Doll Painting/Wooden Sake Cup Making Experience In a workshop where a government-certified traditional craftsman usually works, learn about the techniques, the history and types of kokeshi dolls, and points of appreciation. Afterwards, customers will receive direct instruction on painting kokeshi dolls and making wooden sake cups with their own hands. Customers can take home the completed craft on the day as a memento of a one-of-a-kind experience.
(15分)	Transfer Take the hired car from Yajiro Kokeshi Village to Katakura Family Samurai Residence
12:00 - 13:30 (90分)	Katakura Family Samurai Residence Shiroishi Umen Premium Course Lunch　 Slurp on some Shiroishi umen noodles prepared by Yamabuki-tei, which reserved the Katakura Family Samurai Residence which has a 300-year history, and hosted passengers of JR East's luxury sightseeing train, "Shiki-shima."
(10分)	Transfer Take the hired car from Katakura Family Samurai Residence to Zao Shuzo
13:40 - 14:40 (60分)	Zao Shuzo Observe the rarely seen Japanese sake production process inside a sake brewery. After touring the sake brewery, enjoy tasting some sake made at Zao Shuzo. *During the Japanese sake tasting experience at Zao Shuzo, children will be served amazake or juice.
(10分)	Transfer Take the hired car from Zao Shuzo to THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch.
- 14:50	Stay at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch Arrive at THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch and relax at the ryokan.
- 11:00	[Day 3] After having breakfast, customers are to check out on their own.
(15分)	From THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch to Shiroishi-Zao Station Take a taxi or the lodging shuttle service to Shiroishi-Zao Station.
(110分)	From Shiroishi-Zao Station to Tokyo Station From Shiroishi-Zao Station to Tokyo Station (Yamabiko Shinkansen, reserved GranClass seat) GranClass features premium leather seats with electric reclining, different from regular reserved seats. Enjoy a comfortable Shinkansen ride. Guides and other staff do not ride on the Shinkansen with tour participants. Please wait about 30 minutes until the Shinkansen boarding time.
- 13:50	Arrive at Tokyo Station Drop-off Service (From Tokyo Station to Following Night's Hotel Accommodation in Tokyo) An English-speaking assistant will meet customers at Tokyo Station. A drop-off service by taxi to accommodations within the city area is available. *Please note that the tour conductor will not accompany the tour to hotels.

PLAN

3-Day Northeast Japan - Shiroishi Samurai Premium Tour: Castle Dining Experience & Luxury Hot Spring Ryokan Stay (Round Trip from Tokyo)