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KUJI city is full of things to see and do!
Special tour sponsored by local producers and Kuji City
Meet Yamagatamura TANKAKU-GYU
September 6-8, 2025
From/to JR Tokyo Station
2nights / 3days with a lunch 2breakfasts 2dinners
Registration for this tour is now closed.
Health-oriented gastronomy and conversation with local agricultural, forestry and livestock producers.
Taste authentic Yamagata Village Shorthorn Beef specially provided by the farmers who raise it!
Watch the only bullfighting tournament in the Tohoku region and exchange with the locals.
A guide with extensive knowledge of Kuji City will accompany you.
Special tour sponsored by local producers and Kuji City
Pastured Yamagata Village TANKAKU-GYU (Shorthorn Beef)
Akebi, an agricultural product of Yamagata-cho, Kuji City
Pastured Yamagata Village TANKAKU-GYU (Shorthorn Beef)
Tour Outline
Concept
Yamagata-mura TANKAKU-GYU (Shorthorn Beef), produced in Yamagata-cho, Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, is a very tasty beef that is served at high-class hotels and restaurants in Tokyo.
The Japanese beef that is distributed in Japan is mostly “Kuroge Wagyu”, which has been highly appreciated worldwide for its soft texture with high fat content, and the Japanese word “WaGyu”or “Kobe” is now well known around the world. On the other hand, TANKAKU-GYU is characterized by its relatively low fat content and rich red meat taste. Although its distribution is small, it has gained hidden popularity as “ a beef known only to people in the know”.
With the cooperation of local producers and Kuji City, visitors will encounter pastured, naturally bred TANKAKU-GYU in Yamagata Village, the main center of Shorthorn beef production in Japan, and enjoy the charm of nature and agricultural, forestry, and livestock production through “exchanges with producers”.
The tour will be accompanied by personalities with local expertise. This is a valuable trip that is difficult to realize with existing package tours.
Invite your family and friends and join us. We look forward to seeing you all.
TOUR topics
■ Watch a powerful bullfight ■ Trek through a white birch forest ■ Taste local dishe MAMEBU at an old folk house ■ Experience a charcoal factory ■ Pick Shiitake mushrooms at a farmhouse ■ Learn the history of fishing by AMA (women divers) on the Sanriku coast ■ Enjoy barbecued Yamagata-mura TANKAKU-GYU (shorthorn beef) with the local producers ■ Open-air baths in the beauty hot springs and walks in the surrounding valleys and so on
Model Itinerary
*Subject to change depending on circumstances
SEPT.6
8:30 Meet at JR Tokyo Station
9:08 Departure from JR Tokyo Station
11:50 Arrive at JR Ninohe Station and transfer to bus
12:40 Arrive at Battari Village: Lunch of “Mamebu” at a folk house
13:50 Arrival at Elite Ranch: Observation of shorthorn cattle grazing
15:00 Arrive at Yachi Forestry and visit charcoal factory
16:15 Arrival at shiitake mushroom farmer: Cultivation observation and mushroom harvesting experience
17:30 Hotel Hiraniwa Sanso Check-in
17:45 Departure from Hiraniwa Sanso
18:00 Arrival at Mamebu House: Shorthorn Beef BBQ (dinner)
21:30 Arrival at Hotel Hiraniwa Sanso: Bedtime
SEPT.7
7:30 Breakfast at Hiraniwa Sanso
8:30 White birch forest trekking
10:30 Hotel Hiraniwa Sanso Check-out
11:00 Hiraniwa Sanso Bullfighting arena/ Lunch
14:00 Kuzumaki Wine Winery Tour + Shopping
16:00 Visit to Ora-Hall local museum
18:00 Arrive at Hotel Bepin-no-Yu (Yamane-cho) Check-in: Dinner
SEPT.8
7:30 Breakfast at Beppin-no-yu
8:30 Bepin-no-yu Check out: Departure
9:00 Yamane Village, Hatajin Katsura Water Mill Square: Viewing the mountain stream
10:30 Arrival at Kosode Ama Center
12:30 Visit Amber Museum: Lunch
14:30 Departure from Amber Museum
15:45 Michi-No-Eki (Roadside Station) Dofukan: Shopping
16:50 Arrive at JR Ninohe Station
17:19 Departure from JR Ninohe Station
20:04 Arrival at JR Tokyo Station: Dismissal
Travel Budget
Update!
117,000 yen per person
* Once the number of participants is determined, we will inform you of the official tour details within the above budget.
** Minimum number of participants is 6. If the number of applicants does not reach 6, the tour will not be held.
Application Process
Fill out the “ Provisional Application Form” below.We will send back you tour details and official application procedures after you have temporarily registered.
Registration for this tour is now closed.
Discover the attractions of Kuji city!
TANKAKU-GYU
TANKAKU-GUY：Japanese Shorthorn Beef, raised by pasturage and natural birth, is a tasty beef with low fat content. This delicious beef is perfect for health-conscious people. From spring to fall, you can meet the cows on the farm.
MASHROOMS
Shiitake mushroom log cultivation is a cultivation method in which fungi are planted on oak, sawtooth oak, and other hardwood logs cut from the mountains as “hodagoki. Visit a shiitake mushroom farmer to experience the actual harvesting of shiitake mushrooms.
BBQ
Whether Japanese, French, or Italian, there are many delicious ways to eat shorthorn beef. But the best way is to grill it over charcoal with salt and pepper! say the locals. Let's experience the simple taste of Shorthorn Beef while interacting with beef producers!
MAMEBU
Mamebu is a local dish from Yamagata-cho, Kuji City,
Walnut and brown sugar dumplings wrapped in flour and vegetables are served in a soup flavored with kombu (kelp), niboshi (dried sardines) and soy sauce.
CHARCOAL
Yamagata-cho, Kuji City, was known as “the best charcoal-making village in Japan” and played an important role as a local industry. Visitors can observe the cutting of logs and the kiln.
AMA FISHING
The Kosode Coast is famous for traditional Ama fishing (fishing by women divers). You can learn about the history of ama fishing at the Ama Women's Center, which stands on the rias coast. Depending on the season, you may also be able to observe a fishing demonstration.
BIRCH FOREST
The Hiraniwa Plateau in Yamagata cho, designated as an Iwate Prefectural Natural Park, has the best birch forest in Tohoku. You can enjoy trekking through beautiful scenery from season to season.
WINE
Kuzumaki Wine is a winery located in Hiraniwa Kogen. The winery is famous for its wines made from mountain grapes, and tours and tastings are available.
and more
Kuji City also has many other attractive spots such as ski resorts, hot springs, powerful bullfight... Kuji City is one of Japan's hidden tourist spots!