Chiran Samurai Village Tour with Soba Making Experience
Explore a genuine samurai village and feel the culture of the samurai era, then have lunch at a local restaurant and, if you choose, make soba noodles for yourself!
Highlights
Tour the authentic Chiran Samurai Village with a guide
Learn about the history of Chiran and samurai culture
Have soba for lunch at a local restaurant and try a high quality brand of Japanese pork
Make your own soba noodles with a kind and attentive instructor (optional)
10 meals
+Experience Details
Listed as a “Japan Heritage," the Chiran Samurai Village is a well-preserved relic of the samurai era. Chiran, known as the “Little Kyoto of Satsuma,” is a former samurai residence on Kagoshima Prefecture’s Satsuma Peninsula. Just one hour from Kagoshima City, Chiran is an easy day trip away to a peaceful and relaxing little town.
About 250 years ago, the lord of Chiran summoned craftsmen from Kyoto and instructed them to design a beautiful village. Thanks to their skills and the residents’ efforts to preserve the village, there are still 7 residences open to the public today, showcasing the Karesansui (“dry garden”) style. During this tour, you will walk around the village and learn about the strategic design. In 2019, the samurai village was designated as “Japan Heritage," alongside other villages in Kagoshima. But don’t expect samurai costumes or kimono-clad ladies. The Samurai Village is not an amusement park, but a place where you can feel the genuine history and atmosphere of the samurai era.
After a tour of the village, you’ll visit the Soba-Dojo restaurant for lunch, where you can enjoy soba (buckwheat noodles) made of high-quality buckwheat and pure water. The recommended dish is soba with “Kuro-Buta” (special Kagoshima “Black Pork”) dipping sauce, which has very thinly sliced pork in the sauce. Kagoshima Kuro-Buta is a local specialty, like the wagyu beef of the pork world. Love to cook? There is also an option to make the soba yourself, with the staff’s instruction.
Inclusions
A knowledgable local guide to show you around Chiran
Lunch (like Kuro-Buta soba)
Optional soba noodle cooking class
A bottle of water
Exclusions
Transportation to the location
Additional food
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
The experience takes place in Chiran Samurai Village, but we can pick you up anywhere you prefer in Kagoshima city, such as your hotel, train station, etc.
Remarks
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes for walking
Please make sure to come to the meeting point on time
Everything for the cooking lesson is provided
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 2 days before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
The Satsuma Peninsula boasts dazzling natural scenery including the impressive Kaimondake volcano and hot springs. Ibusuki, in particular, is an onsen town that is famous for natural sand baths, which provide detoxifying effects. Other attractions include Kagoshima City Aquarium, Kagoshima City Museum of Art, Senganen Gardens, and Fukiage Dune. Hikers and beach bums alike will find something to enjoy on the Satsuma Peninsula.
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10 meals
+Embark on a journey through Ibusuki in Kagoshima. Explore a katsuobushi factory, shop for local produce at a roadside station, unwind in the Kagoshima sand baths, discover a unique public cooking area, and feast on a tasty lunch(katsuo ramen).
Experience the heat of Japan’s volcanic energy in Ibusuki, Southern Kyushu. Relax in a warm sand bath and refresh with an okra smoothie; then, harvest and steam seasonal vegetables, and have them for lunch with Ibusuki eel, a regional delicacy!
