A Journey Designed for You
[Short Stay] A Classic Modern Onomichi Ryokan Stay with a Premium Trifecta of Tradition: Sake Brewing, Soy Sauce Brewing, plus Tea and Zen at a Temple Museum
Overview
The coastlines surrounding Japan’s Seto Inland Sea are in many ways the historic heartland of Japanese civilization, playing a role similar (if scaled-down) to that of the Mediterranean coast in that sea’s corner of the world. Here, Wabunka guests are invited to experience timeless traditions and local craftsmanship at a relaxed, luxurious pace. From sake brewing to soy sauce crafting to Zen through meditation, matcha, and curated art, this two-night, three-day itinerary is a sweeping tour of the cultural highlights of the Seto seaside, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the rich natural bounties and charming natural panoramas and townscapes of the region at the same time. All this is wrapped up in a stay at Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama, whose unique blending of ryokan tradition, modern comfort, and artistic tea ceremony culture immerses you in the joys of Japanese culture – a mere hour from Osaka or three and a half hours from Tokyo by shinkansen bullet train.
location_on Hiroshima | schedule 2 night |
account_balance_wallet from ¥962,000 / group | group 1 - 3 participants |
record_voice_over Available in English | event_available Cancel free up to 11 days prior |
*The indicated price is a reference estimate based on the selection of all listed content. Each component can be arranged individually. The price represents the lowest available rate. Please note that prices are subject to change based on the season and room availability.
*The indicated price also includes transportation by private car and ferry.
*The itinerary and prices depicted are a model plan. Itineraries can be customized at guest request, so please feel free to enquire.
* For groups of three, an additional fee applies. Please contact us for more information.
* If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY ¥962,000.
Itinerary Highlights
Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama | Experience timeless charm at Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama, a Michelin Key-awarded inn blending traditional elegance with modern comfort. Nestled in scenic Onomichi—a city rich in literary, cinematic, and cycling culture—this renovated ryokan offers artful interiors, tea garden hospitality, and an intimate glimpse into Japan’s cultural soul, just steps from the sea and Shimanami Kaido’s famed coastal route. |
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Premium Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting | Discover the heart of Japan’s sake culture in Saijo, the “City of Sake,” where cool air and pure spring water create ideal brewing conditions. At Saijotsuru, a historic boutique brewery, join a guided tour with Masako Inomoto to explore traditional techniques and taste handcrafted sake that reflects the spirit and flavor of Saijo itself. |
Soy Sauce Making Experience and Tasting | On the serene island of Osakikamijima, Okamoto Soy Sauce Brewery keeps tradition alive as the island’s sole surviving brewer since 1932. Join a rare, hands-on experience mixing moromi mash, tour the cedar-barrel aging room, and taste soy sauces crafted with all-natural, time-honored methods—each drop reflecting the quiet heritage of Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. |
Zazen Meditation, Tea, and Art | Immerse yourself in the spirit of Zen at the Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens in Fukuyama City. Set amid Edo-period(1603-1868) architecture and serene gardens, this temple complex invites reflection through zazen meditation, matcha in a restored tearoom, and curated art experiences—blending tradition and modernity to awaken the senses and illuminate the path of Zen. |
* The itinerary depicted is a model itinerary – transportation arrangements, schedule, and length of stay can all be modified to suit guest needs. Please enquire for itinerary details.
*Additional fees apply for optional features.
Details
Day 1 | 2:00 PM
City of Sake, Saijo – and its Iconic Long-standing Boutique Brewery Saijotsuru
The so-called “capital city of sake” Saijo is a mere 40 minute car trip from Hiroshima Shinkansen Station. Here in a narrow mountainous basin, the perfect balance of cool climate and abundant groundwater has fostered high-quality sake brewing since the 17th century. The city’s peak as Japan’s brewing heartland was in the Meiji period (1868-1912), though historic breweries still line its Brewery Street,” an atmospheric neighborhood that continues to charm visitors from across Japan and beyond with its iconic white-walled breweries and their red brick chimneys.
Here, Wabunka guests can discover the charm of Saijotsuru, one of Saijo’s seven iconic breweries. Guided by Masako Inomoto – wife to the brewery’s fifth-generation head – explore traditional brewing inside a gorgeously restored Meiji-era brewhouse. Watch Brewmaster Miyaji at work, and enjoy a guided tasting of award-winning local sakes. Get educated about food pairing perfection and take home your favorite bottle in an unforgettable excursion into Japan’s sake culture.
Day 1 | 5:00 PM
Steeping in Onomichi Culture, Iconic and Historical, at Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama
A one-hour car ride from Saijo whisks you to picturesque Onomichi in time for check-in and at Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama. Onomichi Nishiyama strives to keep the spirit of traditional Japanese tea garden culture, offering a space for cultural exchange, hospitality, and art appreciation. Honoring the artistic and cultural legacy of Onomichi, it also showcases local ceramics and paintings in a gallery-like setting. Guests are welcomed in the serene, wood-lined social Korin Lounge with matcha and tea snacks made in-house.
With only eleven guest rooms – eight in private, thematically designed wings – Onomichi Nishiyama creates an intimate, authentic ryokan experience enhanced by local touches like hassaku citrus aroma diffusers and a design sensibility that evokes the best of traditional tea ceremony culture.
Day 2 | 7:00 AM
A New Day, Nourished Body and Soul by Seto’s Rich Nature
Start off in the morning with a nourishing breakfast of local ingredients such as clay pot rice. If you have the time, a walk in the fresh morning sea breeze is highly recommended. Climb the slopes, see temples and shrines and old houses, soak up the ambience, and lose yourself in the history and culture of Onomichi.
Day 2 | 1:00 PM
Brewing and Tasting: Seto Sea Soy Sauce Brewed Naturally and Traditionally, Aged in Heritage Wooden Barrels
A two-hour car and ferry trip from Onomichi sits Okamoto Soy Sauce Brewery, founded in 1932. This is the last remaining soy sauce maker on the former soy sauce haven and remote Seto island Osakikamijima. Under third-generation brewer Yasufumi Okamoto, traditional natural fermentation of locally sourced ingredients in heritage wooden barrels lives on.
Tour the historic brewery, learn all about the brewing process, and even mix the moromi mash by hand yourself. Finally, sample three varieties of soy sauce and take home a bottle of exclusive, drip-extracted soy sauce available nowhere else.
Day 2 | 5:30 PM
Delicious Sake and Gourmet Seto Seaside French Cuisine at a Classic Modern Ryokan
Relax on the drive back to Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama and prepare for another delightful dinner and stay amidst high traditional luxury. Dine on a rich natural tapestry of gourmet French cuisine woven from Seto Inland Sea bounties at in-house restaurant Yosoro, alongside an expertly curated drink menu featuring local Hiroshima wines, sake, and craft beer that highlight the best the Prefecture has to offer.
The current Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama is the successor to the storied former Nishiyama Bekkan ryokan, founded in 1943. Today, the newly renovated inn retains the classic traditional touches of the structure, furniture, lighting, and interior design, all the while seamlessly integrating full modern comfort for an elegant space, unique stay experience, and world-class service that combines the best of past and present – which is exactly why it was awarded a Key in the 2024 Michelin Guide Hotel Selection.
Day 3 | 7:00 AM
Only in Onomichi: An Atmospheric After-breakfast Stroll on Seaside Slopes
Start another glorious morning in Onomichi with a hearty local breakfast – celebrated as “the ultimate unadorned meal,” and enjoy another chance to explore and soak up the local scenery before check-out.
As one of Hiroshima’s best-loved and most charming port towns, Onomichi has long thrived along the scenic Onomichi Channel, a national heritage site. Famed for its cobblestone alleys and timeless early 19th Century charm, Onomichi has always inspired, serving as the setting for countless films and works of literature. It's also a magnet for cyclists from all over the broader region, as the gateway to the Shimanami Kaido—a soaring and sea-spanning bicycle-friendly route linking Honshu to Shikoku across a chain of picturesque islands.
Day 3 | 2:00 PM
Zen Philosophy in Body and Mind through Temple Meditation, Tea, Art
After check-out, a quick half-hour by car brings you to the serenity of Zen at Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens. Nestled in the lovely verdant hills in the south of Hiroshima’s Fukuyama City, this unique cultural haven invites visitors to engage Zen philosophy through all five senses – revealing art, tea, and meditation all as potent gateways to awakening.
Stroll through heart-shaped gardens amidst august architectural wonders, and explore the profound yet playful paintings of Zen master and artist Hakuin Ekaku. Relish matcha in a private tearoom modeled after legendary Kyoto originals lost to fire. Finally, center yourself with zazen meditation in a historic thatched-roof Zen hall.
In every breath at Shinshoji, the spirit of Zen comes alive – beckoning you into fuller presence in your life.
Savoring the Soul of the Seto Inland Sea: A Luxurious Journey through Local Tradition
This thoughtfully curated escape across Japan’s Seto Seaside gives Wabunka guests a chance to slow down and savor authentic traditional Japanese culture at leisure. It starts in Sake city Saijo with a tour of a locally beloved brewery and spirits steeped in history. A ferry ride to the island of Osakikamijima is a gateway to a five-senses foray into soy sauce craftsmanship.
End on introspective insight and a thoughtful pause of pace at Fukuyama’s Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens, for tea, art, and stillness that beckon quiet clarity. Begin and end each day in scenic Onomichi at a stylish ryokan where art and tradition meet modern comfort and sea breeze serenity. From sea-salted craft heritage to meditative Zen philosophy, it’s sure to be a memory that lingers—refined, rooted, and beautifully unrushed.
Ryokan Onomichi Nishiyama
location_on678-1 Sanbacho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0052
near_meAproximately 10 minutes from JR Onomichi Station
near_meApproximately 40 minutes by car from JR Fukuyama Station
Saijotsuru Sake Brewery
location_on9-17 Saijohonmachi, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-0011
near_meApproximately 3 minutes walk from Saijo Station, JR
Okamoto Soy Sauce Brewery
location_on2577 Higashino, Osakikamijima, Toyota District, Hiroshima 725-0231
near_meApproximately 30 minutes by ferry from Takehara Port: disembark at Shiromizu Port and walk 5 minutes
near_meApproximately 25 minutes by ferry from Takehara Port: disembark at Tarumi Port and take a taxi approximately 3 minutes
near_meApproximately 35 minutes from Akitsu Port: disembark at Onishi Port and take a taxi approximately 12 minutes
Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens
location_onKamisanna-91 Numakumacho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima 720-0401
near_meApproximately 25 minutes by car or 30 minutes by Tomotetsu bus from Fukuyama Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen Main Line
near_me15 minutes on foot from the Tenjinyama bus stop, on the Tomotetsu bus bound for Miroku-no-Sato, boarding at Fukuyama Station’s #6 bus stop
Things to know
Check-in and Check-out Times | Check-in: From 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Check-out: Until 12:00 PM |
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Experience Start Time | 【Premium Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting】 【Soy Sauce Making Experience and Tasting 】 【Zazen Meditation, Tea, and Art 】 |
Meal Start Times | Dinner: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Breakfast: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
Hotel Facilities | Onsen |
Room Information |
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Amenities | |
Price | The price covers accommodation, exclusive facility access, curated experiences, breakfast, dinner, and relevant taxes for two adult guests. This plan requires a minimum of 2 people. The minimum guarantee charge will be applied if the requested number of guests is less than 2 people. *Additional fees apply for optional features. |
Maximum number | Up to 3 people per booking All experiences are private for your group. We do not arrange mixed sessions. |
Experience itinerary | Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
*The itinerary depicted is a model itinerary – transportation arrangements, schedule, and length of stay can all be modified to suit guest needs. Please enquire for itinerary details. *This plan can also be booked as accommodation-only. If you would like this option, please let us know when booking. |
Payment | Payment in advance (Credit card (JPY) only) |
Booking deadline | If you wish to arrange the following services, please contact us no later than the deadlines below: <Accommodation / Experience> At least 14 days before the check-in date <Chauffeur / Private Car Service> At least 14 days before the service date <Shinkansen Ticket> At least 1 month before the departure date We may not be able to accommodate your request after the above deadlines, and we appreciate your understanding. |
Cancellation policy | You may cancel your reservation and receive a refund as follows: <Accommodation> 11 or more days before the check-in date: 100% refund 10 days or less before (including same-day cancellation or No-show ): 100% cancellation fee <Experience> 【Premium Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting】 11 or more days before the check-in date: 100% refund 10 days or less before (including same-day cancellation or No-show ): 100% cancellation fee 【Soy Sauce Making Experience and Tasting】 7 or more days before the check-in date: 100% refund 6 days or less before (including same-day cancellation or No-show ): 100% cancellation fee 【Zazen Meditation, Tea, and Art】 7 or more days before the check-in date: 100% refund 6 days or less before (including same-day cancellation or No-show ): 100% cancellation fee <Chauffeur / Private Car Service> 11 or more days before the service date: 100% refund 10 days or less before (including same-day cancellation or No-show): 100% cancellation fee Cancellations are calculated based on the check-in date. Please contact us by 5:00 PM (JST) on the day you wish to cancel. <Shinkansen ticket> 14 or more days before the departure date (including the departure date): 100% refund 13 days or less before the departure date (including the departure date): Non-refundable and non-changeable After ticket issuance: Changes and refunds cannot be handled through Wabunka. Please inquire directly at a JR ticket office. Important Notes: Changes to the reservation (including number of guests or schedule) are not permitted after the cancellation policy takes effect. If you wish to make changes, please contact us before the cancellation policy applies. |
Guest Requirements | <Accommodation> Minimum age: 6 years old Adult rate applies to 6 years old and over. Children 5 years old and under are free of charge when sleeping together with parents (separate bed and meals not included). Meals are available to order for an additional fee. <Experience> 【Premium Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting】 Adult rate applies to 20 years old and over. Minors (under the age of 19) can enter and participate in the tour free of charge, but will only be provided with water to drink. 【Soy Sauce Making Experience and Tasting】 Adult rate applies to 15 years old and over. Minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult guardian over 18 years of age. A child rate is available for children between the age of 6 and 14. Please select the number of child participants in the option. Children under 5 may accompany adults at no extra cost. 【Zazen Meditation, Tea, and Art】 Adult rate applies to 12 years old and over. Children under 12 may accompany adults at no extra cost. Minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult guardian over 18 years of age. |
Clothes | 【Soy Sauce Making Experience and Tasting】 The experience in the venue is conducted with shoes removed. Guests are asked to wear socks or stockings to avoid going barefoot. Please wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Clothing and footwear that are easy to walk around in are recommended. (e.g. pants and sneakers) 【Zazen Meditation, Tea, and Art】 The experience in the venue is conducted with shoes removed. Guests are asked to wear socks or stockings to avoid going barefoot. During zazen, we kindly request that you practice barefoot. Loose-fitting comfortable clothing is recommended for zazen meditation.(Guests are requested to refrain from overly casual dress.) Clothing and footwear that are easy to walk around in are recommended. (e.g. pants and sneakers) Please avoid wearing skirts or heels. If a skirt is worn, a cloth may need to be used to cover the legs during zazen meditation. |
Further Remarks | Shinkansen bullet train tickets can be included as optional add-ons. Guests wishing to include them in their Wabunka plan are asked to enquire at the time of reservation. Due to unavoidable circumstances, programs or workshops are subject to last-minute changes and cancellations. This plan falls under price category A. 【Premium Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting】 Please refrain from eating natto (fermented soybeans) before the experience day. Please refrain from driving after the Saijo Sake brewery tour. You will be asked not to wear perfume to the experience The venue Saijotsuru brewery is not disabled-accessible. All appropriate precautions will be observed, but guests are expected to take responsibility for their own safety. We are not liable for lost, stolen items, or injuries. Your understanding is appreciated. We will provide water for children and non-alcoholic participants(fees cannot be waived). 【Soy Sauce Making Experience and Tasting】 Please refrain from eating natto (fermented soybeans) on the day of the experience. You will be asked not to wear perfume to the experience. Access requires a ferry ride from Honshu, Japan's main island. As ferry departures are limited, we recommend checking the schedule in advance and allowing plenty of time for your journey. For more details, please see the Location Details section. Guests will be asked to wear a hair net during the experience. Those wearing a hat may skip this. To maintain cleanliness, especially as soil can carry bacteria, please avoid wearing shoes that are heavily soiled or muddy. 【Zazen Meditation, Tea, and Art】 Guests are asked to refrain from wearing perfume to the experience. Guests are asked to put on the masks provided at the entrance before entering the exhibition space. Guests uncomfortable with the formal kneeling seiza position are asked to notify in advice. Please note the following rules for photography during the experience: -Flash photography is not allowed in the Hakui Collection exhibition areas. -Photography is not allowed inside the Kohtei Garen or Daitetsudo. -Photography is allowed in designated areas for personal remembrance purposes only. Please refrain from dissemination through social media or any other media format, commercial use, or use for any other secondary purpose. |
Itinerary Request
[Short Stay] A Classic Modern Onomichi Ryokan Stay with a Premium Trifecta of Tradition: Sake Brewing, Soy Sauce Brewing, plus Tea and Zen at a Temple Museum
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