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While there are numerous limestone caves in Japan, it is extremely rare to find a place where the cave itself is enshrined as a sacred object.

This is a special journey where you’ll trace the origins of this tradition while learning the reasons behind it directly from the local people.

On this tour, you’ll first explore an untouched natural cave and experience the mysteries created by the earth. Afterward, you’ll experience the local buckwheat culture—nurtured by the waters of Ateidai—through a local soba master, and finally, guided by a Shinto priest himself, you’ll visit the limestone cave (the divine object) and the shrine.
Why have people revered this cave as a deity?
This experience, where nature, history, faith, and food culture come together as a single narrative, is a one-of-a-kind private tour made possible only in Niimi.

You’ll gain a deep, firsthand understanding of the Japanese perspective on nature and spiritual culture—something you simply cannot experience by merely touring tourist spots.　　　

What we want to show you isn’t just a “limestone cave.”
It’s the reason this place has been revered as a deity for over a thousand years.
Through interactions with local residents, we’ll share the culture and sentiments that the people of Niimi have passed down through the generations.

*This shrine is a “Shikinaisha” (shrine listed in the Engishiki Jinmyōchō), a legal code from the Heian period (enacted in 967). Even among Shikinaisha, it is considered extremely rare nationwide for the limestone cave itself to serve as the object of worship."

Basic Itinerary

■Meeting Point: Niimi Station (新見駅）
Address: 471 Nishikata, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZUFGmGxtaXkAwKya7
Access Information：About 1 hour by limited express train from Okayama Station or Kurashiki Station

■Model Itinerary
9:30: Meet at JR Niimi Station
An English-speaking guide will greet you, and you’ll head to Atetsudai by private van. During the ride, we’ll introduce the karst plateau and the region’s history.

10:00: Natural Cave Exploration
We’ll visit a natural cave that hasn’t been developed for tourism. After putting on helmets and headlamps, you’ll explore an underground world formed over millions of years. You’ll experience firsthand how the land was formed and the natural environment of Achetai.

12:00: Lunch prepared by a soba master and soba culture experience
Learn about the soba culture of Atetsudai, nurtured by its famous spring water, while discovering the master’s dedication and his connection to the local community. For lunch, you’ll enjoy locally produced, hand-made soba noodles in a 75-year-old traditional Japanese house. You’ll experience the unpretentious, rural Japanese way of life and feel as though you’ve become part of the local daily routine.

14:00: Special Guided Tour of Himesaka Kanachiana Shrine by the Chief Priest
Accompanied by a Shinto priest, you’ll visit the shrine and the limestone cave, which serves as the shrine’s sacred object. You’ll learn why this limestone cave has been enshrined as a deity, as well as about Japanese nature worship and the history and culture passed down in the region.

16:30: JR Niimi Station Dispersal

This is not merely a sightseeing tour, but a narrative-driven experience that unravels the question “Why did the limestone cave become a sacred object?” through nature, food, and faith. Through interactions with local residents, you’ll gain a deep appreciation for the unique culture of Niimi.

■Included in the price
・Full-day guided tour with an English-speaking guide
・Dedicated shuttle service between JR Niimi Station and each activity site
*Includes transportation to and from your accommodation（in the northern part of the prefecture only)
・Admission fee for the natural limestone cave exploration experience
・Full set of cave exploration gear, including a helmet, headlamp, and coveralls
・Lunch featuring hand-made soba noodles with commentary by a soba master
・Special guided tour of Himesaka Kanachiana Shrine led by the chief priest
・Accident insurance
※Please note that transportation costs between the program location and the meeting point are NOT included.(If your accommodation is not in the northern part of the prefecture)

■Maximum number of participants: 6 people

Assistant

English speaking guide

Remarks

・If a weather warning (for heavy rain, flooding, etc.) is issued for Niimi City, we will prioritize safety and cancel the tour.
・Even if only a weather advisory is issued, we may cancel the tour or modify its itinerary based on a comprehensive assessment of local conditions and safety.
・As there are many shrine festivals and religious ceremonies in December, we generally do not operate tours during this month.
・This tour is conducted with the cooperation of local residents, including regional soba artisans and Shinto priests.
　Therefore, depending on the availability of those involved, we may be unable to operate the tour on your desired date, or we may need to modify some parts of the experience.
・If we determine that safe exploration is difficult due to rising water levels inside the cave, we may modify or cancel the cave exploration experience, even if no warnings have been issued above ground.
・For details on other safety management standards and tour operation criteria, please check our official website.
　https://niimi-origin.com/safety-risk-management/

・During the cave exploration, your clothes will generally not get dirty unless you fall in the river.
・We provide full-body rental clothing. (If you are concerned, please bring a change of clothes. For your reference, no guests have needed to change clothes in the past three years.)

・In Niimi City, a registration is required upon entering the cave; we ask all guests to provide the following information:
“Name,” “Address,” “Phone Number,” “Name of a person not participating in the tour to contact in an emergency,” and “Phone number of the emergency contact person.”

・To join the tour, please contact us in advance if you are under 9 years old or 66 years old or older.

■If the price displayed after booking differs from the price list, we will adjust the total amount accordingly (either adding or subtracting).

Meeting Point

Niimi Station 新見駅／(We can arrange transportation from accommodations in the northern part of the prefecture. Please contact us for details.)