【Tokyo Suburb Day Trip】Kawagoe Koedo & Nagatoro River White Water Rafting & Japanese Tea Picking Experience & teamLab "Echoing Life in the Acorn Forest" | Depart from Shinjuku

— What You Can Expect —

Depart from Shinjuku by private car and visit 3 popular attractions in the suburbs of Tokyo! First, enjoy a tea-picking experience of Japan's three major teas! Second, experience the fun of the old street in Koedo Kawagoe and an exciting Nagatoro cruise! Finally, interact directly with the artwork in teamLab's beautiful new work, "Echoing Life in the Acorn Forest!" These unique experiences will make your day one to remember! 

— Tour Info —

• Meeting time: 8:45 am in Shinjuku
• Meeting location: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Oversized Vehicle Parking Lot (新宿都庁大型車停車場)
• Departure time: Depart from Shinjuku at 10:00 am
  
• Tour length: about 11 hours
• Return information: Return around JR Shinjuku Station at about 7:50 pm
  
  

— Itinerary Info —

• Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
  Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine has a history of about 1,500 years and is most famous for protecting love and matchmaking. The shrine is dedicated to the god of "harmony between husband and wife and matchmaking", and many fortune slips and red thread designs related to it can be seen in the shrine grounds. In addition, the most famous part of the shrine is the tunnel made of "Ema" *paper horses) with people's wishes written on them!
  Every summer, the Shrine holds the "Enmusubi Wind Chime Festival." In ancient Japan, people believed that the wind could carry people's thoughts. During the festival, more than 2,000 Edo wind chimes hang in Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, and visitors can write wishes on small slips of paper and hang them up. When the wind chimes sound, the wind will pass on their wishes!
  

• Koedo Kawagoe
  Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture retains the atmosphere of the Edo period, where you can experience the customs of the four eras of Meiji, Taisho, Showa and Heisei. The most famous landmark is the symbol of Kawagoe, the "Bell of Time (Bell Tower)." Since the Edo period, it has been used to tell time and is very popular among local people. In addition, in Kawagoe's busy "Ichibangai" district, there are many buildings with unique facades. It is perfectly natural to put on a Yukata (traditional robe), stroll in this beautiful historical old street, and feel as though you've traveled back in time. In addition, "Kashiya Yokocho" is also a famous scenic spot in Kawagoe. This stone road is dotted with colorful glass, and there are about 30 candy shops and other small stores. A leisurely stroll along this street will take you back to your childhood, where the warmth of the alley, the warm greetings, and the rustic street corners bring peace and a special experience that is different from everyday life today.
  *If you want to experience wearing a Yukata while in Kawagoe, please let us know in the "Requests & Remarks" column at the time of booking. (Only available by booking, optional plan at participants' own expense)
  
  
• Nagato Cruise
  Nagatoro is best known for its dramatic cliff topography, and one of the most representative landscapes is Iwadatami. It is famous for its huge crystalline rocks that overlap each other, and you can enjoy the magnificent cliffs carved out by the river from a close distance while cruising. The boat ride is fun and exciting as the boatman takes you through the sometimes turbulent and sometimes steady stream, making it a popular activity that every visitor to Nagatoro should not miss!
  *Please note that there are 2 boat routes in Nagatoro and the actual route will be decided on the day of the cruise.
  
  
• Special tea-picking experience
  "Sayama tea," produced in the Sayama area of Saitama is known as one of the 3 major tea-growing areas in Japan, the other two being Uji and Shizuoka in Kyoto. Visit the famous local tea factory and have a fun experience of picking fresh tea leaves in the vast tea garden. After the tea-picking experience, you will be taught how to make tea, so you can drink freshly picked and prepared tea and learn something while you're at it!
  *If it rains, the experience may be suspended. In that case, part of the travel expenses will be refunded or changed to other experiences.
  
  
• teamLab "Echoing Life in the Acorn Forest"
  Located in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, "Echoing Life in the Acorn Forest" is a new masterpiece of the famous sound and light team, teamLab. In a forest formed by deciduous trees, the spectacular sound and light facilities are created by digital technology with the "gesture of integration with nature" as the core. When you touch them, they will all react differently and send visible signals to the acorns nearby, which is dreamy and intriguing!
  
  
  

— Reminders —

• This itinerary includes walking attractions. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothing when participating
• This itinerary will provide notes and tour features in English or Chinese
• The tour operator is Japanese and can communicate in Japanese and basic English. However, there is no guide service at scenic spots
• Please note that each person can bring only 1 piece of large luggage since the space in the car is limited