Heavenly Promenades: Tea harvesting at Gifu’s Machu Picchu, Kaidan Meguri at Tanigumi-san Kegon-ji Temple

Harvest tea leaves and stroll through the lush, verdant tea fields of the Kamigare Tea Plantation in Kasuga Village, Ibigawa Town, a little-known region dubbed “Gifu’s Machu Picchu”. Take home tea leaves with a gentle, sweet aroma ready for brewing, as souvenirs after completing your tea plucking activity (please note that due to time constraints the tea leaves you will be bringing home are different to the ones from your harvest). Next, head to Kegon-ji Temple, a destination Japan’s oldest pilgrimage with around 1,300 years of history and said to grant spiritual gains. Try out “kaidan meguri” (the practice of going down to the basement of the main hall of the temple to search for a lock in complete darkness) for yourself! For lunch, look forward to a delicious and wholesome meal made from Ibi medicinal herbs cultivated at the foot of Mount Ibuki from days of old and local Mino vegetables – fresh produce proudly grown in Gifu Prefecture.

From AUD $834

Highlights

  • Stretching from the midpoint to the summit of a mount, from the innermost parts of Ibigawa Town, at the Kamigare District at an altitude of about 300 metres lies the Kamigare Tea Plantation. Journey through this course to the well-kept secret of a tea plantation, also known as "Gifu's Machu Picchu" on social media.

  • Harvest your very own tea leaves at the "Tea Plantation of the Heavens", also home to a well-known variety of tea called "Koraicha", cultivated for centuries. A rarity even in Japan, delight in the flavor of this prized tea variety, depending on the timing of your visit.

  • After your visit to Gifu's Machu Picchu, savor a wholesome meal made of Ibi medicinal herbs, also a local specialty handed down from ancient times by generations prior, sourced from Kasuga Village, located on the Gifu Prefecture-side of Mount Ibuki, famous for its abundance of herbs with a revered history said to date back to the time of warlord Oda Nobunaga.

  • Founded in the year 798 (Enryaku 17), Kegon-ji Temple of the Tendai sect is the 33rd destination along the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route. It has a unique atmosphere permeating the place, from the oizuru (sacred garments for pilgrims) hall where pilgirims who have fulfilled their vows change from their kimono to the oizuru, to the main hall with pillars adorned with bronze carps that annul a pilgrim's period of abstainment when touched. This temple, also known as Tanigumi-san, is also part of the “Top 33 Spots of Hida and Mino” list for both cherry-blossom and autumn-leaf viewing.

  • Duration

    6 hour 30 minutes

  • Offered in

    English

What is included

  • Chartered car service from Gifu Station (or Gifu-Hashima Station) to tour venue

  • Activity fees, lunch (not inclusive of drinks)

  • Guide-interpreter

ITINERARY

Meeting / Pickup Point

Gifu Station or Gifu-Hashima Station

Start time

10:00:00

End point

Gifu Station or Gifu-Hashima Station

What To Expect

Embark on a remarkable journey to a well-kept secret of Gifu Prefecture, a high-altitude tea plantation affectionately nicknamed "Gifu's Machu Picchu." Stretching across a mountainside, this breathtaking terraced landscape offers a truly unique experience. You'll have the rare opportunity to harvest tea leaves from ancient, centuries-old bushes that produce the prized "Koraicha" variety. After exploring this stunning scenery, you will be treated to a delicious and nourishing meal of Ibi medicinal herbs, a local specialty with a history dating back to the era of warlord Oda Nobunaga. The adventure concludes with a visit to the historic Kegon-ji Temple, the final destination on the famous Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage. Here, you'll discover a temple rich in spiritual significance, known for its unique rituals and as a top spot for cherry blossom and autumn foliage viewing. This tour promises a blend of natural beauty, cultural depth, and local culinary traditions that you won't find anywhere else.

Schedule

・9:50 - Meetup at Gifu Station South Exit or in front of Gifu-Hashima ticket gates
・10:00 - Departure with guide-interpreter through chartered car service
・11:00 - Tea-harvesting activity and leisure time at "Gifu's Machu Picchu" aka "Tea Plantation of the Heavens" at Kamigare District (70 mins)
・12:30 - Lunch made from Ibigawa medicinal herbs and souvenir shopping at Ibigawa Town (60 mins)
・14:10 - Visit and walk around (kaidan meguri) Kegon-ji Temple, a destination of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, Japan’s oldest pilgrimage route (70 mins)
・16:30 - Arrival and dispersal at Gifu Station or Gifu-Hashima Station

* This itinerary is an example























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    • Availability: 2025/6/1~11/30 (Excluding Tues. and Wed.)

    • Number of Participants 2 to 8 people

    • Please wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move and walk in.

    • Please choose from Gifu Station or Gifu-Hashima Station as your pickup and dropoff points.

    • Please note that the tour may be cancelled in case of inclement weather.

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