Volunteer Guide Tours in Ueda
English Guide Group (EGG) : English Guide Group(EGG/エッグ)
Have a Volunteer English Guide Show You Ueda's Castle Town!
Eastern Nagano
Description
Located only 90 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen, Ueda City is a historic castle town. The EGG (English Guide Group) volunteers are happy to take visitors on tours. Sample tours:
1. Take a picture with guides dressed as samurai and ninja at Ueda Castle, then stop at a traditional Japanese garden for green tea.
2. Walk the Edo-era post town Yanagi-machi and stop at a sake brewery to sample the wares followed by lunch at a legendary soba restaurant.
3. Take a leisurely train ride to Bessho Onsen for an onsen bath and to tour several temples and shrines that have been designated as national treasures.
4. Have tea at an old farmhouse followed by trekking in the local hills and a light snack of oyaki dumplings.
5. Strawberry picking, apple picking, soba making, zazen meditation.
Details
30 people
- Hours
- Varies by tour. Confirm in advance.
- Date(s)
- Varies by tour. Confirm in advance.
- Cost / Price of Admission
- Meal costs, entrance fees, etc. apply.
- Time Required
- Varies by tour. Confirm in advance.
- Reservations
- Required
- # of Participants
- 1+
- Foreign Languages
- English
Notes
Guide service is free. However, participants are asked to pay for the guide's meals, entrance fees and transportation costs if occurred.
To request a guide, the easiest way to contact EGG is via e-mail. Tours can also be arranged by calling the Ueda City Tourism Dept. at +81(0)268-22-4100.
Contact
tel : +81(0)268-22-4100fax : +81(0)268-23-7355
Official site
Access / Location
- By Train
- From Ueda(JR Hokuriku(Nagano) Shinkansen), Starting point varies by tour. Confirm in advance.
- By Car
- From Ueda Sugadaira IC, Starting point varies by tour. Confirm in advance.
- Address
- 1-11-16 c/o Ueda City Tourism Dept. Ote, Ueda 386-0024
Nearby Attractions
Sightseeing Spots
- Ikenami Shotaro Sanada Taiheiki Museum Ninnindo : Sanada ninja’s mission and duty are introduced in a fun picture-story show.
- Uedajo Castle Ruin Park : Invincible Castle Famous for Twice Repulsing the Tokugawa Shogunate, Secrets of Ninja and Ninja Training Center
- Yanagi-Machi Post Town : The Past Meets the Present in Ueda City’s Historical Post Town
- Ikushima-Tarushima Shrine : Distinct Vermilion-colored Shrine in Japan's Geographic Center
- Unno-juku Post Town : Post Town with Distinctive Architecture and Beautiful Streetscape
Accommodation
- Ueda Mahoroba Youth Hostel in Bessho Onsen : "At-Home" Youth Hostel convenient to Bessho Onsen.
- Hanaya in Bessho Onsen : Traditional Japanese Construction Built by Master Craftsmen with Western Accents for a "Taisho Romance" Feel.
- Izumiya Ryokan in Reisenji Onsen : Simple Onsen Inn Secluded in the Hills in Reisenji Onsen
- Uematsuya Ryokan in Bessho Onsen : Friendly Ryokan in the Center of Bessho Onsen.
- Hotel Platon : City Hotel Amenities at Reasonable Prices with Onsen Baths.
Restaurants
- Cafe Levian Table & Tatami-Cafe Eboshi : Artisan Bakery in a Sake Warehouse.
- Kokuzo : Natural Yeast Artisan Bread Shop in a 150-Year Old Farmhouse.
- Soba Hojyo-an : Locally Grown and Milled "Homecoming Soba".
- Ramen Kameya : Feel At Home with Kameya's Locally-Sourced Ramen.
- Daikokuya : Kamiyamada Onsen's Tiny Cafeteria Famous for Their Ramen and Garlic-Sauce Tonkatsu Pork.
Activities
- Silk Weaving Experience (Ueda Tsumugi) : Sit at a 100-Year Old Loom and Make Your Own Ueda Silk Weaving.
- Shioda Plain Temple Walk : Take in the Historical Temples around Bessho Onsen with this 1-Day Tour.
- Zazen Meditation -- At Bessho Onsen's Historical Anraku-ji Temple : Attend a Zazen Meditation Session at Bessho Onsen’s Historical Anraku-Ji Temple.
- Hotto Stay Rural Visit : Rural Lifestyle Mini-Experience.
- Fruit Picking at Kamiyamada's Crown Farm : Eat Fresh Grapes and Apples You Pick Yourself at this Foreigner-friendly, Family-run Orchard in Kamiyamada.
