Shioya is a small, quiet town just minutes away from Kobe City. Surrounded by beautiful views of mountains and the sea, it has a long-standing history as a peaceful fishing village.

Sumile, the guide for this tour, believes that, rather than just visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and famous areas, the best way to get to know real people and find out about their lifestyles is to visit local markets and explore the backstreets. She strives to provide this type of experience in her hometown, Shioya.

Upon meeting your local tour guide, you will be given a customized Japanese name card, with your name written on it in Japanese. This can help facilitate your communication with the locals or serve as a nice souvenir from your trip!

You will first explore the harbor which will have magnificent views of the sea and its surrounding landscape such as Mt. Rokko, Awaji Island, and the Pearl Bridge. You will then sample nori (seaweed).

A short walk from the harbor will take you to the town of Shioya, where you can visit a temple, a shrine and even a cemetery.

Lastly, you will enter a narrow market street, where you will be introduced to iconic local businesses such as a barbershop that’s over 100 years old, a tatami factory, and a Guggenheim house.

You will also have the chance to sample and taste different types of local Japanese snacks, sweets, and drinks, whilst interacting with friendly locals.