Ise-Shima, Japan
Inaka Tours

Immerse yourself in
rural Japan

Private tours, hidden gems & things to do in Ise-Shima, guided by a local

Our Tours

Looking for the best things to do in Ise-Shima? Explore Japan's most sacred shrine and the hidden gems of the ria coastline — quiet fishing villages, ama divers and local food culture — on a fully private tour with an English-speaking local guide.

Ago Bay ria coastline in Shima — Ise-Shima Basic Tour

Basic Tour

This is a fully private walking tour designed exclusively for you and your family.
You will explore each location on foot, with transportation between points provided by car.
The tour is planned to begin around 9:00 a.m and conclude around 5:00 p.m, without dinner included.

 

About this tour

This tour follows a thoughtfully curated route, refined and tested by a local guide.

While the experience can be flexibly adjusted to suit your preferences, it is primarily conducted along a carefully designed itinerary to ensure a smooth and well-balanced journey.

The tour includes a harmonious blend of iconic highlights, such as Ise Grand Shrine, as well as hidden gems known mostly to locals.

It is designed to help you explore the Ise-Shima area in an efficient yet immersive way, going beyond the typical tourist experience.

Above all, I hope you will feel the unique atmosphere of this region.

In Ise-Shima, we call this "Shima Time" — a gentle, unhurried rhythm of life.

 

What's Not Included

Meal costs, optional personal experience fees, and shopping expenses are not included.

Transportation between locations is provided by car at no additional charge.

 

Access & Pick-up

Hotel pick-up and drop-off are available for guests staying in the Ise, Toba, and Shima areas.
For all other guests, pickup is available at Ugata Station or Iseshi Station.
Both stations can be reached from Osaka in about 2 to 2.5 hours by limited express train, with no transfers required.

 

Optional Dinner

Dinner can be added for an additional 6,000 JPY per person.

If you have any questions or special requests, please feel free to contact me. I would be very happy to help you plan a memorable day in Mie.

¥30,000~36,000 / per person

* For groups of 4–5 people: ¥35,000~41,000 / person

Ise Jingu shrine — private guided tour
New

Ise Jingu Tour

A private guided tour of Ise Jingu's Inner Shrine (Naiku) — Japan's most sacred Shinto site.
Learn proper worship etiquette, experience purification rituals, and discover stories you won't find in any guidebook.
Departs at 9:00 or 14:00. Guided portion at Naiku is approximately 2 hours.

 

About this tour

Ise Jingu is Japan's holiest Shinto shrine — yet most visitors spend only an hour and leave without understanding what they have seen.

This tour focuses on the Inner Shrine (Naiku), home to Amaterasu, the sun goddess at the heart of the Shinto faith. With a knowledgeable local guide, you will move through the ancient forested approach at the right pace, gaining a deeper understanding of the worship rituals and spiritual significance that define this sacred place.

If you wish, you can also add an optional visit to the Outer Shrine (Geku) with car transportation (¥5,000 per person). When selected, the tour follows the traditional order: Geku → Naiku, adding approximately 1.5 hours to the experience.

After the guided tour, Okage Yokocho and Oharai-machi — the historic merchant streets just a short walk from Naiku — are yours to explore independently at your own pace.

 

What's Included

Guided tour of Ise Jingu Inner Shrine (approx. 2 hours).

Optional: visit to the Outer Shrine (Geku) with car transportation (+approx. 1.5 hours · ¥5,000 / per person).

Pickup from Ise Station or accommodations in the Ise, Shima, and Toba areas.

 

What's Not Included

Meal costs, personal shopping expenses, and optional activity fees are not included.

 

Access & Pick-up

Hotel pick-up is available for guests staying in the Ise, Toba, and Shima areas.
Pickup at Iseshi Station is also available.
The tour concludes at the Inner Shrine (Naiku). Drop-off at your hotel is available upon request — please let us know in advance.

 

Important Notes

Maximum 5 guests. Comfortable walking shoes are required.

This tour is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments.

¥15,000 / per person
Ise-Shima coastline — mobile travel guide for exploring by car or bicycle
Digital Guide

Mobile Guide
Ise-Shima

Your complete travel companion for Ise-Shima, built by a local guide. Whether you're exploring by car or by rental bicycle, discover hidden spots, plan your itinerary, and navigate with confidence — everything you need, in one app.

  • Built for road trips and bicycle exploring — routes and pacing designed for getting around Ise-Shima by car or rental cycle
  • Available in English, Japanese, and French — easy for anyone to use
  • All-in-one: find places, build a 2-day itinerary & get directions — no other app needed
  • One-time purchase — yours to keep and use on every future visit
  • Ready-made routes so you can travel stress-free from day one
  • Regularly updated with new spots — great for researching your next trip too
  • Local insider knowledge you won't find in any guidebook
  • Includes a detailed Ise Jingu Inner Shrine guide — walk through with real understanding
  • The perfect gift for anyone planning a trip to Ise-Shima

This guide can be added to your home screen as a web app.

  1. Open the guide in your browser
  2. Tap the Share icon (□↑) at the bottom of the screen
  3. Select "Add to Home Screen"
  4. Tap "Add"
  1. Open the guide in your browser
  2. Tap the menu icon (⋮) in the top right
  3. Select "Add to Home Screen"
  4. Tap "Add"
¥3,500 · one-time purchase
Get Your Guide

About Me

Shota
Founder of Inaka Tours

Inaka Tours began with a simple comment from someone I deeply respect: "I wish more people would come to this region."

That moment made me realize something important. This area is special, but there was no way for visitors to truly experience it. So I decided to study English and moved to Australia for two years.

Living overseas gave me many new experiences and helped me learn about different cultures — but it also made me appreciate Japan even more.

When I returned to Japan in October 2025, I decided to start Inaka Tours here.

This region doesn't have a long list of famous attractions. But I believe that's exactly the beauty of rural Japan.

As I explored this region more deeply, I realized its greatest charm isn't places — it's what we call "Shima time," a slow and relaxed atmosphere.

With Inaka Tours, my goal is to share it with visitors who want to experience the real Japan.

Leave everyday life behind and embrace "Shima time" in the beautiful Ise-Shima region — an unforgettable retreat experience during your trip to Japan.

I look forward to meeting you and sharing this special experience with you.

Contact

Questions, custom requests, or availability — send a message anytime.

Reviews

Write a Review
★★★★★

Such a great tour to get a true impression of the region.
Shota is such a welcoming, fun and insightful person, and has so much enthusiasm for the area and welcoming guests.
The different stops are perfectly paced and well considered.
We particularly valued the ability to engage with local people through Shota, which is something often missing from travel when you do not speak the language.
The whole day has a really chilled vibe, but at the same time professional and totally worthwhile. Highly recommended.

– Nicholas From UK

Source: GetYourGuide

★★★★★

The tour with Shota was a fantastic way to experience the highlights of the region all within a single day.
Communication beforehand was smooth, and he was very accommodating where needed.
Shota really tailors the experience to your interests, whether it's your first time visiting Mie or you've already explored much of Shima before.
He had something interesting to share everywhere we went, and besides that, he's just a genuinely fun person to spend the day with. Because of that, it never felt like a typical tour, but more like a road trip with a good friend.
We even got lucky enough to spot two ama divers diving along the coast before visiting them later for lunch, which made the experience feel even more special.
It's also quite difficult to quickly reach many of these places without your own car, so having everything organized this way was perfect.
You can really tell Shota has strong connections to the area and the local people, which made the experience feel very authentic. 10/10!!

– Lucas From Netherlands

Source: GetYourGuide

★★★★★

Inaka Tours Japan was one of our favorite experiences in Japan.
It was so special to get to know the Ise-shima area from the eyes of a true local.
Thank you Shota for the amazing experience.

– Anna & Evan From US

Source: Google Reviews

★★★★★

I have been on a few tours with Shota and I can 100% recommend this to anyone coming to Japan with the intent of really immersing themselves in the culture.
Shota is just such a great character with such a positive attitude and great communication skills.
Through Shota's services, I was able to explore the countryside ("Inaka") of Japan and experience the authentic Japanese way of life.

– Noah From Australia

Source: Google Reviews

★★★★★

We had a wonderful experience. Shota is bilingual, has deep knowledge about the local area & culture, flexible, personable, meticulous and fun.
We were treated with comfortable spacious van to visit multiple attractive sites guided with English.
Our family of 5, some are young adults, some are seniors, all enjoyed the tour so much.
I highly recommend the Ise-Shima Tour by Inaka Tours. It helps people to touch the soul of Japan.

– Gauntt Family From US

Source: Google Reviews

★★★★★

Shota-san took me beautiful, wonderful places, I would never have discovered on my own!
His knowledge about the area is vast and shows a true love for the Ise-Shima area!
Shota-san adjusted the tour to fit my wishes and gave me tons of new information of interest to me; and not just the facts, but also the whys!
I am sure he will adjust the tour to fit anyone's whishes! I can not recommend highly enough!

– Hansen From Denmark

Source: GetYourGuide

★★★★★

Excellent Guide – Shota in Ise! Shota was an outstanding English-speaking guide during our visit to Ise Jingu.
He picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel and even kindly offered to drive us to the train station afterward.
He guided us through both the Outer and Inner Shrine with great knowledge and respect. He carefully showed us the correct way to pray and how to properly purify ourselves before entering the sacred areas.
What really impressed us was how polite, service-minded and flexible Shota was. He spoke excellent English and answered all our questions.
He also showed great patience with our children when they suddenly needed toilet breaks or snacks. His calm and positive attitude made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable for the entire family.
A small but very thoughtful gesture was that he brought water bottles for everyone. It really showed that he thinks about the little extras. We give Shota our highest recommendation and the top rating. Thank you so much!

– Liselotte From Sweden

Source: Google Reviews