Island Hiking • Zen • Art
A Soul-Nourishing 5-Day Journey:
Setouchi Island Hiking, Art & Sea Breeze
2,040 – 2,340 USD per person
View Rates & Details ↓Operating Period / Duration
Year-round / 5 Days / Non-group
Price
2,040 USD 〜 2,340 USD / per person
Minimum Guests
Location
Perfect Before or After Your Stay in KyotoFukuyama and Okayama, Setouchi
*Easy access from Kyoto/Osaka via Shinkansen
Departure
JR Shin-Osaka Station
Departure Time
12:00 PM
Create Space, Fill with Art
Your journey begins in a “port of waiting for the tide” (Shiomachi). In ancient times, sailors paused here, quietly waiting for the perfect wind. In our frantic modern lives, perhaps what we need most is this luxurious “pause”—the stillness of waiting.
From the rugged, sacred cliffs of Fukuyama to the world-class contemporary art of Naoshima, this journey invites you to confront the harmony between nature and human creation. By the time the sea breeze carries you home, you will find a clear, refreshing “tailwind” blowing within your own soul.
Who curated this travel experience?
Setouchi Destination Specialist
Highlights
Awakening on a Sacred Island
Hike through Sensui-jima, home to Japan’s only “Five-Colored Rocks.” Immerse yourself in the island’s tranquil nature and the rhythmic sound of waves to gently reset your nervous system.
“Red Pumpkin” Yayoi Kusama,2006 Naoshima Miyanoura Port Square
Photo/ Daisuke Aochi ©YAYOI KUSAMA
Dialogue with Contemporary Art
Explore Naoshima, where architecture and nature coexist without boundaries. It is a place not just to view art, but to rediscover the answers hidden within yourself.
Local Japanese Cuisine Found Only in Setouchi
Okayama’s famed bara-zushi, Setouchi lemons, and more — the abundance of this region concentrated into refined dishes, each carrying the mark of seasoned craft.
Zen Meditation in Profound Stillness
Zazen at Shoboji, a temple that has long held the history of Fukuyama. A rare spiritual practice — meeting yourself anew within an extraordinary silence.
Itinerary
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Arrival: Travel to Fukuyama Station by Shinkansen, as ever-changing landscapes unfold beyond the window.
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Fukuyama Castle and the Castle TownView DetailWalk to Fukuyama Castle just beside the station and enjoy free time, perhaps including a refined tea cafe.
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A Cliffside Inn Over the Sea Travel by hotel shuttle to your hotel, where the sea and sky blend seamlessly into one—an extraordinary setting to begin your journey.
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Open-Air Bath Overlooking the Spectacular Setouchi Islands Relax in an open-air hot spring overlooking the spectacular Setouchi islands, followed by a seasonal Japanese dinner.
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Zen Meditation at Shoboji Temple Sit in zazen within a space that carries the full weight of history, quietly resetting yourself.
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Lunch Among Local Flavors Savor seasonal Setouchi ingredients in Japanese cuisine that quietly showcases the artisan’s skill.
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To the Untouched Sensui-jima A fifteen-minute ferry brings you to overwhelming scenery where the legendary Five-Colored Rocks rest.
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Forest Bathing Within Wave SongView DetailWalk a stunning half-circuit of the island on a hike crafted to guide body and mind into deep renewal.
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To the Land of Clear Skies, Okayama Travel by Shinkansen to Okayama, enjoying the gentle landscapes that unfold beyond the window.
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Lunch of Okayama’s Famed Chirashi-zushi Enjoy Okayama’s finest Japanese cuisine, alive with the colors of the season’s freshest seafood.
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Koraku-en, One of Japan’s Three Great GardensView DetailWalk a garden once beloved even by feudal lords, where the four seasons weave continuously shifting beauty.
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Check In to a Refined Harbor Hotel — Gateway to Naoshima Stay at a sophisticated hotel nestled in the port town that serves as the gateway to Naoshima.
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Naoshima, a Sanctuary of Contemporary Art Take the fifteen-minute ferry from Uno Port to Naoshima, the Inland Sea wind in your hair.
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Wander an Island Where Art Has Dissolved Into the LandView DetailExplore Naoshima by rental bicycle, immersing yourself in the art that quietly suffuses the entire island.
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Return to the Hotel and Unwind Spend a relaxing evening at your own pace, perhaps soaking in a nearby natural hot spring to ease the fatigue of the day.
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Bizen, Where a Thousand Years of History Still Breathe Travel from Uno to Bizen, visiting an old craftsman’s quarter where Japan’s traditional spirit endures.
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Trying Your Hand at Bizen PotteryView DetailTouch the warmth of the clay and shape a piece that is yours alone.
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Tofu Lunch That Fills the Senses Enjoy an indulgent tofu lunch made with local soybeans — quietly nourishing from within.
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Carrying the Journey’s Memory Home Travel from Okayama Station by Shinkansen, carrying home a quiet, satisfied fullness.
Ready to Book?
If this itinerary is perfect for you, click here to proceed. You will start by confirming the number of guests and entering any special requests.
Proceed to Booking→Have Questions or Wish to Customize?
Whether you have questions or want to customize your pace and activities, reach out here. We are happy to help and will reply within two business days.
Inquire & Customize→What’s Included
✓ Included
- 4 nights’ accommodation
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
- English-speaking guide on Days 2, 3, and 5
- Zazen meditation, island hiking, Abuto Kannon admission, hot spring, and pottery experience
- Transportation costs (excluding Day 4)
- Water and/or tea provided at restaurants
✗ Not Included
- Transportation to the meeting point
- Transportation and activity costs during free time
- Day 4 lunch, ferry fee, bicycle rental, and museum admissions (booking support is available)
- Visa and passport fees
- Travel insurance
- All personal expenses
- Extra meals and drinks
Accommodation
Days 1-2
Tomonoura – Fukuyama, Hiroshima
- Room Type: Western-style Twin
- Bed Type: Two single beds
An ocean-view inn that distills the best of Tomonoura, with a sweeping panorama of the Inland Sea. Especially striking is the top-floor open-air bath, where sky and sea seem to dissolve into one another. With the salt wind on your skin, body and mind ease into a profound state of release.
Days 3-4
Uno Port – Tamano, Okayama
- Room Type: Superior Twin
- Bed Type: Two single beds
A refined hotel facing Uno Port — an ideal base for an art-island journey. Modern rooms incorporating regional materials such as denim look out across the Inland Sea, offering a stylish setting where the energy of the port and the calm of the sea meet for a quietly elevated stay.
Ready to Book?
If this itinerary is perfect for you, click here to proceed. You will start by confirming the number of guests and entering any special requests.
Proceed to Booking→Have Questions or Wish to Customize?
Whether you have questions or want to customize your pace and activities, reach out here. We are happy to help and will reply within two business days.
Inquire & Customize→Gallery
Awakening on a Sacred Island
By ferry you cross to Sensui-jima, a mysterious island where ancient nature still breathes. Here you take an island hike along a coastline holding what are said to be Japan’s only Five-Colored Rocks, slipping into the quiet forest bathing that the island’s greenery offers.
The sound of waves meeting stone, the scent of wood and earth, the layered hues of the colored rocks, the cool of sea wind and tree shadow — nature’s energy reaches every part of you, and the body releases itself almost on its own. Along a gentle path, each step empties the mind a little more — a quiet, restorative ritual of “settling in.”
Dialogue with Contemporary Art
On Naoshima, nature, architecture, and art coexist without clear boundaries. Standing before a work within this landscape, what rises to the surface may not simply be thoughts about the art itself, but feelings and answers that have quietly rested within you all along.
What do you feel? What do you notice? Sharpening your senses within the silence becomes a way of reconnecting with the self that is so often hidden beneath the rhythms of daily life. Carrying that quiet resonance forward, the Bizen pottery experience invites you to immerse yourself in the simple, grounding touch of pure clay. Feeling the weight of the earth in your hands and witnessing the unpredictable patterns created by flame, you begin to let go of intention and simply respond to the material itself. Within the gentle rhythms of Setouchi, the mind grows still, allowing you to quietly observe your truest self.
Local Japanese Cuisine Found Only in Setouchi
A vivid, multi-colored dining experience awaits, reflecting the beauty of Setouchi’s many islands. Okayama’s famed bara-zushi, where the gifts of sea and mountain bloom together in a single vessel, is itself a crystallization of the region’s abundance. As its deep flavors slowly settle in, you may feel the heart quietly unwinding.
Fragrant Setouchi lemons ripened in sun, and seasonal seafood raised by gentle seas, bring further color to the table. Each moment lifts the journey’s memory into something deeper, more luxurious, and quietly unforgettable.
Zen Meditation in Profound Stillness
At Shoboji, a temple that has quietly watched over Fukuyama’s history, you enter a zazen experience within dignified, bracing air. In a space filled with stillness, settling the breath and meeting yourself eases the mind out of its daily noise.
Within a serene traditional setting, encountering the world of Zen deepens your sense of Japan’s spiritual culture. As thought is gently set down and awareness turns inward, body and mind begin to align — a wellness experience that only Fukuyama, with its old temple traditions, can offer.
Fukuyama Castle and the Castle Town
Fukuyama Castle is a rare castle in the world that can be looked up at directly from a Shinkansen platform. Built by an illustrious samurai family, the site offers a stately, imposing architectural beauty — step inside the grounds and you can sense the spirit of Japanese bushido with your own body.
As you walk the castle town, we recommend pausing at a tea café where historical atmosphere and contemporary refinement come together, savoring a quiet bowl of matcha and a seasonal Japanese sweet.
Forest Bathing Within Wave Song
The half-circuit hike on Sensui-jima offers a special refresh, taking in untouched nature and the islands of the Inland Sea through every sense. Walking the coastal path slowly over an hour and a half, with the sound of waves close beside you, is its own form of restoration.
One highlight is the dramatic Five-Colored Rocks, where layers of black, red, yellow, white, and blue come together — stone faces shaped across vast spans of time, conveying nature’s enormous workings. Walking through these green paths in sea breeze brings a deep, settling calm to body and mind.
Koraku-en, One of Japan’s Three Great Gardens
Korakuen was created around 300 years ago by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of the Okayama domain. Its expansive grounds feature a careful composition of seasonal flowers, ponds, and teahouses, offering a landscape that changes beautifully with each step.
Celebrated as one of Japan’s finest strolling gardens, Korakuen reflects a deep appreciation for balance, openness, and harmony with nature. The spacious lawns, tranquil waters, and meticulous details together express a distinctly Japanese sense of beauty.
Wander an Island Where Art Has Dissolved Into the Land
Explore Naoshima by rental bicycle, freely discovering the contemporary art and architectural works scattered across the island. As you cycle along quiet coastal roads, you can visit the art spaces around Benesse House, outdoor installations, and works seamlessly woven into everyday village life — all at your own pace.
Surrounded by the gentle landscapes of Setouchi, where nature and art exist in harmony, Naoshima offers a uniquely immersive experience found nowhere else.
Trying Your Hand at Bizen Pottery
Bizen pottery is a luxurious creative pause through which you encounter a Japanese aesthetic with a thousand-year history. The Bizen tradition uses no glaze — no glass-like coating over the surface — instead drawing its rustic, powerful character solely from the meeting of clay and flame.
Under an artisan’s guidance, feeling the warmth of the clay directly at your fingertips while shaping a form, time slows into deep immersion. A single, irreplaceable piece — made nowhere else in the world — becomes the most fitting memento of your journey.
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Terms and Conditions for Agent-Organized Tours
1. General Provisions
This tour is organized and operated by SEED COMMERCE TOKYO CO., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company"). The travel contract shall be governed by these Terms and Conditions and the Standard General Conditions of Travel Agency Business as approved by the Japan Tourism Agency. In the event of any discrepancy between these Terms and Conditions and the Standard General Conditions, these Terms and Conditions shall prevail.
2. Formation of Contract
The travel contract is concluded when the Company accepts the reservation and the customer completes the credit card payment on this website.
3. Payment
All tour fares must be paid in US Dollars (USD). The Company shall not be held responsible for any fluctuations in exchange rates or fees charged by the customer’s credit card issuer.
4. Special Provisions Regarding Cancellation Fees
Notwithstanding the provisions of the Standard General Conditions of Travel Agency Business, the following cancellation fees shall apply due to the strict non-refundable policies of our affiliated accommodation facilities and partners:
- 60 days or more before Departure Date: Full refund minus a 6.16%–8.16% processing fee*
- 30 to 59 days before Departure Date: 20% of the total tour price
- 15 to 29 days before Departure Date: 50% of the total tour price
- 14 days or less before Departure Date: 100% of the total tour price
Please note: This processing fee applies only to cancellations made 60 days or more before the Departure Date. Credit card processing fees, currency conversion fees, and applicable taxes imposed by our payment provider will be deducted from the refund amount. The exact deduction is approximately 6.16%–8.16% of the original payment, depending on the card brand and exchange rate at the time of refund.
5. Disclaimer
The Company shall not be liable for any changes to or cancellation of the tour itinerary caused by circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to:
(a) Natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, infectious diseases, or armed conflict.
(b) Delays, cancellations, or accidents involving transportation or accommodation providers.
(c) Orders issued by government or public authorities.
6. Compensation for Changes
In the event that the itinerary is modified due to any of the reasons specified in Section 5 (Disclaimer), the "Compensation for Changes" stipulated in the Standard General Conditions shall not be payable.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Planner and Operator: SEED COMMERCE TOKYO CO., LTD.
Address: 5th Floor, EX Ebisu Nishi Building, 2-8-4 Ebisunishi, Shibuyaku, Tokyo, Japan
Registration: Tokyo Prefecture Government Registration No. 2-8950 / Certified Travel Service Manager: Kohey Hara