Cycling Tour in Uda from Haibara Station

After renting an e-bike at Haibara station on the Kintetsu Line we enjoy a leisurely one-hour-ride along rivers and paddy fields where the nobles once might have taken a stroll.
Time for Lunch!
The water in Uda used to be considered ‘blessed water’ and was specially delivered to the Imperial Court in the old days. Its pureness is one reason why sake breweries came into existence in this region. Let's sit down to a nice lunch cooked with this special spring water!
Strolling through the Picturesque Old Town
The old merchant buildings lining the streets in the Matsuyama district have very impressive latticed windows. Find out what kind of shops they were and why the buildings and lattices differ slightly!
Try your Hand at Calligraphy
Writing with a brush and Indian ink is how the Japanese people have been expressing themselves for ages. Even now the children are being taught calligraphy at school or in private lessons, also as a way to learn manners. In this tour we will visit an actual calligraphy school, and experienced Midori sensei will give you an enjoyable lesson in writing Japanese characters. Take home a special souvenir afterwards!
Got a Sweet Tooth?
From traditional Japanese sweets to Western style cakes, Matsuyama district has it all: Just the thing we need to get some energy.
Museum of Medicine
A visit of the former home of a wealthy medicine merchant shows us how the inside of a house back then looked like. The old furniture, the huge earthen cooking stove, the servants’ quarters, two different baths, and the gorgeous Japanese-style warehouse let us imagine how people lived here 200 years ago. Can you find out what the rocks in the garden are representing?
Back to the Present
Before heading back to the city we pass one more time through the satoyama landscape on a slightly different route. Nobles, merchants, and also immigrants from the continent used the road that takes us back to Haibara Station. This is where our tour ends.
We hope that through this tour you will be able to enjoy the Japanese countryside and perceive how people lived now and then while also getting a deeper understanding of Japan and its culture. We will strive to make this day a memorable one for you.