🌿 Escape to Yabu: An Exclusive 2-Day “Slow Travel” Monitor Tour

Discover the Hidden Heart of Hyogo!

Looking for a spontaneous getaway to the heart of the Japanese countryside? Escape the crowded tourist trails of the Kansai area and experience “Authentic Japan” in Yabu City.

We are inviting international travelers and residents to join an all-expenses-paid, 2-day-1-night monitor tour through the Oya district. This is your chance to help us shape the future of tourism in the Tajima region while enjoying a curated journey through history, craftsmanship, and nature.

🏔️ Why Join the Yabu Monitor Tour?

This isn’t just a sightseeing trip; it’s an educational and cultural immersion. Highlights include:

• Heritage to Highball:
  Explore our mining history—the backbone of Japan’s modernization—and see how that same craftsmanship now fuels our local craft whiskey industry.
• Stargazing at Wakasu Highlands:
  Spend the night at a mountain lodge in one of Japan’s premier spots for viewing the Milky Way.
• A History of Sericulture
  Visit and learn about the history of silk production at the heart of the historic national preservation district in Yabu.
• Nature’s Best:
  Expect pristine nature surrounding you from all directions! From Tendaki Falls (the highest waterfall in the prefecture) to the 1,000-year-old Tarumi no Ozakura cherry tree (the largest Edohigan cherry tree in the prefecture) and the peaks of Mt. Hyono (the highest mountain in the prefecture), Yabu is a paradise for nature lovers.

🥩 A Foodie’s Paradise

Yabu is the land of the world-famous Tajima Beef—the legendary lineage behind Kobe, Matsuzaka, and Omi beefs. You’ll also taste the seasonal legendary Asakura sansho pepper and the heritage Yoka pork, offering a true “farm-to-table” experience.

📅 Tour Details

• Dates: June 19 (Friday) – June 20 (Saturday), 2026
• Location: Oya District & Wakasu Highlands, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture.
• Language Support: English, French, and Spanish-speaking staff will be on-site.
• Participants: We are looking for 4 participants (Foreign travelers or foreign residents).
  • Priority is given to groups of 2 or 4.

📝 Requirements for Participation

As this is a monitor tour, we provide the experience for free in exchange for your valuable feedback. Participants are required to:

1. Complete a survey regarding the itinerary and facilities.
2. Share your journey on social media (Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook) using our hashtags: #visityabu and #yabulovetourism.
3. Allow us to take photos/videos during the tour for future promotional use.

🎒 Quick Info

• Accommodation: Lodge-style (Shared rooms; 2 people per room).
• What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, an umbrella, and cash for local souvenirs.
• The “Bragging Rights”: Yabu is hosting the Mountaineering discipline for the 2027 World Masters Games. By joining this tour, you’re getting a sneak peek at a region that is about to become Japan’s next big destination!

Ready to see the Japan most tourists miss? Apply here!

Follow our journey:

• Instagram: visit.yabu
• Facebook: visit.yabu

If you have any questions, please give us a call to Yabu’s Commerce and Tourism Division at 079-664-0285 or e-mail us at cir@city.yabu.lg.jp .