Discover Ieyasu and Mikawa Cotton

Highlights -Visit Yaotomi Shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu is said to have prayed for victory. -Walk across the sea to Takeshima, a nationally protected natural monument. -Weave your own coaster using traditional Mikawa cotton and colorful threads. -Make samurai-style onigiri with local ingredients including rich Hatcho miso. -Cook rice in a traditional pot and learn to roll futomaki sushi. Overview Trace Tokugawa Ieyasu’s connection to Gamagori through its samurai history, craftsmanship, and food culture. Begin at Takeshima Island and visit Yaotomi Shrine, where Ieyasu is said to have prayed for victory before battle. Your professional guide will share stories connecting Ieyasu to the region. Next, discover Mikawa cotton, a traditional textile related with Ieyasu, and weave your own coaster on a loom. Finish with a hands-on cooking experience. Make rice balls with freshly cooked rice and local ingredients, then try making futomaki, classic thick sushi rolls. *Optional add-on available

1. 1

   Stop 1

   1.5 hours

   Walk from Shunseien Garden toward Takeshima, a small island rising from Mikawa Bay and connected to the shore by a bridge across the sea. The entire island is designated as a National Natural Monument for its distinctive vegetation. Visit Yaotomi Shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu and numerous other samurai warriors are said to have prayed for victory in battle. As you explore the island, your guide will bring to life the connections between the shrine, Gamagori, and one of Japan’s most influential shoguns.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   1.5 hours

   Discover a more everyday side of samurai life through food. Make onigiri, the portable rice balls said to have been eaten by warriors on the battlefield, using local ingredients such as Hatcho miso, nori seaweed, and umeboshi pickled plums.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   1.5 hours

   Explore Mikawa cotton, a traditional textile associated with the region and said to have been promoted in Edo by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Learn how raw cotton is transformed into thread through a demonstration of the spinning process. Then take your place at a loom and experience weaving for yourself. Choose threads in your favorite colors and create an original Mikawa cotton coaster to take home as a handcrafted reminder of your journey. *For tours beginning at 11:30 AM: The experiences will take place in a different order: onigiri and futomaki sushi making, followed by Takeshima and Yaotomi Shrine, and finally Mikawa cotton weaving. The following options can also be added to your tour. Please contact us when booking for availability and details. -Visit to Takeshima Aquarium with a Professional, English-speaking guide -Gamagori Literary Heritage Tour | Classic Hotel, Seaside Stories & Mikawa Bay -Custom Mikawa Cotton Kimono & Professional Dressing in Gamagori

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• This is a walking tour that includes crossing the 387-meter Takeshima Bridge and walking along paths around the island.
• The tour will be cancelled in the event of severe weather. Guests will be notified the day before the tour.
• This package tour includes statutory accident compensation in accordance with Japan’s Travel Agency Act. We also recommend that travelers purchase their own travel insurance for broader medical and travel-related coverage.
• Minimum age of participants is 7.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.