This guide draws on pages published by eight municipalities that run shared rides booked in advance, by Zenkoji and a farm-stay association in Ajimu, and by tourism associations in Hadano, Minamiise, Amanohashidate and Shimane. It does not describe other operators or rules for the whole country.
On the pages used here, all three need a booking ahead: the shared rides, the temple lodgings with their meals, and the experiences each list a booking deadline, and the deadline differs from one service to the next. The sections below cover shared rides booked in advance, temple lodgings and farm-stays with their meals, experiences with a deadline, and the reception times and days off that each municipality lists.
Booking Shared Rides in Advance
| Place | Booking deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sakata City | Up to 2 hours before the run | Sakata City |
| Mibu Town | The eight and nine o'clock runs must be booked by five in the afternoon on the previous day | Mibu Town |
| Kasumigaura City | By phone, from 3 business days before the desired date until 1 hour before the desired time, and by the previous day for the nine o'clock run | Kasumigaura City |
| Otama Village | By phone from 1 week before the day of use, with reception from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon on weekdays | Otama Village |
| Hodatsushimizu Town | By phone up to 20 minutes before departure | Hodatsushimizu Town |
- Sakata City. For runs before half past nine in the morning, bookings are taken until five in the afternoon on the previous day, and until five in the afternoon on the Friday of the previous week when the operating day is a Monday.
- Sakata City. In Sakata City, changes and cancellations after booking are possible up to 1 hour before the scheduled run.
- Tatsuno Town. Bookings for the shared taxi are taken from 2 weeks before the riding day until 1 hour before use.
- Tatsuno Town. For a ride between half past eight and ten in the morning, a booking is required by the previous day.
- Otama Village. Bookings must be made by 1 hour before the time of use.
- Mikawa Town. Bookings for the demand taxi are accepted from 2 weeks before the desired day of use.
- Mikawa Town. Except for the nine and ten o'clock departures, bookings must be made up to 2 hours before the desired departure.
- Mikawa Town. For the nine and ten o'clock departures, bookings are requested by five in the afternoon on the previous day.
- Mikawa Town. For the eleven o'clock departure, the deadline is half past nine in the morning on the day of use.
- Mikawa Town. In Mikawa Town, cancellations must be made by 2 hours before the reserved departure.
- Hodatsushimizu Town. For the departure at half past seven in the morning, bookings must be made by the previous day.
In Masaki Town, the service is a shared ride whose route follows the bookings of its users. In Hodatsushimizu Town, the service is a shared ride that is booked in advance.
Temple Lodgings, Farm-Stays and Meals
| Lodging | Lodging booking | Meal booking |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging A at Zenkoji | Up to 7 days before | Up to 7 days before |
| Lodging B at Zenkoji | Up to 3 days before | Up to 2 days before |
| Lodging C at Zenkoji | Up to 7 days before | Up to 7 days before |
| Lodging D at Zenkoji | Up to 5 days before | Up to 3 days before |
| Lodging E at Zenkoji | Up to 3 days before | Up to 3 days before |
Temple lodging at Zenkoji is offered by booking for groups from two guests up to large groups. Groups and parties are defined as seven or more people.
- Lodging A at Zenkoji. One night with two meals is 15,000 yen or more per individual and 12,000 yen or more per group.
- Lodging D at Zenkoji. The lodging price is 13,200 yen or more per individual and 12,100 yen or more per group.
- Individuals at Zenkoji. For individuals, the standard weekday price for one night with two meals is 13,200 yen, tax included, or more per adult, with lodging for two or more adults.
- Groups at Zenkoji. For groups and parties, the standard weekday price for one night with two meals is 11,000 yen, tax included, or more per adult.
- Farm-stays in Ajimu. Bookings for a farm-stay are accepted until six in the evening four days before the stay.
- Farm-stays in Ajimu. Bookings are not accepted for the year-end and New Year period from December 30 to January 3.
- Farm-stays in Ajimu. In Ajimu, the cancellation fee is 30 percent two days before the stay date, 50 percent the day before, and 100 percent on the day.
Experiences With a Booking Deadline
| Experience | Booking deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Soba-making at a soba restaurant in Hadano | By 3 days before | Hadano Tourist Association |
| All experience menus of the Minamiise tourism association | At least 5 days in advance | Minamiise Town Tourism Association |
| Pottery experience in Amanohashidate | Until 5 days before departure | Amanohashidate Tourist Association |
| Early-morning shrine visit at Izumo | By five in the afternoon 3 days before the event day | Shimane tourism site |
| Guided bus tour in Izumo | By five in the afternoon 5 days before the event day | Shimane tourism site |
- Guided tour in Matsue. The booking deadline for a guided tour in Matsue is six in the evening on the day before.
- Cancelling in Minamiise. In Minamiise, the cancellation fee is 100 percent plus insurance on the day, 50 percent plus insurance the day before, and 30 percent plus insurance 2 days before.
- Payment in Minamiise. Payment for the Minamiise experiences is in cash on the day, and credit cards cannot be used.
- Office in Minamiise. The tourism association office in Minamiise keeps business hours from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon.
- Soba-making in Hadano. Up to fifty people can take part in soba-making at the same time at a venue in a park in Hadano.
Exceptions and Local Differences
- Sakata City. The Sakata City booking reception centre is closed every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday, and from December 31 to January 3.
- Mibu Town. Booking reception in Mibu Town runs from half past seven in the morning to half past five in the afternoon.
- Masaki Town. The Masaki Town service runs on weekdays and not on weekends, from half past eight in the morning to five in the afternoon, with the last boarding at four in the afternoon.
- Masaki Town. Phone booking reception in Masaki Town is from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon.
- Kasumigaura City. The Kasumigaura City phone booking center takes bookings from half past eight in the morning to five in the afternoon, excluding weekends, holidays and December 29 to January 3.
- Kasumigaura City. The Kasumigaura City internet booking site accepts bookings from nine in the morning to half past eleven at night.
- Tatsuno Town. Reception at the Tatsuno Town booking center runs from half past eight in the morning to five in the afternoon.
- Otama Village. In Otama Village, web app bookings are accepted from 1 week before the day of use, around the clock including weekends and holidays.
- Otama Village. The Otama Village demand taxi operates on weekdays, Monday to Friday, and not on weekends.
- Mikawa Town. Booking reception in Mikawa Town runs from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon.
- Hodatsushimizu Town. Booking reception in Hodatsushimizu Town runs from half past seven in the morning to five in the afternoon.
Riding the Sakata City service requires a booking by telephone. Use of the Mibu Town service requires registration. On Sundays, the Masaki Town service cannot take bookings or confirm dispatch by app or phone.
Related Guides
For related questions, see our guide to ryokan, minshuku and temple lodgings, our guide to rural taxis, our guide to the last buses of the day and our guide to closing days and winter closures. Check official information before visiting. If you are planning a trip around Amanohashidate, you can browse options for a stay in the area.