Located only 90 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen, Ueda City is a historic castle town. The EGG (English Guide Group) volunteers are happy to take visitors on tours. Sample tours:
1. Take a picture with guides dressed as samurai and ninja at Ueda Castle, then stop at a traditional Japanese garden for green tea.
2. Walk the Edo-era post town Yanagi-machi and stop at a sake brewery to sample the wares followed by lunch at a legendary soba restaurant.
3. Take a leisurely train ride to Bessho Onsen for an onsen bath and to tour several temples and shrines that have been designated as national treasures.
4. Have tea at an old farmhouse followed by trekking in the local hills and a light snack of oyaki dumplings.
5. Strawberry picking, apple picking, soba making, zazen meditation.