Meiwa Tourism Trading Company We will start selling cycling tours along Ise Kaido with a local guide.

[Meiwa Kanko Trading Company] We will start selling cycling tours along Ise Kaido with a local guide
​
Meiwa Tourism Trading Company Press release: May 10, 2025 We will start selling cycling tours along Ise Kaido with a local guide. ~Visiting Ise from Saiku~
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/57872/85/57872-85-dba182c451af73a0ae36ff03f1d23c9c-851×315.png Ise pilgrimage tour along Iseji by electric bicycle Meiwa Kanko Shosha (Head office: Meiwa Kanko Shosha, Taki District, Mie Prefecture, hereafter referred to as Meiwa Kanko Shosha), which promotes the development of Meiwa Town’s tourist area, will start selling the “Ise Road Tour by Electric Bicycle”, a cycling tour that takes you along the Ise Road with a guide. This tour is an experiential program that follows the historical route from the Saiku ruins to the Ise Jingu Outer Shrine and Inner Shrine, guided by a guide with roots in the area. In addition to utilizing local cultural resources and aiming for sustainable regional development through tourism, we aim to revitalize the local economy and pass on culture by training local guides and promoting the participation of local residents. Sustainable regional development through tourism In “regional revitalization,” which is being promoted in response to issues such as population decline and shrinking local economies, tourism is positioned as a growth industry that makes use of local resources, and is an important means of revitalizing the local economy and promoting settlement by expanding the number of exchange and related populations. In particular, tourism is a wide-ranging industry that has ripple effects on a wide range of fields, including lodging, food and beverages, transportation, retail, and culture, so it is expected to become a new industrial base for the region. Creating a virtuous cycle of local economy by utilizing cultural resources There is a need to rethink cultural resources from “things to be preserved” to “things to be utilized locally.” As the population declines and there is a shortage of workers, efforts are attracting attention to simultaneously achieve conservation, utilization, and regional sustainability by experiencing culture through tourism and incorporating it into the economic cycle. For areas with many historical and cultural resources, such as the Ise-Shima region, home to the Ise Grand Shrine, and Meiwa Town, its gateway, creating a system that visualizes the value of these cultures and connects them to the economy through tourism is a practical method for linking the charm of the region to the economy. The need for local guides to convey the cultural charm of the region and realize high-quality tourism The importance of “narratives” by guides has been pointed out in increasing the value of experiential tourism that utilizes local cultural resources. (*1) This is because the quality of tourism is greatly influenced by the presence of stories that tell the background of a region’s history and lifestyle. In this tour, a guide with roots in the area will accompany you as you follow the route of Ise Shrine. The trip is not just about getting around or introducing sightseeing spots, but is structured as a “cultural experience” that answers questions such as “Why did I walk this path?” and “What happened to this place?” Through the guide’s guidance, participants will be able to gain a deeper understanding and be moved by
experiencing the historical timeline and local climate. (*1: Japan Tourism Agency “Summary of Expert Meeting for Sustainable Securing and Training of Local Guide Human Resources” (March 2025)) Ise pilgrimage tour along Iseji by electric bicycle ～Cultural experience to learn the story of Ise Shrine～ This tour is an experiential cultural tour in which modern travelers use electrically assisted bicycles to follow the path used to visit Ise, which is symbolized by the desire to go to Ise and see the Ise Route, even if only once in a lifetime. On the way from the Saiku ruins to the Naiku via Ise Kaido, you can experience the atmosphere of the good old townscape and the customs and lifestyle that are rooted in the Ise Grand Shrine, all at the speed and perspective that only a bicycle can provide. Along the way, you can stop by a historic teahouse that has welcomed visitors to the shrine since the Edo period, and take a moment to sample some of Ise’s famous sweets. By following the Ise Highway on your own and experiencing its history and culture, it is designed to make your visit to Ise Grand Shrine a more profound and memorable experience. Enjoy a deep and fresh time getting to know the real Ise. Tour Overview Tour name: Iseji pilgrimage tour by electric bicycle Setting exclusion date: Every Monday (the next day if it is a holiday) Time required: Approximately 6 hours 30 minutes Number of participants: Minimum 2 people / Maximum 5 people Target age: 13 years old and above (under 18 years old must be accompanied by a guardian) Meeting place: Saiku Station Historical Park Exit Rest Area (3043-3 Saiku, Meiwa-cho, Taki-gun, Mie Prefecture) Meeting time: 10am Price: 9,000 yen (tax included) per person Price includes: Electrically assisted
bicycle/helmet rental fee, guide fee, snack (henba mochi), insurance fee (*not applicable to tourists visiting Japan) Lunch: On your own around the Geku (separate cost) Reservation deadline: Until 17:00 two days before the desired date of participation Reservations/Inquiries: Meiwa Kanko Trading Company, General Incorporated Association TEL: 0596-67-6850 / MAIL: dmo@hana-meiwa.jp Reservation page What is sustainable tourism area development? Sustainable tourism is “tourism that takes full account of current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, while being responsive to the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and the communities that host them.” About Meiwa Kanko Trading Company General Incorporated Association Meiwa Tourism Trading Company is a regional DMO and regional trading company registered with the Japan Tourism Agency that works on tourism area development and hometown tax support as a central player in promoting tourism measures that more effectively link tourism resources and local resources in Meiwa Town, Mie Prefecture. As part of the Jingu Gateway Project, we are working to attract tourists, making the Ise Kaido more lively, revitalizing the area around the shrine, and fostering a love of the local area in children. Through these efforts, we aim to preserve and utilize cultural properties such as the National Historic Site Saiku Ruins, pseudoleather paper, and miitoori, and to promote the development of a tourist area that works as a whole in order to pass on the history and culture of the region to the next generation and enrich the lives of residents.