Experience Programs for 1–6 Guests
Our Approach
Mimamori Program ：Open Year-Round, Reservation Required ”English OK ”
Our programs are designed so that participants can take home their own questions about “building relationships that nurture and are nurtured.Through work that guides people, horses, forests, and the earth toward mutual well-being, we provide the spark for discovering the ‘habits and skills’ that help participants savor and reflect onthe experience in the present moment. This enables them to move forward not only for themselves but also toward mutual happiness and well-being with others they are connected to. Through these cross-boundary learning & experiences, why not join us in exploring how to apply these insights to your future corporate activities, individual work, and daily life?
| Minimum number of participants | Per person fee Tax included: ¥ | |
| 2-Hour Course | 2 to 4people | １５,４００ |
| ３-Hour Course | ５ to 6people | 23,100 |
Content
By nature, horses are prey animals—creatures that would normally be hunted and eaten. Humans, on the other hand, are predators. For such fundamentally different beings to connect heart-to-heart and build a bond of trust is no easy task. Yet throughout history, there have been remarkable horsemen who nurtured relationships in which horses willingly offered their strength and power with joy.
The habits and techniques they embody are called Horsemanship. In the Chinese classic The Analects, six essential disciplines are presented as valuable for becoming a person useful to society. Among them is ‘Yu’ (御)—the art of guiding horses. In essence, it refers to the ability to communicate with large animals of a different species. Such communication requires a heightened sensitivity to the unseen and to non-verbal cues, the skill to perceive even the faintest signals, and the ability to respond appropriately.
We interpret this concept of ‘Yu’ as the practice of cultivating habits and techniques that foster relationships in which someone—or something—willingly offers their strength for your sake. How, then, can one acquire this ‘Yu’?
It is through steadily building upon benevolence and virtue : first by deeply considering how the other feels, thinks, and acts, and then by willingly offering what you have for the happiness of the other. We invite you to experience this through collaborative work with horses.
When you immerse yourself in the forest, you truly feel that you are part of nature itself. Watching a demonstration of horse logging—where large horses help transport felled trees with minimal impact on the earth—you will experience not only the invisible power of the bond between humans and horses, but also the harmony and remarkable teamwork they create together.
Collaborative work to care for the forest is also a time to care for your own heart. We invite you to share in our everyday life of living alongside the forest, and to join us in nurturing a ‘forest of the heart’ together.
For generations, humanity has pursued a lifestyle of mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal. As a result, issues such as environmental destruction, climate change, energy challenges, and waste problems have become increasingly severe.
Permaculture—built on three ethics of care for the earth, care for people, and fair share, along with twelve guiding principles—offers a way to design our lives and communities so that people and nature can thrive together within a sustainable, regenerative system of agriculture. We are working to revitalize the satoyama landscape by embracing these concepts.
In coexistence with nature—including not only soil and plants, but also the small lives of microorganisms and insects—we learn to support one another and share in the gifts of the earth. Through this, we can realize a lifestyle of ‘knowing what is enough’ and one filled with the satisfaction that comes from time and care, leading toward a society full of empathy.
We, too, are part of nature itself. Come and experience firsthand what it means to live in harmony—giving and receiving life in balance.
Horseback riding ：Open Year-Round, Reservation Required ”English OK ”
Enjoy a horseback riding experience where you can connect with a horse in the midst of beautiful nature.Even if it’s your first time riding, you can feel completely at ease—our experienced instructors will support you with care and attention.
| Time required | Minimum number of participants | Per person fee Tax included: ¥ |
| 60ｍinute | 1 to 3people | 10,８９０ |
| 40 | 1 to 3people | 7,４８0 |
| 20 | 1 to 3people | 3,９00 |
Ocean Riding (Horseback Experience by the Sea) ： ”English OK”
Seasonal Operation from Late April to Late September, Reservation Required
“Oku-Matsushima” refers to the area east of Matsushima—one of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Spots—covering Miyato Island and the Nobiru Coast facing the Pacific Ocean. With breathtaking scenery and abundant seafood, it is a tourist destination that rivals Matsushima itself. Here in Oku-Matsushima, you can enjoy horseback riding along the seaside (and even riding in the ocean during the summer season). Beginners are most welcome. Additionally, our staff will photograph your experience and present you with the photo data afterward.
For groups of 4 to 6 participants, horses will be shared in rotation so that everyone can enjoy the experience.
Program Schedule
13:20 Please finish preparing for horseback riding and arrive at the designated meeting point. After registration, we will guide you to the beach (approx. 10 minutes by car).
13:30 Arrival at the beach. Under the instructor’s guidance, you will greet the horses and engage in communication before starting your ride.
14:50 Dismount and enjoy feeding the horses.
15:00 Program ends.
The moment when a human being—naturally a predator—and a horse—a prey animal—meet in the middle, connect through mutual support and harmony, and begin to “play together” while sharing a sense of safety is nothing short of a living work of art.
“Mimamori,” the place where such scenes unfold, has grown through the cooperation of many people during the long process of recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Rooted in a deep reverence for nature, it now stands as a unique and compelling regional resource—both “ancient and new” in its values and presence.
In this environment, we offer a variety of programs that allow participants to experience sustainable, circular ways of living, thinking, and relating to the world. These experiences provide opportunities to reconnect with one’s own well-being and to explore new perspectives that support a more balanced and fulfilling life.