Niimi Limestone Caves Tour: Makido, Ikurado & Apple Picking

Walk through LED-lit caverns, then pick your own apples against autumn cliffs

This 8-hour bus tour from Okayama Station visits two limestone caves (Makido Cave with multicolored LED-lit stalactites and Ikurado Cave with a 1,200-meter passage and 90-meter elevation change) plus the Ikura Waterfall and all-you-can-eat apple picking at Ohara Tourist Orchard. The tour includes admission to both caves, a Chiyagyu beef barbecue lunch, bottled water, and a live guide who speaks Chinese. The bus departs on schedule and does not wait for late arrivals. Arrive 15 minutes early at Okayama Station.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore caves and apple picking

• Visit Makido Cave with LED lights
• Explore Ikurado Cave and Ikura Waterfall
• Enjoy barbecue lunch with Chiyagyu beef
• All-you-can-eat apple picking at orchard

The experience

Makido Cave is the first stop, where natural stalactites are illuminated by advanced multicolored LED lights that create a dramatic contrast against the warm autumn colors of the approach. The cave's mystical light display is the visual centerpiece of the morning. From there, the tour moves to Ikurado Cave, a 1,200-meter passage with a 90-meter elevation difference that feels like an active adventure rather than a passive walk-through. During autumn, the towering sheer cliffs surrounding the cave entrance frame vibrant fall foliage in a way that makes the site exceptionally photogenic. The cave itself is lit with mystical illumination and sits at the heart of a tragic love story that gives it local significance.

Between the two caves, you'll see the Ikura Waterfall. Lunch is a grilled barbecue feast of Chiyagyu beef, a breed tracing its lineage to Japan's oldest Wagyu strain, born in Niimi City. The meal is included in the tour price. After lunch comes the Ohara Tourist Orchard, where the tour ends with all-you-can-eat apple picking. You taste and pick varieties against a clear blue sky. The entire day runs 8 hours and involves a lot of walking, so moderate physical fitness is necessary. The bus may experience traffic delays, and visit durations at each site can shorten depending on road conditions.

This is a shared group tour, not a private one, so you'll travel with other guests. A live guide who speaks Chinese leads the group throughout the day. The bus departs from Okayama Station according to schedule and will not wait for late arrivals, so plan to arrive 15 minutes early. Weekends, holidays and event days may experience high congestion. The tour requires a minimum of 10 participants. If that threshold is not met by one month before the scheduled date, the operator may cancel and issue a full refund.

What’s included

• Admission to Makido Cave and Ikurado Cave.
• all-you-can-eat apple picking and admission to Ohara Tourist Orchard.
• Chiyagyu beef barbecue lunch.
• bottled water.
• bus transportation from Okayama Station.
• live guide in Chinese.

Options for this experience

2 options

Itinerary for Taiwanese nationalsGuide in Chinese · 08:45

From Okayama StationGuide in Chinese · Available from 16 Nov · 08:45

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:45

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 1): free

GroupUp to 35

Live guideChinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by H.I.S.Co., Ltd.

Is this one for you?The shared schedule and group format mean you travel with other guests and follow fixed stop times, which keeps the full itinerary (two caves, a waterfall, lunch and orchard) inside a single 8-hour day. Moderate physical fitness is necessary because the tour involves a lot of walking, particularly the 1,200-meter passage through Ikurado Cave with its 90-meter elevation change.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 1): free.

What is Makido Cave like inside?

Makido Cave features natural stalactites illuminated by advanced multicolored LED lights that create a mystical, dramatic visual display contrasting with the warm autumn colors visible at the cave entrance.

How long is the walk through Ikurado Cave?

Ikurado Cave spans 1,200 meters in length with a 90-meter elevation difference, making it a dynamic, active experience rather than a short stroll. The surrounding cliffs and fall foliage create an exceptionally photogenic setting during autumn.

What kind of beef is served at lunch?

Lunch features Chiyagyu beef, a premium Wagyu breed that traces its lineage to Japan's oldest Wagyu strain and is born in Niimi City, grilled as a barbecue feast included in the tour.

Can I pick apples and eat them on the spot at the orchard?

Yes, the tour includes all-you-can-eat apple picking at Ohara Tourist Orchard, where you pick and taste delicious varieties of apples directly at the orchard.

What time do I need to arrive at Okayama Station?

Arrive 15 minutes before the departure time listed on your booking. The bus departs according to schedule and will not wait for late arrivals, and no refund is issued if you miss the departure.

Is this tour private or shared with other people?

This is a shared group tour, so you will travel and explore the caves and orchard with other guests. A live guide who speaks Chinese leads the entire group throughout the 8-hour day.