Rural Village Walking and Cooking Tour

Immerse yourself in centuries-old farming and food culture, well off the beaten path

Experience Japanese local life in a quaint farming village nestled in the mountains of Nagano. During your half-day tour, walk the streets with a local elder and prepare traditional dishes with a seasoned local cook.

Wander through shrines dedicated to nature worship, well-kept Japanese-style gardens, and farmhouses that have been around for centuries. Explore antique earthen storehouses and learn the meaning behind the intricate plaster street art that decorates their walls. After your walking tour, enjoy a culinary lesson with a local woman who will teach you how to prepare the best local flavors with traditional seasonal dishes. Make mouth-watering treats like rustic shiso mochi (perilla-, or beefsteak-plant-flavored pounded glutinous rice) and colorful agar-agar cakes.

Explore all corners of the charming, rustic hamlet bursting with Japanese tradition, and discover authentic village life with the help of your tour guides and interpreter.

From Shinjuku Station, take the Chuo Line express train to Chino Station (about 2 hours); the tour location is about 20 minutes from Chino Station by car.

Rural Village Half-day Walking Tour in Nagano (Chino Tourism Organization)