A Cycling Tour of Culinary and Cultural Traditions

A unique tour of the quaint rural town of Maniwa, with a focus on its history of food and drink production.

Maniwa in a gorgeous rural town in Okayama Prefecture that is actively working to preserve its traditional culture through sustainable tourism. This cycling tour focuses on the Katsuyama and Kuse areas, and their culinary traditions of brewing and fermenting. An expert English-speaking guide leads cyclists on visits to various food artisans and a temple famous for its woodblock print art.

Generations of local Japanese craftsmen here have been producing quintessential ingredients for Japanese cuisine. Participants will visit a maker of miso, soy sauce, and vinegar. They will also tour a sake brewery to see how this Japanese beverage is created. Another stop is at an old sake brewery that has been repurposed into a culture center.

Other highlights on the tour include a visit to a local textile atelier that makes noren curtains, Miraiji Temple, and lunch at a local restaurant.

Take the Shinkansen bullet train from Shin Osaka Station to Okayama Station (45 minutes). Take the bus to Katsuyama (about 2 hours).

Maniwa Tourism Bureau