Local Artisans, Japanese Food, & Walking Tour in Shiga
Enjoy regional food, mountain villages, local culture, engage with artisans, & soak up the natural scenery on this walking tour in Shiga’s Samegai-juku & Kaminyu regions.
Highlights
Visit Samegai, an Edo-period post town of the historic Nakasendo Road
Walk along a mountain stream
Enjoy a locally sourced lunch at a traditional ryotei restaurant
Embark on a 4km walk through the local satoyama (border zone/area between mountain foothills and flat land) nature to the hidden village of Kaminyu
Meet wood and metal-crafting artisans of Kaminyu and get an exclusive look at their workspace and community
10 meals
+Experience Details
Embark on a nature-lovers experience starring regional cuisine in the picturesque Shiga Prefecture! Discover a charming mountain village, engage with local artisans, enjoy a Japanese lunch using regional ingredients, embark on a nature hike, and more.
Our journey begins at JR Maibara Station, conveniently reachable via the high-speed bullet train. A brief train ride carries us eastward to JR Samegai Station, where we set out on foot to explore the historic enclave known as Samegai-juku.
Samegai-juku is a post station town along the Nakasendo Road, one of the two principal routes connecting Edo (formerly Tokyo) with imperial Kyoto. Within this charming village is a serene, crystalline river, nourished by a nearby mountain spring. The residents of this community have cultivated a way of life intricately intertwined with this precious natural resource, achieving a harmonious equilibrium that harnesses and conserves the gifts of nature.
For lunch, enjoy a selection of local delicacies at an authentic ryotei restaurant, once the esteemed honjin of the post town (the highest class of lodging, reserved for Edo officials). The menu showcases locally sourced ingredients, including rainbow trout cultivated in the nearby waters.
Following this, we’ll embark on a revitalizing 4 km walk to Kaminyu, a hidden community of traditional craftsmen nestled in a mountain valley. The path consists of mostly level terrain, transitioning into some uphill stretches and a gentle descent. Revel in the picturesque rural landscapes, from lush rice fields to serene local forests.
In Kaminyu, a village resident will guide us, offering insights into the community and its workspaces. You'll have the opportunity to chat with locals, as well as explore the studios of craftsmen, gaining insight into their time-honored craft, including the intricate techniques employed in crafting butsudan (Buddhist altars), a 300-year-old local artisanal tradition.
Inclusions
Professional bilingual (EN/JA) guide
Locally-sourced ryotei lunch
Entrance fees
Exclusions
All train fares (but covered by the JR Pass if you have one)
Souvenirs, food, snacks, etc.
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Meet your host right at the ticket gate of JR Maibara Station. By bullet train, Maibara is 1 stop east (20 min) from Kyoto. More details and a Google Maps link will be provided upon booking.
Remarks
Please wear appropriate walking shoes; the tour includes a 5 km (approx.) walk
As the tour includes meals, please inform us of any dietary restrictions/requests (for all attendees) in advance; we’ll do our best to accommodate you (vegetarian, vegan, etc.)
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 2 days before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Dominated by Japan’s largest lake, this prefecture offers a wealth of culture around its shores, as well as some of the best freshwater fish in the country.
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10 meals
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