Scenic Walk Through Rice Terraces in a World of Silver

Tokamachi City in Niigata Prefecture is known as one of Japan’s heaviest snowfall areas. The rice terraces (Tanada), which wave with lush greenery in the summer, are completely transformed in winter, buried under meters of snow to become a mystical, silver world resembling an ink wash painting. In this experience, you will strap on “Kanjiki” (traditional Japanese snowshoes)—a folk tool that has served as people’s feet in this snowy region since ancient times—and step into this fantastic landscape. Enjoy the unique walking sensation of these traditional tools, which differs from modern snowshoes, as you satisfy your sense of adventure by treading on fresh, untouched snow. You will venture deep into the heart of the terraces, areas usually inaccessible due to deep snow, and have the 360-degree panoramic view of the silver world and the beautiful, undulating curves of the terrain all to yourself. It is a special experience available only in this season.

Discover the Satoyama Lifestyle with a Local Guide

The appeal of this tour goes beyond a simple walk on the snow. By exploring the rice terraces and the surrounding Satoyama (village forests) with a knowledgeable local guide for about an hour, you will touch upon the deep charm of this land. The guide will provide easy-to-understand explanations about the wisdom ancestors developed to survive the harsh winters, as well as the essential roles the beautiful rice terraces play in water control and ecosystem conservation. Through the guide’s eyes, you will also discover many signs of nature that you might otherwise miss, such as the footprints of small animals left on the snow or winter buds of trees waiting for spring. Even in the seemingly silent snowfield, you will be able to feel the pulse of the local lifestyle that has been passed down through generations and the vibrant workings of nature.

A Special Tea Time Amidst the Snow

After enjoying some light exercise trekking through the snowfields, the untouched snowy landscape transforms into your private open-air café. Surrounded by vast nature with nothing blocking your view, you will be served sweets and natural “Kuromoji” tea, brewed from the spicebush native to the mountains of Tokamachi. The refreshing and elegant aroma unique to Kuromoji helps relax both your mind and body. The moment you sip the hot, steaming tea in the crisp, clear winter air is an irreplaceable bliss. Gazing at the silent snowy scenery while warming yourself from the core with delicious tea is a luxurious relaxation experience that allows you to forget the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the winter of the snow country with all five senses.

This walking tour takes you from the Gimyo rice terraces to the Kamo rice terraces throughout the villages.

You can visit two of the most popular terraced rice paddies scattered around Tokamachi City.
Take a look at life in a ‘satoyama’ (a place where nature and human life intersect) as you walk through the villages and satoyama with a guide.

The approximately 1.5-hour course is mostly on paved paths, making it easy to walk, and anyone can participate, regardless of age.

The landscape of the satoyama with its terraced rice paddies, a symbol of Japanese culture.

Beautiful terraced rice paddies have been cultivated and passed down from generation to generation since ancient times. In Tokamachi, the satoyama lifestyle centred on terraced rice paddies is still alive today.

Tokamachi City in Niigata Prefecture is dotted with beautiful terraced rice paddies, of which the Gimyo Rice Terraces and Kamo no tanada

Learn how to make Sasadango from local People.

This tour is an experience program to learn how to make “Sasadango” Niigata Prefecture’s most beloved traditional food.

“Dango” are traditional sweet rice dumplings while “sasa” refers to broadleaf bamboo leaves. Therefore, “Sasadango” are sweet rice dumplings wrapped in broadleaf bamboo leaves.

Learn how to make Sasadango from local masters and take the freshly steamed sweets you made! No doubt, adults and kids alike will enjoy this experience.

What is “Sasadango”?

Sasadango – rice dumplings with sweet bean paste and wrapped in fragrant bamboo leaves, are said to have been developed in the Sengoku period (15-16th centuries) as a preserved food and thought to have been invented by the famous Echigo (Niigata) warlord, Kenshin Uesugi. These dumplings are wrapped in bamboo leaves as it has excellent antibacterial properties.
At that time, it seems that simmered bean paste which was a daily staple, has been used instead of the sweet bean paste as it is now. Sasadango has been popular for a long time but now there are only a few people who make it and eating homemade Sasadango fresh out of the steam pan is a very valuable experience.

Taste the freshly steamed Sasadango you made!

In this tour, local masters will teach you how to make Sasadango from how to knead the dumplings, to wrapping in the red bean paste beautifully and finally, wrapping the dumplings with bamboo leaves and tying with a string called “igusa”. It’s truly a wonderful experience children and adults can enjoy. This homemade steamed Sasadango will have a slightly different taste than the ones brought at the store!

Sasadango can be kept for a short period of time due to the antibacterial property of the bamboo grass, making them ideal as items to bring home after a trip to Niigata Prefecture. So, how about joining a homemade Sasadango making class while here to enjoy this traditional local sweet?