Trekking in an area that looks like a painting of the “real” Japan; experiencing the rich history, culture and beautiful scenery of this area.

The terraced rice fields in the mountains of Japan are a symbol of its history and culture. The records from the past show how people in this area of heavy snow built stair-like rice fields; they also show how hard-working these people were.

Walking on the paths between the terraced rice fields, with deep forests and unmistakable cedar trees standing alongside, you encounter some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.

Experience history and culture first-hand through experiences such as cooking and crafts while interacting with local people. (Depending on the season/availability.)

Outstanding local cuisine, and unforgettably warm hospitality await our guests.

Outline

1. The old samurai road

The trekking route from village to village runs along portions of the Uesugi Gundo (military road), also known as the Kodo Matsunoyama Kaido (the old Matsunoyama Road), that runs from Joetsu City to Tokamachi.

Walking along these trails, you feel the history: the peasants who worked and lived here, the merchants carrying goods, the trails that were the roads, often to battle, for the local warlord’s troops.

Also, you will see the most beautiful and historic rice terraces in all of Japan.

2. Experienced, dedicated guides

This is a private tour, with a dedicated, local guide who can lead guests along the trails with explanations in English. Only on this tour will you be led to places that ordinary visitors could not access.

3. Sophisticated accommodations

Local accommodations are available for one to multiple nights. These high-end lodgings include sophisticated onsen (hot spring inns), and a holiday house tucked between the fields that provides an outstanding chance to interact with locals.

*Our basic plan is 3 days 2 nights, but you can arrange other itineraries according to your request.

4. Local cuisine

Fine dining is a key point of the tour, with gourmet meals featuring unique and delicious local specialties and the best ingredients of the season and the region.

5. Cultural programs

Apart from the trekking, a variety of other programs are available to experience the life and culture of the people living in this mountainous rural area. For example, 

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

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 Rice Terraces in the Matsudai area are popular spots visited by many tourists and photographers. The Gimyo Rice Terraces offer a spectacular view of lingering snow and mountain cherry blossoms all at once in early spring, while the Kamo Rice Terraces are known for their fantastic morning misty scenery.

The terraced rice paddies in this region, which is also famous for its heavy snowfall, are the crystallisation of our ancestors’ efforts to remain strong and flexible in the face of nature’s fury.

Challenges behind the beauty of the terraced rice paddies

While outsiders consume the beautiful scenery of the terraced rice paddies free of charge, the people living in the villages have been making steady efforts to protect this scenery by cultivating the terraced rice paddies on a daily basis, weeding and sometimes removing rubbish dropped by visitors to the area.

However, this area, like other rural villages in Japan, has an ageing population and the challenge is to continue to produce energy to cover the enormous amount of work required to maintain the terraced rice paddies and surroundings.

We hope that by learning about the thoughts of the villagers who protect these terraced rice paddies and the environment surrounding them, you will have the opportunity to think a little about the universal issues facing Japan today.

This is a tour to experience making traditional sandals.

Cultivation of rice has been popular in Niigata Prefecture for a long time so various craftwork using straw as material is very common. Until seventy to eighty years ago, during the winter period, each family had been making income by making sandals or other items made out of rice straw.

Nowadays though, it is rare to see crafts made from straw and there are only a few people who makes them, so this craftwork have become very valuable. Craftwork experiences like making these straw sandals have become rare and looking at this handiwork as it is weaved little by little is like looking at a masterpiece.

In this experience, you will make straw sandals with the local craftsmen in the area. You will have an option to make sandals using rice straw or colorful cloths as materials. Please indicate your choice of material when you book the tour.
You will have a choice of cloth design and color for the slipper strap and sandal so you can create your own unique craft!

The finished sandal can be worn when you go to the beach or river during the summer or can also be used as a home slipper or as an interior décor. How about making an original sandal to remember your trip?