¥6,480per person
Immerse in nature
Credit card payment
Highlights:
-Get up close and personal with nature
-See and understand the beauty of the region through the eyes of the locals
-The guide will introduce local lifestyle and history through cycling in the downtown
¥5,400per person
Experience food culture
Credit card payment
Half day course on making local delicacies that have been passed down for generations taught by local 'moms'.
Tokamachi's local dishes consist of many types of mountain vegetables. You will be taught local household dishes that are not served in eateries. You will also be provided with the recipe so that you may try it back home as well.
The menu will roughly consist of 3 dishes, rice and miso soup. As for the specific dishes, it will be a surprise for the day!
Highlights:
-Make local delicacies that have been passed down for generations taught by local 'moms’
-Taste Tokamachi's dishes which consist of many types of mountain vegetables
-Lean Japannese culinary secrets from experienced ‘moms’
¥4,500per person
Interact with the locals
Japanese traditional sandals, "Zōri" has continued to make for a long time, but nowadays its makers are decreased, so this experience is very rare!
You may wear handcrafted "Zōri" at beach in summer or display it at home as a stylish interior.
Why don't you make your own original "Zōri" with locals?
¥3,600per person
Feel the snow
Why not try walking with snowshoes?
Not confident of your fitness? Bad at sports? Worried about being in the snow for too long? No problem, it's a short tour for everyone!
On a sunny day, you will be mesmerized by Echigo's mountains and scenery on this short tour.
You might also be able to catch glimpses of fox and rabbit tracks, mantis eggs, pupae, etc.
You may even be able to experience natures strength during a blizzard.
The guide will tailor the course based on weather and participants physical conditions so just enjoy the tour worry free!
Highlight:
-Enjoy snowcapped mountains and scenery on this short tour
-If lucky, catch glimpses of fox and rabbit tracks
-The guide will tailor the course based on weather and participants physical conditions
¥10,800per person
Immerse in nature
Why not experience Zen in historical temple for your next Japan trip?
Take the time to wind down and do some self reflection! Or do some soul searching in this centuries old temple in Tokamachi.
Retreat here to meditate, transcribe & chant sutra, coupled with a Japanese vegetarian meal made from local ingredients to refresh your mind in the beauty of nature.
Highlights:
-Take the time to wind down and do some self reflection, or do some soul searching in the centuries old temple
-Try Traditional Japanese fishtarian dinner at the end of the program (*Contact us if you would like to have vegetarian dinner)
¥10,000per person
Feel the snow
Learn to capture Tokamachi's winter scenery from a professional cameraman.
Photographing winter sceneries can be a complicated task as settings such as white balance and exposure can be difficult in the all white background.
This half day tour offers to further your enjoyment of photo taking interest by providing you with a lesson, complete with lecture, photo shooting and viewing sessions by a professional photographer.
The photos taken on each season will be displayed at Hotel Belnatio and be voted upon by the hotel guests. There will be a prize for the person with the best photo. (Details of the prize to be announced later)
¥15,000〜per person
Feel the snow
Credit card payment
Snowmobile or any snow activities: Have the ski resort all to yourself
Live the skiers dream by having a 100 hectare ski grounds all to yourself. Ride a snowmobile, snow tube, sleds, backcountry ski, snowboard or even practice tricks. Do anything you want for the duration of this plan.
Those who not familiar with snow, don't worry! An instructor will lead you whole day, so you will know how to play proper and more fun.
Highlights:
-Having a 100 hectare ski grounds all to yourself
-Ride a snowmobile, snow tube, sleds, backcountry ski, snowboard or even practice tricks,
… do anything you want!
-An instructor will lead you whole day
¥8,000〜per person
Interact with the locals
Why not try traditional Kimono weaving techniques under the guidance of Kimono textile artisans?
Tokamachi is well-known for high quality Kimono textile production since several centuries ago, so each Kimono factory has its own techniques which they have inherited and continuously developed.
In this special course, you will be able to weave your original stole, table runner, coasters or other woven items by colorful silk or cotton yarns of your choice under the guidance of Kimono textile artisans.
For a half day course, normally you can make a table runner or a few coasters;
For 1 day course, you can make a stole.
You may also have lunch there with +1,200yen.
¥5,000〜per person
Immerse in nature
This is a plan that you can book now to experience Black Bass Fishing in the Shinano River, the longest river in Japan.
There are many types of fish living in Shinano River, the smallmouth bass included.
Basses in Shinano River are comparatively larger than average, ranging from 30cm to 40cm in length.
The fishing spot is hidden and private which only locals know how to get to. No worries of a crowded area!
For beginners, a local angler will teach you how to fish there, and fishing equipment is available to rent. Everything has been prepared for you so why not join us along with your friends and family, for everyone to enjoy sport fishing and the nature!
¥3,300〜per person
Interact with the locals
Credit card payment
This experiential tour takes us through the craft beer brewing process from cultivating seedlings to brewing with Tsumari Brewing, a company founded only this year in Niigata's own Tokamachi.
This tour will be an in depth look at hops-- essential to the scent and bitterness of beer. In the afternoon will be Tsumari Brewing's Beer and Wild Game Barbecue (featuring wild game hunted locally!) Come and join us in brewing beer using local hops planted by your own hands!
Attendees can be picked up from JR Tokamachi Station's West Exit before the event. The application deadline is TWO DAYS before the date of the event.
¥15,000〜per person
Immerse in nature
Credit card payment
Through this trip, you can fish for wild trout in hidden away fishing spots where only local guides know about. We also have native Japanese trouts, Iwana & Yamame, besides the released ones which were released by the local fisheries’ association.
These fishing spots are full of trouts, you may even touch trouts when you wade into the river. So you can also enjoy fly fishing in a private space in the middle of mother nature, without worry whether you will catch anything or not!
¥7,000per person
Experience food culture
Credit card payment
While enjoying ski vacation or art Triennale in Tokamachi, do want to take some hours off from skiing or traveling and learn how to make sushi? The chef is Yoko who taught foreigners how to make sushi in different countries.
Sushi cooking class in English is rare and expensive. Tokyo Sushi Academy charges 40,000 yen for three hours of lesson. If you want to impress your friends and families back home with your new sushi cooking skill, please contact us anytime.
¥5,500〜per person
Immerse in nature
Harvest & enjoy seasonal wild herbs & vegetables with a local guide!
Through this experiential tour, you can trek in the woods in mountains with a local guide to harvest the wild herbs and vegetables.
Many wild herbs and vegetables are grown in the mountains in Tokamachi, which are rich with natural minerals due to the mounds of melted snow. These seasonal wild vegetables have been proven to boost one’s immune system and help with detoxification after the long winters. This can be attested by any local since they have benefited from this for centuries!
After your harvest, locally famous soba chefs will teach you the secrets of cooking the buckwheat noodles and frying tempura with the veggies you have hand-picked. With this, you can taste the fruits of your labour while also gaining the knowledge to cook soba back home!
Highlights
1. Learn the art to making delicious vegan sushi
2. Explore the flavours of Tokamachi’s vegetables
3. Exquisite food, minus the guilt!
4. You can even harvest your own veggies in the summer and autumn seasons
Great for:
1. People that want to have a broader vegan recipe repertoire
2. Healthy eaters
3. Sushi lovers
4. Those in search of an exceptional vegan experience
*The menu changes based on the vegetables in season.
Highlights:
1) Experience the spring of a snowy region
2) Explore the hills while taking in the refreshing air of spring
3) Taste the freshly picked mountain vegetables in the best way known
Recommended for:
1) People who loves trekking and walking among nature
2) Those seeking the feeling of spring
3) Those who want to learn to forage and prepare the delicacies in the authentic ways
4) Those looking for a more unusual activity & adventure
Highlights:
1) Get to know the history and background of the people and region of the Hoshi-Toge Rice Terrace.
2) Take in the refreshing countryside atmosphere
3) Contribute to the upkeep of the region for future generations
Recommended for:
1) Folks who enjoy the authentic Japanese atmosphere
2) Those who want to have a countryside adventure
3) Those interested in the lives of the people living in this postcard worthy place.
4) Those who want to contribute to the upkeep of the authentic Japanese countryside
Options:
Drop by for a soak in the local onsen at the end of the day (600 Yen). (Costs for transport and towels are not included. Not open on Wednesdays)
Hi there, I'm Aki. I will be your guide!
I'm from Niigata, and I like winter sports very much.
I also love sharing cultures with people from other countries. I've traveled to Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and all over Japan so far.
Let's chat with me and share your culture!
*Booking is not necessary, you also can just visit directly.
2．Show your passport or IC, fill the application form
3．Payment (If you paid through Web, no need)
4．Choose Yukata and other accessories which you like
5．Dress up
6．Take photos
7．Enjoy Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale
(Above photos are taken in KINARE, one of Art Triennale's center in Tokamachi)
8．Change & Return
Back in the shop by return time, change to your clothes and return yukata.
