[3D2N] Tokamachi Tanada Treks

Nature History Culture Gourmet
Booking Request

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.

Through experiences including visiting local farmers, wild vegetable picking, rice planting/harvesting, cycling, paddling and snowshoeing, explore the history and the culture firsthand. (Depending on the season)

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.

tour info Detail

Highlights

[Itinerary Example] DAY 1 -Enjoy Hot Spring Resort-

Afternoon

At around 2:00 pm, take a shuttle bus to Hinano yado Chitose from Matsudai station in Tokamachi.

Take a rest and relax with hotspring and walking around. (Free time)

 

Evening

At 6:30, enjoy dinner featuring unique and delicious local specialties and the best ingredients of the season and the region.

 

About Hina no Yado Chitose

Served directly from the hot spring source, the 29-room inn provides three guest rooms with attached rotenburo outside baths, as well as two private baths. In winter, enjoy the special hot spring atmosphere unique to Snow Country, while enjoying meals with many items and styles unique to Matsunoyama—including rice and saké from the tanada.

At the izakaya Chiro, not far from the inn, enjoy floor heating using the spring water, and cooking done before you on the irori open hearth. There’s a calm, timeless atmospheres and dishes unique to Snow Country, giving people a deep sense of the Japanese Satoyama.

It’s a refined place to stay, with the onsen to heal bodies tired from trekking.

[Itinerary Example] DAY 2 -Excellent Views-

Morning

After having breakfast, the guide pick you up at 8:30am at the entrance of the accommodation. Then, drive to the venue.

 

The course starts at Hokuhoku Oshima Station of the Hokuhoku Line. It’s around 5km, takes around 3 hours. (The course length may adjust according to your request.)

The first stop is to visit the local shrine to ask for safety on the walk, and then start the trek. The course provides views of a variety of landscapes, as well as the footprints of the animals of the beech forests (and sometimes the animals and birds themselves). When the weather is favorable, it’s possible to see not only the tanada terraced rice fields, but as far away as Sado Island in the Sea of Japan.

Along the walk are the Hoshitoge Rice Terraces, the most famous tanada in all of Japan. The course, however, is not used by regular tourists, so guests have a private view all to themselves.

 

 

 

 

Afternoon

Lunch will be served Japanese Bento lunch box made by local ingredients along with  fragrant coffee or tea.

While enjoying trekking, stop by a nearby village too.

We will visit the farmer of the village and try out the harvest of his vegetables. It will be interesting to talk with him about his way of farming and the lifetyle in the area.

 

At 3:00 pm, you will reach today’s inn “Toronoki House.” Take a break with seeing around the Tronoki House building and exploring the surrounding area until dinner time.

 

Evening

At 6:00 pm, while enjoying a chat with the owner of the Tronoki House, prepare dinner together with the local special wild vegetables and fresh vegetables harvested nearby.

It might be the best memory in this remote area.

After a delicious dinner, if the weather is nice, go outside and observe the starry sky. You can enjoy the full starry sky.

 

About Toronoki House

The owner wanted to live in an area of tanada; today this is the only guesthouse in Japan specifically focused on enjoying these rice terraces. The house is decorated both with sophisticated furniture and a variety of items from the tanada. It’s an idea place for talking with the owner and other local residents, to hear interesting stories and exchange information. The starry sky is almost overwhelming, while in the morning the terraces stand above unkai, the sea of clouds. From the beech forest behind the house comes an amazing array of birdsong. The meals use both the best local vegetables and other ingredients and techniques, but often, when possible, wild vegetables from the woods. 

 

[Itinerary Example] DAY 3 -History-

Morning

After having breakfast, the guide pick you up at 9:30am at the entrance of the accommodation. Then, drive to the venue.

This is a walk from the area around Matsudai Station up toward the mountains. It’s around 5km, takes around 3 hours. (The course length may adjust according to your request.)

There are unique stories to be heard even very close to the town. There are endless tales that have been carefully handed down about village life here from the Warring States Period in the 16th century to the end of the Tokugawa era in 1868.

After taking a break at a village home*, head up along a mountain ridge, and encounter the truly ancient ruins of a shiro, usually translated as “castle.” This was not the luxurious home of a lord, however, but a practical fortification built for warfare. You’ll even find that one ancient house here is the repository of one of Uesugi Kenshin’s swords from 500 years ago—there are many tales to be heard here!

(*The location and the contents might be changed depending on the situation)

 

Afternoon

Lunch will be served Japanese Bento lunch box made by local ingredients along with  fragrant coffee or tea.

 

After completing the course, let’s heal the tiredness of trekking at Shibatoge Onsen “Unkai”, which is famous for its beautiful terraced rice fields.

 

At 2:00 pm, the guide will drop you off at Matsudai station of Hokuhoku Line and the tour ends.

PeriodApril to November (There are the other tours in the winter period)
VenueMatsudai station
IncludesEnglish speaking guide, 2 nights of accommodation (the accommodation will be arranged according to your request), transportation within the itinerary, meals (2 breakfast, 2 lunch, 2 dinner), drinking water, snacks/drinks for a break (DAY 2 & DAY 3), local experience program (DAY 2), hot spring (DAY 3), insurance
Required EquipmentsWalking & Hiking Clothes and shoes, rain gear (for light rain), towel, backpack and water bottle
An example of clothing
Event Conditions2 or more participants
・Minimum number of participants: 2 ・Booking deadline: 1 week before the tour date ・Cancellation policy:

We charge cancellation fee as following:

6 days to 1 day before the tour: 30% of total tour cost

Before the tour starting time: 50% of total tour cost

After the tour starting time: 100% of total tour cost

・Special notes:

・本旅行のコースは私有地を含むため、ツアー終了後にガイドなしでコース等へ立ち入ることはできません。

・ツアー中のお客様の個人の責任の範囲内での事故(転倒など)については、全て自己責任でお願いします。

・昼食時にはコーヒーやお弁当が提供されます。アレルギーや食事制限等で気になることがあれば、事前にご相談ください。

・体調の優れない方のご参加はご遠慮ください。

・集合時およびツアー中に、ガイドが参加不適当(格好や体調の様子)と判断をした参加者がいた場合、ツアーを始める前や途中で中断および行程の変更をする場合があります。ただし、その場合でも返金等には応じられませんので、予めご了承ください。

・日程に記載の宿泊施設は、空き状況によりご案内できない場合があります。その際は他の宿泊施設をご紹介させていただきます。

・Tour guide/tour manager

Our tour guide/tour manager will escort you from the pick up point Matsudai station to drop off point Matsudai station.

Other than the time frame above, kindly arrange your trip by your own.

From JPY 81,000/1 person
*The rate might change depending on the seasons.

*After sending a booking request, we will confirm availability and get back to you.

How To Book

Booking Request

First, send us a booking request to check availability.

Confirming Availability

We will review the request and reply to you.

Completing The Booking

Fill the form we send by email and proceed with payment.

Departure Day

Finally, come to the meeting point to enjoy the tour!

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