Tokamachi City in Traditional culture experience

• Age 5～Age 99
• 3～4 hours /Over 6 hours on the day
• 09:00 / 13:00

This experience involves using a loom to create original placemats and scarves. [Tokamachi, the "Kimono Town"] Weaving has been a thriving industry in Tokamachi since ancient times, and it remains famous today as a producer of high-quality textiles. In the past, weaving was a part of local life, with women gathering together to spin thread and weave, especially during the snowy winter months. [What you'll get out of this experience] Experience weaving in Tokamachi under the guidance of weavers. In this experience, you'll use an easy-to-use hand loom to weave fabrics, using thin threads for the warp and thinly torn cloth for the weft. Choose your favorite from the colorful threads provided and design your own color scheme. Why not create an original piece of fabric as a memento of your trip?

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity

• Age 12～Age 99
• 3～4 hours
• 09:00 / 13:30

This experience involves making traditional sandals called "zori." [Straw Crafts from Niigata Prefecture, a Snow Country and Rice-Producing Region] Niigata Prefecture has long been a major rice farming region, and various straw crafts using rice straw have flourished. Until 70 to 80 years ago, families would work together during the snowy winter months to earn a living by crafting sandals and other items using rice straw. Nowadays, those who can craft have become extremely rare, and straw crafts are rarely seen. While this experience of actually making zori has become rare, it is still impressive to see the footwear being made by hand. [What You'll Get From This Experience] In this program, you will work with a local instructor to make these sandals. You can choose between making zori from rice straw or cloth zori made from colorful cloth. You can choose your favorite fabric for the thongs and cloth sandals from the fabrics we have available, so you can combine them to create your own stylish original sandals. The sandals you make can be worn as sandals in the river or sea in the summer, or used as slippers or interior decoration at home. Why not make your own original handmade sandals as a memento of your trip? *Cloth sandals are an optional extra and cost an additional 500 yen. *Only Japanese and English are available.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity
• For Groups

• Age 10～Age 99
• 3～4 hours /4～5 hours
• 10:00

[Summary] Learn how to make traditional Tokamachi cuisine from local mothers. Enjoy a feast made with a variety of ingredients! [Schedule] Meet at a designated location in Tokamachi City at 10:00 AM. Cook the food under the guidance of the instructor's mother. The menu will basically consist of three side dishes, rice, and miso soup. As seasonal ingredients will be used, the menu will be a surprise until the day itself. Once the food is ready, enjoy it while chatting with the instructor's mother! You may discover new flavors. The tour will end around 1:00 PM with a drop-off location. *Only Japanese and English are available.

• For Rainy Days
• In Door Activity

• Age 5～Age 99
• 1～2 hours
• 10:00 / 13:30

This is an experience where you can make a "chinkoro," a traditional craft of Tokamachi. [What is a "chinkoro"?] A "chinkoro," a small, colorful doll made from rice flour, is something every Tokamachi resident has made. The word "chinkoro" means "puppy," and they are often shaped like puppies or the zodiac animal of the year. They are made around January each year and displayed in homes. However, because they are made from rice flour paste, they break and break within a few weeks. The more broken pieces there are, the better the luck. The culture of chinkoro making is said to have originated in the Edo period, but its origins are unclear. [What you'll get from this experience] In this program, you will learn to make a chinkoro, a traditional Tokamachi craft, under the guidance of a local instructor. You can go beyond the traditional puppies and zodiac animals and create your own original chinkoro, featuring anime characters, mascots, animals, and more. This is an experience that anyone, regardless of age or gender, can enjoy. Why not try making a lucky chinkoro as a souvenir? *Only Japanese and English are supported.

• In Door Activity
• For Groups

• Age 6～Age 80
• 2～3 hours

Experience a charcoal grill inside a kamakura! You can eat freshly grilled rice cakes. At night, candles are lit in the kamakura. *Fireworks and sake tasting are available as options. *You can grill the anbo (rice cake) from the anbo experience on a charcoal grill and eat it. Our staff will be able to speak simple English and use a translator. If you are unsure, we can also assist you with an interpreter (fees apply).

• In Door Activity
• For Groups

• Age 6～Age 80
• 2～3 hours

In the snowy room called "Hon-yara-do," there is a charcoal kotatsu that does not use electricity! You can eat rice cakes and sweets while sitting in the kotatsu. At night, candles are lit in the Hon-yara-do. *Fireworks and hotpots are available as options. *You can grill the "anbo" from the anbo experience on a charcoal grill and eat it. Staff will be able to speak simple English and use a translator. If you are unsure, we can also provide an interpreter (for a fee).

• In Door Activity
• For Groups

• Age 20～Age 50
• Over 6 hours on the day
• 11:30

Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, is one of the snowiest areas in the world. This tour will take you to see and experience the traditional event "Muko-nage and Suminuri," also known as the "Strange Festival of Echigo," held on Little New Year in the snow-covered Matsunoyama region. On December 5, 2024, Japan's "traditional sake brewing" was registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO! Niigata Prefecture has the most sake breweries in Japan, and alcohol is an inseparable and deep connection to the city. This time, you can visit Tsunan Brewery, sample sake, and shop! It's cold, but your body and mind will be warmed by this tour, where you can enjoy Tokamachi in winter!

• For Groups