Miso soup is a classic when it comes to Japanese cuisine. Soul food for anyone living in the archipelago, the flavorful dish is equally loved by foreigners visiting the country.
Despite its growing popularity, though, the main ingredient (miso paste) is still largely unfamiliar to many.
What better way to delve into the world of this historical ingredient than try making it with your own hands?
The host of this experience is Ariura-san, a powerful lady who runs a small restaurant inside a 150-year-old farmhouse. Her cuisine is a nod to local tradition and focuses on fermented food such as miso, soy sauce, and sake. She makes a point to make her ingredients at home by hand, which includes miso.
So, join Ariura-san at her establishment, make your own miso from scratch, and enjoy a hearty lunch made with top seasonal delicacies from the region.
First, you will build a fire in the yard, where you will slowly cook the soybeans.
Certain things cannot be rushed, and simmering beans are one of those. While you wait, you can enjoy a finger-licking refreshment put together by the host featuring steaming tea and typical snacks such as oyaki buns, cookies, and tsukemono pickles.
Once the beans are fully cooked, it’s time for lunch.
It takes about one year of fermentation before miso is ready. That’s quite a long wait, so as a preview of what awaits you at the end, Ariura-san will include soup made with last year’s miso.
Finally, you will mash the beans into a creamy paste, add salt and koji rice, and mix thoroughly with your hands.
You can take the miso home (about 500 g/person), a souvenir in the making for the following year.
Ariura-san uses homemade koji rice, homegrown organic soybeans, and high-quality salt, so the results are guaranteed.
*With an additional fee, you can increase the quantity of miso to 1.5 kg.
Ariura-san’s kitchen is a treasure trove of traditional gourmet treats.
Her cupboard is lined up with assorted jars filled with any vegetables soaking in colorful liquids; her drawers are stacked with any imaginable cooking utensils. It’s like a research lab for delicious meals that are also good for the body.
She only selects the highest quality products and commits to process them by herself whenever she can. After all, her main objective is to achieve good health through good food.
Owner of Kamosuya
Period | All year | |
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Due Date | 7 days before the activity | |
Duration | 4 hr | |
Schedule |
10:00 Meet at Kamosuya 10:30 Miso making time 11:30 Lunchtime 12:30 Miso making time 14:00 Activity ends |
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No. of participants | Min. 2 persons /Max. 8 persons | |
Price | / person | JPY 7,700 Options: ・Take home extra miso: JPY 1,650/1.5 kg ・English-speaking guide: JPY 11,330/group (All prices tax incl.) |
Included in the price | Activity, miso ingredients (makes 1.5 kg of miso total), storage container, Kamosuya special lunch and snack, insurance | |
Payment method | Credit card | |
Cancellation policy | 7 days prior: 30% of total amount 3 days prior: 50% of total amount 1 day prior: 70% of total amount Day of activity: 100% of total amount |
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Access |
15 min by car from JR Chino Station *If you do not have a car, we recommend using the Noraza ride share service. See the Noraza app for details (iPhone App Store/Google Play) |
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