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Let's visit a local producer! Guide tour to a traditional kanten "farm"

Treasure in a hidden village: Kanten

Price: JPY 3,850/person Duration: 1.5 hr

Activities

Discover a traditional winter specialty

When winter comes, and the land gets covered in a veil of white frost, locals gather at the kanten "farms" to prepare for a new winter harvest.
Making kanten following the old methods means working at the cauldron during the night and then spend hours out in the glacial weather during the day.
It is tough work, but producers take tradition very seriously. And so, every winter for the last 200 years, they have laid out their kanten under the cold sky.

In this tour, we will visit a local kanten farm located at an altitude of 1,000 meters and the producer will guide us through the entire production process.
Kanten is produced in winter. During the tour outside of the production period, you can get a close-up look at and even go inside the tools, which are too dangerous to approach during production.

You can see and touch the huge kettle in which seaweed is boiled, the "nama-ten" that has hardened into a jelly-like substance, and the frozen product.

The visit will conclude with a tasting of delicious kanten-based dishes because the best way to discover new food is by eating it.

What is Kanten?

Even if you have never heard of kanten, there is a good chance you have eaten it at least once during your stay in Japan.
Kanten is, in fact, a key ingredient to many typical Japanese confectioneries. If there is something jelly-like in your traditional sweet, that is most likely kanten.

What is kanten made of?

Kanten is a by-product of a red seaweed called "agar."
You might be surprised to find seaweed in your dessert, but don't worry, kanten loses the sea-like flavor during the first stages of production.

But why is something made of seaweed produced in a mountain area?

We don't want to give away too much, but let's just say that one of the main ingredients is frost.
When making kanten, you are literally harvesting ice.

What makes kanten special?

Well, for one thing, kanten is a healthy food that is considered by many as the secret of the locals' longevity.
It is rich in fibers, has zero calories, and is suitable for people following a vegan diet.
More than that, though, kanten is a traditional food of the Yatsugatake area with more than 200 years of history on its back.
Kanten production has shaped the culture and gastronomy of the Yamaura.

Chino-san, the owner of Irisen

Irisen is a kanten "farm" located in the foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains at 1,000m of elevation, a place rich in clean air and pure water coming from Mt. Tateshina.

INFORMATION

Period April to November
Due Date 7 days prior the date of the activity
Duration 1.5 hr
Schedule

10:30

Start- Explanation of how kanten is made

10:45

Visit the factory

11:15

Visit the fields where kanten is laid out & seasonal experience

11:45

Tasting

No. of participants Min. 1 persons / Max. 20 persons
Price / person Adult (ages 13+):
With 1 participant: JPY 7,700/person
With 2 participants: JPY 3,850/person
With 3 participants: JPY 3,300/person
With 4 participants: JPY 3,025/person
With 5 participants: JPY 2,860/person

Child (ages 3-12):
JPY 2,200/person

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(All prices tax incl.)
Included in the price English guide, tasting, 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
Access 25 min by car from JR Chino Station - Pick-up by guide available

Reservation

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