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FoodFarming and Everyday life
Local gastronomy experience

Cook Traditional Dishes with the Village Grannies

Price: JPY 11,000/person Duration: 3 hr

Activities

Discover the wisdom that lies in the food culture of a village in the mountain's shadow

In rural villages, the locals still lead a life in harmony with nature, their gastronomy attuned to the cycle of the seasons. In spring, they forage wild vegetables in the wood; in summer, they use the fresh mountain water to grow delicious vegetables; in autumn, they pickle and dry food to make preserves; and in winter, they use a natural freeze-dry technique to create unique products such as frozen tofu.

This activity will take you to one of the villages under the Yatsugatake Mountains’ shadow, in the Yamaura area. There, together with a local grannie, you will cook three or four traditional dishes using fresh home-grown ingredients. The menu, of course, changes every season.

Before the actual cooking starts, you also have the chance to experience some traditional farming activities such as miso-making in March or vegetable pickling in November. Once everything is ready, sit at the table and enjoy a delicious meal with the grannie.

Sushi, ramen, and tempura are great, but if you want to go off the gastronomy beaten track and explore the cuisine of a small mountain village, then you should try out this experience.

A taste of the Yatsugatake Mountains

Sasahara is a tiny village at 1100m in the Yamaura, the rural area closer to the peaks of the Yatsugatake. For centuries the locals have led a life in harmony with the mountains, enjoying nature’s blessings whenever possible and using their ancestors’ wisdom to turn nature’s challenges into opportunities when necessary.

Local grannies are the ones whose role is to protect this wisdom and pass it on to the next generation. Some of them were born and bred in the village, and others came here after getting married to a local, others yet moved in later in life. They all have something in common, though: their love for the region and their determination to protect the area's unique gastronomy.

Our cute grannies will welcome you to the village and offer you a taste of their daily lives. Gather some wild vegetables for crispy tempura, harvest some fresh cucumbers to make a colorful agar cake, or grind some fragrant perilla grains to go with your rustic mochi.
Here you can experience a traditional way of life attuned to the land and its seasons.

The grannies of Sasahara Village

INFORMATION

Period All year
Due Date 10 days prior to the tour date
Duration 3 hr
Schedule

10:00

Activity starts
Our grannies will explain about the local culture and how it influences the food.
They will also introduce today's menu and ingredients.

10:15

Seasonal farming experience- Let's prepare our own ingredients!
(Ex. March: miso making, Jul~Aug: summer vegetable picking, etc.)

10:45

Cooking time (3~4 dishes)

12:20

Now's the time to take a seat at the table and eat together with the grannies

13:00

Activity ends
No. of participants Min. 2 persons / Max. 13 persons
Price / person Adult (ages 13+):
With 2 participants: JPY 11,000/person
With 3 participants: JPY 9,900/person
With 4 participants: JPY 9,350/person
With 5 participants: JPY 9,020/person

Child (ages 4-12): JPY 5,500/person

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(All prices tax incl.)
Included in the price Activity, meal (ingredients), insurance, English-speaking guide
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 20 min by car/taxi from JR Chino Station
*Vegetarian and vegan options available. If you have any allergies or other dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance.

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