Cook traditional dishes with the village grannies
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.
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.
INFORMATION
| Period | All year | |
|---|---|---|
| Due Date | 10 days prior to the tour date | |
| Duration | 3 hr | |
| Schedule |
9:30 Meet guide at JR Chino Station 10:00 Activity starts 10:15 Seasonal farming experience- Let's prepare our own ingredients! 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 8,800/person With 3 participants: JPY 7,700/person With 4 participants: JPY 7,150/person With 5 participants: JPY 6,820/person Child (ages 7-12): JPY 3,300/person Child (ages 4- 6): JPY 2,200/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 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) *Vegetarian and vegan options available. If you have any allergies or other dietary restrictions, please inform the staff at the reservation moment. |
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Reservation
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