- History and Culture
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- Farming and Everyday life
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Quiet time in an antique farmhouse [Yamaura Stay- Kinkei] 2 days 1 night
Spend one night in a traditional farmhouse, experiencing local culture and enjoying some quiet time. Make an early start, so that you can visit a local brewery to grab some high-quality sake. Then, let's check-in early and set aside some time to relax. You can add some local flavor to your stay by choosing a cooking experience for dinner, and joining a tour after check-out.
| Duration | 2 days 1 night |
|---|---|
| Price | About JPY 60,000/person |
| Period | All year |
| Overall level | 1 (easy) |
Highlights
The Suwa area is a well-known sake destination, with more than eight breweries that have been on business for generations. One of the oldest, Masumi, has opened its doors to visitors. Winter is sake-making time, which means that during your visit, you get to witness all the action. You can feel the change in temperatures in the various rooms, smell the fragrance of steamed rice and fermenting mash, listen to the fizzling sound of the microorganisms at work and, of course, taste the koji rice, rice flour, and if it's filtering day also the sake lees! In summer, the visit is carried out inside an empty brewery, but with lots of video and other props to let you fully experience the atmosphere. The summer tour also takes you to four other breweries so that you can compare the tastes of the different labels.
After seeing how sake is made and doing a tasting of the most representative sake bottles by Masumi, it's time to shop. Browse through Cella Masumi and buy a few bottles to enjoy at the farmhouse, and some more to bring back home to your family and friends.
3 min on foot
Just a few steps away from Masumi shop, there is a small retro establishment where they serve delicious fusion dishes. The menu changes daily and include many seasonal ingredients.
10 min on foot
From JR Kami-Suwa station, get on the train to Chino. It's just one station away, but be sure to check the timetable as there is only one train per hour.
7 min by train
Our staff will check you in and then take you to the farmhouse.
If you are traveling by train, our staff will give you a lift on our Toyota Voxy.
Some amenities such as toothbrush, hairbrush, skincare, etc. are not provided at the accommodation. However, we have a selection of high-quality eco-friendly products at the counter you can buy before you leave if you wish.
about 20 min by car
Kinkei is a lovely farmhouse positioned right in front of a small river. You can while away the time while sitting on the porch, listening to the gurgling stream, or enjoying the fantastic view of the Yatsugatake Mountains from the sofa. Either way, you will not want to leave the house.
*For those who wish, our staff can conduct a brief tour of the house to share some interesting facts about its architecture and history.
This is a cooking experience you can enjoy in the privacy of the farmhouse. Two local grannies from Kanazawa village will visit you, bringing all the necessary ingredients, and you will make use of the fully equipped kitchen to prepare four typical dishes of local post towns. The two main dishes are "Shime Tofu" (big chunks of tofu tightly bonded within rice straw bundles) and "Abura-age Rolls" (vegetable rolls wrapped in deep-fried tofu sheets), auspicious vegetarian recipes that were often served on special occasions and religious ceremonies.
After you finish cooking, the grannies will sit and share the meal with you. This is your chance to listen to old-time anecdotes and learn more about life in a post town.
5 min by car
If you are staying during the winter season, and are looking for something fun to occupy your night, you can join our ice skating experience. Kanazawa Elementary School schoolyard is turned into an ice rink every winter, following Chino's long-standing tradition. All children in the area learn to skate in schoolyard rinks.
(By the way, the 2018 winter Olympics 500 meters speed skating gold medalist, Kodaira Nao, was born in Chino and learned to skate in one of these rinks.)
Put on some skate shoes and glide on the ice together with the villagers.
Choose between Japanese-style and western-style breakfast. The meals are carefully prepared by a local restaurant to be both tasty and healthy. Menus change seasonally and include many regional specialties. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
Our staff will pick you up from the farmhouse and accompany you to Chino Station or, if it's nearby, your next destination
about 30 min by car
Hop on a bike and, together with our guide, pedal to one of Japan’s oldest shrines. Visit the two upper shrines of Maemiya and Honmiya, where the Nature worship of ancient Japan is still strong, and pay a visit to Jinchokan Moriya Museum and the nearby teahouses, where you will encounter the imaginative and quirky architecture of Fujimori Terunobu.
*During the winter, the activity is available as a walking tour.
Other attractions recommended by our team!
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Houro Museum of artGallery displaying the work of Kiyoshi Yamashita, the wandering painter.
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Kinkei no Yu Hot springsSmall public onsen bath in Kanazawa, close to Aoyagi Station.
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Asian Fawnlily GardenIn this garden close to Suwa Taisha there are myriads of natural Asian Fawnlilies growing en masse across 2 km.
To create a tailor-made travel
plan based on this itinerary.
*This service comes with no obligations.
Your reservation will not be finalized until you give us confirmation.
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