Model Itineraries

  • History and Culture
  • Farming and Everyday life
  • Spring

Spring Highlights -a journey into history, gastronomy, and spirituality-

The locals have lived in harmony with nature under the mountains’ shadow for over 10,000 years. Experience their traditional lifestyle by staying in a village for a night, retrace their long history at the Jomon Museum and visit one of Japan’s oldest shrines where they still worship the Spirit of Nature.

Duration 2 days (1 night)
Price About JPY 35,800/person
Period From mid April to mid May
*The course is available from mid April to mid November with small changes.
Overall level 1 (easy)

Highlights

  • Experience traditional farming activities

    Try out some fun seasonal task like foraging

  • Eat local cuisine

    Cook and eat unique local food

  • Visit Suwa Taisha

    One of Japan's oldest shrines

  • Visit Togari-ishi Museum of Jomon archaeology

    See two of the oldest statuettes in the world

  • Experience traditional farming activities

    Try out some fun seasonal task like foraging

  • Eat local cuisine

    Cook and eat unique local food

  • Visit Suwa Taisha

    One of Japan's oldest shrines

  • Visit Togari-ishi Museum of Jomon archaeology

    See two of the oldest statuettes in the world

Day 1
JR Chino station
Buy some local sake at the station souvenir shop

The Suwa area is famous for sake. Buy a bottle from some local brewery to drink at dinner while you chat with your host family.

15~20 min by car- Pick-up by host family

Our adventures
Rural Village Stay
Spend the night in a village and experience typical spring activities

(Part 1)
In spring, nature comes back to life, but it is too soon for farming, so the locals look for food in the woods. Go foraging with your host family and pick some wild vegetables to make delicious tempura. Later, experience grinding some fragrant perilla grains to coat your rustic mochi and maybe prepare a few more dishes. Enjoy dinner while you drink and chat with your hosts.

more info

Accommodation Suggestions
Rural Village Stay

Spend the night at the host family's house. Experience laying out your own futon and sleeping in a Japanese-style room. If you would like to take a bath before going to sleep, you can visit one of the local common hot spring facilities or, if you need privacy, you can use the shower at the host family's house.

Day 2
Our adventures
Rural Village Stay
Enjoy a traditional breakfast and more fun farming activities

(Part 2)
Go to the backyard and grab a few shiitake mushrooms to put in your miso soup - many farmers grow mushrooms at home on logs-. After breakfast, you can help your hosts prepare some more shiitake for next year by opening a few holes in the logs and hammering the mushroom spores in. Other activities you might experience are planting seeds or making preserves with wild vegetables.

more info

10 min by car- Drop-off by host family

Togari-ishi Museum of Jomon Archaeology
Discover elegant artifacts which date back over 5000 years

People have inhabited the region at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains uninterruptedly for over 10,000 years. Visit the Jomon museum to see some of the beautiful artifacts made by the first settlers, who lived in close contact with nature. The two voluptuous statuettes of the “Jomon Venus” and the “Masked Goddess,” which dates back more than 5,000 years, are especially remarkable.

more info

15min by bus + 3min on foot
Meruhen Kaido Bus (Togari-ishi Kokokan Mae bus stop →Chino Station bus stop)

Sarashina Soba
Eat some hand-made soba noodles for lunch

Soba ("buckwheat") is a traditional food in Nagano Prefecture, and Chino is no exception. Stop by this small family-run restaurant and try some soba noodles.

more info

3min on foot

Our adventures
Suwa Taisha Spiritual Cycling
Ride to Suwa Taisha and Fujimori Terunobu's quirky teahouses

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. On the way, ride along the Miyagawa River and pass under a row of blossoming sakura.

more info

1min on foot

JR Chino station
Get some souvenirs and head to your next destination

Buy some local products at the souvenir shop of the station before you leave.
If you want to try some onsen, you can stay another night in a traditional onsen ryokan. Many accommodations offer free transfers to and from the station.

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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