★Home Visit and Mochi Pounding Experience in Shiga
Spend a relaxing day in the countryside and experience local lifestyle!
Highlights
Mochi Pounding
Sukiyaki Lunch
Local Specialties
10 meals
Experience Details
Meet with your guide at JR Ogoto Onsen Station and drive together to the village of Ogi, where you will experience and learn about Japanese country life.
You will start your tour by exploring the village of Ogi, a village with plentiful terraced rice fields that have been cultivated for over 1300 years. The beautiful fields change with the seasons, from lush green in summer to snow-covered landscapes in winter, there is something to see in every season.
Visit the Ogira Shrine, legend has it that the Shinto spirit of rain is said to reside. If you visit in May you may be able to catch the local festival to pray for an abundant harvest.
Head to your next location and highlight of this tour: A visit to a local's rice farmer house! Get ready for a hands-on and tasty tradition of mochi pounding! Using a large wooden mallet and mortar you'll help turn freshly steamed glutinous rice into soft, chewy mochi. It's a lively and joyful activity where timing and teamwork matter, especially while the rice is still warm. Everyone is encouraged to join the fun and experience this traditional method of making mochi.
You will be able to try different fillings for the mochi, such as mugwort, red bean paste and even a local specialty with Natto!
For lunch, join your hosts around the table, where they will demonstrate how to cook Sukiyaki. A delicious hot-pot dish with fresh, local chicken and plenty of vegetables, picked straight from the local fields. Cook the dish together and enjoy a homely lunch, making warm conversation with your hosts.
After enjoying a nourishing lunch, your tour guide will accompany you to the end point of the tour.
What You Get
Good To Know
- Please note that participation of at least 2 people is required for to book this tour.
- Please note that this tour is subject to change due to extreme weather, traffic or emergency situations.
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
You will meet your guide at Ogoto Onsen Station: 1-chōme-3 Ogotokita, 520-0107 Otsu, Shiga, JP Actual experience location is private and will be sent after booking confirmation.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 48 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Dominated by Japan’s largest lake, this prefecture offers a wealth of culture around its shores, as well as some of the best freshwater fish in the country.
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10 meals
Smash your step count with this 6-hour walking tour of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture! Enjoy nature, temples, key landmarks, historical sites, a Japanese tea house, stop for lunch, & beyond.
Venture off-the-beaten path to Kinomoto, a picturesque town in Shiga prefecture. Tour local breweries (sake and soy sauce), interact with the townspeople, visit a Buddhist temple, and stop by charming shops along the way.
