Local Artisans, Japanese Food, & Walking Tour in Shiga

Embark on a nature-lovers experience starring regional cuisine in the picturesque Shiga Prefecture! Discover a charming mountain village, engage with local artisans, enjoy a Japanese lunch using regional ingredients, embark on a nature hike, and more. Our journey begins at JR Maibara Station, conveniently reachable via the high-speed bullet train. A brief train ride carries us eastward to JR Samegai Station, where we set out on foot to explore the historic enclave known as Samegai-juku. Samegai-juku is a post station town along the Nakasendo Road, one of the two principal routes connecting Edo (formerly Tokyo) with imperial Kyoto. Within this charming village is a serene, crystalline river, nourished by a nearby mountain spring. The residents of this community have cultivated a way of life intricately intertwined with this precious natural resource, achieving a harmonious equilibrium that harnesses and conserves the gifts of nature. For lunch, enjoy a selection of local delicacies at an authentic ryotei restaurant, once the esteemed honjin of the post town (the highest class of lodging, reserved for Edo officials). The menu showcases locally sourced ingredients, including rainbow trout cultivated in the nearby waters. Following this, we’ll embark on a revitalizing 4 km walk to Kaminyu, a hidden community of traditional craftsmen nestled in a mountain valley. The path consists of mostly level terrain, transitioning into some uphill stretches and a gentle descent. Revel in the picturesque rural landscapes, from lush rice fields to serene local forests. In Kaminyu, a village resident will guide us, offering insights into the community and its workspaces. You'll have the opportunity to chat with locals, as well as explore the studios of craftsmen, gaining insight into their time-honored craft, including the intricate techniques employed in crafting butsudan (Buddhist altars), a 300-year-old local artisanal tradition.