Try Miso-Making & Kagura Dancing in Nara

As a former capital of Japan, Nara is home to numerous historical sites and is the birthplace of quite a few traditions that continue to be part of everyday life. This experience is all about immersing yourself in culture through food and dance. Because the best way to learn is to do, right? Meet your knowledgeable English-speaking guide at Tawaramoto Station, and head to your first activity: a kagura dance lesson. You might remember kagura from Shinkai Makoto’s Your Name, in which Mitsuha and Yotsuha perform the traditional Shinto dance. After a short introduction to kagura, you’ll learn some basic steps at the shrine where the dance is said to have originated. A rare cultural experience! Then, fill up on delicious local cuisine with views of a beautiful Japanese garden. You’ll get to try fresh ingredients prepared by an expert chef. Take a small break before heading to the third stop for some miso-making. Participants get to learn about fermentation and how miso (fermented soybean paste) is made directly from the owner of Shimada Miso, one of the oldest miso makers in Japan. You’ll also get to make your own miso to take home! Itinerary: Meet at Tawaramoto Station Take a taxi to Muraya-jinja Shrine 1-hour Kangura dance lesson Lunch at Tanaka Miso-making experience Walk back to Tawaramoto Station