In the middle basin of the Oi-River, the Oi-River Railway, a steam locomotive, runs between the fresh green tea garden and the magnificent Oi-River. At Kawanehon Town there is a tea garden located over 500m above sea level and is called the “tea-producing area in the sky”, here you can see a magical landscape filled with fog.
Take part in any of more than 50 traditional crafts workshops, such as Wajima lacquerware and Kutani porcelain at Yunokuni-no-Mori Handicraft Village, a center for Kaga handicrafts. One of the most famous cultural traditions is the yearly Hikiyama Children’s Kabuki, in which children perform kabuki on the Hikiyama festival floats. You can also put on the kabuki makeup yourself. Afterwards, try a sumptuous cha-kaiseki meal at a traditional restaurant. You can also tour a sake brewery (and taste the sake!) and take part in a tea ceremony in a teahouse. Hit all the attractions and experience the historical town life of Komatsu.
Hakuba is famous for its winter ski season, but there is plenty to do after the snow melts. Active experiences such as trekking in Hakuba Daisekkei, one of Japan’s three largest snow gorges, rafting on the Himekawa River, and paragliding to see Hakuba from the sky are very popular.
The mountain village of Maze has a bountiful food culture that can be experienced through innumerable dishes, including salt-grilled sweetfish and hobazushi, sushi ingredients wrapped in a magnolia leaf. A local take on miso incorporates barley koji, a fermentation known for its gentle, sweet flavor, and dishes are often accompanied by a rich variety of pickled vegetables.
Tea experience unique to the Oi-River basin With the “Tea room” experience (tea in tea garden space with a superb view), you can enjoy taste testing various teas, a high quality green tea / matcha tea room experience in a Japanese garden, tea farm visit, hand massage experience, tea girl experience, and tea factory tour.
Shiga Kogen is the largest snow resort in Japan and located in the centre of Joshin’etsu Kogen National Park. ‘Yudanaka Shibu Onsen Resort’ has a large source of hot spring water and a history of 1,300 years. ‘Kitashiga Kogen’ is one of the prominent heavy snowfall areas, where traditional food culture such as haya-soba remains. Experience the attractions that coexist with nature, like globally popular the “Snow Monkey Park.”
The Maze Satoyama Museum is not a building, but an entire area of Maze where the rural scenery and culture are conserved for visitors. The museum has been designated as a member of the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan, a national non-profit association. Another great place to stop is the Sugo area, which was selected by local residents as one of the “10 Beautiful Views of Maze.” Near Sojima Hachiman-jinja Shrine, visitors can take in sweeping views of the rivers, rice paddies, shrines, temples, and forests that protect the natural habitat for the sweetfish. The panoramas of this verdant country will remain in your heart forever.
Irinoya native soba Until recently this soba was not cultivated but has been revived in recent years. The scent is very strong.
At night, watch the fishermen on the Maze River use a traditional fishing method in which the sweetfish are driven into nets with torchlight and fire. Viewing this mesmerizing traditional technique in action only enhances one’s appreciation of the salt-grilled fish.
the sake brewing traditions from that era are known to produce smooth, delicate flavors.
