Play in the snow and spend the night in a traditional home. Take a trip to a hot spring and partake of the local foods between sips of sake. Choose from a wide variety of ways to make your trip unforgettable.
The Hoshitoge Rice Terraces of Tokamachi were selected by Tsunagu Japan as the top choice in its list of “30 reasons to go to Japan before you die.”
Hegi Soba is Tokamachi’s signature local dish with a supple and chewy texture. Even though there are many types of soba in Japan, what makes Hegi Soba different from the rest is the process in which a seaweed called Funori is used as a binder while kneading. After the soba is boiled. it is then laid out on a wooden tray waving the hand.
In Yukiguni country, people spend the entire year with the upcoming long winter in mind. When the snow melts, they store mountain vegetables in the spring, summer vegetables in the summer and mushrooms in the autumn. They store the vegetables in various ways, some are salted and others are dried. When the winter comes, they use the stored vegetables in nimono, stir-fry or soup and various recipes.
Tokamachi, the Yukiguni county has many dishes that go well with local Sake. Since the distilleries in Tokamachi is relatively small, their Sake rarely goes on the market outside the town. Enjoy the food and Sake that you can only enjoy here in Tokamachi.
The bucolic beauty of the terraces is amazing enough to warrant a side trip when visiting the vast Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, an art show spread over 760 square kilometers. Enjoy the breathtaking terraced scenery as you seek out more than 200 art pieces which have been distributed throughout the area.
Tokamachi is one of Japan’s preeminent kimono-producing regions. If you miss the kimono festival that is held each year, you can still experience kimono culture at close range through hands-on activities such as dyeing, fabric decoration, and weaving as part of a kimono workshop tour.
