Time
approx. 7 hoursStarts 10am
Active Level
Group Size
1–5 guestsPricing
Experience hands-on soba making and explore the flavors, stories, and quiet beauty of a historic village near Lake Yogo.
- Explore Ikehara, a peaceful village once hidden in the mountains near Lake Biwa.
- Make soba noodles from scratch with a local soba artisan in a traditional setting.
- Enjoy a lunch of your own handmade soba, cooked and served by local residents.
- In the afternoon, explore Kinomoto’s historic streets and 500-year-old sake brewery.
- Meet friendly locals and experience the gentle pace of life in a small village.
- Guided by residents who share stories and foster real connections.
Course Details
Important Note: Due to the serious risk of severe allergic reactions, individuals with a known or suspected buckwheat (soba) allergy cannot participate in this tour.
This immersive culinary and cultural experience begins by meeting your guide at JR Maibara Station, followed by a local train ride together to Kinomoto. From there, we’ll continue to Ikehara, a quiet village near Lake Yogo at Lake Biwa’s northernmost region. Surrounded by mountains and rich natural beauty, Ikehara is a place where time moves gently—a setting once known as a hidden village in medieval Japan. As you stroll its peaceful streets, take in rustic homes, farmland, and the quiet rhythm of local life.
Next, step inside a traditional kitchen to learn soba (buckwheat noodle) making from a local artisan who grows and mills their buckwheat in the surrounding fields. Whether you’re a beginner or cooking with children, the process is simple and fun. Your soba will reflect your own hands—each noodle uniquely yours.
While the soba is being prepared by the local hosts, enjoy tea and a quiet moment in this warm setting. Then, enjoy a nourishing lunch featuring your handmade soba. This meal offers more than flavor; it’s an intimate experience of the village’s hospitality and way of life.
After lunch, we’ll return to Kinomoto, once a hub for brewing and trade. Here, visit a sake brewery with a 500-year legacy, learn about the craft of sake brewing, and explore the streets that once welcomed travelers and merchants. The tour concludes in Kinomoto, where your guide can assist with directions or onward travel.
Course Notes
- Seasonal operation: April to mid-November (except Mon & Wed)
- This one-day course starts at 10 am.
- Meeting point is JR Maibara Station but your guide will conclude the tour at Kinomoto Station
- Suitable for all ages. No strenuous activities.
- For child participants, please ensure that those under age 18 are accompanied by an adult. Adult rates start from 13 years old.
- Children under 13 can join for ¥5,500 each. Children under 6 are free, but the base price (covers up to 2 participants) still applies even if joining with just one adult and one child.
- Cutting tools will be used. Please be careful when small children participate.
- Rain or shine.
- We strongly recommend purchasing appropriate travel insurance in advance. Although minimal insurance is included.
What’s Included
- Professional bilingual (EN/JA) guide
- Soba making workshop
- Lunch meal
- All admission
- Vehicle transportation within the tour venue
- Sake tasting
Not Included
- All train fares
- Souvenirs, snacks, etc.
Meeting Point
Meet your guide right at the ticket gate of JR Maibara Station. By bullet train, Maibara is 1 stop east (20 min) from Kyoto. The guide will then join you for a short local train ride to Kinomoto, the actual tour site. The tour will conclude at Kinomoto Station.
Pricing
This is an exclusive private tour — just for your group, with a simpler flat-rate pricing system.
Private Tour Pricing (effective June 1, 2025)
| Description | Price (incl.tax) |
|---|---|
| Base Price (up to 2 guests) | ¥55,000 |
| Additional guest (up to 5 total) | +¥8,800 per person |
*Bookings made before June 1, 2025 will be charged the original rate.