Highlights
- Attend the raucous and unforgettable ‘Shimotsuki Matsuri’, an intimate festival said to be the inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed and much-loved film, ‘Spirited Away’
- Follow the Toyama River into the mountains and discover a traditional food culture over two days including one of the region’s best winter ‘gibier’ (wild meat) dinner courses at Shimabata and lunch on both days
- Be spirited high into the mountains above to the floating village of Shimoguri, one of the region’s most iconic destinations - a place of myth and fable - before visiting the region's most famous sake brewery, Kikusui
- Including accommodation on Day 1 - with dinner and breakfast included- along transport to and from all destinations and led by a locally-based guide
Description
Day 1
The tour begins at your preferred pickup location, where your guide will greet you, have you board the tour vehicle. Ascending from the high mountains above, Toyama River feeds into the larger Tenryu River and is the source of life and identity in this hidden pocket of Central Japan - a place where locals are proud of their traditional food culture and honour the spirits that are said to inhabit its forested mountains and meandering waterways.
First stop on the tour is lunch at ‘Genya’, a popular restaurant offering local specialties including your choice of Shinshu salmon, ‘soba’ noodles with Toyama ‘jidori’ chicken or a ‘gibier’ (wild meat) plate. You’ll receive a warm welcome from the owner and lots of information about the local food you’re enjoying – a great start to a two-day getaway all living traditions faraway from the city.
From there you make the short journey to the festival grounds, where you will meet the local community and enjoy the early proceedings. 'Shimotsuki Matsuri' celebrates the long-held belief that the region is inhabited by a large number of spirits – a belief you will see manifest that night as residents commune with those spirits including their ancestors through dance and raucous celebration. You guide will explain the meaning underpinning the festival and what you will witness later in the evening before you head onto your accommodation - Shimabata - for an early check-in and to relax and unwind before dinner.
Shimabata is a homely local guesthouse known best for its unique menu of ‘gibier’ (wild meat) and traditional side dishes including ‘hachi’ (wasps) and ‘bata’ (crickets). For guests with a sense of food adventure, this meal promises to be a highlight of their time in Japan as the owner serves an ever-changing menu of wild meat including ‘inoshishi’ (wild boar), ‘shika’ (deer), ‘ayu’ (river fish) with the promise of the best wild meats in season - for more information, see 'About Your Accommodation' below - and noting the vegetarian meals can also be served.
Following dinner you will make the short journey back to the festival and inside Jugosha Daimyojin Shrine. The festival will be in full swing by that time with the shrine packed with local residents including those wearing traditional clothing and masks, who perform to the delight of the audience. Dancers circulate around a cauldron of steaming water over a fire, with the most experienced performers charged with using their bare hands to spray the hot water over the crowd as a ritual purification. Male residents then take turns wearing masks and dancing and should they wish to, male guests are also invited to wear a mask and dance.
The festival is said to be one of the inspirations for Studio Ghibli’s loved film ‘Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi’ (Spirited Away), after acclaimed animator Miyazaki Hayao personally attended the festival. Your guide will stay with you throughout proceedings allowing around 2.5 hours inside the shrine, over which time a memorable array of spirits appear to dance each with story or purpose to its entrance. The overall experience and the photographs you will capture will be among the most treasured of your time in Japan.
Day 2
The second day begins with a traditional Japanese breakfast before your guide will have you board the tour vehicle for the thirty minute drive into the mountains above and onto the hamlet of Shimoguri. Sitting at 1200 metres above sea level, Shimoguri clings to the steep mountain sides – one of Central Japan’s most striking vistas. Your guide will lead you along a forest trail to the view point, from where the village often appears float among the morning clouds of winter.
A place of myth and fable, Shimoguri seems to float among the clouds - a realm in which you'll get a strong sense of the spirits said to inhabit the mountains, forests, rivers and of course, local shrines. From there you'll begin your journey back to modernity as you head toward Iida City and lunch at the renowned Imamiya Hanbei. You will enjoy a traditional menu of multiple dishes including the restaurant's acclaimed 'gohei mochi' - glutinous rice balls on a skewer and coated in sauce. Imamiya Hanbei has been serving it the same way since 1872 and the full vegetarian menu acts as a delicious balance to the previous day's dinner course.
Once done, it's onto Kikusai Sake Brewery for the final stop of the tour. Established in the 19th century, Kikusui Sake Brewery has a long history of producing some of southern Nagano’s best ‘sake’. At first an independent brewery, the devastation of the Second World War put pressure on local breweries to come together and consolidate their efforts with the limited resources that were available. In 1944, thirty-seven breweries joined together under the banner of Kikusui, creating one of Nagano’s most famous and successful sake breweries.
You will then enjoy a guided tour of the modern brewery followed by guided sake tasting. Brewed in winter, it is the ideal time to visit, see the brewing process firsthand and enjoy the best seasonal sake.
This marks the conclusion of your immersive tour experience. Following the journey, you will be escorted to your preferred location, where we will bid you a heartfelt farewell, ensuring a seamless and memorable end to your adventure.
Who you will meet
Local Residents / Participants of the Shimotsuki Festival
| Price : | ¥ 60,000 ~ per person |
| Tour Type : | 2 Day Group Tour (Accommodation Included) |
| Operation Period : | December |
| Pick up location : | Hiraoka Station / Nagoya Area / Nakatsugawa Area / Hirugami Onsen Area |
ABOUT YOUR ACCOMMODATION
This tour includes accommodation on Day 1 at Shimabata, a local guesthouse located in the Toyama-go area. Guests will be allocated a Japanese-style room with ‘tatami’-matting, on-floor ‘futon’ bedding, low furniture and small television. Rooms do not include a private toilet, shower or bath. In-keeping with many traditional guesthouses, guests are required to share toilet and bathing facilities. Dinner and breakfast are included with the evening’s ‘gibier’ (wild meat) dinner course sure to be a highlight of your time in Japan. All meat is sustainably and lawfully hunted in the surrounding mountains of Toyama-go, with the owner taking great pride and care in its preparation. While it might take a sense of adventure to try it, the meat and fish is beautifully cooked and offers a truly memorable traditional food experience… and that's even before the wasp or snake liquor you’re sure to be offered through the course of your meal! Should it be required, Shimabata can also cater to vegetarian diets.
MEETUP POINTS
Since this is a private tour, the meeting point can be arranged according to your preferences; pick up locations include the Nagano area, Matsumoto area, Nagoya area, Nakatsugawa area, Hirugami Onsen, and more.
NOTES
Included
- Transportation fee from / to all listed destinations and activities
- Attendance at the 'Shimotsuki Matsuri' on Day 1
- English-speaking guide on both days
- Guided visit to Shimoguri on Day 2
- Guided tour / tasting at Kikusui Sake Brewery on Day 2
- Lunch at 'Genya' on Day 1 and 'Imamiya Hanbei' on Day 2
- Accommodation on Day 1 (inc. dinner and breakfast)
Excluded
- Additional transport costs to / from your preferred pick-up/drop-off location
- Additional food, snacks or drinks
- Additional accommodation (unless requested)