Spirits of the Sacred Mountain: Sake, Soba & Ninja Heritage in Togakushi

Discover the flavors, legends, and sacred landscapes of Nagano on this immersive cultural journey to the mountain village of Togakushi. Combining sake, cuisine, hands-on tradition, and spiritual heritage, this tour offers a rich introduction to one of Japan’s most fascinating regions.

Begin with a visit to a historic sake brewery in Nagano City, where you will learn about Japan’s brewing traditions and enjoy a tasting of locally crafted sake. From there, travel into the cool mountain air of Togakushi, a region long known for its spiritual significance and culinary heritage.

Famous throughout Japan for its high-quality soba noodles, Togakushi is the perfect place to try your hand at making this beloved dish. Guided by local experts, you will learn traditional techniques before enjoying your freshly made soba as part of a special regional lunch paired with Nagano sake.

Togakushi is also deeply connected to Japan’s ninja traditions. Through an interactive ninja experience, you’ll explore this unique cultural legacy in a fun and engaging way. The day concludes with a visit to the iconic Togakushi Shrine Upper Shrine, where a walk along the majestic cedar tree avenue provides a peaceful and unforgettable finish to your journey.

Blending food culture, sake, folklore, and sacred nature, this tour reveals a side of Nagano that goes far beyond the ordinary.

Highlights

• Discover Nagano’s Premium Sake: Visit a local sake brewery to learn about traditional brewing methods, regional flavors, and enjoy a guided tasting of Nagano’s celebrated sake.

• Make Togakushi’s Famous Soba with Local Masters: Learn traditional soba-making techniques in the mountain village of Togakushi, one of Japan’s most renowned soba regions, and enjoy the noodles you crafted yourself as part of a special local lunch.

• Ninja Legends & Sacred Forest Walk: Experience Togakushi’s unique ninja heritage through an interactive ninja class, then visit the iconic Togakushi Shrine and walk the majestic cedar tree avenue in this spiritual mountain setting.

Description

Your journey begins at Nagano Station, where you will meet your guide and set off to explore the cultural heart of the region.

Your first stop is Yoshinoya, a traditional sake brewery in Nagano City with a long-standing history. Here, you’ll learn about the role of sake in Japanese culture and the unique brewing traditions of Nagano. You will explore the on-site museum to gain deeper insight into the history of sake production before enjoying a tasting of several locally crafted varieties.

After savoring Nagano’s celebrated sake, you will travel into the scenic mountain region of Togakushi, an area long known for its spiritual heritage, natural beauty, and culinary traditions.

Here, you will take part in a hands-on soba-making experience, guided by local masters. Togakushi is famous throughout Japan for its high-quality soba noodles, and you’ll learn traditional techniques used to craft this beloved regional specialty.

For lunch, enjoy the soba you made yourself, served alongside a specially prepared local meal at a traditional inn. The dishes are thoughtfully paired with Nagano sake, allowing you to fully savor the flavors of the region.

In the afternoon, step into another unique part of Togakushi’s history with an engaging ninja experience led by a ninja master. Togakushi is known as one of the birthplaces of a distinct ninja tradition, and this interactive session offers a fun and memorable way to explore that legacy.

To conclude your day, you will visit the iconic Togakushi Shrine Upper Shrine. Walk along the majestic cedar tree avenue leading to the shrine, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this sacred mountain setting before returning to Nagano Station.

Meetup Point

This tour operates from the following meetup point:

NAGANO STATION @ 09:35

The meetup point is inside Nagano Station, in front of the Information Board directly across from the Shinkansen ticket gates. Please be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag and please be waiting before the meetup time as the tour will depart on-time.

Notes

Included

• Private vehicle with driver
• Lunch
• Fees for all experiences included in the tour itinerary
• English-speaking guide