Experience the cycles of through Yamagata’s straw and vine crafts

Since ancient times, Yamagata Prefecture has used rice straw and grapevines to make durable everyday tools, farming tools, decorative objects, and other tools during the winter off-season when the cold is harsh. You can enjoy warm local cuisine while learning about Yamagata's cycles of nature passed down within the region.

  • ◎Enjoy crafts and regional cuisine with local artisans.
  • ◎Find durable and fashionable items made of natural materials that will enrich your lifestyle.
  • ◎Admire Ginzan Onsen's beautiful retro townscape.

Date

Time

Schedule

Content

Day1

14:00-16:30

Atelier Straw

  • Make decorations to ward off evil spirits and take a tour at a straw workshop

18:00

Check-in

  • at Ginzanso

19:00

Dinner

  • at Ryokan

Day2

10:00-11:00

Depart from hotel

11:00-13:00

Vine Craft with Kazue Ito

  • Craft items from grape vines and make regional cuisine with a local artisan Winter: Natto soup Summer: Dashi stock

Experience

Atelier Straw

●Overview: Shimekazari craft experience and workshop tour ●Duration: 3.5 hr Make your own shimekazari, a type of New Year decoration that wards off evil spirits, using braided straw rope. While Yamagata is famous for producing rice, the area has also had a tradition of crafting with straw since ancient times. Combining functionality and the wisdom of living, it is attracting attention overseas as traditional Japanese packaging. Kobo Straw uses techniques passed down through the generations to create items that suit today's society.

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Kazue Ito

●Overview: Overview: Craft and food experience using wild grapevine Duration: 3.5 hr Working with wild chocolate vine and grape tree bark is a significant folkcraft that has been passed down from generation to generation. Artisan Kazue Ito picks these natural materials herself to create objects like vine baskets, accessory cases, and keyring straps, which are sold as local souvenirs. Experience traditional living and food culture by working with vines at her workshop.

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Meal

Natto Soup & Dashi Stock

Natto soup is made by grinding natto (fermented soybeans), which is then thickened by dissolving it in miso soup. A speciality of Yamagata, it is a fantastic representation of Japan's culture of preserved food and the power of fermentation. Dashi stock is seasoned with chopped summer vegetables with high water content like cucumbers and aubergines, and aromatic vegetables such as aojiso and myoga. It has long been popular as a quick meal during the busy farming season. Dashi recipes are so varied and interesting that it is said there 100 households would produce 100 different flavors.

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Mushroom Stand Funagata

Located in Mogami, an area that produces many mushrooms, this restaurant serves up Western-style dishes such as pizza, pasta, potage and hamburgers, using plenty of locally grown mushrooms. During your visit, you can also buy mushrooms and soup ingredients sourced directly from farms.

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Stay

Ginzanso

Located in Ginzan Onsen, this traditional ryokan inn includes private open-air baths in some guest rooms. Look beyond the steam and enjoy fresh greenery in spring, autumn leaves in fall, and the snowy landscape in winter.

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  • ・
    Languages
    ：
     Mainly in Japanese, other languages based upon request.
  • ・
    Number of participants
    ：
     2 to 8 people
  • ・
    Meeting place
    ：
     negotiable
  • ・
    Reservation deadline
    ：
     14 days prior to departure
  • ・
    Payment method
    ：
     Bank transfer, credit card
  • ・
    Clothing
    ：
     None specified
  • ・
    Tour guide
    ：
     Local producer or interpreter (arrangements made based upon customer’s preference)
  • ・
    Cancellation fee
    ：
     15-29 days before arrival: 5% 7-14 days before arrival: 20% 4-6 days before arrival: 50% 1-3 days before arrival: 70% Departure day or no-show: 100%
  • ・
    Precautions
    ：
     -Tour will be held even in cases of rain, except in the event of a typhoon or heavy rain warning. -All photos shown are for illustrative purposes only. -The places to be visited are not tourist destinations, and due to circumstances, there may be different processes within the factory with the machines not being in operation. -Elementary school students and younger may participate in the tour with the accompaniment of a parent or guardian. However, we cannot be held responsible for any injuries or accidents happening during the tour, including in the parking lot and in the workshop. -Please make sure that parents/guardians do not touch the machines, especially during the tour inside the workshop. -We recommend that you purchase travel insurance for your participation in the tour. -The tour will be cancelled in the event that smooth operation of the tour becomes difficult due to the new coronavirus infection situation or other reasons. If the tour is cancelled, full amount of the tour fee will be refunded.
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