Niigata | A Grandma’s Table in Snow Country: Koshihikari Rice Cooking, Local Cuisine & Ryugon Onsen 065
Itinerary Details
The Soul of Snow Country: Hagama-Cooked Koshihikari Rice
In Minami-Uonuma, rice is at the heart of everyday life. The region’s famous Koshihikari rice is nourished by pure snowmelt from the surrounding mountains, producing plump, glossy grains with a naturally rich flavor. Together with your local host, learn the traditional art of cooking rice in a hagama pot—from washing the rice and managing the fire to listening for the subtle sounds from inside the pot. When the lid is finally lifted, the fragrant steam rising from the freshly cooked rice offers a true taste of Snow Country.
Slow Food & Snow Country Wisdom: Time at the Table with Grandma
Your local host is more than a skilled cook—she is a keeper of the knowledge and traditions of Snow Country life. As you prepare seasonal mountain vegetables and homemade sauces together, she’ll share how generations of local families have made the most of nature’s seasonal bounty, including traditional methods of preserving wild vegetables for the long winter. After lunch, continue the slow-paced experience with a relaxing soak in a traditional bathhouse converted from an old rice granary.
Itinerary
Cooking in the Doma: Discover Snow Country Cuisine
Welcome to Ryugon: Meet Your Local Host
Arrive at the Ryugon Doma Workshop and step into the warm, rustic kitchen of a traditional Japanese folk house. Meet your local host and hear an introduction to the food culture and everyday life of Minami-Uonuma before beginning your hands-on cooking experience.
Cook Koshihikari Rice & Seasonal Mountain Vegetable Soup
Wash the rice using pure snowmelt water, light the traditional stove, and learn how to control the heat as the rice cooks in the hagama pot. Alongside your host, prepare seasonal vegetables and wild herbs, chopping and washing them by hand to create a warming local soup.
A Snow Country Lunch & Restorative Hot Spring
Enjoy a Freshly Cooked Koshihikari Rice Lunch
Sit down to a comforting lunch featuring freshly cooked Koshihikari rice from the hagama pot, homemade side dishes, and seasonal soup. Take your time to enjoy the meal, chat with your local host, and capture a few memories together before bringing this warm and personal cooking experience to a close.
Soak in a Traditional Hot Spring & Slow Down
After lunch, move to the main building and enjoy some time to relax. Have a coffee or snack in the lounge, or unwind in the traditional open-air bath. Soak in the natural hot spring while taking in the surrounding seasonal scenery, and let the peaceful rhythm of Snow Country bring your day to a gentle close.
Important Information & Cancellation Policy
Important
Information &
Cancellation Policy
Important Notes
- Communication is primarily in Japanese. However, even without understanding Japanese, you can enjoy the experience through demonstrations, gestures, and hands-on cooking.
- The menu changes seasonally. Please inform us in advance when making your reservation if you have any severe food allergies or dietary restrictions.
- The hot spring is available from 13:00 to 15:00. Please plan your bathing time accordingly.
Cancellation Policy
- If you cancel for personal reasons after making a reservation, a 5% system cancellation fee will apply.
- 7 days before departure: 30%
- 3 days before departure: 50%
- The day before or on the day of departure: 100%
