Zenkoji Temple Food & Culture Walk: Savor Oyaki, Nagano Sake & Matcha in Quaint Streets
5.0
35 Ratings
Nagano
Experience the rich food and culture of Zenkoji Temple in Nagano. Taste Oyaki, Nagano Sake, and Matcha while exploring the historic streets and connecting with locals.
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Zenkoji Omotesando - Meet Up At: in front of Starbucks at Nagano station. We will explore the greater part of Zenkoji temple town, an old and residential area. We will visit 2 - 3 local shops to try authentic Japanese bites and sweets.


Stop At: Oyaki House
Taste Nagano’s special product “Oyaki,” which are Japanese stuffed dumplings from a local village called “Ogawa.” Oyaki is cooked in an irori, a traditional Japanese sunken hearth, and you can enjoy it near a cozy and warm bonfire.


Walking High Street to Zenkoji Temple
You can browse some of Nagano’s local products for souvenirs on the high street and see the 1400-year history of this National Treasure temple.


Sake Tasting
You can try a variety of Sake with nibbles like soy sauce beans and some Japanese pickles. You can also enjoy Nagano’s miso soup.


Walking on back street.
As we walk on the back street, you will see local shrines, local shops, and the neighborhood of Nagano city.


Arrival at Matcha Tea Place
You will have Matcha tea in a Japanese-style room along with a very nice Japanese sweet.


Pop in local shop on back street.
You can pop into a local shop to see Nagano’s local products.

Tour Concludes *The time depends on the group

What's Included
  • Sake Tasting (optional)
  • Lunch
  • Matcha Tea & Sweets
What's Not Included
  • Extra drinks and food (available to purchase)
  • Meal for infant
  • Transportation fee to meeting point
Meal Options
  • Matcha tea & sweets
  • Oyaki (Japanese Stuffed Dumplings)
Additional Information

Savor the taste of Oyaki (Japanese Stuffed Dumplings) next to a quintessential Japanese sunken hearth, accompanied by local sweets & Matcha tea, as we navigate the town area around Zenkoji temple in Nagano.

  • Indulge in 2 Oyaki (Japanese Stuffed Dumplings), Miso soup & Soba Tea in the cozy environment of a traditional Japanese sunken hearth.

  • Discover the hidden lanes of Nagano, not found in your tourist guide, revealing a 1400-year old national treasure temple with a rich history.

  • Sample some of the finest sakes Nagano has to offer, along with snacks like soy sauce beans and a variety of Japanese pickles. Don’t miss out on Nagano’s distinct miso soup.

  • Experience the calm and peace of a traditional Japanese tea house while enjoying a cup of Matcha tea.

  • Immerse yourself in Japanese dining etiquette and explore unique parts of Nagano that go beyond your travel guide.

  • Establish connections with local entrepreneurs to gain insights into the history and customs of the area.

Do inform us of any dietary restrictions in advance

  • Walking shoes are recommended
  • Minimum alcahol drinking age is 20 years. So we offer another drink for under 20.
  • In case of late arrival, the tour cannot be extended.
  • Not suitable for person who needs gluten free food.
Location
Starbucks Coffee - MIDORI Nagano
The guide will meet you infront of Starbucks at Nagano station.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(35 Ratings)
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848gunnarb
Apr 25, 2024
Great tour with local food and history in quiet Nagano - This was a very relaxed tour around Nagano. It was a beautiful area to stroll around and learn the history of the area, as well as try some fine sake, matcha tea, and the local specialty foods.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emman2329
Apr 12, 2024
Fabulous tour of Nagano - Masa was a wonderful guide. He was so kind - waiting for the other couple to join the tour. He is from Nagano and has great information about the city. He led us to some tasty spots for snacks, and informed us about sake. I was thoroughly impressed with the tour, and the photos he took were a great bonus! Definitely a must-do in Nagano.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolynne_k
Apr 4, 2024
Unexpected gem in Nagano - Masu is a fantastic guide. We had a few hours in Nagano after leaving our onsen in Shibu before heading to Kyoto. Masu only does very small tours, up to 8 people, and my husband and I were the only 2 on our tour. Masu knows secret, local places that tourists wouldn't find and he was raised in Nagano. If you want unique food delicacies, a local’s knowledge of the sights (including Zenkoji temple), and good company, you can’t go wrong. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Patricia_f
Apr 3, 2024
Yummy historical experience - Love the food and talking to Masa. The experience was very personable, informative, interesting at a relaxed pace and fun.
Review provided by Viator
236clairr
Mar 24, 2024
Lovely day - The best trip I have so far, guide was so friendly and helpful would 100% recommend if I ever have the opportunity to come back I would do this again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolynk536
Feb 15, 2024
Thoughtful and engaging walking tour in Nagano City- Good food too! - Masa is a great guide. He's very relaxed and conversational- not just telling you a bunch of information that you could read on the signs. He does a nice thoughtful job of hitting both the "must see" sites in the temple etc and going on back roads to see a less tourist side of Nagano. Also- he takes great pics of you which he'll email after the tour. He also gave me good context for visiting shrines etc, so later when I went on my own to some in a small village I felt like I knew how to respectfully interact there without offending any local people praying. And all the food we had was delicious!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ha
Feb 9, 2024
Cultural touch of Nagano - Masa is a great guide who speaks good English. As a local of Nagano, he explained to us about the place & took us to cultural places where we really enjoyed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katels9295bs
Jan 4, 2024
Great way to spend time in Nagano - I had an amazing afternoon on this tour with Masa. He provided a fantastic insight into both the culture now and history of the region as we walked around the Zenkō-ji Temple area. As someone who knows the area very well, Masa was able to take me through some backstreets to avoid the crowds on a busy day at the temple. We also visited some wonderful businesses in the area, which would be hard to find if you weren't sure what you were looking for. Travelling solo, he also takes photos of you throughout the duration of the tour, which is very helpful! Overall, if you had a day in Nagano, I would highly recommend taking this tour as it is well worth the money!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bbjsqybqqz
Jan 3, 2024
Wonderful way to see Nagano - I had a wonderful day in Nagano with my guide Masa. He was very knowledgeable, and provided great insight into the culture and customs of Japan, and the history of Nagano. If you have a day in Nagano, I would highly recommend doing this tour as you get to see and eat at places that you wouldn't find that easily on your own.
Review provided by Viator
Dean
Jan 23, 2024
Winter walking tour - Masa showed us some interesting places and told us about Nagano history and Japanese culture that we would never have discovered on our own. Great tour. Thoroughly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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