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Hands-on "Snow Experience " Tour
This tour is focused on the three wintery activities in the snowbound area of Yamagata. First you can enjoy shoveling the 3-meter-deep snow and digging the stored vegetables (turnips) out of the snow. Second you'd like to cook them with the help of a local cuisine specialist and appreciate the traditional food on the spot. Third we take a breathtaking boatride down the Mogami River.
Meeting Point
Shinjo Station (JR East, Yamagata Shinkansen Bullet Train Terminal)
- We meet at West Exit, facing the main street.
1 Tsunokawa (Tozawa Village)
You shovel off about two-meter-deep snowfall to dig out the vegetables preserved for the winter.
It is quite a lot of labor for you! But no wonder it's fun!
It sure is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you!!
2 A Farm-House at Tsunowawa
You can make natto-jiru (miso soup seasond with natto, fermented soybean ) and onigiri rice balls using the vegetables you just dug out. The locals kindly help you cook all the dishes.
While enjoying delicacies, you can listen to locals talking about their ways of life, especially how to survive a long freezing winter.
3 Funabansho（ Boatride Boarding House)
Last but not least, you can take a boat down the Mogami River, enjoying the breathtaking snow-capped forests from the boat. You take a seat at a kotatsu ( electric foot warmer covered with a quit ) and drink some sake(Japanese alcohol)
if you'd like.
Ending Point
Shinjo Station (JR East, Yamagata Shinkansen Bullet Train Terminal)
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Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee, Hotel pick-up fee in Shinjo city
Transportation ( you and guide / per person): JR train :1,000 yen, Bus: 200 yen, Taxi :About 10,000 yen in total (2,000 yen per person in case of 5 tourists)
Activity fee (you and guide / per person) : 5,000 yen
Boatride fee(you and guide / per person): 2,800 yen
Tour Important Information
Yamagata is famous for its heavy snowfall, and this region (Tsunokawa, Tozawa village) has about 3-meter-deep snow every winter. I'd like all the tourists to make the most of this tremendous amount of snow and go through hands-on experiences with this "White Monster".
As your fun and fabulous activities, we've prepared two things in connection with the snow. First, digging the winter vegetables (traditional Tsunokawa "Kabu" turnips) out of the accumulated snow. Second, with these ingredients cooking local food "Natto-jiru" (Natto-based miso soup with lots of vegetables) and "Onigiri " rice balls making. Why not enjoy your own cuisine with us? Lastly you'd like to visit one of our sightseeing hotspots, a boatride down the Mogami River. If you are lucky, you can happen to take a "Kotatsu"(a foot warmer with a quilt all over)-installed boat and warm yourself in it. From your boat you can appreciate marvelous and magnificent scenery of snow-capped cedar forests on both sides right in front of your eyes! It sure is a must-see you can't miss when you visit Yamagata.
Snow digging is available only after we have enough snowfall during this coming winter season. The period may be from around January 15 to March 15. Just in case we don't have much snowfall, we have a substitute plan instead of snow shoveling activity.
Tourists are requested to make a reservation for the activities (snow-digging and cooking "natto-jiru") 4 days ahead of their visit day.
This is a daytime tour taking about eight hours. If you'd like to spend overnight, you can stay in "Minshuku", Japanese-style inn at the cost of approximately 8,000 yen per person.
This tour is available only during the winter months when we have abundant snowfall, presumably from December to March in that area.
Important message from the guide
I'm available from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Saturday.
Transportation fee and lunch of you and a guide will be paid by the customer.
If you book me before making inquiries, please note that you may be requested to pay extra guide fee for hotel pickup (about 5,000 yen) depending on the location. So, please ask me first.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Yamagata Tour Reviews
Hedj J.
Evans Party Pick-up at Yamagata Station
Customized
“Perfect Service”
I am a travel professional that used Kuniaki for VIP clients I had traveling. His service was absolutely perfect. He provided the perfect service. I recommend him and will confirm his services in the future.
Kuniaki S.
(4 reviews)Thank you so much for writing a review for me. The tour was just a short period of time, but I really had the time of my life guiding and helping them carry their baggage. I hope that they felt the same as I did. Why don't you visit Yamagata again and delve into other places of scenic beauty and historical interest? The longer you stay here, the stronger your attachment to Yamagata becomes. I do wish that our paths will definitely cross again in the not-too-distant future. See you around! Pure Water
Kari L.
Authentic Snow Activity Tour in the Rural Snowbound Region, Tozawa Village
Customized
“Most authentic and wonderful tour guide!”
Kuniaki - aka Pure Water, the English translation of his name - planned an incredible two-day tour for us based in Yamagata. Pure Water went above and beyond in every aspect, planning everything thoroughly and precisely while also providing flexibility and options. He worked with us to create a fully customized itinerary including traditional activities such as harvesting winter vegetables, making soba with a soba master, a boat ride, and visiting the local onsen. He arranged all transportation and meals for us and even helped us find local authentic accommodation in a traditional Japanese farmhouse. We never would have had such a local or authentic experience without his help, and his passion and enthusiasm for tour-guiding and helping people experience Japan shone through at every step. As Pure Water says, we have left behind nothing but happy memories and will remember our time in Tozawa Village always! Thank you Pure Water!
Kuniaki S.
(4 reviews)Kari and Rob, I just can't thank you enough for writing such an unexpected review. It sure is my greatest honor that you both enjoyed OUR tour, "Authentic Snow Activity Tour in the Rural Snowbound Region, Tozawa Village," to the full! From the very scratch, we all planned our trip very carefully to meet our requirements, which was a lot of fun on my part, too. Despite the long journey you guys were amiable all the time and said "Arigato" in Japanese for any service you got, which made the locals around you very happy and comfortable. You're definitely one of the best couples I've ever met in my whole life! We miss you very much. Why don't you visit our place again to take another optional tour you missed this time. We, of course, roll out the red carpet for you both just like the Hina Dolls we saw at Farmhouse 'Ajiki'. Bon voyage! Wishing you a smooth flight to New Zealand, Kari and Rob. Poorest Water (Because we miss you so much!)
Spencer S.
Two-day Exciting Tour at Yamadera Temple and on Mt. Zao
Customized
“Very Nice Person”
Shimizu-San is a very nice person and we enjoyed his company. The first day to Yamadera was lots of fun but we could have done without the Basho museum. The second day was less interesting. Though the old Prefecture building was OK, it was not worth the time. Yamagata Castle was a bit of a bust. Lunch, however, at Gura was very good.
Kuniaki S.
(4 reviews)Thanks a lot for writing a review for me. I was very happy to have an opportunity to show you around Yamadera mountain complex and Kajo Koen Park. It was a pity, however, that we could not climb up to the top of Mt. Zao on the second day as originally scheduled becase of the weather and the cable car check-up. Maybe next time! I personally enjoyed your sophisticated talks and jokes all through the tour. You are definitely one of the best couples I've ever met in my whole life. Thanks again for choosing me as your personal guide for two days. Next time why not visit Mt. Zao and the Shinjo-Mogami region for another exciting tour? I'm very much looking forward to it. I do hope you'll enjoy the rest of your tour in Japan. See you again. Bon voyage!
