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Kita-ku Fermented Food Culture and Fukushimagata Walking Tour
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Joined 2018
This tour provides visitors with an unforgettable experience by tasting sake and miso fermented soy bean paste. They will be amazed by products made with pride and history of fermented food culture. You can enjoy Italian cuisine, sushi, ramen or more cooked with localy produced vegetables and seafood caught in the Sea of Japn, for lunch.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Niigata Station Bandai Exit / Hotel
Niigata Station
Meeting at the Bandai-guchi Entrance. Take a taxi or train and walk to Yamada Miso Soybean Paste Brewery.
Yamada Miso Brewery
Take a tour of the miso brewery and learn the history of miso (soybean paste). You can taste different kinds of miso and rice juice. You can enjoy shopping miso, soy sauce and rice juice. The factory tour and miso tasting experience need to be booked 1-2 weeks prior to the tour. JPY880 for each person for the factory tour and miso tasting.
DHC Sake Brewery
Take a tour of the sake brewery and learn the culture and history of rice based Niigata food and sake. You can taste different kinds of sake and enjoy shopping. The brewery tour and sake tasting need to be booked 1-2 weeks prior to the tour. The sake brewery tour and tasting for each person requires JPY500, and JPY1000 for adding craft beer tasting to it.
Lunch at a local restaurant
Enjoy lunch with localy produced vegetables and seafood. I will take you to a restaurant of your choice of your favorite kind. My recommendation is sushi at Sushiichi, Italian lunch combo at Nora Cuccina! Ramens shops are also recommended.
View Fukushimagata
Visit the museum to learn about the wetland Fukushimagata, home to over 440 kinds of plants and over 250 kinds of birds. Enjoy viewing beautiful sights of nature from the observation floor of View Fukushimagata. You can also enjoy walking around the wetland garden and learn about biodiversity of Kita-ku and Niigata.
Niigata Station
Get back to Niigata Station by taxi or train.
Ending Point
Niigata Station Bandai Exit/ Hotel
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee.
*Hotel pickup: 1100 JPY
*Transportation fee (you and guide): 240 yen from Niigata Station to Toyosaka Station by train. Taxi fare: approx. JPY6500 for a car (for 3 persons plus guide) from Niigata Station to Toyosaka Station.
*Hiring a medium size taxi per hour is approx. JPY7500; a van for 9 people is approx. JPY9800.
*Miso brewery tour requires JPY880;sake brewery tour for JPY500-1000, and admission fee is JPY400 for a person at View Fukushimagata. Please pay them on site.
Tour Important Information
*Transportation fee, drinks, admission fees, meals and souvenirs are not included in the shown tour price.
* Visitors need to payJPY 880 each for miso brewery tour and JPY500-1000 for sake brewery tour (as of June 2024), and the admission fee at View Fukushimagata, JPY400 yen each, on site.
*Train ticket between Niigata and Toyosaka one way is JPY240.
Booking 1-2 weeks prior to the tour is needed for arranging the brewery tours. View Fukushimagata is closed on Mondays but wetland walking is available.
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
Joined 2018
About Tour Guide Mutsuko W.
Yokoso! Welcome!
Hi, I'm Mutsuko, a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter. A true Niigatite, I was born and raised in Niigata City with roots dating back generations. I would be pleased to show you another side of Japan in my beautiful and unique prefecture.
The Warm Hospitality: Niigata Prefecture is located on the west coast of the Japanese Archipelago, facing the Sea of Japan and provides a true insider look into the Japanese spirit. Only two hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen, it has been perfecting the art of casual hospitality through centuries as a culinary hotspot and nature getaway for the those escaping the rat-race.
History at your own Pace: Appreciate history and culture at your own pace in Niigata. Yahiko, National Shrine has been soothing souls, and inspiring locals, poets, and travellers for over 2500 years. Historically significant buildings greet seafarers at Niigata Port and the old town area, Furumachi. Cross the symbolic Bandai Bridge to the other side of the Shinano River where we can move from the ancient to the modern in the Bandai area to shop and gather with young and old for entertainment such as movies, music, manga, and anime.
Over the Sea, Over the Mountain, Over the Fields: Nature is good to Niigata Prefecture, giving us four clear-cut seasons. People from all over the country, and travellers wanting to experience Japan with the Japanese join us to soak in the sun on our beaches, relax at spa resorts, challenge themselves on world class ski hills, and dance together at festivals that draw world class performers.
Travel with Me: With direct trains to and from Tokyo and an international airport, Niigata is just a stone's throw away to have a unique taste of Japan. Whether you're planning a day trip or a longer stay, I invite you to visit Niigata City and other parts of the prefecture, and while here, it would be my pleasure to help you create unique memories during your stay.
Reviews
Jeff D.
“Tour All Around Yahiko and Niigata”
Mutsuko-San is a very fun and accommodating guide. She was able to craft an itinerary around Tsubamesanjo, Yahiko and Niigata cities based on my interests, and when we were ahead of schedule she found ways to show me more of the city to spend some time before our next scheduled stop. She was also very friendly and easy to talk to about anything, which made the tour that much better. I would strongly recommend her for anyone looking for a day tour around the Niigata prefecture area!
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Mutsuko W.
Hello Jeff-san, I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive and engaging experience. Crafting customized itineraries and offering value-added opportunities is always my goal, and I'm delighted we could maximize your time in the Niigata prefecture. Thank you for your kind recommendation! Best Regards, Mutsuko
Stephen B.
“Excellent Tour of Niigata”
My wife and I toured Saito Villa and Imayo Tsukasa Sake Brewery with Matsuko while ported in Niigata. We very much enjoyed the tour. Matsuko is an outstanding guide. Excellent English and communicated lots of additional information about the sites we visited. Great preparation for our tour and very effective use of our limited available time. We highly recommend her.
Mutsuko W.
Steven san, Thank you so much! Reading your wonderfully detailed and kind review about your Niigata tour genuinely made my day. I’m truly happy to hear how much you and your wife enjoyed the experience in Niigata. It was an absolute pleasure guiding you, and I loved sharing the history and local details of Niigata with you both. Your generous comments are incredibly rewarding, and the highest compliment I could receive. Thank you for the wonderful feedback! I hope the rest of your cruise will be lovely. If your travels ever bring you back to Niigata, please feel free to reach out. Warmly, Mutsuko
Joan T.
“Wonderful Niigata Day Tour”
Our family of three from Hawai’i thoroughly enjoyed our day with Mutsuko. Communication and coordinating before the trip was excellent. Mutsuko was responsive and customized our tour integrating our ideas and her expert suggestions as a Niigata local. We rented our own car and she let us drive so we did not have to hire a van and driver. On the day of our tour, she met us at our ryokan and jumped into our car. Although we had a packed itinerary, Mutsuko timed everything so we never felt rushed. We had ample opportunity to explore, visit shops, discover local treats, and take lots of photos. She even helped us buy a suitcase (for all the amazing purchases we made) and find specific ingredients and gifts at the fish market, impromptu stops at local markets, and one very tiny local tea shop where we found a highly specific matcha that was sold out everywhere in Tokyo. Highlights: Mt. Yahiko was rainy and foggy but the ropeway tram was still enjoyable; Yahiko Shrine and surrounding area was beautiful and so peaceful; ate our way through Teradomari fish market where the sashimi was ultra fresh and so reasonable (we even returned the next day for more sashimi, fish cakes, and koshihikari rice ice cream); knife-making at Tojiro was fascinating and our two guides were friendly and encouraging; purchased a high-quality kitchen knife which they engraved with our name in kanji - this will be a treasured keepsake; picked and ate the most sweet delicious strawberries ever (AYCE in 50 min.) at Saito Orchard and Mutsuko won the contest with 35 strawberries; farmer’s market had many Niigata produce and gift items including sasadango and little cubes (about 2 cups) of Niigata rice. Highly recommend Mutsuko as a guide and will definitely contact her when we return to Niigata. Thank you, Mutsuko, for your warmth and friendliness, and your expert planning in creating a memorable experience for our first trip to beautiful Niigata.
Mutsuko W.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was truly a pleasure spending the day with your lovely family and showing you some of the many treasures Niigata has to offer. I'm so glad we could blend your ideas with local experiences--especially the spontaneous stops and unique finds like the special matcha and the perfect suitcase! Even with the rainy weather at Mt. Yahiko, your positive energy and enthusiasm made the day so enjoyable. I'm also impressed by your sashimi adventures and so happy you returned for more--Niigata's seafood really is hard to resist! And I'll never forget our strawberry-picking "competition" at Saito Orchard--what a fun memory! Joan-san, I was truly touched by the beautiful gift bag you prepared for me before the tour. All the snacks and gummies--chosen so thoughtfully based on our earlier messages--were not only delicious but also heartwarming. I'm enjoying every bite with my family, and we all appreciate your kindness and generosity. Thank you again for choosing me as your guide. I'm honored to have been part of your first trip to Niigata, and I look forward to welcoming you back anytime. Until then, please take care and enjoy using your engraved knife--it truly is a special keepsake! Arigatou Gozaimashita! Warmest regards, Mutsuko
$212/ per group
More tours by Mutsuko W.
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Shibata Castle and Central Shibata
Visitors can take the beautiful view of Shibata Castle, and feel the ambience of the castle town by walking along the streets. Please choose 6 spots to visit out of the highlights in central Shibata City.
Shibata Castle and Central Shibata
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Central Niigata City 1-Day Tour
You are to visit highlights of Niigata City in 7 hours using public transportation and taxi. Choose 5 spots to visit. You will love to walk along the Shinano River and cross the symbolic Bandai Bridge if time allows. You will also have opportunity to learn the history and background of abundant Niigata food culture such as sake, miso, rice balls and other food materials. From the top of Bakauke Observation Deck, you will have the great and panoramic view of the city and the nature.
Central Niigata City 1-Day Tour
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Northern Culture Museum, Tsukioka and Fukushimagata Wetlands
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Northern Culture Museum, Tsukioka and Fukushimagata Wetlands
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Gondola Ride to Mt Yahiko Top and Yahiko Shrine Visit plus Teradomari
Visitors can enjoy the hike to the top of Mt Yahiko by gondola and a 15-minute walk to the very top of the mountain to visit the uppermost Yahiko Shrine. Please take a panoramic view of the Sea of Japan and the vast Echigo Plain. Cherry blossoms in spring and beautiful colored leaves in autumn are marvelous to see. Make a wish at main worship hall of Yahiko Shrine for a good memory. Also you will visit Teradomari Fish Market to nibble on some grilled seafood.
Gondola Ride to Mt Yahiko Top and Yahiko Shrine Visit plus Teradomari
Other Popular Highlights Tours in Niigata
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Niigata City one day tour of your choices
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Niigata City one day tour of your choices
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Niigata City One Day Walking Tour
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Touring around Urasa station Niigata
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Touring around Urasa station Niigata
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Niigata One-Day Tour, Filled with the Memories of Good Old Days
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