Buddhist Temple Cooking and Brewery Town Walk Near Kyoto

0 Review | Shiga Prefecture

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Youth (13-15) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 4

Child (6-12) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 4

Infant (0-5) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 6

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6 hours to 7 hours

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Temple Cooking Workshop
Food and drink
Professional Bilingual Guide
Sake & Soy Sauce tasting (restricted to guests age 20 or older)
All Admission

Train Fares to Meeting Point / Train Fares from Meeting Point to Tour Venue (420 yen one-way)
Souvenirs, snacks, etc.

Overview

Immerse yourself in traditional Buddhist cuisine at a 600-year-old temple, just an hour from Kyoto by train. This unique, family-friendly experience in a quaint town known for its breweries combines cultural immersion with culinary exploration. Learn temple cooking, adaptable for all dietary needs and skill levels, at this national heritage site. Enhance your visit with tastings at local breweries, sampling sake and soy sauce. Our local guides, deeply rooted in the community, will introduce you to the town's warmth and charm. This day trip offers a perfect blend of relaxation, cultural insights, and authentic local interactions, providing a rare glimpse into Japan's small-town life. It's more than just a culinary journey; it's a deep dive into the heart of rural Japan, offering a memorable escape from the everyday.

Meeting Point

Our guide will meet you in JR Maibara Station by the main ticket gates. To get to JR Maibara Station from JR Kyoto Station, please take the bullet train eastbound. Please note that some Hikari and all Nozomi do not stop at Maibara. We will inform you of the train schedule once confirmed.

End Point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

1. Myorakuji Temple We have a cooking workshop at Myorakuji Temple, where you’ll learn to make otoki ryori, a type of Buddhist cuisine, traditionally served at various ceremonies, particularly of the Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land sect). Under guidance from the head priest’s wife, you’ll gain hands-on experience preparing seasonal ingredients and learn about the significance of food in Buddhist practices. 3 hours

2. Daiko Shoyu Our guide will bring you to Daiko Shoyu, a local family-run soy sauce brewery that has been in business for over 100 years. Soy sauce is also made with fermented mash, so production is actually quite similar to that of sake. Explore the varieties and uses of quality Japanese soy sauce. Aside from the active winter brewing season, visitors can usually also get a private look at the brewing area too. 30 minutes

3. Tomita Shuzo The Tomita family sake brewery has been here in Kinomoto for about 400 years and is one of the region's top brands winning awards in Japan and abroad. Our guide will show you around the traditional storefront, explaining some of the sake types and helping you interact with the friendly staff. 30 minutes

4. Kinomoto Jizoin Temple This interesting local temple has a long history and is central to the Kinomoto Village community and traditions. Our guide will show you around the grounds and main hall while explaining its significance in local culture. People visit the main Jizo deity of this temple with prayers for vision care, using votive ceramic frog statuettes to leave as offerings. There is also a pitch dark maze for meditation underneath the main hall! 2 hours

5. Yamaji Brewery Recognized as the 4th oldest sake brewery still running in Japan, this small brewery has been in business for almost 500 years! With several varieties of sake, they're also famous for a delicious and unique mulberry liquor. Depending on season and staffing, we may get to look at the brewing area behind the storefront, and the owners are happy to welcome our visitors with tastings. 30 minutes

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Learn more about cancellations.

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