Toyama Cultural Exploration Tour

Step off the beaten path and into the heart of Toyama, where heritage and creativity live side by side. Over three days, explore beautifully preserved towns and villages, meet master craftsmen, and enjoy exquisite local cuisine in a thoughtfully restored farmhouse hotel, Rakudo-An. You’ll visit UNESCO villages, temples rich with folk art, and studios where centuries-old crafts are still practiced today. Each experience is hands-on, immersive, and deeply connected to the land. Rakudo-An, a beautifully restored 120-year-old farmhouse, blends contemporary art with rural architecture, offering a welcome matcha, guided property tour, and dinners at Restaurant Nei, featuring modern regional Japanese cuisine. Your stay also contributes to preserving Toyama’s dispersed village landscape.

Day 1:

Your journey begins in Takaoka, famed for its 400-year-old metal casting tradition. Wander historic Kanayamachi, enjoy a Michelin-starred lunch, and visit Shimatani Syouryu's workshop. Check into Rakudo-An for a welcome matcha, modern regional dinner, and a private taiko drumming experience.

Day 2:

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage village of Ainokura, trying your hand at traditional washi paper making before lunch. In the afternoon, discover Inami’s incredible woodcarving culture, visiting Zuisen-ji Temple and an artisan’s studio to create your own carved wooden coaster. Return to Rakudo-An for an evening of cultural experiences like essential oil blending, ikebana, or a matcha tea ceremony, followed by another inspired dinner.

Day 3:

Begin with a visit to Kotokuji Temple, home to celebrated folk art, enjoying coffee with the head priest and a Buddhist vegetarian lunch. In the afternoon, tour Nousaku, a world-renowned metal casting factory, and pour your own tin sake cup. Conclude your journey at Wakatsuru Brewery & Saburomaru Distillery, experiencing how sake and whisky meet through Toyama’s metalworking ingenuity.