Experience Tradition at the Rice Planting Festival and Miso Making Workshop in Kanuma

Celebrate Tradition in Kanuma

On June 7, 2025, Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd. will hold a unique event, the "Rice Planting Festival and Miso Making Workshop in Kanuma", in collaboration with the Maedainikou Brewery, a facility renovated from a closed elementary school in Tochigi's Kanuma City. This initiative has been selected as part of the 2024 Tourism Agency's Regional Tourism New Discovery Project, aiming to create a sustainable tourism area that preserves traditional skills and techniques while utilizing local resources.

Kanuma City, located at the southern foot of the Nikko Mountains, is a picturesque area surrounded by pristine rivers, including the Oashi River, known for its superb water quality and clarity. Established in 2015, Maedainikou Brewery aims to produce locally crafted sake using the excellent Kanuma rice and pure water, while promoting sustainable tourism through brewery visits and sake-making experiences. The upcoming event marks the first in a series of year-round sake-making programs, featuring participation in the rice planting festival with “Isehikari,” a rice variety that originates from the Ise Shrine, alongside a hands-on miso-making experience. This event is a remarkable opportunity to connect with Japan's rich cultural heritage and pass it down to future generations.

Event Highlights

Experience the Rice Planting Festival

Before the planting activity, a ritual prayer for a bountiful harvest will be conducted, symbolizing gratitude for agriculture and nature. Families are encouraged to participate together, fostering an intergenerational understanding of the importance of farming and a deeper connection with nature.

Learn About Fermentation

Participants will receive a lecture on fermentation from Kobayashi, the president of Maedainikou Brewery, while engaging in the actual process of making miso. The goal is to inspire families to appreciate local culinary traditions and foster awareness of the region's cultural richness.

The First Step in Year-Round Programs Declared as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

This event serves as the first installment in a series of programs dedicated to the traditional art of sake brewing. While the current focus is on the rice planting festival and prayer for a good harvest, the second event, a harvest festival, is scheduled for October, followed by an original sake brewing experience in January 2026. These activities aim to provide a fun and immersive experience of Japan’s incredible history and traditional techniques.

For more details and to sign up, visit: Registration Link

Tobu Top Tours is committed to combining local tourism content with sustainable practices, enhancing regional branding, and further cultivating local resources for tourism. Join us to celebrate and experience the essence of Japanese tradition in Kanuma!