Experiences
Wachigai continues to pass on the cuisine of Ngagno to the present day, and offers opportunities for you to experience the local food culture beyond just the food.
We offer cooking class where you can experience local ingredients that are still produced by hand, as well as a tour of Ichinoya, a sake brewery founded in 1865.
Japanese Cooking Class
Learn how to prepare authentic Japanese dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients from Nagano — Japan’s mountain region famous for its pure spring water, fresh vegetables, and deep-rooted food traditions.
The class guides you step-by-step, explaining Japanese seasonings, cooking techniques, and the stories behind each dish. You’ll discover a deeper side of Japanese food beyond what you know as washoku, learning what local people actually eat in their everyday lives — a cuisine shaped by living in harmony with nature.
All of this takes place in a beautifully preserved traditional house, where you can enjoy your creations in a serene atmosphere — a truly immersive experience that connects taste, culture, and place.
Schedule
11:00 Start
11:00-12:30 Cooking
12:30-14:00 Lunch
Prices (tax included)
Adults JPY16,000
Children 3 to 12y.o. JPY6.000
Free under 2y.o.
For booking, please contact via email.
Sake Brewery Tour
Step inside Ichinoya Brewery, a boutique sake maker established in 1865, and discover Japan’s living brewing tradition. Ichinoya continues to practice the Kimoto-zukuri method — an ancient and natural fermentation technique that creates amazing taste and flavor.
You’ll explore the brewery, learn how pure mountain water, rice, and craftsmanship come together to create the delicate balance of sake, and meet the artisans who dedicate their lives to preserving this time-honored process.
The tour includes a tasting of premium sake such as Daiginjo and seasonal varieties, followed by a delicious lunch paired with variety of Ichinoya’s sake.
Schedule
11:00 am (2–3 hours, including lunch)
What’s included
- Guided visit to Ichinoya Brewery
- Sake and natural water tasting
- Seasonal lunch at Wachigai
- Sake and local goods shopping
Prices (tax included)
Adults JPY18,000
*This tour does not accept reservations for minors. If minors will be accompanying your group, please order their lunch separately from the restaurant menu on the day of the tour.
For booking, please contact via email.
*For those traveling from Hakuba, you can also book via HHG tour.