Tsuruoka, Creative City of Gastronomy
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Port
Sakata, Japan
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$310
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 6½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Discover the culinary treasures of Tsuruoka City, designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2014. While there, learn about the unique food culture and more than 50 types of indigenous crops grown in the Yamagata Prefecture.
After a scenic 75-minute drive, arrive at a local Tsukemono shop. Tsukemono are Japanese pickles and are an important part of washoku (a traditional Japanese meal). Locals started to ferment vegetables harvested in spring and summer to preserve them for the cold winter months. Learn about the pickling process and enjoy tasting this unique, local specialty.
At a local Sake brewery, you will learn how Japanese Sake is produced from rice and enjoy a tasting of locally produced sake.
Continue along to a farmhouse restaurant in a traditional Japanese house, focusing on local ingredients and minimizing the use of additives.
Then visit Kamo Aquarium. Tsuruoka City, which houses Kamo Aquarium, is known for its abundant wild nature of the mountains and the plains. It is highly subject to the distinct four seasons of the region and faces the Japan Sea, a sea blessed with an incredibly rich varieties of living forms. Through jellyfish and other sea creatures present in the aquarium, you will be able to discover all the uniqueness and plurality of sea life.
Finally, visit the Sankyo Soko Rice Warehouses, a complex of rice warehouses built in 1893 to manage and store rice and still in use today. Shonai Plain around Sakata is one of Japan’s few large plains and is well-suited for high-quality rice cultivation. These nine warehouses can hold over 10,000 tons of rice.
After your visit to the warehouses, return to the pier.
Please note:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Tour sequence may vary. Bring local currency (yen) for purchases as few stores accept credit cards. Traffic can be unpredictable, especially during public holidays. The driver will do their best to keep moving safely. Your patience is greatly appreciated. Delays occasionally extend tour duration. You must remove your shoes at one or more location(s).