1 Day | Discover Rural Japanese Food Traditions with Local Hosts in Gifu

Share the food traditions, stories, and hospitality of a mountain village in Gifu.

Spend a day in the countryside of Gifu, where seasonal ingredients, family traditions, and local hospitality come together around the Japanese table.

In a traditional farmhouse setting, prepare a seasonal Japanese meal with local hosts and discover the food traditions that have been passed down through generations.

This is not simply a cooking class. It is an opportunity to spend time with people who call this region home, hear their stories, experience rural life, and share a meal you have prepared together.

Your Experience

A Place Where Local Traditions Continue

Your experience begins in Iiji, a small mountain village in Ena, Gifu.

The experience takes place on Hana’s family property, where she was born and raised. Beside her family home, Hana transformed an old farm building, once used as a horse stable, into a warm and welcoming place where people can gather, share food, and connect with the community.

The space also serves as a small countryside café, opening once a month for visitors and local residents. On those days, people gather to enjoy seasonal food and conversation in this quiet mountain village.

Inside, you will find traditional farming tools, old household items, and kimono that have been kept by her family, offering a glimpse into the everyday life of rural Japan.

This is not a place created to recreate the past, but a living place where the rhythms of rural life and local traditions continue today.

Food has always been part of Hana’s family story. Growing up in Iiji, Hana was surrounded by the food traditions of the region. Her family has long been connected to the region’s food culture, including traditional koji-fermented specialties made with dried squid, a unique taste that reflects the food traditions of this mountain community.

The Story Behind the Flavors of Iiji

The food traditions of Iiji have been shaped by both the challenges and the connections of life in the mountains.

As a highland farming village, Iiji experienced long and severe winters. Before modern refrigeration, families developed ways to preserve food through the cold months, and fermentation became an essential part of daily life. Koji-based foods were not only a way to preserve ingredients, but also a way to create flavors that could be enjoyed throughout the year.

Iiji was also connected to the wider movement of people and goods through the region. Nearby Ena developed as an important crossroads along historic routes, while mountain paths from Iiji connected the village to areas such as Yaotsu, where timber from the mountains was transported. These connections brought different influences into the region, allowing local food traditions to develop through a blend of mountain wisdom and outside influences.

Because Iiji remained a quiet agricultural village in the highlands, many of these traditions continued with little change. Seasonal dishes, fermentation techniques, and the customs of sharing food at the table are not recreated for visitors — they are part of a living rural culture that continues today.

Seasonal Japanese Home Cooking

Together with a local home cook and hosts from the community, you will prepare a traditional Japanese meal shaped by the seasonal ingredients available at the time of your visit.

You will begin by preparing dashi — the quiet foundation behind Japanese cuisine. By making and tasting freshly prepared dashi, you will discover how Japanese cooking brings out the natural flavors of each ingredient through simplicity, balance, and careful preparation.

The meal follows the traditional ichiju-sansai style: steamed rice, seasonal soup, and several side dishes. The exact menu changes throughout the year, reflecting what the land provides and what local families have prepared and enjoyed for generations.

Depending on the season, you may prepare dishes such as hoba-zushi, sushi wrapped in fragrant magnolia leaves, in early summer, or dishes featuring locally grown chestnuts in autumn.

Yuzu and koji, two ingredients deeply connected to this region’s food culture, are featured throughout the year.

After cooking together, gather around the table and enjoy the meal you have prepared while sharing stories with your hosts.

What's Included

— A private seasonal cooking experience with local hosts
— Locally sourced seasonal ingredients
— Preparing and tasting traditional dashi
— A traditional Japanese meal based on the ichiju-sansai style: rice, seasonal soup, and several side dishes, including house-made pickles
— Traditional regional condiments using yuzu and koji
— Private transfer from JR Ena or JR Nakatsugawa Station
— Interpreter support throughout the experience

Please note that the menu changes with the seasons. Depending on the featured dish, the number and composition of side dishes may vary.

Duration

Approximately 5 to 6 hours.

Reservations must be made at least 30 days in advance.

The experience can begin between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM (JST). Please let us know your preferred start time when making your reservation.

Journey to the Village

Your journey begins at JR Ena Station, approximately one hour from Nagoya by train.

An English-speaking interpreter will meet you at the station and accompany you throughout the day.

From there, a private transfer takes you into the mountains of Iiji — a 30 to 40-minute drive through forested hills, rice paddies, and the quiet countryside landscapes of rural Gifu.

As the roads wind deeper into the valley, the pace of life begins to slow. Small farmhouses, cultivated fields, and forested mountains reveal a landscape shaped by generations of people living closely with the land.

Along the way, there may be opportunities to pause and take in the scenery. This is a quiet mountain valley where farming traditions, seasonal rhythms, and local ways of life continue much as they have for generations.

By the time you arrive, the journey itself has already become part of the experience.

Pricing

Groups of 5 or more: Please contact us for availability and a custom quotation.

Because each experience is offered as a private experience, we tailor the pace, seasonal menu, and hospitality to your group, creating a more personal and immersive day with your local hosts.

Booking Process

1. Submit an enquiry or reservation request using the online form.

2. If you are making an enquiry, we will be happy to answer your questions. If you later decide to proceed with a reservation, we will ask you to provide the information required to process your booking.

3. Availability confirmation (2–3 business days). Once we have received your reservation request and all the necessary information, we will confirm the availability of the local hosts and interpreter. As each experience is arranged individually with members of the local community, this process usually takes 2–3 business days.

4. Reservation confirmation. Once availability has been confirmed, we will send you a booking confirmation, invoice, and payment instructions.

5. Complete your payment within 4 days. Please complete payment within 4 days of receiving your invoice. Your reservation will be confirmed once full payment has been received. If payment is not received within this period, your reservation request may be released.

6. Receive your travel information. After payment has been received, we will send you your final itinerary, meeting instructions, and all the information you need for your experience.

As each experience is arranged individually with members of the local community, we appreciate your patience during the confirmation process.

Practical Information

Reservations & Payment

Reservations must be made at least 30 days in advance (JST).

Payment is accepted via credit card (Square) or bank transfer.

Full payment is required in advance.

For reservations and enquiries, please contact us through the enquiry form.

Cancellation Policy

A non-refundable deposit of ¥5,000 per person is required at the time of booking.

Cancellation fees are calculated based on the number of days before the experience date (JST).

In the event of severe weather or force majeure, we will work with you to reschedule or arrange a full refund.

Participation

This experience is suitable for participants aged 12 and above.

Children are welcome to join, though the presence of infants or very young children may affect the pace of the experience. If you require a babysitter, please let us know in advance.

Much of the cooking involves standing, particularly during the first half of the experience. Seating is available upon request.

Please inform us in advance of any health considerations.

Dietary Requirements & Allergies

We are happy to accommodate food allergies, vegetarian, and vegan requirements.

As ingredients and preparation methods need to be arranged in advance, please inform us at the time of booking.

What to Wear & Bring

Comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended.

Aprons are provided.

Photography is welcome throughout the experience.

Inclement Weather

The experience is designed to take place in a variety of weather conditions. Please come prepared with appropriate clothing and rain gear if rain is forecast.

If severe weather, natural disasters, or official weather warnings are expected to affect the safety of participants or travel conditions before the experience begins, we may postpone or cancel the experience. In such cases, you may choose either to reschedule your booking or receive a full refund.

If weather conditions change after the experience has commenced, the guide will make any necessary adjustments to ensure the safety of all participants. Once the experience has begun, refunds will not be available, and our standard cancellation policy will apply.

Ready to experience Rural Japan?

If you have any questions or would like to request a reservation, we'd be delighted to hear from you.

Contact

For late arrival or transport delays:
Please contact us directly.

General enquiries:

info@ruraljapan.co.jp

By making a reservation, you agree to our Terms & Conditions.