overview
Immerse yourself in authentic Japanese history, cuisine, and culture on this three-day tour in Niigata Prefecture. Participate in private dango, miso, and Japanese sweets-making lessons at local establishments. Sip macha tea at a Japanese tea ceremony. Experience new and innovative dishes created from seasonal Niigata ingredients that have been prepared by Michelin-star chefs from around the world. Learn about the birthplace of koi fish while hand-feeding the peaceful fish in a traditional Japanese garden. Savor Niigata delicacies and priceless sake as you watch the Katakai Fireworks, one of the three great firework displays of Niigata, illuminate the starry skies above you. All of this, and more, awaits you on this once-in-a-lifetime tour.
key features
- Enjoy the taste of the gastronomical heart of Japan, prepared by Michelin-star chefs at Niigata Heritage facilities.
- Experience the Katakai Fireworks Festival from an exclusive viewing area
- Immerse yourself in Japanese culture through private tours and interactive experiences.
- Refresh at two world-class Japanese ryokans (hotels) with private onsens.
September 12 - September 14, 2024
¥198,000 / person (~$1,350.00 USD)
Min. 6 People
Private Event
tour itinerary
Thursday, September 12, 2024
1:30 PM: Meet at Exit of Shinkansen Super Express
Nagaoka Station, Niigata
1:45 PM: Walk to AORE Nagaoka
2:30 PM: Japanese Sweets Making Class
Mogamiya
3:45 PM: Kimura Tea Ceremony Museum
6:15 PM: Niigata Premium Dining Experience
Yuuki-An, Nagaoka
10:00 PM: Arrive at Lodging
Hotel New Otani, Nagaoka
Friday, September 13, 2024
9:40 AM: Leave Hotel New Otani
10:00 AM: Choice of Cultural Experience
11:20 AM: Settaya District & Yoshinogawa Brewery Tour
12:15 PM: Nagaoka Premium Lunch Experience
Takashi AKIYAMA Poster Museum
3:00 PM: Ojiya Nishikigoi no Sato, Koi Fish Experience
4:20 PM: Fireworks Lecture & Talk with Fireworks Expert
5:30 PM: Dinner at Exclusive Outdoor Viewing Area
7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Katakai Fireworks Festival
11:30 PM: Arrive at Lodging
Ryugon, Minamiuonuma
EVENT DETAILS
thursday, september 12, 2024
Getting to Nagaoka
1:30 pm
The tour will begin at Nagaoka Station in Niigata, an easy 1.5-hour ride from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train).
Nagaoka Station can be accessed via Shinkansen or car. Tour participants will meet at the exit of the Shinkansen Super Express in Nagaoka Station before walking to Aore Nagaoka to begin the tour.
By Shinkansen:
Directions: Take the JR Joetsu “Toki” Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Ngaoka Station.
Duration: 1.5 hours
By Car:
Directions: Enter the Kanetsu Expressway via Nerima IC and exit via Nagaoka IC.
Duration: 3 hours
Japanese Sweets Making Class, Mogamiya
2:30 pm
Immerse yourself in the rich legacy of Mogamiya, established in 1871. Mogamiya is the proud producer of Niigata's famous Kashiwazaki-daiko and seasonal wagashi (Japanese confections).
Participate in a workshop where you'll craft fireworks-themed wagashi and receive guidance from master artisans from Mogamiya. Indulge in the delightful experience of enjoying your original creation paired with a cup of matcha.
Kimura Tea Ceremony Museum
3:45 pm
The Kimura Tea Ceremony Museum in Kashiwazaki showcases the collection of pottery, tea sets, and paintings created by the esteemed tea ceremony master Kankoan Kimura Shigeyoshi.
Enjoy a special experience where you can enjoy the Japanese sweets you’ve made yourself with tea during a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Premium Dining Dinner at Yuuki-An
6:15 pm
The Premium Dining Experience will be held at the Yuuki-An residence. Yuuki-An, a forest inn that has been carefully restored, is surrounded by nature, creating a relaxing space and time. Visitors can sit on tatami flooring around a sunken hearth while looking out over the fields and mountains of Niigata.
Indulge in an exquisite culinary journey at Yuuki-An, where talented chefs showcase the finest locally sourced ingredients that flawlessly pair with the beautiful venue and heartwarming hospitality.
Niigata Premium Dining introduces the culture, history,
and climate of Niigata through food.’
the culinary experts of premium dining
Begoña Rodrigo de Jorge
Head Chef and Owner
La Salita, Valencia, Spain
Rodrigo is the Head Chef of La Salita, a beautiful restaurant in Valencia. She began cooking in the Netherlands in 1995 and has since traveled around the world to discover new flavors and innovations. In 2021, she was awarded her first Michelin star. In 2023, she ranked 16th in the “We're Smart® Top 100” best gourmet vegetable restaurants in the world and was voted the Best Vegetable Chef in Europe.
Having traveled the world, her cooking style combines freedom, precision, beauty, and skill in pursuit of flavor.
In this Premium Dining Experience, Rodrigo will combine her international culinary experience with her affinity for the flavors of Niigata to create innovative delicacies with local Niigata ingredients.
Keiko Kuwakino
Head Chef
Satoyama Jujo, Niigata, Japan
Chef Kuwakino studied vegetarian cuisine around the world, training under chefs in Australia, Germany, India, and Japan. In 2020, she received a Michelin star in the “Michelin Guide Niigata 2020 Special Edition.” In 2023, she was awarded 13th place for Best Vegetable Restaurants in the World and was voted “Best Female Vegetable Chef of 2023.”
Keiko Kuwakino expressed local Niigata gastronomy in each of her dishes, bringing to life the climate and culture of snow country.
Hidetake Baba
Japanese Sweets Craftsman
Echigo-Yuzawa, Niigata
Born in Aomori Prefecture, Hidetake Baba began working in a Japanese confectionery in Kyoto at the age of 18. He worked as a manager at HIGASHIYA in Tokyo, and as the confectioner at the Japanese restaurant Yakumo Saryo, where he crafted unique seasonal treats. He currently works in Echigo-Yuzawa making wagashi confections.
Arrive at Hotel New Otani, Nagaoka
10:00 pm
EVENT DETAILS
friday, september 13, 2024
Choice of Cultural Experience
10:00 am
You will be able to select one cultural experience to participate in. However, please note that depending on capacity, we may not always be able to accommodate your request.
Option 1: Making Dango
Indulge in traditional Japanese sweets at Eguchi Dango, established in 1902, and pair
their signature dango mochi
with green tea.
Option 2: Making Miso
Visit Hoshino Honten
to craft your miso
dama (miso paste
ball). Take home your creations and enjoy
rich miso soup anytime.
Settaya District Exploration &
Private Tour of Yoshinogawa Brewery
11:20 am
Explore Nagaoka's Settaya District, home to breweries with over 180 years of history producing staples like miso, soy sauce, and sake.
See the evolution of Yoshinogawa Brewery on a private tour and taste the crisp, clean, and fragrant sake brewed with Niigata’s rice, water, and exceptional skill.
Yoshinogawa Brewery was founded in 1548 and is the oldest sake brewery in Niigata. Over the course of its 470 years of brewing, Yoshinogawa has established a rich tradition that is celebrated in its brewery and tasting room.
Premium lunch Experience at
Takashi AKIYAMA Poster Museum
12:15 am
Immerse yourself in a locally sourced dining experience crafted by skilled, young chefs from Osteria La Fenice and Restaurant L'Armoise.
Your palate will be treated to exquisite dishes at the Takashi Akiyama Poster Museum in Nagaoka. Named after a renowned local graphic designer who has won multiple international awards, this museum is housed in a former bank, now designated as a Nationally Tangible Cultural Property.
The Culinary Experts of Premium Lunch
Ryotaro Tanaka
Head Chef
Restaurant L’armoise, Nagaoka, Niigata
After 7 years of training at hotels and restaurants in Tokyo, Chef Tanaka returned to his hometown of Nagaoka City, Niigata to launch his current restaurant. Each item in the sophisticated interior of Restaurant L’armoise was hand-selected by Chef Tanaka, including the local Oguni washi paper and tables crafted by local craftsmen.
Ingredients are carefully selected from Nagaoka and other areas of Niigata Prefecture. Chef Tanaka's French cuisine is based on the motto of “simplicity,” and he puts his heart and soul into his cooking.
Naoko Mimoto
Head Cheff
OSTERIA La fenice, Nagaoka, Niigata
Born in Nagaoka City, Chef Naoko Mitsumoto graduated from a local culinary school and then trained at an Italian restaurant in Tokyo and a number of famous restaurants in Italy. After returning to Japan, Chef Mimoto established her current restaurant in Nagaoka. Her strong desire to convey the true flavor of “authentic Italian cuisine” is reflected in her sincere cooking and workmanship, from appetizers to desserts.
The lasagna, which has become a specialty of the restaurant, has a deeply tender taste. The appetizer platter alone allows you to fully appreciate the depth of Niigata's ingredients.
Exclusive experience at Ojiya Nishikigoi no Sato
3:00 pm
Ojiya City is the birthplace of Nishikigoi, also known as koi fish. Visit Ojiya Nishikigoi no Sato to admire these elegant fish swimming in a traditional Japanese garden. Learn about their history, and species, and even participate in feeding sessions.
Fireworks Movie & Meeting with Fireworks Expert
4:20 pm
History of the Katakai Fireworks Festival
The Katakai Matsuri, or Katakai Fireworks Festival, boasts a 400-year tradition. The festival is held every September in Katakai Town in Niigata, JAPAN.
The Katakai Fireworks Festival is a celebration dedicated to the Asahara Shrine. During the festival, over 200 stalls are constructed around the shrine, handmade "tama-okuri" floats are paraded through the town to bring fireworks to the shrine, and people from around the world gather to watch the fireworks.
Katakai is known for its spectacular fireworks show, and is the only place in the world where four-shaku fireworks are launched.
Gourmet Dinner at Exclusive Viewing Area
5:30 pm
Before the show, indulge in an experiential dinner prepared by the award-winning SUZU GROUP from Niigata, recipients of the prestigious Niigata Gastronomy Award. Dinner will be provided in the exclusive viewing area, with comfortable seats in a park near both the launch site and the Katakai Festival. SUZU GROUP’s award-winning cuisine will allow you to immerse your senses in Niigata’s unique food culture. You can learn more about SUZU here:
Katakai Fireworks Exclusive Viewing Experience
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
During the show, experience the awe-inspiring Katakai Fireworks show from the comfort of your exclusive viewing area. Sit back with seasonal Niigata appetizers and beverages and let yourself fully enjoy the spectacular lights and colors that illuminate the night sky above you.
Arrive at Hotel Ryugon, Nagaoka
11:30 pm
location
Nagaoka
Shinkansen Super Express Exit
Nagaoka Station
Japan, 〒940-0061 新潟県長岡市城内町２丁目7
Shinkansen Super Express Exit
Nagaoka Station
2-7 Jonaimachi, Nagaoka City
Niigata Prefecture, 940-0061, JAPAN
This tour will explore some of the most famous areas of Niigata, including Nagaoka, Ojiya, and Katakai.
book now
Three-Day Tour
Date
- Saturday, Sept. 14 - Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024
Key Features
- Enter the birthplace of koi fish (nishikigoi) and participate in sacred nishikigoi care and feeding.
- Experience the Katakai Fireworks Festival from an exclusive viewing area
- Immerse yourself in Japanese culture through private tours and interactive experiences.
- Refresh at a world-class Japanese ryokan (hotel) with a private onsen.
For inquiries, contact whatsapp +81-90-4366-2767