Make Your Own Miso in Obuse: 240-Year-Old Brewery Class

Roll up your sleeves at a historic brewery, mix miso by hand, and walk out with a batch fermenting toward flavor.

Make your own 1kg batch of miso at a 240-year-old brewery in Obuse, near Zenkoji Temple and Togakushi Shrine, with hands-on instruction in traditional techniques. The class includes a tour of the Edo-period warehouse, miso ramen lunch with local ingredients, entry to the Hokusai-kan Museum, and an English-speaking guide. Your miso ferments for several months before it's ready to eat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Obuse and make miso

• Wander charming Obuse streets
• Enjoy miso ramen lunch
• Visit Hokusai museum
• Tour miso brewery and make miso

The experience

The day starts in Obuse's charming streets with your guide, who walks you through the town's connection to the artist Hokusai and its long history. You'll stop at the Hokusai-kan Museum to see his ukiyo-e prints and the painted ceiling panels from the town's festival floats. Then comes lunch: a bowl of miso ramen (pork broth or vegan) served in an earthen pot, made with miso from the brewery you're about to enter.

At the Kokuhei Miso Brewery, you step into a warehouse that has stood since the Edo period. Your guide walks you through how miso ferments and ages, then hands you the tools and ingredients to make 1kg of your own. You'll mix and pack it yourself, following the techniques brewers have used for centuries. The batch goes into a container you take home, where it ferments for several months before it's ready to eat. A souvenir that becomes part of your kitchen once you're back.

The whole experience runs about five hours. The brewery can adjust start times earlier or later if your schedule needs it, and children from age 3 can join in (under 12 they make miso alongside an adult). Public transportation connects to the area, and the guide speaks English throughout.

What’s included

• Miso ramen lunch (pork or vegan).
• 1kg batch of miso you make and take home.
• entry to the Hokusai-kan Museum.
• miso tasting.
• tour of the 240-year-old brewery warehouse.
• English-speaking guide throughout the five-hour experience.

Options for this experience

2 options

Make Your Own Miso at a 240-Year-Old Brewery: A Hands-On History ExperienceGuide in English · 11:00

Meeting point: Nagano StationGuide in English · 10:10Meeting point: In front of the Starbucks at Nagano Station (Zenkoji Entrance), rather than Obuse Station

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except ThursdayDepartures at 10:10 and 11:00

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Obuse Local Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this class if you want to learn a real craft and leave with something you made, rather than just watch a demonstration. The hands-on miso making is the core of the day, and the fermentation means you'll think about Obuse every time you open the container at home.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I make during the miso-making part?

You make 1kg of miso using traditional techniques, mixing and packing it yourself in a container you take home. It ferments for several months before it's ready to eat, so you're not tasting it the same day. The finished product arrives at your kitchen weeks later.

Is the ramen lunch included, and what are my options?

Yes, lunch is included: miso ramen served in an earthen pot from Takesan Ramen Obuse, which uses miso from the brewery next door. You can order the Donabe Miso Tonkotsu with pork broth or the Shinshu Misogura Ramen, which is vegan.

What is the Hokusai-kan Museum, and how much time do we spend there?

The Hokusai-kan is a dedicated museum in Obuse showcasing the artist Hokusai's ukiyo-e prints and original paintings, including the panels that decorate the town's festival floats. It's one stop on the five-hour itinerary, giving you time to see his work before moving on to the brewery.

Do I need any special skills or fitness level to join this class?

No special skills are needed: the guide teaches you the traditional techniques step by step. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness, as the day involves walking through town and standing while working at the brewery.

Where does the tour start, and how do I get there?

You can choose to meet at Nagano Station, or arrange a different meeting point by request. Public transportation options are available near Obuse if you prefer to make your own way there.