Nagano Cooking Tour: Make Oyaki & Stroll Historic Streets

Make oyaki by a sunken hearth, then walk the backstreets to Zenkoji Temple

A 2.5-hour cooking and walking experience in Nagano where you make two oyaki dumplings in a traditional Japanese house with an irori (sunken hearth), eat them warm with soba tea, then explore the peaceful backstreets leading to Zenkoji Temple. The guide speaks English and shares stories about local shops, dining customs and neighborhood life.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cook Oyaki and explore Nagano

• Meet guide near Starbucks Midori Nagano
• Learn to make Oyaki by irori hearth
• Enjoy Oyaki with soba tea by fire
• Walk through Nagano backstreets to Zenkoji Temple
• Visit local shops and learn culture
• Return to Nagano station by walking

The experience

You meet your guide in front of Starbucks Midori at Nagano station and walk to a traditional Japanese house where the cooking begins. Inside, you'll make two oyaki (local dumplings filled with seasonal vegetables or sweet bean paste) cooked directly in the irori, a sunken hearth that warms the room. You eat them right there by the fire with soba tea, the way locals have for generations. This is not a demonstration: you're making them yourself, learning the technique and the regional flavors that make oyaki a Nagano staple.

After cooking, your guide takes you through the laid-back backstreets toward Zenkoji Temple, stopping at small, locally owned shops along the way. You'll taste regional specialties, meet business owners, and learn how Japanese dining customs shape everyday life in the neighborhood. The walk itself is peaceful, nothing rushed, and you can linger where you want. If you'd rather explore restaurants or other spots nearby instead of returning to the station, you can say goodbye to your guide near Zenkoji Temple, which sits close enough that you can walk back on your own.

The whole experience runs about 2.5 hours. Your guide provides high-quality photographs taken throughout, shared with you after the tour. Walking shoes are recommended for the backstreet exploration, and the guide speaks English, so the commentary and stories come through clearly.

What’s included

• Making two oyaki dumplings and eating them warm by the irori with soba tea.
• a guided walk through Nagano's backstreets to Zenkoji Temple.
• lunch.
• high-quality photographs from the experience.
• an English-speaking guide who shares stories about local shops and Japanese dining customs.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday, Thursday and FridayDeparts at 12:40

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by o8Experience

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so the stories about neighborhood life and dining customs come through clearly. This works well if you want to understand the cultural context behind what you're making and seeing, not just the mechanics of the cooking itself.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is oyaki and why is it special to Nagano?

Oyaki is a beloved local dumpling filled with seasonal vegetables or sweet bean paste, cooked traditionally in an irori (sunken hearth). It's a Nagano specialty, and making it yourself in an authentic setting lets you taste why it matters to the region's food culture.

Do I need cooking experience to make oyaki?

No. The guide teaches you the technique step by step, and you make two dumplings during the session. It's hands-on instruction, not a demonstration you watch from the side.

What happens after the cooking part?

You walk through Nagano's backstreets toward Zenkoji Temple, stopping at small local shops, tasting regional flavors, and learning about the neighborhood from your guide. The walk takes you through a quieter side of the city before you return to Nagano station or explore on your own.

Is lunch included, or just the oyaki?

Lunch is included: the oyaki you make, plus soba tea by the hearth. Extra drinks and food are available to purchase if you want them.

How long does the whole tour take?

About 2.5 hours from start to finish, including the cooking session, the walk to Zenkoji Temple, and the return to Nagano station. If you leave early to explore restaurants near the temple, you can do that instead.