Private Nagano Tour: Ninja Shrine, Soba-Making & Sake

A soba master teaches you to roll noodles in the birthplace of Japan's finest buckwheat.

A private six-hour day tour from Nagano Station combines a hike through a 400-year-old cedar forest to the sacred Togakushi Shrine, a hands-on soba-making class with lunch, and sake tasting at a local brewery, led by a bilingual guide and private vehicle. The tour suits travelers who want to learn a craft and explore a spiritual site without joining a group, and it includes round-trip transport from the station.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Togakushi Shrine and local culture

• Meet at Nagano Station East Exit
• Walk through 400-year-old cedar avenue
• Visit Togakushi Shrines
• Enjoy views at Kagami Pond
• Hike surrounding mountains
• Learn soba making from master chef
• Taste Japanese sake at historic brewery

The experience

You meet your bilingual guide at the East Exit of Nagano Station and travel by private vehicle to Togakushi, a mountain village known for both ninja legends and the finest buckwheat in Japan. The hike to Togakushi Shrine takes you through a towering avenue of 400-year-old cedar trees, with views across Kagami Pond and the surrounding mountains. The shrine itself sits at the heart of this forest, a place tied to the spiritual traditions the region has guarded for centuries.

After the hike, you move to the soba-making class, where a master chef walks you through rolling, cutting and cooking fresh noodles from scratch. You eat what you've made for lunch, tasting the difference between handmade and factory noodles in the place where the craft began. The final stop is a historic sake brewery, where you taste Japanese sake and learn how the local water and rice shape the flavor of each bottle.

The whole day runs about six hours from start to finish. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Japanese, and the private vehicle means no waiting for other groups or adjusting the pace to strangers. Round-trip transport from Nagano Station, both guides, the soba class with lunch, and the sake tasting are all included.

What’s included

• Round-trip private vehicle transport from Nagano Station.
• bilingual guide (English, Spanish, or Japanese).
• soba-making class with a master chef.
• lunch of the noodles you made.
• sake tasting at a local brewery.
• gratuities.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Friday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish 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.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Shibuya Exclusive Local Tours

Is this one for you?The hike to the shrine involves walking through forest and around the pond at a steady pace, so it suits travelers comfortable with a few hours of gentle mountain walking. Private transport means you set the rhythm and skip the coordination of group departures, which works well if you're fitting the tour into a loose schedule or prefer to move at your own speed.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Japanese.

Can I do this tour if I'm arriving in Nagano for just an afternoon?

The tour runs six hours total, so you'd need most of a day. If you're arriving by train, meet your guide at Nagano Station's East Exit and plan to finish by early evening, which works for an afternoon arrival if your train gets in by late morning.

What exactly happens during the soba-making class?

A soba master teaches you to mix flour and water, knead the dough, roll it thin, fold it, and cut noodles by hand. You then cook what you've made and eat it for lunch, tasting the texture and flavor of handmade noodles fresh from the work.

How difficult is the hike to Togakushi Shrine?

The hike moves through the cedar forest and around Kagami Pond at a moderate pace suitable for all fitness levels. The 400-year-old trees line the path, and the shrine sits at the end of the walk without steep climbs or technical terrain.

Is the sake tasting included, or do I pay extra?

Sake tasting at the historic brewery is included in the tour price. You'll taste several varieties and learn how the brewery uses local water and rice, with no additional charge.