Home Visit & Mochi-Making Experience in a Rural Village
Come and taste freshly pounded MOCHI rice cakes and delicious Chicken SUKIYAKI in a traditional rural home, nestled within a village of beautiful terraced rice fields.
Step into the daily life and food culture of a local community, where terraced fields—carefully maintained for over 1,300 years—cascade down the mountainside as far as the eye can see.
Begin your visit with a gentle stroll through the village, taking in sweeping views of the landscape with Lake Biwa shimmering in the distance. Along the way, you’ll experience the spirit of a community that has long lived in harmony with nature, preserving its precious water sources across generations.
Your mochi-making experience will be hosted by a warm and welcoming local family from the village community. Using traditional tools—a wooden mortar and pestle—you’ll take part in pounding freshly steamed glutinous rice into soft, delicious mochi. Everyone is encouraged to join in, making this both a fun and memorable activity.
Freshly made mochi is exceptionally tender and flavorful. Enjoy it with a variety of toppings, including both sweet and savory options unique to the region.
Another highlight of your visit is the local specialty: chicken sukiyaki. Prepared using fresh chicken and locally sourced ingredients, this dish has long
been enjoyed in this area during festivals and family gatherings. Its simple yet rich flavors make it a favorite among guests—and easy to recreate at home.
This hands-on cultural experience is hosted by carefully selected local families. You will prepare and enjoy traditional dishes together with your host.
Itinerary ~What will entertain and interest you?~
10:00 AM
Meet your tour conductor at JR Ogoto Onsen Station and transfer by a taxi to the village of Ogi, a small rural community, where you will spend a half-day immersed in traditional Japanese country life.
10:15 AM
In the morning, you will explore Ogi village.
Ogi is known for its expansive terraced rice fields, which have been cultivated for over 1,300 years using natural spring water.
According to local legend, during a time of severe drought, a sacred spirit of rain was enshrined in this village. Soon after, fresh spring water began to flow from the mountains, sustaining both the village and the surrounding region.
Visit the local shrine, where this spirit is believed to reside, and learn about seasonal traditions. In May, a vibrant festival is held to pray for a bountiful harvest before the rice planting season begins.
The landscape transforms beautifully throughout the year:
In spring, the water-filled rice fields reflect the sky like mirrors.
In summer, lush green rice plants fill the terraces.
In autumn, the fields glow gold with ripened grain.
Finally, after the harvest, the land rests quietly, sometimes dusted with snow.
Each season offers its own unique charm.
11:15AM
After exploring the village, you will visit a local home and enjoy a hands-on mochi-making experience.
Using a traditional wooden mortar and pestle, you will pound freshly steamed rice into soft mochi. Timing and teamwork are essential, making this activity both lively and rewarding.
This experience is hosted by welcoming families from the local village community. We carefully
select each host through personal meetings to ensure a warm and meaningful experience for our guests.
Mochi is enjoyed throughout Japan in many different ways. In this village, a unique local style includes savory natto (fermented soybeans) wrapped inside the mochi and coated with roasted soybean powder.
Natto is known for its distinctive texture and aroma and is often referred to in Japan as “the meat of the field” due to its rich nutritional value.
You may also enjoy yomogi (mugwort) mochi filled with sweet red bean paste. Mugwort, often harvested in spring, gives the mochi a natural green color and a subtly earthy flavor. It has long been appreciated in Japan for its traditional health benefits.
12:00PM
You will take part in preparing a traditional chicken sukiyaki together with your host, learning simple techniques used in everyday Japanese home cooking.
Made with fresh chicken and locally sourced ingredients, this regional specialty is deeply connected to local celebrations and gatherings.
Enjoy what you have prepared together in a relaxed setting, while chatting with your hosts and gaining insight into everyday life in a rural Japanese community.
2:00 PM
Return to JR Ogoto Onsen Station by taxi with warm memories of your experience.
Reservations for the 2026 tour are currently available for December only.
Meeting Point
1. JR Ogoto Onsen Station (Kosei-Line) : 30 minutes (5th stop) from JR Kyoto Station by local train
2.【Optional】JR Kyoto Station
【Optional Program】Morning lakeside e-bike ride
How would you like to start your day in the ultimate tranquility of the countryside as you take a leisurely cycle along the serene shores of Lake Biwa?
Using electric bikes that provide an effortless, refreshing ride, we will follow beautiful lakeside roads up to stunning scenes of stepped rice terraces.
At noon, we will take a train to Ogoto Onsen and visit the farmer's house for making mochi & sukiyaki lunch.
*Height 152cm (5 feet) is required
We have now closed reservations for the 2026 tour.
【Optional E-bike Tour】Meeting Point
1. JR Shiga Station (Kosei-Line) : 40 minutes from JR Kyoto Station by a local train
2. 【Optional】JR Kyoto Station
Photo Gallery
This video was made by our honeymooner guests, who tasted several scrumptious Mochi while traveling in Japan. Our host was honored to be named "Mochi Sensei (teacher)" as his Mochi was highly rated. Thank you for the wonderful video, D & C. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.
Here is a brief file of the tour. Whether you are a family with children or an adult-only group, this experience will inspire your cross-cultural exploration.