Itinerary Highlights

• Meet a guide at JR Hikone Station and take 20-minute train ride to Taga. Combines perfectly with a Hikone Castle visit! (Hikone Castle guided tour is also available by request)
• Tofu is one of the foods in Japan that developed alongside the growth and spread of religion. In this tour, we’ll try making tofu in the heart of a traditional shrine community.
• Learn from a tofu master. Beyond just how to make tofu, he can also answer any questions you may have about the broader culture and history of tofu.
• There’s no fire used in the workshop, so it’s great for children too. Families are welcome.
• We will also visit Taga Grand Shrine, right in front of the venue. The shrine enshrines the deities who created the country of Japan.
• For lunch, enjoy dishes prepared with your freshly made tofu, cooked with a variety of methods. Some of the dishes you may even be able to try cooking on your own at home.
• The lunch meal consists of primarily vegetarian menu with exception of bonito fish broth.

Tour Details

Some foods in Japan became popularized through the growth and spread of religion, and tofu is one such example. Tofu has now become an indispensable element of Japanese cuisine, and is eaten all over the world as well. But long ago, it was a special food eaten only in limited places such as temples.

Example of Buddhist vegetarian meal.

Because this area is very near the old capital of Kyoto, many temples were built in the area as Buddhism expanded, including Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei. Near Taga, there are also famous temples with long histories such as Koto Sanzan (three temples of the Koto Region). Thus, a thriving local culture developed for the making of foods such as tofu.

Saimyo-ji Temple, one of the ancient temples nearby Taga.

In this hands-on tour, you’ll learn to make tofu in the traditional style. Experience the magic that quickly turns soymilk into solid tofu. The instructor is a tofu master who has extensive tofu-making experience. The workshop is also a great opportunity to ask questions about tofu history and culture to learn direct from the master!

Learning from tofu master, Takeda-san.

Easy step that even children can follow.

After making tofu, we’ll have a special lunch prepared with our own freshly made tofu. While the restaurant kitchen prepares our meal, we’ll visit Taga Grand Shrine which is just outside the venue. Enshrined here are the deity couple, Izanagi and Izanami, who created Japan according to Shinto lore.

Taga Grand Shrine near Hikone Castle.

Izanami and Izanagi Creating the Japanese Islands: (Eitaku Kobayashi, Meiji Period)

Here, you will explore the shrine with your guide, who will point out the must-see spots as well as the connection between Shinto and Buddhism and how such ancient beliefs helped shape the culture and life of the Japanese people.

After working up an appetite, we’ll return to our venue for lunch. Enjoy the diverse styles of tofu dishes from raw to fried, baked, and simmered. Have fun learning all the different ways to enjoy tofu!

Taste your own freshly made tofu.

Example meal: lunch includes tofu dishes made in various styles.

Featured Points

1. Walk through the historical Ema Dori Street

Enjoy a stroll through the atmospheric district of traditional shops where visitors are welcomed on their way to the Grand Shrine.

2. Traditional tofu-making at a local restaurant

Experience making tofu at a local restaurant that specializes in tofu and soba noodles. Discover the secret ingredient essential for making tofu!

3. Visit Taga Grand Shrine

Taga Grand Shrine enshrines the deity couple who created Japan according to Shinto lore. Explore ancient Japanese beliefs and how they have shaped modern life and culture.

4. Tofu lunch with your own tofu

Enjoy a special meal made with your handmade tofu from the workshop. Taste a variety of styles and learn about some of the different tofu recipes.

Schedule

1. Meet at JR Hikone Station
2. Take a local train to Taga (20 min)
3. Get off at Taga Taisha-mae Station and walk through the shrine district.
4. Tofu-making workshop
5. Visit Taga Grand Shrine
6. Enjoy a lunch made with your own tofu
7. Take train back to JR Hikone Station
8. End of the tour

• If booked together as a set with Hikone Castle visit, after returning to JR Hikone Sta., we will walk 10 minutes to Hikone Castle and Genkyuen Garden.

Notes

• Since the tour includes meals, it is necessary to inform of any allergies, particularly to soybeans or buckwheat, but please inform in advance of any and all food allergies for all your attendees.
• For children participants, please ensure that those under age 18 are accompanied by an adult. Adult rates start from 13 years old.
• If participating with two or more adults and youth(s) under 13, the youth fee is ¥4000 per person. However, in case of only one adult and one youth, the minimum fee (¥30,000 yen) will still be applied.
• Attendance is free for children up to six years old, who do not participate in tofu-making (However, as there is a 2-guest minimum attendance, in case of 1 adult and 1 child, the full minimum attendance fee will still be applied)
• Fire is not used, but attendees do handle hot soy milk. Please be careful when small children participate.
• The venue will be at a restaurant, where there may also be other customers. However, the workshop starts in the morning, which is rarely crowded.
• Lunch will be served at the same venue.
• Basically, animal ingredients are not used in the meal, but bonito (fish) dashi is used for dashi broth, so please inform of strict vegetarian attendees in advance.

What is included:

• local train fare from JR Hikone Sta. to Taga Taisha-mae Sta.
• workshop fee
• lunch
• professional guide

What is not included:

• transportation fees to the meeting point (JR Hikone Sta.)

Booking Request Form