Activities & Experiences

Experience the rare opportunity of trying on a traditional wedding kimono. Guests can choose from 18 exquisite kimonos displayed in the corridors of Kakurinbo. All the kimonos are extremely valuable and all have been worn at actual weddings. Men’s montsuki hakama kimonos are also available, so couples and families can enjoy the experience together.

Hand-carved hanko, Japan’s widely used personal seals, have long been made in the Rokugo area of Yamanashi Prefecture. Learn from some of the country’s most skilled hanko craftsmen how to carve your very own seal. As well as a treasured souvenir, your hanko can be used to add a personalized stamp to letters and artwork. Carve your name or a particular ideogram (kanji) that you like into a hanko stone and take home a lasting memory of your time in Japan.

Kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum, embodies the Japanese “mottainai” approach to wastefulness. Immerse yourself in this traditional art form while your instructor explains the history of kintsugi, and the materials and techniques used.

Experience the minimalistic elegance of a tea ceremony and gain a deeper understanding of traditional Japanese culture. Seated in a Japanese-style room, learn from your instructor about the aesthetics and philosophy involved in preparing and serving tea. For Japanese and overseas visitors alike, this is a special and memorable experience.

For guests interested in calligraphy and the harmony of Japanese aesthetics, we recommend sutra copying, a religious practice that was introduced from China. Copying Buddhist sutras with a calligraphy brush creates a deep sense of concentration and settles the mind. In order to make this form of mediation accessible to all, we have prepared a set of sutras that can be traced and an English translation.

Minobusan is all hills. Which is why a battery-assisted e-bike is the best way to get around. Not only does an e-bike allow you to easily navigate the hilly terrain, but it also gives you access to many interesting places just a few hours away. For the truly adventurous, we recommend a ride up to Lake Motosu, the nearest of the Fuji Five Lakes (and the one depicted on the 1,000-yen note). It’s a tough climb, but the ride back is a breeze.

Experience Japanese food culture by learning how to make homemade onigiri and inarizushi, both popular snacks in Japan. Onigiri are balls of freshly cooked rice stuffed with ingredients such as umeboshi, salmon and kelp, while inarizushi consist of sushi rice tucked inside deep-fried tofu pockets. Because they’re easy to make and easy to eat, they’re often included in bento boxed lunches.

Visit Minobusan’s key religious sites, such as Kuonji, the great sanmon gate and Gobyosho. Learn about the venerable Nichiren, founder of Nichiren Buddhism, while enjoying the spectacular mountain scenery. This guided tour is also an opportunity to ask questions about Buddhism and hear anecdotes unique to Minobusan.

Learn from the okamisan, or proprietress, of Kakurinbo how to cook local cuisine. Use locally sourced ingredients, such as Akebono soybeans, which are unique to the Minobu area, yuba, a specialty of Minobusan, and a variety of seasonal vegetables. Enjoy the food you make for lunch.

The red stamps that shrines and temples provide for visitors are known as “goshuin.” Learn how to make your own handbook in which to collect your goshuin as you visit places of worship in Japan. The handbook can be seen as a record of your relationship with the gods and with Buddha, and is a must-have for anyone interested in Japanese religious culture. Each of Japan’s many shrines and temples has a unique goshuin. Collecting them into one handbook is the best the way to appreciate them.

Karaoke bars are becoming increasingly popular among travelers from overseas looking to experience another side of Japanese culture. Although Minobusan has very little nightlife to boast of, there is a popular karaoke bar frequented by locals. Enjoy a slice of countryside nightlight at a bar that retains the atmosphere of the Showa era.

The town of Masuho was once a thriving inland port on Fuji River. For 230 years, Shunnouten has been brewing sake here, using only locally grown rice. Visit the brewery, meet the chief brewer and observe how the sake is made. Afterwards, spend time sampling different sake styles and talking with the brewer. This tour is ideally suited to anyone wanting to learn more about Japan’s national tipple.

See Mt. Fuji, the symbol of Japan, and Mt. Minobu, the site of Kuonji, from the air aboard a helicopter. This thrilling excursion is something everyone should experience at least once. Enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area, including the Kofu Basin and Fuji Five Lakes, and gain a better understanding of how the people living in this region have prospered.