Rethatching experience at the Kaminyu mountain village
Highlights
- Try your hands on “rethatching” a traditional Japanese folk house in Kaminyu, a peaceful small mountain village on the north of Lake Biwa
- Work together with Japanese carpenters!
- Learn about Japanese craftsmanship and lifestyle of rural Japan
- Walk around the rustic village of Kaminyu
- English-speaking guide accompanied
- You can customize your tour itinerary flexibly.
Description
If you are interested in Japanese craftsmanship, or in the life and nature of rural Japan, why don’t you try your hand at renovation work of a traditional architecture?
On this tour, we join in the re-thatching operation of a thatched-roofed old Japanese folk house standing in a peaceful mountain village. A group of local carpenters and architects has been striving to preserve traditional houses and enhance reutilizing those “treasures” in the future. Normally the group works by their own, but on the 7th and 8th of October, they open their working site to visitors, and have a workshop where visitors can involve themselves in this exciting mission!
Kaminyu is nestled deep in the beautiful, tranquil mountains north of Lake Biwa. It is a small farming village, but known for its high-concentration of old folk houses with steep roof (today many of them are covered with metal panels though). You can get there after one-station ride of Shinkansen and leisurely local train & bus trip.
This is not a ready-made tour. We are happy to tailor the tour itinerary to suit your interests and needs as much as possible. If you would like to, you can stay overnight at a “minshuku” inn in an old folk house at another village in the area, and explore the neighboring countryside. We have a long list of activities in the area. Let us know your ideal plan!
This is not a "ready-made tour". You can customize the tour itinerary and schedule to fit your needs and interests. Followings are sample plans just for reference.
Sample tour plan (1)
Itinerary
JR Kyoto Station (Meeting at 8:20 a.m.)
Shinkansen
JR Maibara Station
Local train & bus
Kaminyu village
- Rethatching experiene (for several hours)
- Lunch
- Walk around the village
Loca bus & train
JR Maibara Station
Shinkansen
JR Kyoto Station (Return at 7:15 p.m.)
Approximate tour price
1 person : ¥40,000 (¥35,000 if you have a train pass)
2 persons: ¥53,000 (¥44,000)
3 persons: ¥70,000 (¥57,000)
4 persons: ¥88,000 (¥70,000)
5 persons: ¥100,000 (¥80,000)
Tour includes
- English-speaking tour conductor (licensed guide interpreter)
- Rethatching experience
- Fare for all transportation shown in the itinerary
- Lunch (Box lunch of Japanese foods)
- Gloves & helmet
- Insurance
- Local tax
Sample tour plan (2)
Itinerary
JR Maibara Station (Meeting at 8:45 a.m.)
Local train & bus
Kaminyu village
- Rethatching experiene (for several hours)
- Lunch
- Walk around the village
Loca bus & train
JR Maibara Station (Return at 4:45 p.m.)
Approximate tour price
1 person : ¥34,000 (¥33,000 if you have a train pass)
2 persons: ¥43,000 (¥41,000)
3 persons: ¥57,000 (¥54,000)
4 persons: ¥71,000 (¥67,000)
5 persons: ¥80,000 (¥76,000)
Tour includes
- English-speaking tour conductor (licensed guide interpreter)
- Rethatching experience
- Fare for all transportation shown in the itinerary
- Lunch (Box lunch of Japanese foods)
- Gloves & helmet
- Insurance
- Local tax
Sample tour plan (3)
Itinerary
<Day 1>
JR Kyoto Station (Meeting at 8:20 a.m.)
Shinkansen
JR Maibara Station
Local train & bus
Kaminyu village
- Rethatching experiene (for several hours)
- Lunch
- Walk around the village
Taxi
"Chojuan" in the Sugino village
- Dinner
- Stay overnight
<Day2>
Chojuan
- Breakfast
Local bus
Hiking to the surrounding mountains and villages (a few hours)
Local bus & train
Nagahama Town
- Stroll the town
Local train & Shinkansen
JR Kyoto Station (Return at 6:00 p.m.)
Approximate tour price
1 person : ¥98,000 (¥96,000 if you have a train pass)
2 persons: ¥130,000 (¥121,000)
3 persons: ¥160,000 (¥146,000)
4 persons: ¥188,000 (¥170,000)
5 persons: ¥215,000 (¥192,000)
Tour includes
- English-speaking tour conductor (licensed guide interpreter)
- All activities shown in the itinerary
- Overnight stay at Chojuan
- Fare for all transportation shown in the itinerary
- lunch & dinner for Day1, and breakfast and lunch for Day2
- Gloves & helmet
- Insurance
- Local tax
Remarks
- Children aged 12 or lower cannot take the tour for safety reasons.)
- Your clothes will get (very) dirty during the work. Please bring a change of clothes. There is a changing room near the site.
- Please wear shoes for physical activity.
Gallery







Price:
Price varies depending on the itinerary and schedule. Please see sample plans on the left for a rough quote.
Tour operates:
October 7th (Sun) and 8th (Mon & National holiday), 2018
Group size:
Minimum 1 / Maximum 5
Language:
English (and of course Japanese)
Meeting time:
Not decided (negotiable)
Meeting point:
Not decided (negotiable)
Returning time:
Not decided (negotiable)