Shoyu factory tour in Kinbue Shoyu Park in Kawagoe, Japan.
Kinbue Shoyu Park is an "all about soy sauce" area to learn, eat, and shop.
Fueki Shoyu Brewing factory tour
Fueki Shoyu Brewing factory tour
Fueki Shoyu Brewing factory tour
Shoyu factory tour
Shoyu factory tour
The fermentation process.
Fueki Shoyu Brewing
Fueki Shoyu Brewing
Shoyu factory tour in Kawagoe, Japan.
Shoyu factory tour in Kawagoe, Japan.
Shoyu factory tour in Kawagoe, Japan.
Shoyu factory tour in Kawagoe, Japan.
Shoyu factory tour in Kawagoe, Japan.
Taking a stroll around Kawagoe, Japan.
Taking a stroll around Kawagoe, Japan.
Taking a stroll around Kawagoe, Japan.
Kaiseki dinner in Minikami.
Featuring seasonal vegetable and Minikami specialties.
Group enjoying the kaiseki dinner.
Group enjoying the kaiseki dinner.
Group enjoying the kaiseki dinner.
Group photo
Getting suited up for river rafting!
White water rafting on the Tone river!
Ready to go!
River rafting
Gorgeous views
Enjoying our meal after river rafting.
Mask painting at Takumi no Sato, an arts and crafts village.
Listening for instructions.
Getting creative!
Mask painting
Group photo
Daduma mask painting
Daduma mask painting
Daduma mask painting
Daduma mask painting
Daduma mask painting
Daduma mask painting
Daduma mask painting
Daduma mask painting
Daduma mask painting
Daduma mask painting
Kimono dress-up at Mastumoto Castle in Matsumoto, Japan.
Kimono dress-up
Kimono dress-up
Kimono dress-up
Kimono dress-up
Kimono dress-up
Kimono dress-up
Kimono dress-up
Kimono dress-up
Kimono dress-up
Kimono dress-up
Rickshaw ride around the castle!
Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle
Dinner menu
Dinner at Terrior
The snow walls of Mount Norikura.
Mount Norikura is the third highest peak in the Northern Japan Alps at 3026 meters high.
Feeling dwarfed by the snow walls!
Snow walls
Snow walls
Snow walls
Kaiseki dinner menu
Kaiseki dinner at Yudanaka Onsen
Oishii!
The hike to Jigokudani Yaen Koen, or Snow Monkey Park.
Stopping at a local farm to pick cherries for a mid-morning snack.
Cherries!
Eating cherries to our hearts content!
Lunch!
Oishii!
Bellies are full!
Nishikigoi no Sato or Home of Koi Fish
Nishikigoi no Sato is a cross between a museum, an aquarium, and a Japanese garden.
Nishikigoi no Sato is a celebration of koi fish, describing how they are farmed, what gives them beautiful color, how they are raised, and why they are important to Japanese culture.
Feeding and petting the nishikigoi.
Niigata Rice Cracker Museum
Beginning the day with making custom-designed jumbo senbei rice crackers in Niigata, Japan.
Decorating their senbei
Work of art!
Wrapping up the senbei masterpieces.
Learning about mochi pounding at the Northern Culture Museum
It's harder than it looks!
After lunch we visited the Imayotsukasa Sake Brewery in Niigata.
Some of the best sake is made here and we got to taste some of the sake!
Celebrating a birthday!
Dinner
Dinner
Getting entertained by authentic Geiko.
Lots of dance, singing, and playing fun games!
Such a great evening!
Niigata Furasato Village
Gotta try the soft serve, soooo ono!
Niigata Furasato Village marketplace
Departing on the JR Super Express Train!
Back to two more days of leisure and sightseeing in Tokyo, then headed back to Honolulu!