13/10/2026
If you happen to be in the region on Saturday, November 14, we have an exciting opportunity to share with you.
All travel expenses will be reimbursed, and you will also receive JPY 10,000 (tax included) for participating in this one-day tour.
Lunch is also included at no additional cost to participants.
Day Tour: Discover Snow Country’s Way of Life, Food, and Nature
Regenerative Tourism Monitor Tour – Participant Recruitment
Join us for a one-day tour exploring the traditional wisdom, food culture, and relationship with nature that have been passed down through generations in Japan’s snow country.
Learn about regenerative tourism, enjoy a lunch featuring local cuisine, a farm visit, and a simulated biotope creation experience, you will discover the unique charms of this snow-covered region.
As this is a monitor tour, participants will be asked to share their feedback at the end of the tour and cooperate with a questionnaire and information sharing through their own social media accounts.
As part of a trial, the guide will provide commentary in Japanese, while participants will listen to simultaneous English interpretation using their own smartphones and earphones.
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Tour Overview
Item Details
Date Saturday, November 14, 2026
Meeting Time 10:40 AM at Urasa Station
Meeting Point Tourist Information Center near the Shinkansen ticket gates
Station Information There is only one Shinkansen ticket gate.
Tour Ends Approximately 4:30 PM at Urasa Station
Participation Fee Free
Number of Participants 10 people (first-come, first-served basis)
Eligibility Adults residing in Japan who are native English speakers
(residing in Niigata or the Kantou Area)
Application Deadline Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Tour Schedule and Highlights
The tour will begin at Urasa Station at 10:40 AM and is scheduled to finish at 4:30 PM.
Time Activity Duration
10:40–10:45 Meet at Urasa Station, registration, and participant check-in 5 min
10:45–11:00 Transfer to the first destination 15 min
11:00–12:30 Learn about Regenerative Tourism and Gastronomy in Heavy-Snowfall Regions 90 min
12:30–13:20 Lunch and break 50 min
13:20–13:30 Transfer to Komagata Farm 10 min
13:30–15:15 Visit and activities at Komagata Farm 105 min
15:15–15:30 Transfer to Wa Dining Inkyo 15 min
15:30–16:15 Tour reflection and questionnaire 45 min
16:15–16:30 Return to Urasa Station and tour conclusion 15 min
Learn About the Nature and Food Culture of Snow Country
Through a lecture on regenerative tourism and gastronomy in heavy-snowfall regions, you will learn how the local environment, traditional ways of life, and food culture are interconnected.
Experience “Omotenashi Gosso”: A Taste of Local Hospitality
Lunch will feature Mot enashi Gosso, a traditional hospitality meal showcasing preserved foods and seasonal ingredients that have been passed down through generations in snow country.
The meal will highlight culinary traditions developed to sustain communities through long, snowy winters. It will be served with rice cooked in a traditional rice-husk-fired kettle (nuka-gama) and kenchin-jiru, a hearty vegetable soup.
Farm Visit and Simulated Biotope Creation Experience
Visit Komagata Farm for a guided tour and hands-on activities. The biotope creation activity will be a simulated experience lasting approximately 30 minutes, conducted with guidance and explanations from an instructor.
In the event of rain, the activity will be replaced with an indoor work experience.
Share Your Experiences Over Soft Drinks
At Wa Dining Inkyo, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on the tour and share their impressions over soft drinks.
Soft drinks are included. Alcoholic beverages are not included.
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Clothing and What to Bring
• Clothing: Please bring comfortable work clothes that you do not mind getting dirty.
• Equipment: The organizers will provide the necessary equipment, including rubber boots and shovels.
• Rubber Boot Size: Please provide your boot size when registering so that the organizers can prepare the appropriate size.
• Smartphone: Required for listening to the English interpretation.
• Earphones: Participants who have earphones are encouraged to bring them.
Meals and Dietary Requirements
The same menu will be provided to all participants.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate individual menu changes or provide alternative meals for food allergies or dietary preferences and requirements, including vegan and vegetarian diets.
If you have any dietary restrictions, please take this into consideration before applying.
Please note: If you plan to travel by Shinkansen, please check the latest train timetable to ensure that you arrive in time for the 10:40 AM meeting.
Applications and Inquiries
Application Method and Contact Information:
When applying, please provide the following information:
• Full name
• Gender
• Age
• Nationality
• Occupation (ALT etc.)
• Contact information
• Rubber boot size
Organizer: Heavy Snowfall Tourism Promotion Committee
Inquiries: Please send us a private message with the required information.
We look forward to hearing from all of you！
