miyagi Archives - The Hidden Japan

Shiroishi Umen: Guided Factory Tour of Kichimi Noodle Production

Culinary Workshops, Experiences, Factory and Brewery Tours, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

Founded in 1897 (Meiji 30), Kichimi Seimen has faithfully preserved the traditional techniques and spirit of Umen-making. At the factory, high-quality ingredients are carefully selected and processed using time-honored methods combined with modern technology. Every step—from mixing and kneading to aging, stretching, and drying—requires the experience and refined judgment of skilled artisans.
During the factory tour, you can witness the noodle-making process up close, where manual craftsmanship and modern machinery coexist in harmony.

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Zasu Pottery at Hanayama: Gallery and Anagama (Traditional Wood-Fired Kiln) Tour

Experiences, Factory and Brewery Tours, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

Zasu Pottery is one of the few remaining anagama (traditional wood-fired kilns) in the Tohoku region, continuing the tradition of producing unglazed, natural-fired pottery. Their work features everyday tableware as well as flower vases, tea utensils, and art objects, blending traditional techniques with designs that fit modern lifestyles.
During the experience, you will tour the old-style anagama kiln while listening to explanations from the pottery master.

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Mt. Kurikoma Area Geo-Guide

Active Adventures, Experiences, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

Mt. Kurikoma Area Geopark, located around Mt. Kurikoma, features a rich and diverse natural environment. On this guided hike, learn the story of how people in the region have lived through and overcome numerous natural disasters, including earthquakes and floods.

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Early Summer Exclusive: Create a One-of-a-Kind Indigo-Dyed Work

Craft Workshops, Experiences, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

This program offers an opportunity to experience “Sho-Aizome,” one of Japan’s oldest indigo dyeing techniques, passed down in the Monji area of Kurikoma, Kurihara City

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A Journey into Marumori’s Silk Farming Culture and Silk Heritage

Craft Workshops, Experiences, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

Experience Japan’s traditional sericulture (silkworm farming) in Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture, once renowned for a prosperous silk industry. Through exchanges with local farmers and artisans, you can enjoy a variety of hands-on activities related to silkworms and silk.

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Samurai Armor Dressing Experience at Shiroishi Castle

Experiences, Festivals and Events, Martial Arts, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

Step into the world of samurai warriors and feel the spirit of history as you become a Sengoku warlord for a day.

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Hiraizumi Club — Private Traditional Villa Stay

Experiences, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

Nestled at the foot of Mount Tabashine in the World Heritage town of Hiraizumi, this renovated 150-year-old Japanese house offers an exclusive stay for one group per day. Surrounded by tranquil rice fields and rural scenery, it provides a refined retreat where time flows gently and tradition lives on.

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Sendai Han Hanayama Nuruyu Bansho Museum

Experiences, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

Nuruyu Bansho was a checkpoint station at the entrance to Akita’s Ogachi District beyond Hanayama, referred to as the “Sendai Domain Senboku Border Checkpoint Nuruyu Bansho.” It became a checkpoint station during the Keicho Period after Lord Date Masamune entered Iwadeyama, and for over 200 years served as an inspection station for people and packages passing through.
Presently, various exhibits are on display, from materials passed down from the original bansho, to local folk art and tools which tell the stories and history of the region.

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Shiroishi Washi Fan Making Experience

Craft Workshops, Experiences, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

This is an experience of making a fan using Shiroishi washi paper, a traditional product of Shiroishi City that is registered as a “Traditional Craft of Miyagi Prefecture.” Each piece of washi paper is hand-dyed, making it strong and durable, and each one is unique, with a different look.

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Staying at Yuzu no Azemichi Amago no Kaeru

Experiences, One-off Experiences / Brittani Ivan

Spend time in a space of extraordinary freedom, surrounded by tranquil countryside views in a nostalgic old Japanese-style house.

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