From Tokyo: Marukome Miso Factory & Nagano Farm Lunch Day Trip

A private weekday trip from Tokyo to tour Japan's biggest miso maker with a tasting, then Suzaka's old brewery street and a farmhouse lunch in the Nagano countryside.
Marukome is Japan's largest miso producer, and its Nagano factory runs weekday tours with tasting that most overseas visitors never know exist, and this private trip pairs that with the old brewery street in Suzaka and a farmhouse lunch.

Your driver-guide collects you in Tokyo at 06:00 for the drive to Nagano, arriving by mid-morning for your Marukome factory tour, which is included and takes you through the production process behind Japan's most widely used miso brand, finishing with a tasting of several different miso styles side by side, a chance to taste the difference between a light, sweet miso and a dark, salty one that most visitors never get explained to them. From the factory your driver-guide takes you to Suzaka's old brewery street, a preserved row of Edo and Meiji-period buildings that once housed sake and miso breweries, now home to small shops and cafes. Lunch is at a farm restaurant nearby, own cost, serving simple Nagano country cooking made from local vegetables, before the drive back to Tokyo.

The van, driver-guide, fuel, tolls, parking and bottled water are included, along with your Marukome factory tour and miso tasting. Lunch at the farm restaurant is own cost, paid directly at the restaurant.

This suits anyone with an interest in Japanese food production, and travellers who enjoy a factory tour with a genuine tasting rather than a gift-shop-only stop. Because the factory only runs tours on weekdays, this trip is not available on weekends.

If the Marukome factory tour cannot run on your date because of weather, closure or availability, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed; an equivalent alternative is offered only if you prefer it.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.