Just one hour from central Tokyo, discover the traditional town of Ogawamachi — renowned for its handmade washi paper and historic sake brewing.
On this 3-hour guided cultural experience, you will learn authentic washi paper-making techniques from skilled artisans and create your own handmade paper to take home as a unique souvenir.
You will also visit the historic Seiun Sake Brewery, where you’ll explore traditional brewing tools and enjoy tasting several varieties of locally crafted sake.
Led by a knowledgeable local guide, this tour offers more than sightseeing — it’s a deeper look into the history, craftsmanship, and everyday charm of rural Japan, all within easy reach of Tokyo.
Please note: The paper-making workshop is subject to availability and may not be available on all requested dates.
Meet at the ticket gate of Ogawamachi Station.
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Michi-no-Eki Ogawamachi: Visit the on-site facility featuring exhibitions about traditional washi paper, followed by a hands-on papermaking experience. You can create and finish your own item—such as a mini paper umbrella or lantern—and take it home as a souvenir.
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Tochimoto Shinsui Park: A park stretching along the Tokigawa River, which has deep ties to the washi industry. Enjoy a pleasant walk through seasonal nature as we head to the next stop.
Seiun Shuzo Brewery: A sake brewery with over 120 years of history. After touring the storehouse, where traditional sake-making tools are displayed, enjoy complimentary sake tastings. You may also purchase any sake you like.
Walk back to the station: We will stroll for about 15 minutes back to the station, stopping along the way at spots that reflect the history and charm of Ogawamachi.
Ogawamachi Station
A wonderful and relaxing experience. Walking around Ogawamachi with a local guide made the town come alive, and we appreciated learning about the crafts, culture, and daily life of the area. Highly recommended for travelers looking for something unique and authentic.
We really enjoyed exploring Ogawamachi on this tour. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable, and shared many interesting stories about the town and its history. It felt like we were seeing a side of Japan that most visitors never experience.
This tour was a great way to discover a small Japanese town that we probably would have missed otherwise. Ogawamachi has a very authentic atmosphere, and it was fascinating to learn about the local culture and traditions from our guide. Everything was well paced and very enjoyable.