Kitakata Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Established in 1993, Kitakata Kura no Sato is a base for passing down the cultural tradition of building kura (traditional warehouses) and magariya (L-shaped houses), which are valuable parts of the lifestyle heritage of the Kitakata area. Ten traditional-style buildings stand within this 4,500 square-meter area. These include a mise-gura (a kura used as a shop), a miso-gura (kura for preserving miso paste), a kokumotsu-gura (a kura for storing grain), and a kura-zashiki (a kura used as a residence), as well as the residences of local officials (Go-gashira and Kimoiri) constructed around a courtyard.

Kitakata’s ramen museum – full of everything ramen – has finally been completed! A ramen shrine was built in conjunction with the museum, where information about the history and story of Kitakata Ramen is exhibited. There is even a big ramen bowl at the centre of the shrine, where visitors can pray for good luck in love! Check out the shrine to find out if Kitakata Ramen will bring you romance!!

Established in 1790, this is an old sake brewery shop. Various sake making tools are displayed in the oldest warehouse, “Edo Warehouse”, built during the Edo period. You can also see in part how sake was made in those days. In the shop on the premises there is a sake tasting corner where you can taste over 10 different kinds of Yauemon rice wine for free. You can enjoy tasting as well as purchasing the sake which has been made from chosen local ingredients for local consumption.

Built in 1055, the Nagatoko is Shingu Kumano Shrine's worship hall and translates to “long floor”. It is designated as a Nationally Important Cultural Asset. Built as the main structure during the Heian period to the Kamakura period, its thatched roof is supported by 44 massive pillars, each one 45 cm in diameter. This comprises a single large, open stage with no walls, and is said to have been used for ascetic training by priests, as well as kagura dance festivals. Housed inside a nearby large wooden frame is the shrine bell, which visitors to the shrine are welcome to hit with the wooden rod. There is also a famous copper pot where, allegedly, rice was rinsed before being offered to the gods; it was designated as an Important Cultural Property in 1959. This treasure is housed at the shrine along with many others and are on display for visitors along with national and prefectural designated cultural assets.