Mountain to Table – A Journey to the Roots of Japan’s Mountain Food Culture –

What did people in Japan eat before food became something we simply purchased from a supermarket? For centuries, people living in Japan’s mountain regions have looked to the land around them for food. Wild mountain vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, and other seasonal ingredients were gathered from the mountains and transformed into meals through local knowledge passed down from generation to generation. In many parts of modern Japan, this way of living has become increasingly distant from everyday life. But in the mountains of Yamagata, traces of this food culture still remain. On this journey, you will step into the mountains around Mt. Gassan, one of the sacred mountains of the Dewa Sanzan. Together with a local mountain expert, you will encounter the seasonal gifts of the land and experience the environment where these ingredients are born. You will then visit Dewaya, a historic mountain cuisine inn at the foot of Mt. Gassan, where the ingredients and food culture of the mountains have been preserved and developed over generations. Here, you will learn how ingredients from the mountains are carefully prepared before being transformed into food. Finally, you will taste Mt. Gassan wild mountain vegetable soba. By following the journey of food—from the mountains to the kitchen and finally to your table—you will discover a way of eating that is deeply connected to the landscape. This is more than a food tour. It is a journey into one of the roots of Japan’s food culture.

• Days of Week

  Wed

• Duration

  8h

• Adult (ages 13+)

  JPY 23,000

• Highlight #1

  Step into the mountains and experience wild mountain vegetable soba in a completely new way.

• Highlight #2

  Travel to a region where Japan’s ancient mountain food culture still lives on.

• Highlight #3

  Discover the story behind what is on your plate.

• What's Included

  • Guidance from a local mountain expert
  • Guided experience in the mountains around Mt. Gassan
  • Rubber boots for entering the mountains
  • Work gloves
  • Lunch in the mountains
  • Wild mountain vegetable preparation experience
  • Mt. Gassan wild mountain vegetable soba
  • Local English guide

• What to Bring

  • Long-sleeved shirt
  • Long pants that you do not mind getting dirty
  • Warm layers suitable for changing temperatures and weather
  • Hat for protection from sunlight and branches
  • Towel
  • Rain gear
  • A change of clothes

• Cancellation Policies

  • Until 23:59, 15 days prior: 0%
  • Until 17:00, 4 days prior: 10%
  • Until 17:00, 2 days prior: 30%
  • Until 17:00 the day before: 50%
  • After 17:00 the day before: 100%