The Experience
Take part in an eco-friendly tour of Hirakata, including a farming experience and a Japanese-style dinner with fresh local vegetables
Hirakata lies between Osaka and Kyoto and despite its ease of acces from both cities, the east part of Hirakata is still rich in elevated rice fields and natural scenery. This tour will take you to one such area, where you can meet local farmers and harvest fresh seasonal vegetable sunder their guidance. After that, you can enjoy a delicious dinner course from fresh local ingredients at a cozy traditional style house restaurant.
Experience the laid back atmosphere of the Osaka rural area
Hop on the bus and start your journey
The tour starts from the JR Tsuda Station, located just outside the Hirakata city. To reach our target destination, the Hotani area, we will use a local bus. Sit back and relax as the countryside spreads outside the window.
Arrival at the Hotani area
The journey to Hotani take approximately 20 minutes. Despite its relative proximity to the city, the Hotani area, located in the mid-mountainous region in the eastern part of Hirakata City, has been selected as one of the "100 Best Villages in Japan" for its landscape consisting of terraced rice paddies, reservoirs, and wooded areas. A variety of crops are harvested each season, and flowers such as cosmos in the fall are a feast for the eyes.
▼Off to the fields, accompanied by local farmers
During the vegetable harvesting experience, local farmers will accompany you together with the guide. Seize the opportunity to learn about the local rural life, produce and more.
Enjoy a farming experience
Once you reach the fields it is time to start the actual farming experience. Try your hand at harvesting the fresh seasonal vegetables.
▼Learn the tips of harvesting as well as cooking from the locals
The proper harvesting and processing methods differ by each vegetable. The farmers accompanying you during the tour can speak English so you can ask them anything you would like.
▼Harvesting time!
Once you have learned the tricks of the harvesting trade, it is time to apply what you have learned. Commemorate the occasion with a snapshot, while posing with the big and fresh produce.
Stop by at a local shrine
There is a shrine called the Sannomiya shrine in the vicinity of the fields where the experience takes place, that is hailed as the guardian shrine of the whole area. The sloping terrain of Hotani often makes it difficult to find water, and it is said that farmers have held ceremonies to summon rain here since ancient times.
Enjoy a unique dinner in an old traditional style restaurant
After the harvesting experience, we will move to a nearby traditional house converted into a restaurant, for a unique dinner made from locally sourced and freshly harvested vegetables.
▼Japanese-style dinner focused on fresh vegetables
The dinner will be prepared by a chef trained at a Japanese-style restaurant in Kyoto. The dishes served are made with freshly picked local vegetables and are brimming with flavors.
▼Enjoy a locally produced craft beer
The Hotani area produces not just vegetables, but also fruits and various herbs. The beer made from local hops is the perfect companion to your exquisite dinner.