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Nestled in a narrow valley between two imposing, richly forested mountain ranges, the Kiso area has long been home to expert carpenters and woodworkers. Among them, the Oroku comb artisans of Yabuhara post town are some of the most impressive. Making use of techniques handed down over generations, as well as unique tools designed to meet each craftsperson’s specific needs, they hand-saw almost unbelievably intricate wooden combs.
This tour starts with a stroll around Yabuhara post town—way up north in the heights of the Kiso Mountains—to learn all about its history, culture, and its role as a vital stop along the Nakasendo trail. Next, you’ll visit an Oroku comb workshop and meet one of the skilled artisans who work there, before getting a chance to try your hand at this centuries-old craft.
This tour has half-day and full-day options.
more details below
Recommended seasons to come:
Spring
・Quiet, relaxing activity away from crowds, even in the busier travel seasons.
Summer
・A great way to escape the summer heat.
Autumn
・Quiet, relaxing activity away from crowds, even in the busier travel seasons.
Winter
・A cozy indoor activity to enjoy in colder months.
Tour Information:
- Starting at: Yabuhara Station
Ending at: Yabuhara Station
(see detailed travel info) - Time Estimate: Half-day tour: 3-4 hours, Full-day tour: 5-6 hours
(～90 min for the Yabuhara post town tour, 90 min – 3 hours for the workshop experience (see below), 1 hour for optional lunch) - Walking Difficulty: Very Easy
(a light 30 min stroll around Yabuhara post town, with no climbing or difficult terrain—can be skipped or altered for customers with mobility issues) - Please note that this hands-on activity usually involves sitting Japanese-style on the floor (on comfortable mats, of course). If you think this will be uncomfortable for you, please let us know when you make your reservation – we’ll see if we can make alternative seating arrangements for you!
Accommodation – where to stay:
The most convenient areas for this tour are: Yabuhara/Kiso village (limited accommodation), Kiso-Fukushima, and Narai, but Nagiso, Okuwa, or anywhere in the Kiso valley is just fine – it’ll just be a bit of a drive (up to an hour).
You can find more detailed suggestions for accommodation in and around the Kiso area here.
Highlights of the Tour:
Highlights of the Tour:
・A walk around Kiso’s best-kept-secret: Yabuhara post town—a charming little community surrounded by Kiso’s picturesque alpine forests. (and a great spot to stay a couple of nights for some hiking, skiing, and general relaxing)
・A visit to Yabuhara Shrine hidden away in the woods above the town.
・A visit to the Kiso Village Folk Museum to learn about the nature, history, and culture of the region, including the traditional craftsmaship behind Oroku combs. (entry fee 300 yen)
・(optional) Lunch at one of the great, hidden-away restaurants in town. (cost of lunch not included in the tour, and restaurants’ availability may vary)
・A visit to an Oroku comb workshop, and the chance to talk to one of the artisan woodworkers there about their life and their work.
・The chance to see a variety of finished Oroku combs, which can be purchased either at the workshop, or at various shops in Yabuhara and Narai post towns.
Pricing:
Full-day Course:
1-2 people: ¥46,000
3-6 people: ¥50,000
7+ people: ¥55,000
+¥6,000 yen person for the hands-on workshop itself
Half-day Course:
1-2 people: ¥36,000
3-6 people: ¥40,000
7+ people: ¥45,000
+¥4,000 yen person for the hands-on workshop itself
- The above fees don’t include any of your travel costs, museum entrance fees, or any meals you may buy on the day.
- Payment is required upon confirmation of your reservation – late payment may result in your tour date being cancelled. (also see our cancellation policy)
Tour Options:
Full-Day Tour:
The Full Woodworking Session
Our guiding fee: from ¥46,000
Additional fees: ¥6,000 per person
The full version of this hands-on experience allows you to try out the hand-sawing process, as well as the final polishing stage of your own Oroku comb. It also includes the tour around Yabuhara post town itself, and an optional stop for lunch in town. Perfect for those with a strong interest in woodworking, or those looking to really immerse themselves in this fascinating craft.
・Roughly 5.5 hours total (1.5 hours for the walk around Yabuhara, 4 hours for the hands-on experience)
Half-Day Tour:
The Woodworking Introduction
Our guiding fee: from ¥36,000
Additional fees: ¥4,000 per person
A condensed version for those who want an introduction rather than a full crash course, this tour includes a visit to the workshop and a chance to choose and hand-polish your own Oroku comb. It also includes the tour around Yabuhara post town itself (and a chance to stop for lunch in town, if you like). Perfect for those who want a shorter experience, or who want to combine this tour with another. (see below for details)
・Roughly 3 hours (1.5 hour for the walk around Yabuhara, 1.5 hours for the hands-on experience)
Combined Full-Day Tour:
Yabuhara Woodworking
&
Nakasendo Hiking (the Torii Pass)
Our guiding fee: from ¥46,000
Additional fees: ¥4,000 per person
This option combines the shorter version of the woodworking activity above with our popular Torii Pass walking tour, along the Nakasendo trail.
On this tour, we’ll spend the morning learning about (and trying out) traditional Oroku comb-making, before hiking over the scenic Torii Pass to Narai post town—one of the most well-preserved historical spots in the region.
・Roughly 6-7 hours total
Combined Full-Day Tour:
Yabuhara Woodworking
&
Yabuhara Sake Brewery Tasting
Our guiding fee: from 46,000
Additional fees:
・Woodworking: ¥4,000 per person
・Sake tasting: ¥2,700 yen per person
・Sake Brewery Mini Tour & Talk: +¥10,000 per group
This option combines the shorter version of the woodworking activity above with a visit to Yukawa Sake Brewery. There we’ll enjoy a private talk discussing their history, their story, and their vision for the future. We’ll also be treated to a guided sake tasting session, where you can taste a number of their delicious sakes (including one that is sold 100% exclusively at their brewery bar and shop).
・Roughly 5-6 hours total
Combined Full-Day Tour:
Yabuhara Woodworking
&
Kiso Town Tour
Our guiding fee: from ¥46,000
Additional fees: ¥4,000 per person
This option combines the shorter version of the woodworking activity above with a visit to the historical Nakasendo post town of Kiso-Fukushima.
There, you’ll have a variety of options: an active day full of hiking, a relaxing day spent eating, drinking, and soaking in the onsen, or a mix of both—just ask, and we’ll tailor it to your interests!
・Roughly 6-7 hours total
Combined Full-Day Tour:
Yabuhara Woodworking
&
Kiso Lacquerware Tour
Our guiding fee: from 46,000
Additional fees:
・Woodworking: ¥4,000 per person
・Lacquerware: ¥6,000 per person
This option combines the shorter version of the woodworking activity above with a visit to the historical lacquerware artisan town of Kiso-Hirasawa.
There, you’ll learn all about the history and techniques of a craft more embedded in Japanese culture than perhaps any other. You’ll also visit the workshops of family businesses who have passed on skills and knowledge down the generations, and take part in a hands-on, guided activity where you’ll try out lacquerware for yourself.
・Roughly 6-7 hours total
The half-day version of this tour can be combined with a variety of other half-day tours, including ones that are not listed here—feel free to check our other Walking Tours and Cultural Experience Tours.
*Please note that 100% of these fees for the workshop visit and hands-on experience above go to the craftsperson (to pay for their time, necessary materials, etc.). We never receive any money from any of the craftspeople or businesses we work with. We want these tours to be sustainable—both for us and for the local area—so we don’t believe in taking any money away from the local people who make these experience tours possible.
Recommended Follow-up Tours:
Many of our customers string together several of our day tours for a guided multi-day trip along the Kiso valley. We’d generally recommend 3-5 days to get the most out of the area.
Any of our tours are accessible from Yabuhara, but we think the following are especially good for a follow-up tour (or for a tour the day before this one):
Kakizore Gorge Walking Tour
(Full Day)
Hidden away in the mountains between Nagiso town and Okuwa village, the Kakizore gorge is a perfect option for anyone looking for a follow-up to the Magome-Tsumago tour. Not too steep, and not overly long, this route nevertheless boasts both stunning waterfalls and serene pools of crystal-clear water straight from the mountains.
Southern Kiso
Cultural Experience
Tour
(Full Day – combining
2 half-day tours)
This combination of two of our half-day Cultural Experience Tours provides the opportunity to not just see the southern side of the Kiso valley, but to experience it hands-on.
you can choose two of the following activities:
(1) Nagiso Traditional Woodworking Tour
(2) Natural Indigo Dyeing Tour
(3) Traditional Soba Noodles Making Tour
Mt. Ontake Foothills
(Full Day)
Lying just off the Nakasendo trail, Mt. Ontake has long been the subject of spirituality, both in the Kiso valley and beyond.
On this tour we won’t summit the mountain itself, but we’ll follow in the footsteps of these pilgrims; visiting important shrines and holy sights in the foothills of Mt. Ontake, and connecting to a spiritual world far from the tourist spots of Tokyo and the tourist-packed shrines and temples of Kyoto.
Travel Information:
This tour can easily be done as a day trip from Matsumoto, Shiojiri, or other nearby tourist spots. Guests travelling from Nagoya, or from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, etc. can make it work in a single day, but we’d generally recommend staying overnight somewhere in the Kiso area before and/or after the tour (to be honest, we recommend that anyway).
Where the tour starts:
This tour starts at Yabuhara Station on the JR Chuo line.
Yabuhara Station:
– About 2-3 hours by train from Nagoya city (which has bullet train connections to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and other travel hubs)
– About 50 minutes by train from Matsumoto
Our advice on getting to Yabuhara station
Where the tour finishes:
The tour finishes at Yabuhara Station post town
Yabuhara post town (Kiso village):
– Some accommodation options, as well as taxi and train services to Narai post town or Kiso town. Train services also available to other spots in the Kiso valley, Nagoya, Shiojiri, Matsumoto, etc.
You can find Google Maps information for Yabuhara station and Kiso village below.
Extra Information:
Recommended places to stay:
You can find suggestions for accommodation in the Kiso area here. Convenient spots for this tour include: Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, and Nagiso.
Cancellation policy & other info:
Please see our full cancellation policy, as well as other information, here.
How to get your luggage around:
You can find information on local luggage transportation companies here.
Travel insurance:
Please note that we do not provide travel insurance – we recommend you purchase your own.
Uncharted Nakasendo 