Etegami and Deep Iya Tour

"Etegami" Workshop

+ Deep Iya Tour

A traditional craft for lifelong memories

Art that anyone can create

While many traditional Japanese arts require years of training under a master sensei and follow rigid rules (like tea ceremony, calligraphy, flower arrangement, etc) the Japanese craft art known as "etegami" is specifically the opposite. Derived from the terms "image" ("e") and "letter" ("tegami"), this imaginative painting art rejects the notion that one must be highly skilled and/or follow special rules, allowing even first-timers the chance to create unique and surprisingly attractive results.

Etegami art uses both watercolor paint as well as Japanese ink, which you will learn how to generate yourself in the traditional method by grinding it into a well stone.

Under the guidance of the instructor, you will learn how to create imaginative layouts and designs, where even something as mundane as a teapot or a piece of fruit can become an original work of art. Simple yet elegant, you will make several postcard-sized pieces in the class, which you can keep as unique mementos or later send out by mail to friends and family back home.

As it happens, one of our English speaking guides is actually a teacher for etegami art for local residents, and for the lesson you will go to her private workshop that is in a traditional Iya house on the mountainside which has a beautiful and inspiring view.

Also in this tour, you'll go with your guide deeper into Iya for an in-depth walk upon the ancient paths of Ochiai Village where you will also tour a historic thatched-roof farmhouse. You will also walk through the bizarre Scarecrow Village, go out to the beautifully secluded Double Vine Bridges and go to various viewpoints including Manpu Gorge and its breathtaking suspension footbridge.

Base Time:

7 (or 7.5) hours

Available April to November only
Not available on Wednesdays.
Add On sights possible, see below.
Includes pick-up and drop-off from any Iya Valley or Oboke area accommodation and/or via JR Oboke Station. Pick-up or drop-off elsewhere also possible, just let us know.
This tour typically lasts about 7 hours.
If traveling via Oboke Station and/or an Oboke area accommodation, this tour requires 7.5 hours, due to the extra driving time needed (please see below).

Standard Taxi (1-3* people) ¥ 60,900

--

Jumbo Taxi (3-8 people) ¥ 79,800

+ ¥800 per person Activity fee

This is total price per private group (not per person), except for the additional per person activity fee.
If going both ways via the Oboke area, the 7.5 hour tour fee would be ¥65,250 for Standard Taxi , or ¥85,500 for Jumbo Taxi. Please see below.
All prices include tax
3 people in Standard Taxi is only recommended if 3rd person is a child
Meal fees not included (see below about options)
Please pay your guide's lunch fee (about ¥800-1200, see below)
Entrance fees not included (¥550/person Double Vine Bridge. Children are discounted)
With groups of more than 4 people, we usually need to add extra time to allow for everyone to participate in the painting lesson. We will discuss this more when you contact.

Itinerary:

Pick-up from any local accommodation or Oboke Station
Ryugugake Park and Manpu Gorge Wire Bridge
"Etegami" Workshop at traditional mountain house
Local Lunch
Historic Ochiai Village Walking Tour
Nagaoka-ke Historic House
Scarecrow Village Walk
Oku-Iya Double Vine Bridges
Ochiai Village Viewpoint
Drop-off at any local accommodation or Oboke Station

Details About this Tour
- This is a Fixed Route Tour. If you would like to change the locations for this itinerary, please see one of our Custom Tours.
- Available April to November only.
- This tour can start anytime between 8:30am and 10:00am.
- Pick-up and drop-off can be from any local accommodation or JR Oboke Station. Other locations that are not in Iya or Oboke can also be arranged but may include an additional fee and require extra time.
- On heavy rain days, it may not be possible to walk through some places such as Ochiai Village (but we will provide umbrellas), so we will just tour these places by car and extend time at other points. Also, the guide and driver will do their best to accommodate anyone who may be physically unable to handle the walking tours.
Lunch Options
- On this tour we have a few restaurant options, often based on the day of the week (not all locations are open every day). These locations include a couple hand-made Iya soba noodle restaurants, or a local restaurant which has a variety of fresh dishes including wild game (deer) as well as soba noodles. Vegetarian is possible at any place (but please understand about the use of dashi, whether here or anywhere in Japan). Meal prices typically range from about 800 to 1200 per person at all places.
- Also, we ask that you please pay your guide's meal fee for lunch at any restaurant.
- Alternately, you can bring along your own bento lunch box and/or snacks instead of stopping for a meal, and eat at the mountain house where you do the workshop. Food can be purchased from the shop next to Oboke Station. Please let us know if you would prefer to do this.
If via Oboke area
For those traveling via the Oboke area, please understand that it requires about 15-20+ minutes to travel each way between the Oboke area and the Iya Valley.

To allow enough time for the painting, this tour needs 7.5 hours when going via the Oboke area, and the 7.5 hour fee is ¥65,250 for Standard Taxi , or ¥85,500 for Jumbo Taxi. (+800 yen per person Activity Fee).

Oboke area start/end points include:
- JR Oboke Station
- Hotel Obokekyo Mannaka
- Sun River Oboke Hotel
- Oboke Boat Cruise location
- Akanoya guesthouse
- Bokenouen guesthouse
- Cosmos guesthouse
- Yamaya guesthouse (for Yamaya, the total time is 8 hours and will have an extra fee)

+Add On options for this tour:

Our unique Etegami Workshop Tour goes to many great spots deep in the valley, but we can Add On some additional points to this tour to make it even more fulfilling day!!

Rates for every 30 minutes of extension:

Standard Taxi with guide + ¥4350

Jumbo Taxi with guide + ¥5700

*these extension fees are per group, not per person.