JAPANESE TRADITIONAL LIVING AND FARM EXPERIENCE - Live the Traditional Farm Life and Enjoy Fresh Mie Cuisine

Taiki Town is home to around 20 welcoming guesthouses that offer a diverse range of traditional experiences for individual travelers and families. Depending on the season, the Japanese Traditional Living and Farm Experience packages together activities such as harvesting vegetables, wearing a kimono, preparing a seafood dinner, visiting a fish market and more. Participants will check-in at their guesthouse around 3:00 PM and check-out at 10:00 AM the following morning. The cost is ¥10,000 per person and that includes dinner, breakfast and transfers to and from the nearest train station. This experience is a wonderful way to fully appreciate the hospitality, natural beauty and delicious local food of Taiki Town in Mie Prefecture.

Caption: The salted sweetfish was fresh and delicious.

The next item on our menu for the day was a pleasant surprise for me. The river next to the guesthouse is a natural habitat for freshwater eel, which is one of my favorite seafood treats. Ogura-san disappeared from the kitchen for a moment and then reappeared with a mesh net that had two live eels inside. He pulled one out, secured it on a cutting board and prepared it for grilling. I don’t get to eat freshwater eel very often and I’d never had it freshly prepared for me, so I was quite excited.

Caption: Ogura-san preparing the freshwater eel for the grill.

Watching my host clean and prepare the eel for grilling was very interesting and he was a master with his knife. We grilled it over the charcoal and the flavor was amazing. Setsuko made a nice glaze for the eel and it was perfect when eaten with rice. It is the simplicity of many Japanese dishes that often impresses me and this is especially true for seafood and fish.

Caption: The bbq freshwater eel (unagi) was delicious.

That wasn’t the end of the seafood surprises and I was amazed to find out we would also be trying some crab that had been raised on the farm. This would be my first time trying this kind of crab and I couldn’t wait to taste this local delicacy. When boiled, these freshwater crabs turn bright orange-red in color and don't take too much effort to break apart to get at the meat.

Caption: The crab’s color was spectacular after being boiled.

Once the seafood dishes were all finished,it was time for one of Mie’s most famous food specialties. I had chosen to addthe option of the Matsusaka beef sukiyaki experience to my package and I was soglad that I did. Matsusaka beef is considered one the three main “Sandai Wagyu”in Japan and it is famous for having a high fat-to-meat ratio. Setsuko preparedthe sukiyaki for me and I was thankful to have someone cooking it for me whoknew exactly what she was doing.

Caption: You can see how rich the Matsusaka beef is when you take it out of the package.

The Matsusaka beef was incredible. Agriculture is a key part of Taiki Town’s history and economy and the cattle raised on local farms produce some of the highest-ranking Matsusaka Beef. The locally-raised beef is also considered to be some of the best in all of Japan. If you haven’t tried Matsusaka Beef, I highly recommend the experience. The richness and flavor of the beef is astonishing and it practically melts in your mouth. It was prepared perfectly in the sukiyaki style with sugar, sake and soy sauce and then served with raw egg for dipping to balance out the rich and intense flavors of the dish.

Caption: This was the best sukiyaki I’ve ever eaten.

My hosts also served some Matsusaka beef sukiyaki in the hot pot style with fresh vegetables from their garden. The meal included one more surprise dish that was a first for me, some sliced wild boar meat that had a unique and hearty flavor. It was an incredible meal and every dish was fresh, local and prepared with skills that have been passed down through generations in Mie prefecture.

Caption: My hosts prepared Matsusaka beef sukiyaki hot pot and wild boar meat.

Caption: The interior of the guesthouse was comfortable and welcoming.

When our feast of amazing local dishes was finished and everything had been cleaned up, it was time to relax and enjoy the comforts of my guesthouse. As the sun started to set, I enjoyed some quiet time next to the river and appreciated the serene beauty of the spot. Before bed, I had a nice long soak in the bath to prepare my body for a good sleep in the quiet of the countryside. I woke up the next morning refreshed and was greeted with a delicious breakfast prepared by my hosts. We enjoyed a nice start to the day over good food and hot coffee before Ogura-san drove me to the train station.

Caption: My hosts made my stay a memorable one and I hope to return someday.

It had been an incredible two days that included so many elements of traditional Japanese living. My hosts showed me the hospitality that Mie Prefecture is famous for and I will never forget the amazing food. This package is available all year round and each experience is different depending on the season in which you are visiting Taiki Town. If you are looking for an all-inclusive overnight experience featuring Japanese hospitality, hands-on activities and some of the freshest seafood and best beef in the world, I highly recommend the Japanese Traditional Living and Farm Experience.

JAPANESE TRADITIONAL LIVING AND FARM EXPERIENCE

https://miescape.jp/en/plan/919/

Minsyuku Mokumokuya　(The guesthouse is subject to change.)

https://taiki-bm.wixsite.com/mokumokuya

Taiki Town Regional Activation Council

http://taiki-okuise.jp/language/en/

TEL:+81-598-74-2277

Contact form: http://taiki-okuise.jp/language/en/contact/

All seasons

Overnight Stay

- Check-in around 3:00 PM

- Check-out around 10:00 AM the nextday