Speciality of Kiso Town
Kiso-Fukushima has a lot of local color with Japanese culture and tradition. The area is blessed with rich forest and water resources and has developed as a post town. “Water Town, Kiso-Fukushima”, as the town is called, is nestled in a valley with a beautiful Kiso River.
The Kiso River
Flowing through the prefectures of Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie, the Kiso River (229km long) forms the Kiso Valley of Nagano and empties into Ise Bay. Over time it has shaped the valley offering visitors unique landscapes and views. By train, car, or on foot you can enjoy the natural beauty of Kiso.Many things produced in the Kiso Valley directly benefit from the river. Drinking water, soba, and sake all use this natural resource. It is vital to the food industry of Kiso.There are numerous wells and reservoirs with natural spring water all around the post towns of the valley. While walking around you’ll hear the sound of water everywhere. Through the small alleyways and paths of Kiso-Fukushima water is carefully irrigated. You may find some small drinking stations along the way!
Local Foods
The Kiso Valley produces a wide variety of mountain vegetables and seasonal foods. From pickled vegetables (tsuke-mono) to soba, you can find traditional Japanese foods and Kiso delicacies. One such delicacy in winter is sunki – a unique pickled vegetable fermented without salt. During your stay you surely will try the pickles and vegetables of the Kiso Valley, as they are staples to any meal.Soba is another delicacy of Kiso. Why is Kiso famous for this? One reason is the water! Having clean mountain water is an important ingredient in the soba-making process. Have your soba cold or warm with fresh spring onions and wasabi. Mix it into your soup and enjoy the flavour profile.Don’t be shy to ask for help if you don’t know how to eat it! The soba is delicious all-year round. Don’t miss out on this eating experience or on Kiso hospitality!
Footbaths (Ashi-Yu)
fter a day of hiking through the mountains or trekking around town the best way to ease your feet and legs is to soak them in hot spring water! Located along the Kiso River you’ll find the Ashi-no-yu of Kiso-Fukushima. Sit down, relax, and enjoy the changing seasons as your feet are soothed.
Woodworking
Kiso has the benefit of being surrounded by mountains bearing the finest timber in Japan. Kiso-Hi-no-ki (Cypress) is high-quality timber known for its aroma. Once you take in the smell of hinoki, images of forests and rivers will fill your mind. Crafts that are manufactured using hinoki, resemble everything from household goods, furniture, and tableware. Notably famous around Japan, even the Imperial Household utilizes a bathtub made of hinoki.Hinoki goods make for great souvenirs!
Lacquer Ware (Shikki)
All along Nagano’s Kiso Valley be sure to stop in one of the many gift, furniture, or lacquer ware shops. The lacquer ware industry of Kiso dates to the Edo Era. The fine craftsmanship of everything from furniture to chopsticks is made from the timber of Kiso – notably the cypress tree (hi-no-ki). The lacquer used is also made from the cypress. An enduring process of coating (shun-kei nuri), you will be awed at the deep colors of lacquer ware.Japanese people from all over the country come to Kiso specifically for the craftsmanship of these items. A very traditional industry located fittingly in the traditional post towns of Kiso.
Sake
One cannot visit Kiso without trying the local sake (pronounced /Sah-keh/). There are around ten different types of sake categorized by the polishing and age of rice. From the higher-level Daiginjo, Ginjo, and Tokubetsu (special) Junmai to the more usual Taru-zake, Nama-zake, and Gen-shu, there are plenty of reasons to stop by one of the breweries in Kiso-Fukushima (Nanawarai / Nakanori) and request a tasting. They will teach you all about it. Whether you drink it warm, cold, or in a cocktail, there is a lot to learn about sake drinking. “A must do” experience!
