Discover GIFU
Ride the waves of time, back into the Sengoku and Edo period with this tour jam-packed with the many highlights of Ena and Imamura – from art at the museum of Hiroshige ukiyo-e prints, legendary tales at the Iwamura Castle Ruins and tales of the “Onna Joshu” (lady castle lord), history of the Sengoku cuisine and sake, and culture of the Kakeuchi (sake store where you can drink at).
Spellbinding stories of Lady Otsuya, one of Japan’s few lady castle lords and the aunt of warlord Oda Nobunaga, rare opportunities to observe the constructive wonders in the three different ways stones were stacked to build the impenetrable walls of one of Japan’s three greatest mountaintop castles, time for strolling around an ancient castle town with distinctive features and Kakeuchi in the refined setting of a reputable sake brewery await! Take a trip through this multifaceted gateway into Japan’s exquisite past.
Highlights
Here at Iwamura Jozo Brewery, with a distinguished history of 230 years, you can experience the exclusive "Kakuuchi", where you can buy sake and drink it right there and then in its original, raw and unprocessed form - a rarity afforded by this very place.
Duration
7 hours
Offered in
English
What is included
Nakasendo Hiroshige Museum of Art entrance fee
Lunch
Kakeuchi experience
Taxi (not a chartered car)
JR Ena Station
Start time
10:00:00
End point
JR Ena Station
Step into the 230-year-old Iwamura Jozo Brewery and experience the unique tradition of Kakuuchi, an exclusive opportunity where visitors can purchase sake and enjoy it on the spot in its original, raw, and unprocessed form a rare experience found only here. This historic brewery offers not just a taste of premium Japanese sake, but also a glimpse into centuries of craftsmanship and culture, making it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking authentic sake-tasting experiences in Japan.
Schedule
・10:00 - Meet up with guide at Ena Station
・10:10~11:15 - Nakasendo Hiroshige Museum of Art
・11:15~11:35 - To Iwamura Castle Ruins by taxi
・11:40 - Hiking at Iwamura Castle Ruins (to the center by taxi → head down to the Fujisaka Route on foot
・12:50~14:20 - Sengoku cuisine lunch at Iwamura Sanso (Irori charcoal grill)
・14:40~15:40 - Kakuuchi experience at Iwamura Jozo Brewery (5 varieties, sake-tasting)
・15:45~16:30 - Walking around the Iwamura Castle Town (from Iwamura Jozo Brewery to the Masugata: Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings)
・16:30~17:00 - Depart for Ena Station by taxi
・17:00 - Arrival and dispersal at Ena Station
*This itinerary is an example.
Availability: 2025/4/1~2026/3/31
Number of Participants 2 to 4 people
The local restaurant can arrange dishes such as sushi, tempura, eel, miso katsu, and more to your preferences.
A feature of Sengoku cuisine is that fish are skewered and grilled in a freshly caught state. Please inform us beforehand if you would rather not see fish in this condition, and you will instead be provided with fish that has been pre-prepared instead.
The Nakasendo Hiroshige Museum of Art is closed on Mondays (if the Monday is a public holiday, it will remain open and will be closed on the next day instead), also on year-end and New Year’s holidays.
Iwamura Jozo Brewery is closed on New Year's Day.
Discover GIFU