Day 1

11:04 bullet train from Tokyo arriving Honjo-Waseda 11:50 (not included)

Top flight soba course lunch

13:51 train to Niigata area, arriving 15:42

Visit 200-year-old artisanal hand-hammered metal (copper, tin, bronze) workshop

Check into Hotel Okura

Dinner at excellent local yakitori shop - Niigata is famous for chicken

Walk back to hotel stopping by the No Name thrift shop (an unmanned shop open 24 hours)


Day 2

Visit 200-year-old sake brewery, sake tasting

Top quality sushi course lunch

Bullet train to Echigo-Yuzawa in Niigata, taxi further into the countryside to Minami-Uonuma

Stay at cool renovated Japanese inn with excellent local food prepared in a modern Japanese style


Day 3

Breakfast at inn

10:33 train back to Honjo-Waseda, arriving 11:12

Visit local potter and organic shoyu, miso, tofu maker

Local modern, yet traditional, ramen or yuba burger for lunch

15:25 train back to Tokyo, arriving 16:12