Wild Herb Foraging and Traditional "Yagen" Tea Crafting

Koka-city

Private Workshop

Step into a Ninja’s Pharmacy: Forage the Forest and Blend Your Own Healing Tea.

Embark on an educational journey in Koka City, the legendary home of the Ninja. In the lush Minakuchi Kodomo-no-Mori, an expert guide will lead you through a medicinal plant walk, revealing the hidden secrets of the forest. Inside a traditional Japanese farmhouse, you will use a "Yagen"—an authentic Ninja tool for grinding herbs—to create your own bespoke herbal tea blend. This 2-hour experience blends history, nature, and wellness, offering a unique taste of ancient Japanese wisdom.

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Step 1: Forest Classroom:

Discovering Wild Medicinal Plants

2 hours

Explore the diverse ecosystem of the forest with a specialist.
You will learn to identify various wild plants and understand their traditional medicinal properties. Your guide will share stories of how Ninjas utilized these plants for survival and health, turning a simple nature walk into an insightful lesson on ancient Japanese botany.
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Step 2: Traditional Techniques: Using the Ninja’s "Yagen""

Grinder Move into a preserved traditional folk house to begin your craft. You will use a ""Yagen,"" a classic iron mill used by Ninjas and ancient doctors to crush herbs. By rolling the heavy wheel back and forth, you will grind dried herbs into a fine powder, releasing fresh aromas that evoke the atmosphere of an old-world pharmacy.
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Step 3: Bespoke Blending: Crafting Your Original Recipe

Based on your learnings and your personal wellness needs—whether for relaxation or energy—you will create a unique herbal tea blend. This creative process allows you to experiment with different ratios and flavors. It’s like being a modern-day alchemist, tailoring the forest’s gifts to suit your own body and mind.
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Step 4: Serene Moments: Tasting Tea in a Historic House

Enjoy your freshly brewed creation while sitting on the veranda of the traditional house. Take in the peaceful scenery as you sip your tea. If you find a blend you love, you can take your custom herb mixture home as a souvenir, allowing you to recreate this moment of ""Ninja wellness"" whenever you wish.

Michiyo Takenakajima

Kampo (Japanese Herbal Medicine) Expert, Nihon Pharmaceutical University Wa-Herb Instructor, Wa-Herb Association

Growing up with nature’s blessings, I later overcame a mysterious illness by returning to my roots: medicinal herbs. Now, I advocate for harmonizing mind and body through the healing power of nature.

per person

Individuals and groups: 9,800 yen per person

For groups of 2 to 8

Duration

2 hours
Location

Minakuchi Kodomo-no-Mori (10 Kita-naiki, Minakuchi-cho, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture)
Meeting Point

Same as above
Language

EnglishJapanese
Attire

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