Experience the Art of Traditional Japanese Sweets: Hands-On Wagashi Making at Himeji’s Historic Kineya

Why not take part in a special experience at a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Himeji with more than 100 years of history, where you can discover Japanese traditional culture and experience the skill and spirit of master confectioners? Kineya, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop located in the historic castle town surrounding Himeji Castle, has been loved for generations by local residents as well as many visitors to the city. Each piece of wagashi, or traditional Japanese confectionery, is carefully handcrafted by skilled artisans. Inspired by the beauty of the four seasons, local traditions, and the culture of the Japanese tea ceremony, these delicate sweets are as visually beautiful as small works of art. During this experience, you will learn how to make seasonal nerikiri and other premium Japanese sweets, including how to shape the confectionery and wrap the sweet bean paste filling. By watching a professional confectioner demonstrate the techniques up close and then trying them yourself, you will experience the delicate Japanese sense of beauty and the spirit of “omotenashi,” or Japanese hospitality, through your own hands. The program is designed so that everyone, from children to older guests, can comfortably enjoy participating. It is also a wonderful way to create a memorable souvenir of your trip or a special handmade gift for family and friends. The wagashi you make yourself can be taken home with you. After the hands-on experience, enjoy professionally made wagashi together with matcha green tea. You will also have the opportunity to hear from the shop owner about Kineya’s history, which has been passed down through generations, as well as the stories and thoughts behind their confectionery-making traditions. In a welcoming space where the lively atmosphere of Himeji’s historic castle town meets the quiet beauty of Japanese tradition, you can relax after a day of sightseeing while discovering the depth of Japanese culture and the warmth of the people who preserve it. Surrounded by the historic charm of Himeji and a wagashi tradition passed down for more than a century, this experience offers the opportunity to discover Japan not only through taste, but through all five senses. ※Photos are for illustrative purposes only. The type of wagashi made during the experience will vary depending on the season. ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー ■ Experience Details 【Session Times】 1:00 PM / 3:00 PM ※The experience takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. 【Locations】 ① Kineya Nikaimachi Main Store 95 Nikaimachi, Himeji, Hyogo https://maps.app.goo.gl/TqS3yLSqnTpP5LyG8 ※Please arrive at the location 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. ② Kineya Shosha Okashi no Sato 1086 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo 671-2201 https://maps.app.goo.gl/HcxGn71h3CL7iHT16 ※Please arrive at the location 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. 【Participation Fee】 JPY 3,800 per person, including tax 【Booking Deadline】 Reservations must be submitted by 6:00 PM, 4 days before the experience date. ※Bookings will be accepted as request reservations until the application deadline. ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー ■ How to Book Click the “Book Now” button displayed on the screen and select the number of participants, your preferred date, and your preferred time. Then complete the following steps: ・Create an account, or continue without registration ・Enter participant information ・Enter your credit card information ※Payment must be made in advance by credit card. ※If you are unable to pay by credit card, please contact us in advance. ▼ Please see the following page for detailed booking instructions: https://shinkibus-tour.book.ntmg.com/news/form?lng=ja-JP ■ About Request Reservations Some experiences require a minimum number of participants before the event can be confirmed. In such cases, your booking will first be accepted as a “request reservation” and will proceed as follows: ・Your reservation will be confirmed once the required number of participants has been reached. ・Alternatively, the reservation may be confirmed once the experience provider determines that the booking can be accepted. ・Once your reservation is confirmed, payment will automatically be processed using the credit card you registered. ・You will receive an email confirming both the operation of the experience and completion of payment. ・A representative may also contact you shortly before the experience date, such as on the day before the event. ■ Contact Information ⭐ For inquiries on the day of the experience, including sudden cancellations or inability to attend Kineya Nikaimachi Main Store Phone: 079-285-3509 Kineya Shosha Okashi no Sato Phone: 079-267-2333 ⭐ For inquiries regarding the booking system or payment methods Shinki Bus Co., Ltd. Localprime Office Business Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays. Email: shinkibus@book.ntmg.com Please note that telephone support is unavailable during the New Year holiday period and other designated closure dates.

• Days of Week

  Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri,Sat

• Duration

  1h 30m

• Kineya Nikaimachi Main Store (from 13:00 session) (ages 3+)

  JPY 3,800

• Kineya Nikaimachi Main Store (from 15:00 session) (ages 3+)

  JPY 3,800

• Kineya Shosha Okashi-no-Sato (from 13:00 session) (ages 3+)

  JPY 3,800

• Kineya Shosha Okashi-no-Sato (from 15:00 session) (ages 3+)

  JPY 3,800

• What's Included

  • Three types of sweets + one souvenir item
  • Matcha tea preparation experience (you will prepare the tea yourself)
  • One wagashi (traditional sweet) inspired by the season and weather of the day
  • All ingredient costs included
  • A full set of tools used by professional wagashi artisans will be provided for your use

• Cancellation Policies

  • Until 14:00 the day before: 50%
  • After 14:00 the day before: 100%