In this tour program, you will visit Rikubetsu, known as the coldest town in Japan. It is in this town where Yu and Mikie Hinata grow various herbs and medicinal plants. Together with the Hinata couple, you will experience harvesting herbs and other field work. You can also try making your own original blend of herbal tea and enjoy it for a relaxing tea time. 

Highlights

• Experience harvesting herbs and other tasks in a herb field
• Learn about various herbs and medicinal plants, including their efficacy
• Make your own original blend of herbal tea using dried herbs
• Enjoy a relaxing tea time with the herbal tea you made and some snacks

Yu and Mikie Hinata used to work for a major pharmaceutical company, but they moved to Rikubetsu in 2017, and started a company called Laboratory of Seeds Discovery and Development (Tane Lab for short) in 2021. They develop various products from medicinal plants and herbs that they cultivate in their own field.

After meeting up with the Hinata couple, you will move to their herb field to experience herb harvesting. Wear your gloves and boots and follow their instructions on which herbs to take and how to harvest them. You can also help with other important tasks such as weeding.

After the herb harvesting, you will move to Tane Lab where you can try making your own blend of herbal tea using their dried herbs. Learn about each herb and their efficacy on the body, and check their color and aroma as you choose which herbs you want to use.

You can then try drinking your herbal tea along with some snacks for a relaxing tea time together with the Hinata couple. You can also take home any remaining dried herbs that you used for your tea blend.
Note: If you cannot drink herbal tea, we can also prepare a homemade syrup-based drink or soft drink. Please inquire in advance.

Note: All images are for illustration purposes only. Your actual experience may vary.

Schedule

13:00	Meetup at Kamitomamu Community Center, move to herb field
13:10	Orientation, activity preparation
13:15	Herb harvesting and field work experience
14:00	Move to Tane Lab
14:20	Original herbal tea blend making
14:50	Tea and snack time
15:30	Tour finish