A 1-night, 2-day weekday plan is now available in Oguni Town, Yamagata, offering visitors the chance to pick warabi ferns in a stunning natural setting alongside local food experiences including soba and warabi mochi making.
Oguni Town: A Town Rich in Mountain Bounty
Oguni Town in Yamagata Prefecture sits between the Iide and Asahi mountain ranges, surrounded by vast beech forests. When spring arrives after the long winter, warabi ferns sprout across the mountain slopes, drawing visitors to the tourist warabi gardens during the mountain vegetable season. Oguni Town is one of Japan's leading producers of warabi, known for its thick stalks and strong, sticky texture.
Day 1: Experiencing Oguni Town's Food Culture
On Day 1, participants gather at Suigennosato Koryu-kan Hotaru for a taste of the region's food culture.
Guests enjoy soba made from two local varieties — the rare, aromatic "Maboroshi" grown by local farmers, and "Dewakaori," a specialty variety from Yamagata — followed by a warabi mochi making experience using 100% locally sourced warabi starch.
After the food experience, guests check in at either Iide Onsen Kaikakeso or Shiro-no-Mori Koryu Center Rifure, where a dinner featuring local mountain produce and a soak in the hot spring baths await.
Day 2: Fern Picking Among Scenic Mountains
On Day 2, participants head to tourist warabi gardens around the town for a morning of fern picking surrounded by fresh greenery. Guests harvest as much as they like and then make their own way home.
Plan Overview
| Period | Mid-May to late June 2026 (weekdays only) |
| Group size | 2 or more people per group |
| Booking deadline | 5 days before departure |
| Price | ¥21,650 per person (tax included) |
Itinerary
| Time | Content |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | |
| 12:00 PM | Gather at Suigennosato Koryu-kan Hotaru |
| Until 1:30 PM | Lunch and warabi mochi making experience |
| Transfer to accommodation (free time) — optional visits to nearby attractions: Icho Plaza, Yokogawa Dam, Park Golf Course, etc. | |
| From 3:00 PM | Check in at accommodation (Kaikakeso or Shiro-no-Mori Koryu Center Rifure) |
| Free time (bathing) | |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner |
| Stay at accommodation (Kaikakeso or Shiro-no-Mori Koryu Center Rifure) | |
| Day 2 | |
| Breakfast — please confirm breakfast time with the accommodation upon check-in | |
| Transfer to tourist warabi garden (individually) | |
| Warabi fern picking | |
| Depart individually |
What to Bring
Comfortable clothing, work gloves (e.g., cotton gloves), a hat, rubber boots, warm layers, rain gear, plastic bags, and insect repellent spray.
Participation Requirements
Participants must be able to travel independently to the experience venue. A tour guide will be present at the experience site.
