Experience Traditional Japanese Rural Culture at Maruen
Maruen is located about 25 km from Tokyo, in Midori Ward, Saitama City.
Surrounded by nature and farmland, you can relax in a traditional rural setting while experiencing Japanese culture and the changing seasons.
The experience begins with making udon noodles by hand, a food deeply familiar to everyday life in Japan.
You will then boil the noodles yourself and enjoy them as lunch.
After lunch, you will take part in a bonsai-making experience, planting a young tree into a small pot while learning basic care and discovering the Japanese sense of nature and aesthetics.
(Participants living in Japan may take the bonsai they create home with them.)
Udon & Bonsai Making:
One-Day Experience
You will make udon yourself, a dish traditionally served as hospitality to guests in rural communities and passed down in the Maru family.
Udon-making experience
The dough is kneaded firmly with your body weight using your feet, rolled out with a rolling pin, and cut into easy-to-eat noodles.
The finished noodles are boiled on the spot and enjoyed fresh. You can adjust the soup to your own taste and add your preferred toppings.
Even with the same method, the texture and flavor turn out slightly different for each person.
Bonsai-making experience
You can choose your favorite combination from 3–4 seasonal seedlings and pots. By working with your hands, you will complete one unique piece and take it home.
In addition to being simply fun, this experience also helps you understand repotting in the future as your bonsai grows and its roots develop.
By bringing together separate elements such as the tree and the pot with your own intentions, you can enjoy a calm, creative moment that feels completely different from everyday busyness and stress.
Experience Dates
Daily Schedule
※ Reservations are accepted for a minimum of two people (two meals).
※If you have any questions, please contact us by email in English, and we will reply in English。
Experience Dates
Mar 11,2026 | 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Mar 19,2026 | 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Apr 16,2026 | 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Apr 18,2026 | 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Apr 27,2026 | 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Experience Dates
10:30 a.m.
Udon Making Experience Begins
12:00 a.m.
Cooking & Tasting Your Udon
You will boil the udon you made, add toppings, and enjoy your meal.
After the meal, there will be a break time, during which you can explore the facilities at Maruen.
2:15 p.m.
Bonsai Making Experience Begins
5:00 p.m.
End of Bonsai Making Experience
One-Day Experience Fee
Bonsai & Udon Making Experience
8,100yen per person
（tax included)
Children aged 6 and over are charged the same rate as adults.
Children under 6 are also charged the adult rate if a full meal is required.
We do not have multilingual staff, but we will use a translation device during the experience.
Participation fees may be subject to change without prior notice.
Reservation Process
1. Submit a Tentative Reservation
Please check the available candidate dates and submit your application via the Udon Making Experience Tentative Reservation Form.
Please note that this does not confirm your reservation for the selected date.
STEP
01
2. Availability Confirmation & Payment
Our staff will contact you regarding the availability of your requested date.
If the date is available, we will send you an email with payment instructions, including a bank transfer option and a credit card payment link.
Please complete the payment using your preferred method.
STEP
02
3. Reservation Confirmation
Once your payment has been completed, we will send you a reservation confirmation email.
We look forward to welcoming you on the day of the experience. Please have a safe trip!
STEP
03
Udon Making Experience Flow
01
Using your body weight, you will step on the round udon dough to develop the chewy texture of the noodles.
02
Using a rolling pin, you will roll out the udon dough, checking for thick and thin areas and smoothing it evenly.
03
You will shape the dough with a rolling pin and adjust the flour to prevent sticking.
04
Cut the noodles to about 5 mm wide for a chewy and delicious udon texture.
05
Boil the udon you made and adjust the broth to create your own unique udon.
06
Please enjoy a relaxed meal while sharing the experience with one another.
Bonsai Making Experience Flow
01
First, choose your favorite bonsai plant and pot. This is where the excitement begins!
02
02
To help you enjoy the bonsai experience, we will provide a brief introduction to the history of bonsai along with a simple orientation.
03
Now it’s time to begin the bonsai experience! You will prune the bonsai plant and repot it into a bonsai pot.
04
You will learn proper bonsai care, such as watering and daily maintenance, and how to care for it over time.
05
You will decorate the surface of the soil and take photos of the original bonsai you created.
06
Thank you for completing the bonsai experience. Please take your lovingly created bonsai home with you.
FAQ
Q
Can I take the finished bonsai home?
A
Yes. We provide bags, base boards, and cushioning materials so you can take it home safely.
Q
Can I learn not only how to make a bonsai, but also how to care for it daily?
A
Yes. Using simple materials, we explain placement and watering basics, as well as care tips specific to each type of tree during the workshop.
Q
Do I need to bring anything?
A
The soil used in the bonsai experience is mostly dry, so getting dirty is very unlikely.
However, since this may vary depending on the person, we recommend bringing an apron.
Aprons are provided at the Maru-en venue.
One-day Experience
Tentative Booking Form
Please check the available candidate dates on the calendar and submit your request via the Tentative Reservation Form.