[Yamagata/Okitama] 2-Day Safflower Harvest Experience Tour in Shirataka Town, Japan's Top Safflower Producer

The Yamagata Arcadia Tourism Bureau (Yamagata Prefecture) will hold a 'Safflower Harvest Experience Tour' for two days and one night from Saturday, July 4 to Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Shirataka Town, a region boasting the highest safflower production in Japan. This is a special, small-group program where participants can see, touch, and taste the culture, lifestyle, and craftsmanship of Shirataka, the town that has produced the 'Red of Japan'. --- Shirataka Town: The Town that Creates Japan's Red Safflower, the prefectural flower of Yamagata, has long been cherished as the raw material for Japan's traditional color, 'aka' (red). Shirataka Town is renowned as the production area with the largest safflower yield in Japan. --- Experience the Culture that Produces Japan's Traditional Red In this tour, participants will engage in early morning safflower picking in actual fields during July, when the safflowers are at their peak. You can experience the unique regional practice of hand-picking them during the early morning hours when the dew makes the leaves soft. Beyond just harvesting, the two-day trip offers opportunities to 'see, touch, and taste' safflower culture through activities such as making 'Benimochi' (safflower cakes), the raw material for dye; safflower dyeing; and enjoying a special menu featuring local Shirataka safflower. Participants will also learn about the history of 'Miyama Washi' (Miyama Japanese paper), which supported the safflower culture, by experiencing paper making and learning how it was used as flower bags to transport safflowers. ● Early Morning Safflower Picking Experience Forgetting the heat and the pain of the thorns, the scene of people diligently picking safflowers is a true summer tradition in Shirataka. At the Safflower Museum (Benibana no Yakata), you will carefully hand-pick each yellow-tinged flower. ● Benimochi Making Carefully wash away the yellow pigment from the safflower to leave the red dye component, creating 'Benimochi'. ● Safflower Dyeing Experience Use chopsticks and rubber bands to create patterns and dye a one-of-a-kind scarf in the safflower dye solution. ● Miyama Washi Paper Making Experience Learn about the history of the paper that carried the safflower culture while trying your hand at paper making. --- Event Summary: Safflower Harvest Experience Tour ■ Dates: July 4 (Sat) - July 5 (Sun), 2026 ■ Capacity: 6 people (minimum 4) ■ Application Deadline: June 19 (Fri), 2026 ■ Price: 17,600 yen/person (same for adults and children) * Please consult with us in advance if you are bringing children. Day 1 13:22 Arrive at Arato Station, Yamagata Railway Flower Nagai Line 13:30 Meeting and Registration at Arato Station 13:45-15:15 Miyama Washi Promotion Research Center: Tour & Paper Making Experience 15:30 Check-in at Mokurinrin Cafe & B&B 18:00-19:00 Dinner at SIATTACA 19:05 Bathing and sleep at Mokurinrin Cafe & B&B Day 2 5:00 Depart from Mokurinrin Cafe & B&B 5:10-6:50 Safflower picking experience at Benibana no Yakata 7:00-8:30 Breakfast and check-out at Mokurinrin Cafe & B&B 8:40-10:00 Safflower dyeing and Benimochi making experience at Benibana no Yakata Around 10:15 Dismissal at Arato Station 10:34 Depart from Arato Station, Yamagata Railway Flower Nagai Line