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Next month, a friend from overseas will be visiting, and I've been looking for something that offers a uniquely Japanese experience. Miso making seemed interesting, but I was worried that the information would only be in Japanese. While researching, I came across https://prooffeed.com/ja/味ソ作り体験できる醸所 and compared three breweries in Nagano. While many sites only describe the atmosphere, this site was helpful as it included details such as the duration and reservation conditions. If your companion can't read Japanese, Hanamaruki Miso Making Experience Center is the first place that comes to mind. They have an English website, so even if your companion is from overseas, the information will be accessible. The facility is located next to the factory in Ina City, has a capacity of 20 people, and takes about two hours. Participants can be as young as six years old, and with the Southern Alps visible from the windows, you can also show them the scenery of Japan. The factory tour is also included, so you can see both the machinery and the handiwork at the same time, which should be interesting for visitors from outside the area. The miso we make cannot be taken home on the spot and will be delivered to our homes three months later, so I'm thinking of having my friend's portion sent to my house. If it's a large gathering, I'll also mention Marukome's Mima Kogen Brewery and Marui Ito Shoten. For Marukome, groups of more than 10 people need to book at least seven days in advance, while individuals can book at least three days in advance. The preparation takes only 45 minutes, and with the tasting added, it's a short 90 minutes, so it should be easy to fit into a gap in other plans. For Marui Ito Shoten, groups need to contact them in advance, but they can also have the miso matured in the brewery before shipping it to you. They also have a cafe that serves dishes using koji, but that requires a reservation. In the end, considering the language of the tour, Hanamaruki is the best option, but reservations are only accepted from 60 days to 7 days in advance, so I plan to act quickly once I've decided on a date. With Marui Ito Shoten, you can visit without a reservation, so it would be easy to drop by to see the wooden barrel brewery during a trip. I'm really looking forward to the day I make miso with my friend.