Hands-On Workshop: Creating Fresh Fragrance Water with the Scent of the Forest

A craft gin distillery nestled in the woods at an elevation of 620 meters. We produce a craft gin that “smells like the forest,” made by hand-picking plants that grow wild around the distillery each morning and distilling them while they’re still fresh.
Why not try a distillation experience at this distillery, using a mini still to extract fragrance water from plants? You’ll walk through the forest to gather your favorite plants as raw materials, and you’ll bottle the finished fragrance water to take home with you. Take home your very own scent—100% derived from nature—as a memento of your trip.

A craft gin distillery nestled in the woods at an elevation of 620 meters. We produce a craft gin that “smells like the forest,” made by hand-picking plants that grow wild around the distillery in the morning and distilling them while they’re still fresh.
Why not try a distillation experience at this distillery, using a mini still to extract fragrance water from plants? You’ll walk through the forest to gather your favorite plants as raw materials, and you’ll get to bottle the finished fragrance water to take home with you. Take home your very own scent, derived 100% from nature, as a memento of your trip.

Reservations & Registration

How to Register: Apply via the official website of the Kyotango City Tourism Corporation, “Kyotango Navi”
Registration Period & Deadline: Up to 3 days before the tour date
Cancellation Policy: 20–8 days prior…20%
7–3 days prior…30%
The day before…40%
On the day of / No notice…100%

Basic Information

Season: Late March through November
Closed Days & Excluded Dates: Thursday
Meeting Time & Hours of Operation: ①14:00
Schedule: ① Gathering botanicals (plants) used for distillation in the area around the Maiwa-gen Distillery
② Processing the botanicals (cutting, etc.)
③ Distillation using a still (waiting time: approx. 60 minutes); explanation of the Maiwa-gen Distillery, etc.
④ Bottling and labeling the finished fragrance water
Duration: Approximately 120 minutes
Group Size: Minimum 5 people – Maximum 16 people
Language Support: Staff: Japanese
Accessibility: Not allowed

Pricing

List Price: 15,000 yen (tax included) per person
*If there are 4 or fewer participants, an additional 30,000 yen will be charged.
Included in Price: Trial Fee

Access & Meeting Place

Meeting Place & Ticket Pickup Location: Kyotango Maiwa Gen Distillery
10329-1 Nonaka, Yae-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture; within the Kyotango Forest Park Swiss Village
Parking Information: 10329-1 Nonaka, Yae-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture; within the Kyotango Forest Park Swiss Village

Operator Information

Operator Name: Kyotango Maiwa Gen Distillery
Address: 10329-1 Nonaka, Yaei-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture; within the Kyotango Forest Park Swiss Village
Official Website: https://visitkyotango.com/tour-packages/37360/

Area & City/Town Introduction (Kyotango City)

Located at the northernmost tip of Kyoto Prefecture, the city’s entire northern coastline faces the Sea of Japan. It is blessed with a diverse natural environment, including the majestic coastal landscapes of the San’in Kaigan Geopark—designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark—as well as beaches with white sand and green pines and beautiful rural woodlands. With a rich culinary culture featuring fresh seafood, agricultural products, and fruits—a culture highly regarded for its quality—the city has garnered attention as a destination for food-focused travel, as evidenced by its receipt of the “Gourmet City Award” in 2024. It is also known as one of the prefecture’s leading hot spring resorts, and as a city where nature, cuisine, hot springs, and history and culture harmonize, it offers a variety of ways to enjoy the area throughout all four seasons.