A 20 minute drive out of Nagaoka takes you to a curious little confectionary shop beside the highway, in a repurposed farmhouse. They basically sell and serve tea and sweetened sticky rice dumplings. It's a huge hit. The regionl specialty is something called a 'sasadango' and it is wrapped in bamboo leaves. For for a fee and a booking, you can actually get a lesson on how to make your own dumpling. It's a surprisingly fun way to spend the afternoon. Other stuff on the menu includes green tea cream, tororo buns, soya flavoured rice cakes. You can also buy, as gifts, the utensil sets with which to make all these. Check the attraction website for the full catalogue.

• You can order a batch and have it delivered for a fee. Check attraction website for details.
• Contact the attraction to book a workshop slot.

• Drive to here or take a taxi.

Love this? Explore the entire list of places to visit in Nagaoka before you plan your trip.

Fancy a good night's sleep after a tiring day? Check out where to stay in Nagaoka and book an accommodation of your choice.