Japan for Foodies: Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama & More

Welcome to Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. Tokyo is a city of contrasts, famous for its pioneering modernity, neon streets and soaring skyscrapers, mixed with peaceful parklands, shrines, temples and adored gardens. Despite its mania for anime pop culture, fashion, digital trends and discernable consumption, the city embraces an ancient heritage evident in the temples and shrines scattered amongst the vast sky rises.

On your arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport, proceed through customs and then exit the security zone to meet your assistant. Then take a shared transfer to your hotel in Tokyo. The rest of day is free.

Accommodation: The Gate Hotel Tokyo by HULIC

Take a full-day, food-centred tour of this fascinating city with a local guide. First up is Asakusa, Tokyo’s old town where you can soak in the atmosphere of traditional Tokyo. Visit Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple and wander down Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries.
Wander the bustling Kappabashi area, a unique shopping street where lots of shops sell all manners of kitchen utensils.
Next is Harajuku and the quirky Cat Street. One of Tokyo’s main centres for youth fashion and culture, this area is also the birthplace of many new food trends, especially eye-catching and colourful snacks and sweets such as rainbow-coloured cotton candy or ice cream shaped like cute animals.
Later, enjoy a visit to Meiji Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings.

This morning, take a shared group tour to enjoy an in-depth experience with Japan's most well known and beloved cuisine - sushi! Make your way to your group meeting spot and begin your tour with a stroll through Tsukiji outer fish market. Have the opportunity to sample some tasty items. You will see a variety of fish, vegetables and fruit stalls.
Next, you will try your hand at making one of Japan’s most well-known dishes during a sushi-making experience. First, you will get an introduction to this beloved type of cuisine and to Japanese food culture in general. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, you will then have the chance to create some deliciously fresh sushi yourself. You will of course get to enjoy your homemade creations for lunch.

In the evening, you will meet your guide and take a stroll around one of Tokyo’s trendiest areas, conveniently located only minutes away from Shibuya. A popular place for locals in their mid-twenties to early forties to grab a drink and a bite, this area boasts some of Tokyo’s best casual eateries.
On this tour, you will visit three different restaurants, so-called ‘akachochin’ or izakaya (Japanese casual pub), and get to experience some of the authentic food locals enjoy. Japanese delicacies to try include Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), Sashimi, Okonomiyaki (savoury pancake), other typical izakaya dishes and typical Japanese sweets
These are friendly places where interaction between patrons (facilitated by your bilingual guide) often take place.

This morning, board the shinkansen bullet train bound for Kanazawa.
During the Edo Period, Kanazawa served as the seat of the Maeda clan, the second most powerful feudal clan after the Tokugawa. Thus, Kanazawa grew to become a town of great cultural achievements, rivalling Kyoto and Edo (now Tokyo). During World War II, Kanazawa and Kyoto were the country’s two largest cities to escape the destructive air raids. For this reason, parts of the old castle town such as the Nagamachi samurai district and Higashichaya entertainment district, have survived in good condition. Today, Kanazawa remains an important city in its region and serves as the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture. The city boasts many historical attractions such as restored residences and districts, as well as modern museums. But Kanazawa’s unchallenged star attraction is Kenrokuen, designated as one of Japan’s ‘three best landscape gardens’ and by many considered the most beautiful of them all.
After arrival in Kanazawa, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation: Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel

This morning, head to the Shirakawago region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukuri translates as ‘praying hands’, as the farmhouses’ steep, thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer. This unique architectural feature was designed to withstand the heavy snow seen in this region every winter.
After spending 2-3 hours in the village, you will use your included ticket to board a highway bus bound for Takayama where you will check in to your accommodation for the night.

Accommodation: Hidatei Hanaougi

Today, take a half day shared group walking tour to explore Takayama’s old town district with its traditional buildings and many small, family-run businesses that have been in operation for multiple generations.
Sample some of Takayama’s unique local delicacies on your stroll through town. There will also be time to stop by one of Takayama’s many sake breweries where the region’s famous rice wine is made.

This morning, take the train bound for Nagoya. The journey is incredibly scenic as the train winds its way through mountains and gorges in this stunningly picturesque region. In Nagoya, board the shinkansen to Kyoto.
Kyoto is the former capital of Japan and residence of the emperor from 794 until 1868. Today, it is Japan’s seventh largest metropolis with a population of around 1.4 million and a rich culture that offers a plethora of temples, shrines and other stunning and historically significant structures.
After arrival in Kyoto, you will have the opportunity to visit the home of a tea ceremony artisan. An assistant will meet you at your hotel and escort you to the instructor’s house.
Learn about various types of tea and the tools used to prepare them with the support and advice from a professional instructor and interpretation from our assistant. You will see how every movement has a meaning and understand what the act of serving tea to guests means in Japan.

Accommmodation: Hotel Granvia Kyoto

Today, take a full day guided walking tour using public transportation to see some of Kyoto's main highlights. Visit Kinkakuji Temple which draws millions of visitors each year, and you will quickly understand why this jewel in the northern hills of Kyoto is one of the country’s most visited sites. A far cry from Buddhist austerity, it is covered in real gold leaf and is stunning at any time of the year. The story of the warlord who had this pavilion built will surely capture your mind, too.
Visit Nijo Castle, a 17th century castle originally constructed for a shogun, and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the castle’s architecture and unique features such as the intricate sliding doors, chirping nightingale floors and secret chambers.
Next, walk through Nishiki Market, which will mesmerize you with rows and stands selling snacks and ingredients for cooking.
Lastly, visit the world-famous Fushimi Inari Shrine. Thousands of bright red torii gates line the mountain trail, and walking through them is a visually stunning experience. Inari is the Japanese god of rice harvest and is also believed to bless businesses with abundant fortune, hence its popularity with merchants.
The shrine complex spans the entire Mt. Inari (233 metres). On this tour, you will visit the main shrine hall. Then, you will proceed through the famed tunnel of vermillion gates.

Enjoy a free day in Kyoto. You can choose to visit Kinkakuji Temple, Yamazaki whiskey distillery or Nara (we can assist with other tours depending on your interest).

In the early evening, make your own way to Osaka (approx. 30 mins) where you will meet your guide for a shared foodie tour. Osaka is one of Japan’s most vibrant cities, and especially known for its lively and social people - and its food. Your guide will introduce you to the wonders of Osaka’s casual cuisine and the culture of ‘kuidaore’ - literally, ‘eating oneself to bankruptcy’!

Meet your guide in one of Osaka’s local neighbourhoods where residents of all ages go out to enjoy the culinary pleasures of the nation’s soul food kitchen. Tour includes 3 Food stops to sample authentic comfort food from a mix of street stalls, standing bars and atmospheric izakaya while listening to stories from Japan's foodie capital. Afterwards, make your own way back to Kyoto.

This morning, take a private guided excursion to Arashiyama, using public transportation. Arashiyama is the western district of Kyoto. Visit a variety of sites including Okochi Mountain Villa, Arashiyama’s famous bamboo groves, Nonomiya Shrine and Tenryuji Temple. Tenryuji Temple is a zen temple and here you will enjoy a delicious shojin-ryori lunch, which is the traditional Buddhist vegan cuisine. In addition to its temple buildings, there are attractive gardens with walking paths. After the tour, return to central Kyoto. 

Day at leisure until your shared vehicle transfer to Kansai or Itami airport. If you have more time to spend in Japan we can customize a post tour for you. Perhaps you will continue the food tour in Hiroshima and Miyajima to taste Okonomiyaki and oysters, which are famous in that region.  Alternatively, fly to Sapporo to sample some of Sapporo’s beer. The world is your oyster!