Japan for Foodies: Tokyo, Matsumoto, 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.

Meals: None

Tokyo may have many sights to its name, but it's a truly beloved city among foodies. Today visit some of the key sites and some of the city's most well known food spots. You'll have a private guided walking tour using public transport like a true Tokyoite.

Start the day with a visit to Asakusa, Tokyo's old town area to visit Sensoji temple and Nakamise shopping street where there here are hundreds of shops selling snacks, sweets and souvenirs. Then walk to Kappabashi, called Tokyo's ''kitchen town''. Kappabashi is full of kitchenware shops selling utensils, plastic food, dishes and other culinary items. There are also plenty of great restaurants in this area and your local guide will make some suggestions on where to have lunch (own account). In the afternoon travel across the city to the trendy Harajuku district, the pop culture area. Walk along the Harajuku’s main alleyway and choose to sample some unique sweets and snacks such as rainbow cotton candy, coffee with 3D foam art and ice cream crafted into cute animals. Afterwards walk to Meiji Jingu Shrine to learn about Shintoism. Return to your hotel at the end of the tour. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

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. Then, take the public bus to a nearby venue, where you will meet a Japanese chef and learn how to make your own plate of sushi. Enjoy your sushi creations for lunch. After lunch, say goodbye to your morning tour group and have some free time to explore Tokyo.

In the evening, take a private food walking tour. Visit one of Tokyo's trendiest areas near Shibuya and explore the streets and alleyways. Visit three different Izakaya restaurants (Japanese style bars) to eat yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), sashimi, okonomiyaki (savoury pancake), other typical dishes and sweets.

Meals: Breakfast, Sushi lunch, Izakaya dinner with 3 drinks.

This morning make your own way by train to Matsumoto (approx. 2.5 hrs). Matsumoto has flourished as a castle town since the 16th century and is acclaimed for its beautiful mountain views and famous nationwide for its delicious soba: buckweat noodles. On arrival, visit a soba restaurant, boasting a history of more than 130 years, to learn the secrets of soba noodle making. You will try your hand at kneading and cutting the noodles, and then you will be able to taste your noodles cooked by the chef in the traditional Shinshu way. Make your own way back to your hotel after you have enjoyed your delicious noodles.

Meals: Breakfast, Soba noodle lunch

Your morning is at leisure to explore Matsumoto. You may choose to visit Matsumoto castle or a nearby wasabi farm. In the afternoon make your way by public bus to Takayama (approx. 2.5 hrs). This is a very scenic route, crossing through the Japanese Alps. On arrival in Takayama, take the shuttle bus to your ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). Tonight, a delicious multi-course Japanese meal, known as ''aiseki cuisin'', which is served at your ryokan for dinner. Kaiseki meals use seasonal and local ingredients. As part of tonight’s meal, your ryokan will serve succulent Hida Beef. Hida beef is one of Japan’s many delicious forms of wagyu (Japanese beef) which has become internationally renowned for its texture and rich taste. Note that wagyu is very expensive so the portion you receive at dinner might be very small but once you have tried it, you will understand why this meat is so sought-after in the world of cooking. After dinner, you can choose to soak in the onsen baths (hot springs) at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Kaiseki dinner

This morning, take a shared group food walking tour around Takayama’s old town area. Enjoy sampling some of Takayama's local delicacies including sake. The afternoon is free for you to continue exploring Takayama on your own. Another delicious kaiseki meal is included at your ryokan tonight!

Meals: Breakfast, snacks and sake tasting, Kaiseki dinner

Make your own way to Kyoto by local train and bullet train (approx. 3.5 hrs). Arrive in Kyoto and make your own way to your hotel. In the late afternoon, partake in a shared matcha green tea ceremony to learn about the history and etiquette of serving and drinking green tea. A Japanese sweet will be served together with the tea. The rest of day is at leisure in Kyoto. We suggest you take an evening walk through the Gion and Pontocho districts.

Meals: Breakfast, Japanese matcha green tea and sweet.

Take a full day private guided walking tour using public transportation to see some of Kyoto's main highlights. Visit the world-famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, where thousands of bright red torii gates line the mountain trail. Walk through the vermillion gate pathway and visit the main shrine hall. Then visit Nishiki Market, a lively retail market specializing in all things food related. In the afternoon choose to visit either Sanjusangendo Temple or Kiyomizudera Temple. Sanjusangendo Temple is the longest wooden structure in Japan with 1001 statues of Kannon. Kiyomizudera Temple is perched on a hillside overlooking the city and is famous for its wooden platform stage. You can also stroll along the Higashiyama district after visiting Kiyomizudera. Lunch is not included today but your local guide will provide some suggestions. We recommend a tempura or udon noodle restaurant, well known Kyoto dishes.

Meals: Breakfast

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, meet your private guide and travel by train to Osaka (approx. 30 mins). Osaka is one of Japan's most vibrant cities and your guide will introduce you to Osaka's foodie culture in the Dotonbori area. Dotonbori is known for neon lights, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. Here you will have the chance to sample a variety of food items such as takoyaki (commonly known as "octopus dumplings") and kushikatsu (skewered meats and vegetables). You can choose to explore other food venues with your guide. In the later evening return to your hotel in Kyoto.

Meals: Breakfast, light snacks in Osaka

In the 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 cuisine. Shojin-ryori usually features tofu as its main dish, a speciality of the Arashiyama area so you will truly be eating local today. The rest of day is free for you either to continue exploring Arashiyama or to return to central Kyoto. If you are interested, we can add a very special experience for your last night in Japan – dinner with a maiko and/or geiko (more commonly known as geishas). A cultural experience that is uniquely Japanese!

Meals: Breakfast, Shojin-ryori lunch

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. Kanazawa might be another consideration, to visit a soy sauce and/or miso factory. Alternatively, fly to Sapporo to sample some of Sapporo's beer. The world is your oyster!

Meals: Breakfast