{"id":31356,"date":"2021-05-19T10:24:41","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T09:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=31356"},"modified":"2021-05-19T10:24:41","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T09:24:41","slug":"8-japanese-food-and-drink-experiences-youll-never-forget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/19\/8-japanese-food-and-drink-experiences-youll-never-forget\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Japanese food and drink experiences you\u2019ll never forget"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>By now, everyone knows that Japanese food is about more than just raw fish. In fact, it\u2019s about so much more that it can be difficult to know where to begin.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s Michelin-starred, multi-course, haute cuisine \u2014 but there\u2019s also out-of-this-world ramen to be had for a song on a street corner. There\u2019s melt-in-the-mouth <em>wagyu<\/em> beef, but there\u2019s also delicate, Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. There\u2019s time-honoured tea ceremony honed over centuries, but there\u2019s also kawaii latte art served in maid caf\u00e9s. And it\u2019s not just about the food itself \u2014 it\u2019s about the people who make it, the intricate customs and etiquette, and the deep-rooted traditions behind every dish.<\/p>\n<p>You could live in Japan your whole life and still be surprised and delighted by the sheer variety of food on offer \u2014 but if you\u2019ve only got a couple of weeks, this is where we\u2019d begin.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Sake tasting with a sommelier<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31368\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"Japanese sake\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-1200x801.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-1440x961.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/zhijian-dai-AH3jxxxHdWY-unsplash-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Join Cordon Bleu advisor and long-time Tokyo resident Sebastien Lemoine for a journey into the 1,300-year-old history of <em>nihonshu <\/em>\u2014 better known to Westerners as \u201csake\u201d. As nuanced in flavour as wine, yet brewed much like a beer, sake isn\u2019t just Japan\u2019s quintessential tipple \u2014 it\u2019s a link to centuries of spirituality and tradition. Sebastien has been steeping himself in sake culture for over 10 years, so there\u2019s nobody better placed to introduce you to everything <em>nihonshu <\/em>\u2014 from polishing and fermenting the rice, to appreciating its subtlety and depth of flavour, to pairing different sakes with different foods. <em>Kanpai!<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Oysters &amp; Chablis on Miyajima Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31371\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019.jpg\" alt=\"Oysters and Chablis on Miyajima\" width=\"2160\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019.jpg 2160w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-1024x474.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-564x261.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-1536x711.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-2048x948.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-1200x556.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-900x417.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-720x333.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-1440x667.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-390x181.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-780x361.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd019-510x236.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Japanese cuisine isn\u2019t all seafood, but it\u2019s an important part of it \u2014 and on Miyajima Island, that means oysters. For the region\u2019s best, pull up a pew at Kakiwai Restaurant, with its restored wooden terrace looking out over the sea, and a five-storied pagoda. A glass of cold Chablis Premier Cru in hand, sample the freshest locally farmed oysters as you watch the sun go down over Hiroshima, just across the bay. It doesn\u2019t get much better than this.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Cooking class in Kanazawa<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31374\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1.jpg\" alt=\"Cooking class in Kanazawa\" width=\"2160\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1.jpg 2160w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-1024x474.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-564x261.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-1536x711.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-2048x948.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-1200x556.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-900x417.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-720x333.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-1440x667.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-390x181.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-780x361.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan1-510x236.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Kanazawa just might be our favourite city in Japan, and this just might be our favourite experience in Kanazawa. Under the tutelage of the inimitable and ever-entertaining Moe and Chikako, learn the secrets of Japanese ingredients, pick up tips and tricks passed down through the generations, get &#8216;hands on&#8217; creating your own delicious dishes, and wash down the delicious food with home-made plum wine and sake. An unforgettable day with some unforgettable people \u2014 this is one you don\u2019t want to miss out on.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Dinner at a Buddhist temple<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31380\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2.jpg\" alt=\"Shojin ryori, vegan Buddhist cuisine\" width=\"2160\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2.jpg 2160w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-1024x474.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-564x261.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-1536x711.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-2048x948.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-1200x556.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-900x417.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-720x333.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-1440x667.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-390x181.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-780x361.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/vegan2-510x236.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Literally translated as \u201cdevotion cuisine\u201d, <em>shojin ryori <\/em>is the traditional vegetarian food eaten by Buddhist monks in Japan \u2014 but make no mistake, it\u2019s far from ascetic. In fact, <em>shojin ryori <\/em>is elaborate, deeply flavourful, and visually beautiful, typically served in numerous little bowls in an old-fashioned <em>tatami-<\/em>mat room. Spend the night at a Buddhist temple for the full experience, and be sure to get up at the crack of dawn to join morning prayers. It\u2019s worth it, trust us!<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Street food tour of Osaka<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31383\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006.jpg\" alt=\"Street food in Osaka\" width=\"2160\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006.jpg 2160w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-1024x474.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-564x261.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-1536x711.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-2048x948.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-1200x556.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-900x417.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-720x333.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-1440x667.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-390x181.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-780x361.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd006-510x236.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Bold, brash Osaka is famous for its laid-back character and delicious cuisine, so where better to embark on a street-food tour? With one of our favourite tour leaders to guide you through the city\u2019s maze of alleys and backstreets, chow down on everything from <em>kushikatsu<\/em> meat skewers to <em>takoyaki <\/em>octopus balls, all while learning the ropes of Japanese eating etiquette and sharing a few beers with the locals.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Ramen sampling in Tokyo<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31386\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21.jpg\" alt=\"Ramen sampling in Tokyo\" width=\"2160\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21.jpg 2160w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-1024x474.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-564x261.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-1536x711.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-2048x948.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-1200x556.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-900x417.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-720x333.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-1440x667.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-390x181.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-780x361.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd21-510x236.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As you\u2019ll know if you\u2019ve ever seen the classic Japanese movie <em>Tampopo<\/em>, there\u2019s more to ramen than just noodles and broth. <em>Much <\/em>more. Here to introduce you to some of the capital\u2019s finest is Frank: honorary Tokyoite, committed ramen aficionado, and your guide for the day. He\u2019ll let you in on some of the city\u2019s best-kept secrets as you sip and slurp your way through numerous mini-bowls, stopping in ramen joints you won\u2019t find on TripAdvisor. Which will be your favourite?<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Tea farm experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31404\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200.jpg\" alt=\"A Japanese tea farm\" width=\"2000\" height=\"784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-300x118.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-768x301.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-564x221.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-1200x470.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-900x353.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-720x282.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-1440x564.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-390x153.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-780x306.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1200-510x200.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Is there anything more quintessentially Japanese than green tea? At Obubu Farm, immerse yourself in the Japanese favourite hot beverage (not literally) as you follow its journey from field to cup. Wander the beautiful tea fields, visit a tea processing factory, and learn about the many different types and grades \u2014 from everyday roasted <em>hojicha <\/em>to ceremonial grade <em>matcha<\/em>. Of course, you\u2019ll get to taste them too!<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Japanese Whisky Distilleries<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31389\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017.jpg\" alt=\"Japanese whisky barrel\" width=\"2160\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017.jpg 2160w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-1024x474.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-564x261.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-1536x711.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-2048x948.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-1200x556.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-900x417.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-720x333.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-1440x667.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-390x181.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-780x361.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/fd017-510x236.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Move over Scotland \u2014 there\u2019s a new master of malt on the scene, and it\u2019s serious. Indeed, Japanese whisky is now world-renowned, and connoisseurs credit innovative Japanese brewers with ushering in a new era of whisky making. Learn everything you ever needed to know about peat, barley, casks and stills on a distillery tour, and find out for yourself how Suntory and Nikka measure up to Diageo and Pernod Ricard.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Eat your way around Japan on our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/self-guided-japan-holidays\/i-gads\/gastronomic-adventure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gastronomic Adventure<\/a>\u00a0self-guided trip.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Alternatively, take a Japan\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japan-small-group-tours\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Small Group Tours<\/a>\u00a0with a tour leader for top tips on\u00a0<em>the\u00a0<\/em>best restaurants and a little help navigating the menu.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F31356\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! By now, everyone knows that Japanese food is about more than just raw fish. In fact, it\u2019s about so much more that it can be difficult to know where to begin. There\u2019s Michelin-starred, multi-course, haute cuisine \u2014 but there\u2019s also out-of-this-world ramen to be had for a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2366],"tags":[1730],"class_list":["post-31356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-japanese-food-and-drink","tag-japanese-food"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31356"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31410,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31356\/revisions\/31410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31356"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31356"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}