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Australia
Self-Guided Adventure
Tailor-made
Gastronomic Adventure
14 Nights: from US$4389 per person (twin share) Trip Code: GADC
This 14-night trip will give you a whistle-stop tour of all the best food and culture hotspots across Japan. From the buzz of Tokyo and Osaka, to rural mountain towns, to historical Kyoto and the serenity of Mount Koya – this trip is a cultural and culinary journey. Read more >
Travelling and food go hand-in-hand and Japan is the place for a cultural and gastronomic adventure. From top class restaurants to backstreet noodle bars, Japan's kitchens have something for every palate - and its cities are sure to slake the hungriest of appetites for impressive sights and new experiences.
With tens of thousands of restaurants and more Michelin stars than Paris, Tokyo is a foodie's dream and the perfect place to start your trip. One of our Insider experts will take you out to an izakaya or traditional Japanese gastropub for a night of eating and drinking side-by-side with the city's salarymen.
The adventure continues as you make your way to the mountains of Nagano, home to the castle town of Matsumoto where the imposing "Black Crow" castle sits amid the towering peaks. Here you'll learn how to make the regional speciality: soba buckwheat noodles at an historic soba shop.
Leaving Matsumoto you'll take a bus journey through the mountains to Hida Furukawa, the smaller but equally charming cousin of nearby Takayama, which has boomed in popularity in recent years. Hida Furukawa has a great local food scene and a local knowledgeable guide will take you to the best dining spots to try out the regional specialties: hoba-miso and Hida beef.
Kenrokuen gardens and old teahouse districts of Kanazawa are the precursor to complete cultural enlightenment in Kyoto: home to the secretive world of the geisha and literally thousands of shrines and temples. In Kanazawa, you can also enjoy the fruits of the sea at Omicho Market, famed for its freshest of fish.
In atmospheric Mount Koya you'll have the opportunity to join in morning meditation with the monks and try traditional shojin ryori at a Buddhist temple lodging before visiting the haunting Okunoin mausoleum. It's said that the founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kobo Daishi, has been sitting in meditation here for more than 1,150 years.
The serenity of Koya will be stark contrast to your final destination, Osaka - often referred to as the "Kitchen of Japan". Known for a range of food specialties and for its straight-talking, down-to-earth inhabitants, a guided street food tour will be a real treat!
Dietary requirements: We know that not everyone likes or can eat the same food. The good news is that we can adapt the itinerary to suit various dietary requirements, so let us know in advance. It's worth noting that some dietary restrictions might mean that certain accommodation won't be the best choice for you, but we have plenty of alternative suggestions up our sleeves.
Please note: This trip is designed to start in Tokyo (either at Tokyo Narita or Tokyo Haneda Airports) and finish in Osaka with a departure from Osaka Kansai Airport. For this you will need an "open-jaw" flight ticket into Tokyo and out of Osaka Kansai. Alternatively if you would prefer to fly home from Tokyo we can tailor the itinerary to take you back to the capital - please contact us for more details.
What's included
- 14 nights' accommodation (three nights Japanese style)
- Breakfast every day, two lunches and four evening meals
- Transport between all destinations in Japan
- Airport transfers
- Manaca transport card with 2,500 yen credit for city transport
- Insider foodie night tour in Tokyo
- Soba noodle making class
- Evening food experience in Hida Furukawa
- Shojin ryori vegetarian dinner at Mount Koya temple stay
- Night-time food safari of Osaka
- Eight-hour private guide service in Tokyo and Kyoto
- InsideJapan Tours' restaurant reservation service
- Pocket WiFi device
- Your personalised InsideJapan Tours Info-Pack
What's NOT included:
- International flights
- Local transport (subways, buses, taxis) unless otherwise specified
- Entrance fees unless otherwise specified
- Baggage handling and luggage forwarding
Trip Highlights
- Dine at an izakaya
- Go on an evening gastronomic exploration of Hida Furukawa
- Learn to make soba noodles in Matsumoto
- Take a street food tour of Osaka
- Discover Buddhist shojin ryori cuisine at Mount Koya
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: 303 952 0379
What, where, when and how...
Gastronomic Adventure - 15 Days
Gastronomic Adventure - 15 Days - Day by Day
Gastronomic Adventure - 15 Days - Accommodation
Gastronomic Adventure - 15 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-3
Discover the many faces of Japan's phenomenal capital city: from the top of the world's tallest tower to Senso-ji Temple.
In Tokyo you will be staying in the Asakusa district - the oldest part of town, just a stone's throw from Senso-ji Temple. The surrounding streets are full of traditional restaurants, bars, stalls selling souvenirs and antiques shops selling vintage kimono.
This evening, one of our Tokyo-based "Insiders" will take you and some fellow InsideJapan Tours travelers out to a typical, Japanese-style izakaya restaurant for some great food, a few drinks and an introduction to Japanese cuisine and dining etiquette. As these restaurants can be quite daunting to enter without a local, this is an eye-opening experience to have on your first night.
The following morning you will be met at your hotel by a private local guide who will show you the city using Tokyo's fantastic public transport network. The itinerary is completely flexible so if you have any specific ideas for the day please let us know and we will pass this on to the guide in advance. Some highlights might include scrambling across Shibuya's famous scramble crossing, taking a trip up the Skytree for fabulous views of the city, or wandering through Akihabara “electric town”.
Day three in Tokyo is free for you to explore at your own pace, armed with an Info-Pack full of great sightseeing suggestions. We will also include some recommendations for possible day trips, such as a visit to the great stone Buddha at sleepy Kamakura or a hike around Mount Takao.Overnight: Richmond Asakusa
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Day 4
Try your hand at making soba noodles in the shadow of Matsumoto's samurai castle.
Leaving the capital behind, you will take the express train to the mountain town of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture. Here the most impressive sight is the "Black Crow" castle, one of the very few original samurai castles still standing in Japan.
The town's speciality is soba noodles, made with fresh spring water and buckwheat. Near the castle is the 130-year-old Takagi noodle shop, where you will have a short lesson in how to make soba for yourself. After enjoying your handmade noodles for lunch, you may like to try one of the towns other specialities – basashi (raw horse) – for dinner!Overnight: Marunouchi Hotel
-
Day 5-6
Wander through the historic streets of an alpine town, sip some local sake, and explore the local food scene of Hida Furukawa.
After breakfast in Matsumoto, you will make your way to the bus station in preparation for your journey through the Japanese Alps to the craft town of Takayama. For hundreds of years this town was completely cut off by snow during the winter months, and consequently has developed many of its own food specialties. You'll be back for a visit of Takayama tomorrow; but before that, you'll hop on a local train for the 15-minute journey to Hida Furukawa.
Although it sees far less foot traffic than its more famous cousin, Hida Furukawa is a charming little town with some fantastic culinary opportunities, and we love being able to promote tourism to a small community. On the first night a local guide will take you for an arrival exploration of the town.
Your second day can be spent over in Takayama. We recommend wandering the old wooden buildings of the Sannomachi district, where you'll have the chance to sample the other speciality of Takayama – sake. Don't miss the morning markets with their farmers selling local produce and various crafts, such as the local sarubobo good luck charms. Later, be sure to head out to the Hida Folk Village to admire the steeply-thatched gassho-zukuri buildings or visit the Takayama Float Museum to find out about the town's magnificent spring and autumn festivals.
In the evening of the second day, you can enjoy culinary delights of the local izakaya with a local guide.Overnight: Satoyama Stay Nino-machi
-
Day 7-8
En-route to Kanazawa visit the UNESCO village of Shirakawago, before arriving at the garden city known for its fresh seafood.
Today you'll continue by bus to the town of Kanazawa at the edge of the Japanese Alps, with a short stop in Shirakawago (a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its quaint thatched farmhouses) along the way.
Kanazawa was once the industrial powerhouse of Japan's western coast, but today it is a small city known primarily for its old Nagamachi samurai quarter and its traditional teahouse districts. Both historical areas are replete with traditional buildings evocative of a bygone era, whilst Kenrokuen garden is recognised as one of the most beautiful landscape gardens in all of Japan.
In terms of culinary offerings Kanazawa is renowned for its seafood and vegetables, which you can see on display in Omicho Market. It also has a long history of cooking that uses ‘koji', a micro-organism that's used in seasonings like miso, mirin, and soy sauce, and even sake.Overnight: Square Hotel Kanazawa
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Day 9-11
Sample the delicacies of Nishiki food market and wander through the gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine as you discover the “City of Ten Thousand Temples”.
The express train will take you back through the mountains today to Kyoto. This city was the Imperial capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years and remains the beating cultural heart of the country to this day. On arrival you will have the afternoon free to explore the city – we suggest a visit Ginkaku-ji Temple, a stroll through Nishiki food market or a wander through the hundreds of vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari shrine.
For dinner tonight we will arrange a reservation at Tempura Endo Yasaka, one of Kyoto's most celebrated restaurants. The restaurant is famous for its tempura dishes: lightly battered vegetables and seafood served piping hot with dipping sauce, salt or grated radish. (Please note that while we make the Endo Yasaka reservation, you will need to pay on the day for this meal.)
The next morning you will be met by a private local guide who will give you a full day tour of the city. Starting at your hotel, the itinerary will be completely flexible depending on your preferences. The guide will have lots of fantastic suggestions, including a mixture of well-known highlights and lesser-known recommendations. You might like to visit Sanjo-kai market, a half-mile stretch of almost 200 stalls selling local goods and produce where you can learn about Kyoto cuisine and sample some of the wares.
On your third day in Kyoto you might like to head out of the city on a day trip. YYou could travel west to Hiroshima, famous for its savoury okonomiyaki pancakes; or head south to Nara via Uji, one of the most famous places for green tea in the region.Overnight: Intergate Kyoto Shijo Shinmachi
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Day 12
For a taste of vegetarian Buddhist fare, stay at a shukubo temple lodging in atmospheric Mount Koya, where the monk Kobo Daishi has been sitting in meditation for over a millennium.
Today you will make a quick journey on the bullet train to Osaka, before taking a train to the Kii Peninsula in nearby Wakayama Prefecture and finally a funicular railway to Mount Koya.
Sacred Mount Koya is the spiritual home of Shingon Buddhism, which was introduced to Japan by Kobo Daishi in 805. This secluded temple town is home to more than 50 temples and shukubo temple lodgings. Staying at a Koya shukubo temple lodging is a unique Japanese experience, and for dinner you'll have the chance to try traditional temple fare, a type of vegetarian cuisine known as shojin ryori.
Later you will have plenty of time to walk around the eerily beautiful Okunoin mausoleum, with its thousands of tombstones amongst giant Japanese cedar trees. For best effect, visit at dusk or early in the morning.Overnight: Fudoin Shukubo
-
Day 13-15
Come back to earth with an evening street food tour of Osaka, aka "Japan's kitchen".
There could be no greater contrast to the serenity of Mount Koya than Osaka. After participating in your temple's morning prayers, you will make your way to Japan's third-largest city – known for its outgoing inhabitants and its great food!
Here, row upon row of restaurants are just on your doorstep, and your evening will be spent taking a street food tour with our resident Osaka guide. This will include the food paradise of Dotonbori with its iconic neon "Glico running man" and giant moving crab! Dinner is on us the second night, and you'll be able to fill up on kushikatsu (skewered vegetables and meat dishes), takoyaki (the famous octopus balls) and a variety of delights at a traditional izakaya. Tonight is all about the Osaka philosophy of kuiadore – eat, drink and enjoy life!
Your second day in Osaka is free to explore at your own leisure. You could make your way to the city's towering replica samurai castle and spend some time exploring its sprawling grounds. The castle building hosts a brilliant museum with a great introduction to Japan's feudal history, with a large amount of the exhibits in English. The top tower of the keep also affords you great views across the gardens and city. You'll find many more sightseeing ideas in your InsideJapan Tours' Info-Pack.
Sadly your time in Japan must come to an end. We will provide tickets for the 30 minute train journey to Osaka Kansai Airport.Overnight: Cross Hotel Osaka
-
Day 1-3
Discover the many faces of Japan's phenomenal capital city: from the top of the world's tallest tower to Senso-ji Temple.
In Tokyo you will be staying in the Asakusa district - the oldest part of town, just a stone's throw from Senso-ji Temple. The surrounding streets are full of traditional restaurants, bars, stalls selling souvenirs and antiques shops selling vintage kimono.
This evening, one of our Tokyo-based "Insiders" will take you and some fellow InsideJapan Tours travelers out to a typical, Japanese-style izakaya restaurant for some great food, a few drinks and an introduction to Japanese cuisine and dining etiquette. As these restaurants can be quite daunting to enter without a local, this is an eye-opening experience to have on your first night.
The following morning you will be met at your hotel by a private local guide who will show you the city using Tokyo's fantastic public transport network. The itinerary is completely flexible so if you have any specific ideas for the day please let us know and we will pass this on to the guide in advance. Some highlights might include scrambling across Shibuya's famous scramble crossing, taking a trip up the Skytree for fabulous views of the city, or wandering through Akihabara “electric town”.
Day three in Tokyo is free for you to explore at your own pace, armed with an Info-Pack full of great sightseeing suggestions. We will also include some recommendations for possible day trips, such as a visit to the great stone Buddha at sleepy Kamakura or a hike around Mount Takao.Overnight: Richmond Asakusa
-
Day 4
Try your hand at making soba noodles in the shadow of Matsumoto's samurai castle.
Leaving the capital behind, you will take the express train to the mountain town of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture. Here the most impressive sight is the "Black Crow" castle, one of the very few original samurai castles still standing in Japan.
The town's speciality is soba noodles, made with fresh spring water and buckwheat. Near the castle is the 130-year-old Takagi noodle shop, where you will have a short lesson in how to make soba for yourself. After enjoying your handmade noodles for lunch, you may like to try one of the towns other specialities – basashi (raw horse) – for dinner!Overnight: Marunouchi Hotel
-
Day 5-6
Wander through the historic streets of an alpine town, sip some local sake, and explore the local food scene of Hida Furukawa.
After breakfast in Matsumoto, you will make your way to the bus station in preparation for your journey through the Japanese Alps to the craft town of Takayama. For hundreds of years this town was completely cut off by snow during the winter months, and consequently has developed many of its own food specialties. You'll be back for a visit of Takayama tomorrow; but before that, you'll hop on a local train for the 15-minute journey to Hida Furukawa.
Although it sees far less foot traffic than its more famous cousin, Hida Furukawa is a charming little town with some fantastic culinary opportunities, and we love being able to promote tourism to a small community. On the first night a local guide will take you for an arrival exploration of the town.
Your second day can be spent over in Takayama. We recommend wandering the old wooden buildings of the Sannomachi district, where you'll have the chance to sample the other speciality of Takayama – sake. Don't miss the morning markets with their farmers selling local produce and various crafts, such as the local sarubobo good luck charms. Later, be sure to head out to the Hida Folk Village to admire the steeply-thatched gassho-zukuri buildings or visit the Takayama Float Museum to find out about the town's magnificent spring and autumn festivals.
In the evening of the second day, you can enjoy culinary delights of the local izakaya with a local guide.Overnight: Satoyama Stay Nino-machi
-
Day 7-8
En-route to Kanazawa visit the UNESCO village of Shirakawago, before arriving at the garden city known for its fresh seafood.
Today you'll continue by bus to the town of Kanazawa at the edge of the Japanese Alps, with a short stop in Shirakawago (a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its quaint thatched farmhouses) along the way.
Kanazawa was once the industrial powerhouse of Japan's western coast, but today it is a small city known primarily for its old Nagamachi samurai quarter and its traditional teahouse districts. Both historical areas are replete with traditional buildings evocative of a bygone era, whilst Kenrokuen garden is recognised as one of the most beautiful landscape gardens in all of Japan.
In terms of culinary offerings Kanazawa is renowned for its seafood and vegetables, which you can see on display in Omicho Market. It also has a long history of cooking that uses ‘koji', a micro-organism that's used in seasonings like miso, mirin, and soy sauce, and even sake.Overnight: Square Hotel Kanazawa
-
Day 9-11
Sample the delicacies of Nishiki food market and wander through the gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine as you discover the “City of Ten Thousand Temples”.
The express train will take you back through the mountains today to Kyoto. This city was the Imperial capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years and remains the beating cultural heart of the country to this day. On arrival you will have the afternoon free to explore the city – we suggest a visit Ginkaku-ji Temple, a stroll through Nishiki food market or a wander through the hundreds of vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari shrine.
For dinner tonight we will arrange a reservation at Tempura Endo Yasaka, one of Kyoto's most celebrated restaurants. The restaurant is famous for its tempura dishes: lightly battered vegetables and seafood served piping hot with dipping sauce, salt or grated radish. (Please note that while we make the Endo Yasaka reservation, you will need to pay on the day for this meal.)
The next morning you will be met by a private local guide who will give you a full day tour of the city. Starting at your hotel, the itinerary will be completely flexible depending on your preferences. The guide will have lots of fantastic suggestions, including a mixture of well-known highlights and lesser-known recommendations. You might like to visit Sanjo-kai market, a half-mile stretch of almost 200 stalls selling local goods and produce where you can learn about Kyoto cuisine and sample some of the wares.
On your third day in Kyoto you might like to head out of the city on a day trip. YYou could travel west to Hiroshima, famous for its savoury okonomiyaki pancakes; or head south to Nara via Uji, one of the most famous places for green tea in the region.Overnight: Intergate Kyoto Shijo Shinmachi
-
Day 12
For a taste of vegetarian Buddhist fare, stay at a shukubo temple lodging in atmospheric Mount Koya, where the monk Kobo Daishi has been sitting in meditation for over a millennium.
Today you will make a quick journey on the bullet train to Osaka, before taking a train to the Kii Peninsula in nearby Wakayama Prefecture and finally a funicular railway to Mount Koya.
Sacred Mount Koya is the spiritual home of Shingon Buddhism, which was introduced to Japan by Kobo Daishi in 805. This secluded temple town is home to more than 50 temples and shukubo temple lodgings. Staying at a Koya shukubo temple lodging is a unique Japanese experience, and for dinner you'll have the chance to try traditional temple fare, a type of vegetarian cuisine known as shojin ryori.
Later you will have plenty of time to walk around the eerily beautiful Okunoin mausoleum, with its thousands of tombstones amongst giant Japanese cedar trees. For best effect, visit at dusk or early in the morning.Overnight: Fudoin Shukubo
-
Day 13-15
Come back to earth with an evening street food tour of Osaka, aka "Japan's kitchen".
There could be no greater contrast to the serenity of Mount Koya than Osaka. After participating in your temple's morning prayers, you will make your way to Japan's third-largest city – known for its outgoing inhabitants and its great food!
Here, row upon row of restaurants are just on your doorstep, and your evening will be spent taking a street food tour with our resident Osaka guide. This will include the food paradise of Dotonbori with its iconic neon "Glico running man" and giant moving crab! Dinner is on us the second night, and you'll be able to fill up on kushikatsu (skewered vegetables and meat dishes), takoyaki (the famous octopus balls) and a variety of delights at a traditional izakaya. Tonight is all about the Osaka philosophy of kuiadore – eat, drink and enjoy life!
Your second day in Osaka is free to explore at your own leisure. You could make your way to the city's towering replica samurai castle and spend some time exploring its sprawling grounds. The castle building hosts a brilliant museum with a great introduction to Japan's feudal history, with a large amount of the exhibits in English. The top tower of the keep also affords you great views across the gardens and city. You'll find many more sightseeing ideas in your InsideJapan Tours' Info-Pack.
Sadly your time in Japan must come to an end. We will provide tickets for the 30 minute train journey to Osaka Kansai Airport.Overnight: Cross Hotel Osaka
Trip Reviews
Self-Guided Adventure Gastronomic Adventure
Read more >Very good and knowledgeable advise from Katrina. Together, we prepared a unique itinerary which enhanced the positive experience for my wifes special event.
Tour Gallery
Trip Reviews
Self-Guided Adventure Gastronomic Adventure
Read more >Very good and knowledgeable advise from Katrina. Together, we prepared a unique itinerary which enhanced the positive experience for my wifes special event.
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