10-Day Food Tour Japan

38 Reviews

Price On Request

You will be met at the arrival gate by an AJT representative holding an "All Japan Tours" sign.

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

After breakfast, we tour Asakusa, where we visit Asakusa Sensoji Temple. Enter by way of the Kaminarimon “Thunder Gate,” in which hangs an enormous red paper lantern. Don’t forget to look up to see the dragon sculpture under the lantern! Walk through the Nakamise District – a street lined with shops selling traditional goods of all kinds, before approaching Sensoji Temple. Enjoy lunch in Asakusa, then stroll through the Kappabashi Kitchen Street, where you can find restaurant operating products such as tableware, cutlery, and especially plastic food samples, which are seen on display in restaurant windows throughout the country. Visit Shinjuku Gyoen, a large public park that contains numerous gardens, including a traditional Japanese landscape garden, a French Garden, an old-fashioned English landscape Garden, and indoor botanical garden. We proceed from there to Shinjuku for a tour of Kabukicho and Golden Gai. A commercial district bounded by skyscrapers; Shinjuku is especially popular for its energetic nightlife. The neon heart of Shinjuku is at Kabukicho: a red-light district famous for its glittery collection of restaurants and nightclubs. Within Kabukicho is Golden Gai, which is a group of narrow alleys housing over 200 small shanty-type bars.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

In the morning, enjoy breakfast and a tour of Tsukiji Market, a market area which is all that remains of the old Tsukiji Wholesale Fish Market. It is one of Tokyo’s busiest street markets; the perfect place to browse fresh seafood, produce, street food, and kitchenware. Next, visit the Tokyo Imperial Palace - the main residence of the Imperial Family. View the beautiful palace outer grounds, which include Kokyo Gaien National Garden and Nijubashi Bridge. From there, we go to enjoy a local Japanese cooking class where you can learn how to prepare a simple Japanese dish in a fun and relaxed environment. After, we visit the Ginza District, one of the most expensive areas of Tokyo. Here we will tour Depachika, or “department store basement,” where you can find a wide range of Japanese and international cuisines, including sushi, sashimi, bento boxes, pastries, desserts, and more. We proceed from there to Shibuya, known for the Shibuya “Scramble Crossing” which, at the right signal, floods the intersection with oncoming businesspeople, shoppers, and travelers, converging from all directions in a great rush of people that somehow feels both hectic and orderly. You are free for leisure in the afternoon.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Metropolitan Ikebukuro or similar class

After breakfast, we travel to Yokohama to visit the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum. This one-of-a-kind museum details the history and spread of ramen noodles in Japan. Under the museum is a recreation of an old-town food court in 50s-era Tokyo, with nine restaurants selling various ramen dishes. Then, try out various ramen at a Ramen Tasting. We head to Hakone where we take a ride in an airborne gondola on the Hakone Ropeway, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, as well as excellent views of Mount Fuji on a clear day. The gondola lands in Owakudani, where you will have the chance to see roiling hot springs and sulfurous fumes along the trails of the rugged volcanic landscape. Then, visit the onsen town, Atami, for a traditional multi-course Kaiseki dinner. Enjoy onsen at your hotel and relax for the night.

Breakfast / Dinner

Kamenoi Hotel Atami or similar class

Today, we head to Izunokuni, known for its delicious strawberries. Here , we visit the BonBonBERRY Izu no Kuni Factory for a delightful sweet buffet, full of strawberry- themed desserts. Indulge in a variety of treats made with strawberries, such as cakes, tarts, and parfaits. Then, we travel to the coastal city of Numazo where we visit Numazu Port, famous for its fresh seafood dishes. After lunch on your own, we proceed to Makinohara to visit Shizuoka Green Tea Museum of Ochanosato. Here, you will learn about the history and significance of Japanese tea culture while participating in a ceremonial preparation and tasting of green tea. We will then hop aboard a high speed bullet train and head to Nagoya. We will tour Osu Shopping District, home to a diverse selection of shops, eateries and food stalls. Enjoy dinner on your own before checking into your hotel for a restful night.

Breakfast

Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel or similar class

After breakfast, we visit Miho Museum, which exhibits stunning architecture that accentuates the surrounding natural scenery while exhibiting a variety of items from ancient civilizations. It was designed by the renowned architect, I. M. Pei, and is named after Koyama Mihoko, one of the richest women in Japan and the founder of the museum. Moreover, the museum has been listed as one of the "1000 Places to See Before You Die". We then head to Kyoto for Tofu lunch before visiting Kiyomizu Temple, also known as the Temple of Pure Water. The temple is a celebrated landmark famed for its iconic three- story pagoda, large wooden stage, and trio of sacred springs. Leading up to the temple are Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka; these streets are filled with preserved buildings that retain the character of the Edo period. Many of the buildings sell souvenirs and Kyoto-specific wares. We stop at Gion Geisha District, a heritage district where stone-paved streets are lined with exclusive ochaya (teahouses). While admiring the old-fashioned buildings, the fortunate visitor may spot Geisha or Maiko (Geisha apprentices) walking between these establishments. Here, we conclude our day with a delicious Shabu Shabu dinner.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Today, we visit Nishiki Market. This narrow shopping street, commonly referred to as 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' is filled with more than 100 restaurants and shops that sell all kinds of food-related items – from top-of-the-line knives and cookware to tempting seafood and produce. After, savor lunch in the presence of elegant Maiko (Geisha apprentice). Next, we view one of Kyoto’s most coveted sights – the Golden Pavilion. The temple’s shimmering golden walls can be seen reflected in the Mirror Pond below, but don’t miss the dainty phoenix ornament sitting on the roof! We then head to Arashiyama to stroll through a local Bamboo Grove, where towering stalks of green bamboo packed in a dense grove create an otherworldly feeling of awe and mystery as you walk the pathway through the center. Continue from there to Tenryuji Temple, a fascinating Zen Buddhist Temple with a gorgeous traditional Japanese landscape garden that has survived in its original state for centuries. We stop at Kyoto Station where you will have dinner on your own. The station complex houses an extensive shopping mall called "Porta" with a wide range of shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and souvenir stores. The station also has a department store called "Isetan" known for its high-end fashion and food offerings.

Breakfast / Maiko Lunch

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Today, we travel to Fushimi Inari Shrine – the chief of thousands of shrines throughout the country dedicated to Inari, the Shinto deity of economic prosperity, rice, and foxes. What sets this shrine apart is the sight of hundreds of bright vermillion “torii” gates that form long pathways through the forest covering Mount Inari. Next, we head to Nara to visit Todaiji Temple, the most iconic building in the ancient city, which houses the Great Buddha of Nara, an enormous, seated image of the Buddha Vairocana, known as a “Cosmic Buddha”. Outside the temple, spend some time with the friendly wild deer of Nara Deer Park. These adorable creatures are largely accustomed to interacting with people, and some have even learned to bow when asking for the special deer crackers, which can be bought around the park. We head to Katsuragi to visit Sumo-kan Kehaya-za for a Sumo Experience. Here, you can participate in activities that give insights into the world of sumo wrestling, such as trying on sumo wrestler attire, learning basic sumo techniques, and even engaging in friendly matches. After, we visit Osaka’s Umeda district, a lively commercial and entertainment area known for its shopping complexes, restaurants, and nightlife. Enjoy dinner on your own before we head to your hotel.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class

After breakfast, we visit the Nada Sake District, which is Japan’s biggest sake-producing area. Browse the many sake breweries of the area, some of which display their sake production process and offer sake-tasting to visitors. Then, indulge in a delicious Kobe beef lunch. Next, we travel to Osaka to visit Osaka Castle, which was originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Warring States Period. This magnificent castle retains its traditional exterior, though inside is a modern museum about Hideyoshi and the castle’s history. Lastly, enjoy a food tour of Shinsekai and Dotonbori. Shinsekai, or “New World” District of Osaka, which was developed during the early 1900s to be a place of economic and industrial development. It was modeled after a strange fusion of New York’s Coney Island and Paris, with Tsutenkaku Tower at its heart. The district was neglected during the two World Wars, so it retains an atmosphere of nostalgic old-town charm. Dotonbori is referred to as the heart of the city’s street food culture. Osaka is known as the city of “Kuidaore” or “to eat until you drop”, and you will find Dotonbori to be filled with numerous eateries selling the local street foods including Takoyaki and Kushikatsu. The cost of 3 street foods is included.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Checkout time is 11 AM. Transfer to the airport for departure.

Breakfast