Gourmet Tour (10 days)

This ten day private tour is created for gourmet enthusiasts.  Visiting the combination of Kanazawa, Osaka Kyoto, Izu and Tokyo, you will be able to experience a variety of Japanese food from the freshest sushi, Kobe beef, to traditional tofu cuisines.  Feel the depth of food culture in Japan.  
 
First, visit Kanazawa, the old castle town along the Sea of Japan.  You will be able to visit historical sites, market places with local food and fresh variety of harvests from the cold sea, and a soy sauce factory.   A few hours away from Kanazawa city lie the town of Wajima famous for its 600 year history lacquer ware.  The process of making this lacquer ware is time consuming, which usually takes two years for base making and 6 months for 70 to 100 layers of lacquer.  You will be able to see the making process and visit shops.  Then, visit one of the largest rice terraces in Japan, along the Japan Sea.  Stay at a luxury ryokan to enjoy fresh crab for your dinner. 
 
Osaka is called the city of “Kuidaore” which literary means “eat until you drop”.  As the word expresses itself, the people of Osaka love to eat, and there are many places where you can encounter good food.  You will find many restaurants that serve local everyday dishes to high-class gourmet food.  Try Okonomiyaki(Japanese style pancake with cabbage and meat) or make your own Takoyaki (octopus dumplings) under the master's instruction.  There is also a shopping street with more than 40 shops related to food, such as cooking utensils, plastic food samples, displays and more. 
 
Kyoto is where you will find traditional Japanese food.  Experience a full course tofu lunch and a tea ceremony at old traditional houses.  Visit one of the prestigious Sake breweries in Kyoto, make your own Japanese sweets, and check out the seasonal Kyoto-brand vegetables, pickles, sweets and more at a market place.

Izu is known as the “treasure of seafood” for gourmet.  Visit local market with different types of seafood from Kanazawa, and enjoy Mikan (mandarin orange) picking.  Iseebi (Japanese lobster) and abalone in addition to kaiseki dinner at an prestigious ryokan.  

Tokyo is the final destination for the tour.  Visit local gourmet shops and the largest fish market all over the world in the daytime, and enjoy Michelin star awarded restaurants in the evening.  Michi Travel Japan is pleased to arrange established restaurants in Tokyo.  

Sample Itinerary Overview

Day 1  Arrive in Kanazawa

Fly to Komatsu Airport.  Leave your luggage at your ryokan and walk to a market providing local vegetables, meat, seafood and other living ware.  In the market you will find small restaurants for lunch.  For dinner, enjoy exclusive Kaga-style cuisine at an exclusive Ryotei restaurant.  Stay at a luxury hotel in the heart of Kanazawa for 2 nights. 

Day2  Kanazawa

Walk to Kanazawajo castle and Kenrokuen, one of the best three Japanese gardens in Japan.  In the afternoon, a private car will take you to the Kanazawa harbor and enjoy the freshest sushi.  Then, visit a soy sauce factory.  You should not miss the soy sauce soft ice cream here.

Day3  Wajima Penninsula

In the early morning, a private car will take you to Wajima peninsula.  Explore the morning market with fresh fish and seaweeds sold by fishermen’s wives on the streets.  Then, visit a Wajima Nuri lacquer studios to see the manufacturing process and to try making chopsticks for yourself.  After that, visit scenic rice terraces along the Japan Sea, on the way to your ryokan in Yamashiro hot spring area.  Enjoy full-course Kaga-style cuisine with local ingredients.  Especially in winter, you should not miss fresh crab.   

Day4  Transfer to Osaka

Transfer to Osaka by train. Enjoy an Ekiben (train lunch box) for lunch.  Tour of Osaka city including cooking utensil street, neon lighted Minami area, and stone paved old street with small local restaurants and pubs.  Try the famous Kushikatsu (deep fried meat and vegetables) or the Osaka-style sushi.  For dinner, experience world-famous Kobe beef Teppanyaki.  Stay at a luxury hotel. 

Day 5  Kyoto

Arrive at Kyoto by train.  Tour of the city includes World Heritage temples or shrines.  Visit a Sake brewery to learn the procedure.  Enjoy a lunch of Yakitori (grilled chicken on bamboo skewers) with a cup of Sake.  Try making Japanese sweets at one of the most prestigious pastry shops in Kyoto.  Stay at a prestigious Ryokan in Kyoto for two nights and enjoy full-course dinner in Kyoto style. 

Day 6  Kyoto

Enjoy a tofu course lunch.  Visit a machiya (traditional tradesmen’s house) and experience a tea ceremony.  Walk through Kyoto’s traditional market place and shop at craftshops.

Day 7  Transfer to Izu

Move to Izu by train.  Stay at an established hot spring ryokan in Izu.  In addition to full-course kaiseki dinner with local ingredients, guests can enjoy abalones and “Iseebi”, Japanese lobster in autumn and winter.

Day 8  Izu peninsula

Explore Izu peninsula by private car.  In the morning visit one of the local markets with fresh seafood.  Enjoy your lunch with local sushi, braised “Kinmedai” red sea bream, grilled dried fish and more.  Visit some historical sites where Commodore Perry visited by black ships, marked the end of Japan’s isolation from overseas.  Then, enjoy “Mikan” mandarin orange picking in season.  Thanks to the warm temperature, visitors can enjoy Japanese citrus picking in all year. 

Day 9  Tokyo

Move to Tokyo by train.  Explore Tokyo’s local food in the market, gourmet shops, department stores, etc.  For dinner, Michelin star restaurants such as sushi, tempura, teppanyaki, etc. can be arranged. 

Day 10 Transfer to Narita Airport

Transfer to Narita Airport and have a safe flight back home. 
 

The tour price will differ according to many factors such as the rank of accommodation (e.g. 5-star hotel, 3-star ryokan), way of transportation (e.g. train, private car), number of days with a private guide, duration of your tour, or season.  Please contact us.  One of our tour consultants will come up with an ideal plan and cost for you.

Contact Us

For more information, or to start customizing your own itinerary, please contact us.

Michi Travel Japan

Tel: 81-3-5213-5040

E-mail: commentsmtj@michitravel.com

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