Japan cuisine tour

country:	Japan
trip type:	A small group adventure
departures:	2008: 13 Sep, 27 Sep, 11 Oct, 25 Oct 2009: 14 Mar, 28 Mar, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 20 Jun
price:	From £1445 (14 days) excluding flights, plus local payment of 22,000 JPY (approx £92 ). All departure dates are guaranteed

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Japan holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

14 days Tokyo to Kyoto

Tokyo, market visits, Takayama, Koya-san, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, cooking classes

A culinary journey into Asia's most enigmatic land. With so many different methods of Japanese cooking to sample, from okonomiyaki to Sapporo crab, there is no end to the variety and beauty of the art that is Japanese cuisine. Be tempted by tempura and savour your sushi as we explore the bustling markets and take a trip through Japan's heart, soul and taste buds!

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1-2:	Tokyo. The endless energy of Tokyo is a delight for the senses. At its gastronomic centre is Tsukiji fish market, supplying seafood for around 12 million customers each day.
Day 3-4:	Takayama. Nestled in the mountains, beautiful Takayama offers Japanese temples, traditional crafts, hospitable inns, specialised cuisine and sake breweries. Here we visit the 600-year-old morning market and discover the secrets of local specialities such as san sai, miso, Hida beef and soba noodles.
Day 5-6:	Koya-san. The mist-shrouded atmosphere is surreal at the temples of Koya-san, one of Japan's holiest mountains. Stay in a beautiful monastery with the resident monks, sampling their deliciously intricate vegetarian cuisine and taking part in zazen meditation.
Day 7-8:	Osaka. On the great rice plains of Kansai, Japanese history was born. Reminders of the past remain in the heart of modern, vibrant Osaka where the people are renowned for enjoying life and their food. The brave can try the local takoyaki (octopus balls), said to be the best in Japan, and there is an opportunity to visit a 'fugu' restaurant to sample the poisonous blowfish dish - at your own risk of course!
Day 9-10:	Hiroshima. The delights of self-cooked okonomiyaki cuisine end a sobering yet inspiring day in Hiroshima. Nearby on Miyajima Island, the vermilion 'floating' torii of Itsukushima-jinja is one of Japan's most famous sites.
Day 11-14:	Kyoto. We travel to Kyoto, via Himeji-jo Castle. This sight to behold was built in 1580 and offers a great insight into ancient life in Japan. Encapsulating over a thousand years of history itself, Kyoto is a modern city with traditional enclaves of temples and palaces, gardens and geishas, incredible art and Japan's most refined cuisine.

travellers' tales

The Cherry Blossom Dance of the Meikos in Kyoto. And the Puppet Theater in Osaka. Actually the whole trip was a highlight. (more)

small group adventure holiday

This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more)

Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

This trip is a fantastic introduction to a wonderful country that contrasts modern development with traditional beliefs. A key feature of this trip is immersion into the Japanese culture, and how better to accomplish this than by journeying to the heart of Japanese culinary culture?Throughout the trip most of the accommodation is in minshuku or ryokan. These are traditional local style inns, often a part of a family's house. They are small and quaint, built in the Japanese style with tatami (straw mat) floors. Intrepid leaders will educate travellers as to how best respect the local customs and preserve the delicate tatami floors while staying in these places (refer to trip dossier for information on packing - wheeled suitcases are not suitable). In true Japanese style travellers sleep on futons on the floor.

Groups learn about the spiritual side of Japanese life through temple visits. With interactive cooking classes, market visits and a sake brewery visit there will be plenty of opportunities to interact with the locals. We stay for two nights in a Buddhist monastery, and are fortunate enough to be able to cook (and clean up) with the local monks. There are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy the natural environment.

The trip includes a stay in Hiroshima where travellers can meet with survivors and learn about the impacts of the tragic event that occurred here.

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