Inside Japan
Eleven days from Osaka's backstreet izakayas to a private wasabi farm with the chefs, monks, and artisans who open doors most travelers never see.
“The tea house was a very unique experience. The food presentation was very appealing and the food delicious. Having a chance to hear and watch the traditional Geisha performers was an experience that I imagine we'll not likely experience again.” - Anne S.
Imagine yourself…
Ducking through Osaka backstreets for street food, sharing a peaceful Buddhist meal in Kyoto, hiking to a wasabi farm, and rolling sushi with the freshest catch from the fish market.
From the tea fields and the fish market, all the way to the table.
Most food tours start at the plate. We start where the food does and follow it the whole way. Japan isn't one kind of meal, so we don't build one kind of trip. Here's what that range looks like:
The fields
A green tea farm and a wasabi farm.
The makers
A famous knife shop, a washi paper studio, a sake brewery.
The hands
Rolling sushi with fish you chose at the market yourself.
The history
Zazen with a head monk, and a tea ceremony done properly.
The table
Kaiseki at a ryokan, and dinner in a 200-year-old home.
Friends You Haven't Met Yet
Our friendships in Japan open the door to experiences most travelers never have. Connect with artisans who have spent generations perfecting their craft and graciously welcome you into their world.
Kenji - Osaka & Kyoto
Introduces us to his Osaka neighborhood, one izakaya at a time. Then walks us through Gion and the sake district of Fushimi.
Yoko - Osaka
Takes us through the markets then leads a cooking class in the regional dishes of Osaka.
Mrs. Konishi - Kyoto
Opens her home for a private tea ceremony with a trained practitioner.
Yasu - Onsen Town
Introduces us to the hot spring town and the local friends in it.
Be fully present. We’ve handled everything else.
✓ 4-5* Boutique Accommodations
✓ Airport meet and greet with private transfers
✓All ground transportation
✓ All meals listed in the itinerary
✓ Wine tastings and select alcoholic beverages with most meals
✓ All activities, experiences, tours, and sightseeing
✓ All taxes and tips for all drivers, guides, restaurants, and more
✓ 24/7 Tour Host
Exclusions: mandatory travel insurance, international airfare, hotel incidentals, and premium alcoholic beverages.
Just 6 – 12 travelers — small enough to fit inside a family kitchen.
"It got me outside my comfort zone."
"This Japan culinary tour has tremendously expanded my cultural awareness and knowledge with new foods, Japanese traditions, and an inside look at the culture and the people."
"The focus on food and the locals was perfect."
"Their organization and personal service are unmatched."
They bring in experts with deep roots in the locations visited and help you fully experience the culture and cuisine like no other tour I’ve taken.
Inside Japan
Izakaya to izakaya, with a local
A private car brings you from the airport into the heart of the city, and your tour leader meets you at the hotel. Then we meet Kenji, who introduces us to Osaka on a walking food tour of his own neighborhood — hopping izakaya to izakaya through Japan’s most iconic street foods, in some of the unlikeliest settings.
Her market, a knife lesson, her kitchen
A market tour with Yoko, then a day tasting our way through markets and a few hidden spots you would not expect to find food. A hands-on hot pot lunch, a private knife sharpening lesson at Osaka’s most famous knife shop, and in the evening Yoko leads a cooking class in the dishes particular to this city.
A tea farm, then Gion after dark
We drive to a small tea town outside Kyoto to meet our friend for a tour of his tea farm and how Japanese green tea is really made — then a tasting and a light lunch made entirely from tea. On to Kyoto and the Gion District with Kenji, ending with a traditional kaiseki dinner and a very special guest.
Zazen with the head monk and tea ceremony
A private Zazen meditation session in one of Kyoto’s most important temples, guided by the head monk himself. Then shojin ryori — traditional Buddhist cuisine built on seasonal ingredients and Zen principles — in a local temple. We drive to Mrs. Konishi’s home for a private tea ceremony with her and a trained practitioner. The evening is yours.
Sake by the river
We spend the morning exploring Fushimi Inari in a more unique way than most visitors. After soba for lunch, we tour a sake brewery and enjoy a tasting and dinner.
Hot springs, and a friend’s hometown
A train ride to a small hot spring town, where our friend Yasu gives us an in-depth introduction. A leisurely stroll to the ryokan, then a regional kaiseki meal that reads like a portrait of the season.
Washi paper and a wasabi farm
We meet artisans and producers around the peninsula — making washi paper in a local studio, walking through a privately-owned wasabi farm — all with the locals who keep those crafts alive. Then a progressive dinner prepared by the owner of a 200-year-old home.
Hot springs, a bullet train, a food crawl
A free morning to soak in the hot springs one last time, then the bullet train to Tokyo. After settling in, we head to an iconic neighborhood for a progressive food tour.
The fish market & cooking class
A food tour through the fish market with Masa & Junko, who know the vendors by name. We pick up in-season provisions, then roll sushi with some of the freshest fish in the world. The rest of the day is yours to explore.
Neighborhood tour, then our favorite table
We hit the streets with Sandra who knows the headline sights, but also the quieter neighborhoods in between, ending at a lunch worth licking the plate for. Our final meal is at one of our favorite restaurants in Tokyo — we have the place to ourselves.
Mata ne
An optional group breakfast at the hotel before a private transfer takes you to the Haneda or Narita airport for your journey home.
Our itinerary is always evolving as we coordinate with our friends in Japan around their schedules. Consider it a vivid preview of what travel with us feels like.
Let's start with a conversation.
Whether you're wondering about the group dynamic, the activity level, or exactly what happens on day 7 — we're here. We'll reply within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked
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This trip is moderately active. Travelers should be prepared to walk 10,000+ steps a day, stand for extended periods, and easily and comfortably sit on the floor for meals. Western-style chairs are provide when possible but not guaranteed.
Expect walking tours of up to 4 hours, taking light hikes in rural areas with uneven terrain, extended periods of standing at markets and cooking classes, as well as walking up and down stairs when using public transportation.
Travelers who are comfortable with a full, active day and reasonably long stretches on their feet will feel most at home on this itinerary.
If you have any specific questions you’d like to discuss with the tour host, contact us!
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There are only 6 - 12 travelers on this group trip. With fewer travelers, we can explore unique, off-the-beaten-path spaces that larger groups can't access, such as family-owned kitchens, bustling markets, and private homes. This small size also fosters meaningful connections - whether it’s sharing stories over a meal with a local host or bonding with fellow travelers, our trips feel more personal.