Original
Food
Japan Real Food Adventure
11 days • 4.6
4.5
Excellent
42 reviews
11 days
Start
Tokyo, Japan
Finish
Osaka, Japan
Trip Code
CJZF
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Bus, Train, Bullet train
Accommodation
Hotel (9 nights), Temple (1 night)
From £3,505(11 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Learn the tricks of the trade when you take part in a hands-on sushi-making class in Tokyo, pick local produce from the market before a cooking class in Kanazawa and make your own okonomiyaki in Osaka.
Meet local farmers during a daytrip from Kyoto to the Uji region, the home of green tea production. Tour the green tea and matcha farms, enjoy a hot cuppa, then walk the streets of Uji city, stopping on the way to see the Ujiami Shrine.
Enjoy iconic experiences like wandering the streets of Tokyo, Kenroku-en garden in Kanazawa, the glowing signs of Osaka’s Dotonbori district, learning Buddhist history in Koya-san and walking through Kyoto’s Gion district.
Feast on delicious Japanese cuisine, from street food to restaurant favourites – including ekiben, sushi, matcha, takoyaki, okonomiyaki and fresh seafood.
Sip on sake, the national drink of Japan, during a visit to a local sake brewery in Kyoto. Learn how sake is made and maybe even pick up a bottle (or two) to take home.
Is this trip right for you?
The cuisine of Japan includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Japan which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
Japan is best explored on foot and by public transport. You’ll need to be fit enough to spend most of each day on your feet and able to handle your luggage as you navigate busy train stations. We recommend comfortable shoes and packing light.
During the monastery stay in Koya-san, you'll get to experience traditional Japanese accommodation. It’s a great cultural experience, but not everyone finds futon mattresses on tatami mat floors, tiny bathrooms and proximity to other guests as comfortable as more western-style hotels and beds. Read more in the ‘Accommodation’ section of the Essential Trip Information.
Double rooms in Japanese hotels can be smaller than you may be used to (e.g. 20 sqm). Every effort will be made to accommodate double room requests. However, during busy periods, there may be occasions when we are unable to offer a double room, so a twin room will be provided.
Itinerary
Feast your way from Tokyo to Osaka on a food lover’s adventure
Take your tastebuds on an 11-day culinary journey through Japan’s most delicious hotspots, relishing the flavours of the land of the rising sun. Uncover the secrets of sushi in Tokyo, pick local produce with an expert in Kanazawa, feast on plant-based monastic cuisine in Koya-san, meet local farmers in Uji and go on a food crawl in Osaka. Take part in cooking classes, cooking demonstrations and market visits, feasting on local delights along the way. From temples to tempura, shrines to sashimi, seafood markets to sake breweries, you’ll join a local leader on a food-focused adventure that has all the best Japanese ingredients.
Inclusions
Meals
10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Bus, Train, Bullet train
Accommodation
Hotel (9 nights), Temple (1 night)
Included activities
Tokyo - Welcome dinner
Tokyo - Asakusa guided walk & Sensoji Temple
Tokyo - Tsukiji Outer Market & Sushi Tasting
Tokyo - Art of Sushi-making class
Kanazawa - Leader-led orientation walk
Kanazawa – Chaya gai district walking tour
Kanazawa - Kenroku-en Garden
Kanazawa - Home cooking class
Kanazawa - Omicho market tour
Kyoto - Leader-led orientation walk
Kyoto - Gion District walk
Uji - Green Tea Farm Visit with tea tasting
Kyoto - Nishiki Market walk
Kyoto - Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kyoto - Sake Brewery & tasting
Koya-san - Okuno-in Mausoleum
Osaka – Tour of Kuromon Market and Doguyasuji Arcade
Osaka - Dotonbori Tour
Osaka – Depachika visit
Dates and availability
Starting
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Important notes
1. We are currently unable to offer a single supplement, airport transfers or additional accommodation in Japan due to limited availability.
2. It is essential that you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. Luggage size restrictions apply. Please review the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
3. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
Reviews (44)
5 stars
35
4 stars
4
3 stars
3
2 stars
2
Amanda
May 31, 2025
I had the best time eating my way across Central Japan, and I absolutely would recommend this to any adventurous foodie who would like to get to know Japan better. Pack good walking shoes and go forth and snack!
Mark
May 26, 2025
Great trip with lots of local foods tried. Our guide, Dai Okawa, was superb.
Karen
May 26, 2025
Really enjoyed my recent Japan food tour. My 3rd Intrepid tour and I wasn’t disappointed, good accommodation and activities, another great group of adventurers. Our leader Dai was knowledgeable and always available to help. Not one for historical sites the trip was very much focused on culture/life in Japan which is what I was looking for.
Beng
May 23, 2025
This tour is an excellent introduction to the food, culture, people and country of Japan. The cooking school at Kanazawa was a real highlight. We ate well throughout the trip and I'd definitely come back to Japan for more.
Lachlan
Apr 20, 2025
Our tour guide Hitomi showcased the best of food in Japan over the past two weeks, and with our small group of 4 tourists, set the standard of expectation for all future touring experiences I will take on.
Ira
Apr 13, 2025
If you're planning to visit japan for twenty days, I would recommend doing the trip for essential food tour. It's not only a great way to experience food from Tokyo Kanazawa, Osaka/Kyoto. It'll even take you in the middle of a buddhist temple area and you'll enjoy so much.
Gabriella
Mar 15, 2025
I highly recommend Intrepid! The trip was well-organized, with a carefully selected itinerary that showcased Japan’s food culture. Our guide, Asako, made the experience unforgettable—she was warm, enthusiastic, and truly embodied the best of Japan. From start to finish, everything exceeded expectations. A fantastic and memorable journey!
Sebastian
Mar 13, 2025
This trip exceeded my expectations, especially with its rich focus on Japanese cuisine and culture. Asako’s exceptional leadership made it unforgettable — her warmth, dedication, and expertise ensured every detail was flawless. From securing rare reservations to sharing cultural insights, she’s the perfect guide for an incredible food tour experience.
Lorienne
Mar 13, 2025
If you love food and have an interest in seeing Japan… do it! This tour was a great way to squeeze in a ton of cultural activities and eating. I had a blast.
Jennifer
Feb 06, 2025
Do not have time today but will log back in and write something
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