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 £3,159(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
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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 (39)
5 stars
30
4 stars
4
3 stars
3
2 stars
2
Heather
Apr 21, 2025
I never anticipated we would see so many marvellous insights or meet such wonderful fellow travellers. It’s been lovely spending these past eleven days exploring so many beautiful places together. Thank you Hitomi for bringing Japan to life for us and for making our adventures run with ease.
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.
Tim
Mar 13, 2025
This tour was so awesome. The country is so lovely, the group members all got on, the food was awesome, the days were fulfilling and fun, the food was awesome ( I already said that ). Aseko and Jim were dedicated, hard working and total fun to be with. We have travelled non-touring a lot but always enjoy a tour for all the extras that it brings. Hightly recommend Intrepid, they go the extra yard.
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.
Lodovica
Nov 22, 2024
This tour is fenomenal, you see the best of Japan through food experiences, cooking classes, market visits and much much more. Japan will awe you with it's contrasts, variety and welcoming vibe. If you are not a picky eater and want to experience real Japan, then this tour is for you! You will not be disappointed!
Kathryn
Nov 20, 2024
Since this was my first tour group experience I was unsure what to expect upon booking, however Intrepid and the group leader were great! Would definitely book another tour in the future. Activities and meals were balanced well throughout the trip.
Nicole
Oct 23, 2024
Our team leader Yuki made the trip extra special. She was always available to answer questions with a smile - and we had a lot of questions! We had a lovely group, I really liked the variety of places we visited and our team leader set a lovey tone for the trip. It was such an amazing trip and an experience I’ll remember for years to come!
Chris
Oct 23, 2024
Our Food Adventure in Japan was incredible. It was interesting to learn about Japanese culture from Yuki, our wonderful guide, to spend time with fellow food lovers and to taste our way around exciting cities. To stay in a Buddhist Temple in the mountains of Koyasan was a highlight. Amazing itinerary, thank you Intrepid 🙏🏼
Paul
Oct 23, 2024
Travelling with Intrepid was great because of our outstanding tour guide - Yuki - who just made the entire trip seamless with her organisational skills, her enthusiasm and patience and her English skills. We had a small group of ten which was easy and had an overall great time.
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