Japan cuisine tour
| country: | Japan |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 18 Sep, 2 Oct, 16 Oct, 30 Oct 2011: 12 Mar, 26 Mar, 9 Apr, 23 Apr |
| price: | From £2165 (14 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
With centuries of traditions behind it, Japan is nothing less than a treasure trove of exotic cuisine, potent sake and sweet delights. From Tokyo to Kyoto, our culinary adventure takes us into the heart of Japan, enjoying a smorgasbord of treats in a variety of settings. To complete the recipe we mix in plenty of culture and top it off with some of Japan’s best attractions. Be tempted by tempura, savour your sushi and tickle your tastebuds as we discover the endless variety of Japanese cuisine.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-2: | Tokyo. Embark on an epicurian adventure beneath the neon lights of Tokyo. The city dazzles with excellent restaurants, making it an ideal launching pad into the diversity of Japanese cuisine. Learn to make soba noodles and visit the Tsukiji Fish Market, where more than 400 different types of seafood are sold. |
| Days 3-4: | Takayama. Nestled in the mountains, beautiful Takayama is a quaint cluster of traditional inns, specialised cuisine and sake breweries. Check out the town's 600-year-old morning market and feast on some of the local delicacies including san sai, taiyaki and Hida beef. |
| Days 5-6: | Koya-san. Steeped in mysticism and religious history, the temples of Koya-san provide a tranquil setting for trying out its shojin ryori (vegetarian cuisine) and joining the resident monks in meditation. |
| Days 7-8: | Osaka. Partake in the local custom of kuidaore (to eat until you drop), and indulge in the smorgasbord of delights on Dotombori - Osaka's 'eat street'. Don't miss the local treat of takoyaki (octopus balls), and those culinarily courageous diners can feast on fugu pufferfish. |
| Days 9-10: | Hiroshima. Be inspired by the beauty of Itsukushima-jinja before sampling the city's famed okonomiyaki, an egg-based savoury pancake. Hiroshima is also renowned for its oysters and momiji manju, a treat filled with sweet bean paste. |
| Days 11-14: | Kyoto. Revel in the opulence of Himeji-jo en route to Kyoto, a city steeped in tradition and which boasts incredible natural beauty and a noticeable lack of tall buildings. Learn to prepare traditional cuisine, which emphasises freshness, seasonality and elegance. |
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
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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. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |