Japan Gourmet Tour 2012
14th-23rd May 2012

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Once again Japan Journeys celebrates the news that Tokyo has remained ahead of Paris as the city with the most Michelin-starred restaurants, by running our Japan Gourmet Tour. Japan Journeys was the first UK tour operator to offer such a specialist culinary tour of Japan.

The ten-day itinerary will include a Japanese cookery class in Tokyo, as well as a green tea experience, a visit to the biggest fish market in the world and the opportunity to sample some of the world’s best food at Tokyo’s Michelin-starred restaurants.

The latest edition of the Michelin guide to Tokyo reveals that the city now has 16 three-star restaurants, with the city as a whole boasting over 260 Michelin stars. Travellers with Japan Journeys will therefore get to experience first hand why Tokyo is the newly crowned gastronomic capital of the world by participating in a cooking class in the city, trying a traditional o-bento and visiting the city’s best ramen noodle bars. The tour also takes in Kyoto and Nara, giving travellers the chance to take a trip on Japan’s famous Bullet Train and attend a Sumo Tournament.

The tour departs on 14th May 2012 and costs £2,695 per person based on two sharing. There is a maximum of 16 guests per tour and the group is accompanied by an experienced, Japanese-speaking guide at all times.

Japan Journeys’ Gourmet Tour starts in the beautiful city of Kyoto, which is renowned for its excellent cuisine, as well as its female geishas. Here, guests will stay for four nights in a centrally-located business class hotel and visit beautiful shrines, temples and gardens.

The tour will also visit the ancient city of Nara, home to Todai-ji Temple, the world's largest wooden building, and the Great Buddha statue. Guests will enjoy a lunch of soba noodles before visiting an ancient tea-shop for a green tea experience. For dinner, participants will enjoy a kaiseki (haute cuisine) meal for which Kyoto is famed.

On the fifth day, the Japan Gourmet Tour itinerary takes the group to the Nishiki-koji food market – a staggering array of locally produced ingredients from green tea and bean-paste to vegetables and seafood. The perfect place to pick up some authentic ingredients for cooking Japanese food at home. Participants also visit a local temple, where they can sample a very tasty shojin ryori (monk's food) lunch. As meat was not traditionally eaten in Buddhist Japan, this kind of cuisine became another speciality of the Kyoto area.

The group then returns to Tokyo by Bullet Train, on which they’ll enjoy a traditional o-bento, or lunchbox. In the afternoon, participants of the Gourmet Tour will take part in a cooking class to learn how to make some traditional Japanese dishes.

The next three days are spent exploring Tokyo’s culinary delights, including a visit to one of the city’s best ramen noodle bars and the choice of dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant. You’ll arise early one morning to visit Tsukiji, the biggest fish market in the world, where tuna is the main attraction. This trip is followed by the freshest sushi breakfast imaginable.

The last day is free for participants to do as they please. Japan Journeys recommends spending the day at the Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament to watch the colourful sumo bouts!

Tour dates and prices:

This Japanese culinary adventure takes place between 14th and 23rd May 2012. The ten-day tour costs £2,695 per person based on two sharing.
The cost includes eight nights’ accommodation at centrally-located business class hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo on a bed and breakfast basis; some lunches and dinners; a cookery class in Tokyo; transfers by private coach; entrance fees for all named activities; and green tea at Daitoku-ji temple. The price does not include optional activities, such as dinner at the Michelin-stared restaurant; drinks; insurance; and baggage transfer. International airfare between London and Japan is included.

Those wishing to extend their trip can take advantage of Japan Journeys’ reduced hotel rates of £55 per person based on two sharing.

Japan Gourmet Tour 2012 - Full details

TOUR INCLUDES:

• International airfare between London and Japan
• 6 luscious lunches and 6 delicious dinners
• A Japanese cookery class in Tokyo
• Escorted tours of Tokyo, Kyoto & Nara
• 8 nights accommodation in Kyoto (4 nights) and Tokyo (4 nights)
• Meeting service at the airport and private coach transfers to your hotel
• Travel on Japan’s famous Bullet Train
• Services of a knowledgeable Japan Journey’s guide throughout

Day 1 - 2: Depart UK/Arrival in Japan
Fly to Kansai International Airport (Osaka) from where you will be met and taken to Kyoto by private coach. Check into your centrally-located business class Kyoto hotel for 4 nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Kyoto
Enjoy the sights of Kyoto by private coach. You’ll visit some beautiful shrines and temples, including Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), the Zen temple and gardens of Daitoku-ji, and Kiyomizu temple, which offers breathtaking views over the city. Your knowledgeable guide will help you appreciate Japan's city of culture. For dinner, you’ll enjoy a kaiseki (haute cuisine) meal for which Kyoto is famed.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

Day 4: Sightseeing in Nara
This morning we will make the short trip by local train to the ancient city of Nara, home to the world's largest wooden building and the Great Buddha statue. We will enjoy a delicious lunch of soba noodles before visiting the lovely town of Uji famed throughout Japan for the quality of its tea. Here we’ll have a delightful green tea experience. For dinner tonight you will be treated to a fabulous sukiyaki meal.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

Day 5: Food Market, Temple meal
You’ll start today with a visit to a colourful food market in a Japanese department store before going on to the bustling Nishiki-koji food market. We’ll then pay a visit to a local temple where you can sample a very tasty shojin ryori (“monk's food”) lunch. As meat was not traditionally eaten in Buddhist Japan, this kind of cuisine became another speciality of the Kyoto area.
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. A delicious Japanese dinner is included tonight.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

Day 6: Kyoto, Tokyo
Enjoy a morning at leisure in Kyoto. You’ll then board Japan's famous Bullet Train and speed to Tokyo. Lunch today is a traditional o-bento, or lunchbox, which you’ll eat on the train. Upon arrival we head to Kappabashi, a playground for restaurateurs with an incredible range of crockery and cooking utensils. Check into your centrally-located business class Tokyo hotel for 4 nights. Enjoy another delicious included meal tonight which includes a Japanese favourite – tempura.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

Day 7: Tokyo sightseeing
Today we will visit Harajuku. As it's a Sunday we should be able to see some traditional Japanese-style weddings at beautiful Meiji Shrine, and you will also have time to explore the lively district of Harajuku.
You’ll then make a short trip to have a simple but delicious lunch at one of Tokyo's best ramen noodle bars.
After a late lunch we ’ll ascend Tocho- Tokyo’s tallest building.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

Day 8: Tokyo sightseeing
We will be up early this morning to visit Tsukiji, the biggest fish wholesale market in the world! You can follow this with the freshest sushi breakfast imaginable. Then you’ll take part in a cooking class to make some traditional dishes for lunch. As you’ll probably know, there are more Michelin starred restaurants in Tokyo than Paris. Tonight you will have the opportunity of visiting one of these restaurants yourself.
Breakfast included

Day 9: Tokyo
Today is yours to enjoy at leisure. You might like to spend a day at the Sumo tournament which is taking place this week (advance reservations required). Join us for a farewell dinner.
Breakfast, Dinner included

Day 10 : Depart Japan
Transfer by private coach to Narita Airport (Tokyo) and return to the UK (arrive same day).

PRICE INCLUDES:

• International airfare between London and Japan
• 8 nights’ accommodation at centrally-located business class hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo with a light Japanese breakfast daily
• 6 lunches
• 6 dinners
• Cookery Class in Tokyo
• Japan Journeys Guide throughout your time in Japan
• Private coach transfers from/to airport
• Private coach for Kyoto sightseeing
• Transportation fees to all names sites
• Admission and entrance fees for all named activities
• Green tea at Daitoku-ji temple

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:

• Optional activities
• Drinks
• Insurance
• Baggage transfer

Japan Gourmet Tour Dates: 14-23 May 2012

• Total price: £2,695 per person on a sharing basis
• Land-only price: £1,995 per person on a twin/double room shared basis (for non-UK passengers i.e. not including international airfare)
• Single room supplement: £225
• EXTEND YOUR TRIP you can do so for an additional £55 per person per night (sharing)
  
  
• To make a booking, a deposit of 10% per person is required.
• The balance of the price of the trip must be made 12 weeks prior to departure.
• Full terms and Conditions

All price estimates are based on current rates of exchange and are subject to availability.

TO BOOK NOW
download a Reservation Form
CALL 020 7766 5267
OR EMAIL info@japanjourneys.co.uk

INSURANCE
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