Japan Gourmet Tour 2010
10-19 May 2010
We're celebrating the news that Tokyo has leaped ahead of Paris as the city with the most Michelin-starred restaurants, by running our first ever Gourmet Tour of Japan in May 2010. Japan Journeys is the first tour operator to offer a specialist gastronomic tour of Japan.
The ten-day itinerary will include a cookery class in Tokyo, as well as a tour of a sake brewery, a visit to the biggest fish market in the world and the opportunity to sample some of the world’s best cooking at Tokyo’s Michelin-starred restaurants.
The latest edition of the Michelin guide to Tokyo reveals that the city now has 11 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 10th May 2010 and costs £2,245 per person based on two sharing. There is a maximum of 14 guests per tour and the group is accompanied by an experienced, Japanese-speaking guide at all times.
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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 three start hotel and visit beautiful shrines, temples and gardens. On arrival, guests will be treated to a fabulous sukiyaki meal, which involves slowly simmering meat, tofu and vegetables in a shallow iron pot in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and mirin.
On the fourth day, the tour will 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 a sake brewery. For dinner, participants will enjoy a kaiseki (haute cuisine) meal for which Kyoto is famed.
On the fifth day, the Gourmet Tour itinerary takes the group to the Nishiki-koji food market – a staggering array of locally produced goods from green tea and bean-paste to vegetables and seafood. 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, including a visit to one of the city’s best ramen noodle bars and the choice of dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
On the morning of the eighth day, guests will get up early 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. In the afternoon, the group will visit the beautiful gardens of Hamarikyu before cruising up the Sumida River to Asakusa, the old heart of Tokyo. Dinner is at Kappabashi, a playground for restaurateurs with an incredible range of crockery and cooking utensils.
The last day is free for participants to do as they please. Japan Journeys recommends spending the day at a Sumo Tournament, which is taking place on 18 May 2010. Before departing for the UK, the group will enjoy a farewell dinner of nabe, a hearty Japanese-style hot pot.
Tour dates and prices:
This first tour takes place between 10th and 19th May 2010. The ten-day tour costs £2,245 per person based on two sharing.
The cost includes eight nights’ accommodation at centrally-located 3* 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.
Those wishing to extend their trip can take advantage of Japan Journeys’ reduced hotel rates of £45 per person based on two sharing.
Japan Gourmet Tour 2010 - Full details
TOUR INCLUDES:
- 5 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: UK/Japan
At arrival at Kansai International Airport (Osaka) you will
be met and taken to Kyoto by private coach. Check into your
centrally-located 3* Kyoto hotel for 4 nights.
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 your welcome dinner tonight you will be treated to a fabulous sukiyaki meal.
Breakfast, 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 a sake
brewery in the afternoon.
For dinner, you’ll enjoy a kaiseki (haute cuisine)
meal for which Kyoto is famed.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included
Day 5: Food
Market, Temple meal
Today you’ll be able to soak up the atmosphere of the bustling Nishiki-koji
food market – a staggering array of locally produced goods from green tea
and bean-paste to vegetables and seafood. We will also 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: Tokyo/Cookery
Class
After checking out you’ll 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.
This afternoon you’ll take part in a cooking class to make some traditional
dishes.
Check into your centrally-located 3* Tokyo hotel for 4 nights.
Dinner tonight is another 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.
Food lovers everywhere will be aware that the famed Michelin Guide lists more
starred restaurants in Tokyo than any other city in the world. Tonight you will
have the opportunity of visiting one of these restaurants yourself.
Breakfast, Lunch included
Day 8: Tokyo
sightseeing
We will be up very early this morning to visit Tsukiji, the biggest fish market
in the world! We should be able to watch the tuna auction, the main attraction
of the market. You can follow this with the freshest sushi breakfast imaginable.
We will tour the beautiful gardens of Hamarikyu before cruising up the Sumida
River to Asakusa, the old heart of Tokyo. We will visit Senso-ji
Temple before
going on to Kappabashi, a playground for restaurateurs with an incredible range
of crockery and cooking utensils.
A delicious tonkatsu (pork cutlet) dinner is on the menu for tonight.
Breakfast, Dinner 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 of nabe, a hearty Japanese-style hot pot.
Breakfast, Dinner included
Day 10 : Return to UK
Transfer by private coach to Narita Airport (Tokyo).
PRICE INCLUDES:
- 8 nights’ accommodation at centrally-located 3* hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo with a light Japanese breakfast daily
- 5 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: 10-19 May 2010
- Total price: £2,245 per person on a sharing basis
- Single room supplement: £180
- EXTEND YOUR TRIP you can do so for an additional £45 per
person per night (sharing) or £65 per
person per night (for a single room).
- 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
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