Best Ever Japan Food Tour Summer with Hiroshima

Day 1

Tokyo Narita Airport

Welcome to Tokyo! You will be met at the arrival gate by an AJT representative holding an "All Japan Tours" sign.

Hotel Mystays Premier Narita or similar class
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class (NOTE 1 & 2)

NOTE 1: If you wish to stay in the center of Tokyo for the first night instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included. We will provide you directions to get to your hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$90.00 per person per way.

NOTE 2: If you will be flying into Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita International Airport (NRT), we can arrange for you to stay in the center of Tokyo (Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class) instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita. In this case, meet-and- greet and airport transfer are not included. We will provide with full instructions to get to the hotel in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$75.00 per person per way.

NOTE 3: The meet-and-greet is ONLY available for flights arriving in Terminal 1 & 2 after 11:00 AM. For guests arriving in Terminal 3, airport pickup is not included, but we will provide you with directions to get to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 4: If you wish to stay extra nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.

Day 2

Tokyo (Togoshi Ginza Street - Lunch on own / Chopsticks Making / Ramen Tasting in Shinjuku / Shinjuku Kabukicho Nightlife Walking Tour / Sake Tasting with Snacks OR Karaoke Experience)

We begin the day with a visit to Togoshi Ginza Street, one of Tokyo’s longest and most lively shopping streets, where we have time to explore local shops and enjoy lunch on our own at a variety of casual eateries. You will have time to find lunch on your own. Next, we take part in a Chopsticks Making experience, where you will create your own personalized pair of chopsticks to keep as a souvenir. From there, we make our way to Shinjuku for a Ramen Tasting Experience. Discover the rich flavors of this beloved Japanese dish while learning about its history, regional variations, and cultural significance. We then enjoy a Shinjuku Kabukicho Nightlife Walking Tour. Stroll through the neon-drenched red-light district of Kabukicho, and immerse in the high- energy atmosphere of this thrilling part of Tokyo. Later in the afternoon, you will have a choice of activities between Sake Tasting (with snacks included), or a Karaoke Experience. At the Sake Market in Shinjuku, you will have the opportunity to enjoy different types of sake. This delightful shop stocks different types of alcoholic drinks brought from all over Japan. Enjoy tasty snacks along with your delicious sake. For travelers who don’t like to drink, we also have the option of going for a Karaoke Experience. Sing your heart out in a Japanese-style karaoke box, where you can choose from a catalog of English and Japanese songs.

Breakfast / Dinner

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

Day 3

Tokyo (Senkyaku Banrai Lunch on own / teamLab Planets / Shibuya - Shibuya Crossing - Hachiko Statue - Shibuya Izakaya Hopping - Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho)

In the morning, we visit Senkyaku Banrai, a modern entertainment and dining complex in Tokyo’s New Toyosu area, featuring a variety of shops, restaurants, and unique cultural experiences. On the roof of the building, you can enjoy a relaxing foot bath, where you can soak your feet while taking in a beautiful panoramic view of Tokyo. We recommend bringing a small towel to dry your feet afterward. You will also have leisure time on your own to browse the complex and find a lunch to suit your taste. Then, we will immerse in the unique art works at teamLab Planets TOKYO. This art exhibition space uses digital displays to create interactive artworks that take up entire rooms. The art displays are always highly imaginative and are constantly being updated to accommodate more recent creations. Please be aware that you will need to remove your shoes before entry, and that some exhibits involve walking in knee-deep water or on top of reflective surfaces, so we recommend wearing shorts, or pants that can be rolled up above the knee. Later in the afternoon, we head to Shibuya, known for the Shibuya “Scramble Crossing” which, at the right signal, floods the intersection with oncoming businesspeople, shoppers, and travelers, converging from all directions in a great rush of people that somehow feels both fast-paced and orderly. On one corner of the crossing is the statue of the faithful Akita dog, Hachiko, who is celebrated for his enduring loyalty to his human companion. We will end the day with an izakaya‑hopping tour in Shibuya, exploring the lively Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho. Sampling a variety of dishes and drinks at these uniquely Japanese pubs offers an essential cultural experience. Izakaya are beloved gathering spots where locals unwind with coworkers and friends or celebrate special occasions, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Breakfast / Dinner

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

Day 4

Tokyo (Tsukiji Outer Market / Drive by Imperial Palace / Sushi Making Experience / Asakusa Sensoji Temple / Tokyo Skytree)

Today, you will visit Tsukiji Outer Market – a bustling outdoor street market known for its fresh and delicious seafood, produce, and kitchenware. From there, we drive by the Imperial Palace, which offers splendid views of the meticulously maintained front lawn and garden areas, the moat, and the old stone walls. Next, enjoy a fun and simple Sushi-Making Experience, where you can enjoy creating your own sushi, and eating it afterwards! Then, we visit Tokyo’s oldest temple complex – Asakusa Sensoji Temple, featuring the Kaminarimon Gate, in which hangs an enormous red lantern. Leading up to the temple is Nakamise Street, which is lined with shops selling all manner of Japanese souvenirs. At the end of the day, we ascend Tokyo Skytree to the observation deck (Tembo Deck), which offers a panoramic 360-degree view of the Tokyo cityscape.
Note: For Sushi Making Experience, if you are vegetarian, on gluten-free diets, have seafood allergy, or don't eat raw fish, please contact us for other ingredient options.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

Day 5

Mt Fuji, Hakone (Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani), Bullet Train Ride

We will depart from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji on our private coach. Along the way, enjoy the changing scenery, from thick vegetation to lowlands to rolling clouds. Stop at Mt. Fuji 5th station (depending on weather) to admire the world famous peak. Next, we will travel to Hakone, which is among Japan's most popular hot- spring resorts, and view the forested slopes of Hakone National Park. We will take a 20 minute ropeway ride from Togendai to Owakundani. Most of the area around Owakundani is considered an active volcanic zone since its creation from the eruption of Mount Hakone some 3,000 years ago. Now, you can experience hot springs and hot rivers there, where sulfurous fumes still linger. Owakundani also has splendid views of Mount Fuji in good weather. Next, take a Shinkansen bullet train ride for experience, which can reach speeds of up to 300 km/hr. We will stay at an Onsen Hotel, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a spa bath and enjoy dinner in the comfort of your hotel.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Grand Mercure Lake Hamana Resort & Spa or similar class

Day 6

Koka (Koka Ninja Mansion / Miho Museum), Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine)

After breakfast at the hotel, our group will visit the Koka Ninja Mansion. This mansion used to be resided in by ninja, equipped with many ingenious traps and devices, designed to prevent intruders and to provide a means of escape in times of need. Then proceed to Miho Museum, a stunning architecture that accentuates the surrounding nature while exhibiting a variety of items from different ancient civilizations. It was designed by the renowned architect, I. M. Pei, and is named after Koyama Mihoko, one of the richest women in Japan and the founder of the museum. Moreover, the museum has been listed as one of the "1000 Places to See Before You Die". We will then continue to Kyoto, a historical city that was spared from air raids and saved from the atomic bomb during World War II for its cultural and historical value. The tour will continue to the scenic and historic Fushimi district to see the stunning vermilion-colored Fushimi Inari Shrine. This architectural wonder boasts an approximately 2.5-mile (4- km) tunnel of torii gates, showcased during a critical scene of the hit film 'Memoirs of a Geisha'. We will stay two nights in Kyoto.

Breakfast

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Note: If Miho Museum is close, we will visit Kyoto National Museum or Sagawa Art Museum instead.

Day 7

Kyoto (Arashiyama - Sagano Bamboo Forest - Togetsukyo Bridge / Golden Pavilion / Green Tea Ceremony with a Maiko / Gion Geisha District / Gion & Pontocho Walking Food Tour)

Then we will tour the Arashiyama district. Proceed through a dense bamboo grove, past several small shrines, tea shops, and private houses before arriving at the Togetsukyo Bridge over Hozu River. Visit Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, so known because it is covered with 18-karat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. Next, you will enjoy a relaxing Green Tea Ceremony. This activity was once only available for the social elite. Today, it will be even more special as your host will be an apprentice Geisha, known as a Maiko. We will end our day in the Gion Geisha District, where its streets are lined with ochaya (teahouses), exclusive establishments where guests are entertained by Geisha and Maiko.

After, we enjoy a Walking Food Tour of Gion and Pontocho. Pontocho shares the classical Japanese ambience of Gion, offering a row of wooden eating establishments by the picturesque Kamo River. Explore these two historic districts and immerse in their old- fashioned atmosphere as you walk from one eatery to the next trying traditional dishes and sake with your guide. Keep an eye out for passing Geisha along the way!

Breakfast / Dinner

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Day 8

Kyoto (Kiyomizu Temple), Nara (Todaiji Temple / Deer Park), Osaka (Osaka Castle / Dotonbori - Shinsaibashi)

Today, we will visit the famous Kiyomizu Temple, best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. From there we continue to Nara, the oldest capital city of Japan. We will visit Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden building in Japan. The temple also houses the largest bronze statue of Buddha at 16.3 meters high, and the surrounding park is filled with over 1,000 Sika Deer. In the afternoon, we will travel to Osaka by private coach. We will visit Osaka Castle; whose construction began in 1583 on the ruins of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple. The castle was the largest of its time and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century. Our last visit for the day is Dotonbori, which runs parallel to the Dotonbori canal. A popular shopping, entertainment, and food district, Dotonbori is known for the hundreds of neon and mechanized signs that line the street, including the famous Glico Running Man and Kani Doraku Crab signs.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class

Day 9

Himeji (Himeji Castle), Kurashiki (Canal Area)

Today we take a 2-hour ride by private coach to Himeji to visit the Himeji Castle. It is known as "White Egret Castle" and "White Heron Castle" because of its brilliant white exterior, resembling a bird taking flight. Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and is one of the few remaining original castles in Japan. This splendid example of traditional architecture was declared one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. Next is a visit to Kurashiki. In merchant days, this scenic town thrived as a port for rice shipments. Several old rice granaries and examples of historic architecture still remain, in addition to the stone lined canal. In the afternoon, we will continue our journey to Hiroshima.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hiroshima Grand Prince Hotel or similar class

Day 10

Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park / A-Bomb Museum / Miyajima - Itsukushima Shrine), Shimanami Kaido (Scenic Driving)

Today we will visit the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. After lunch, we will take a short ferry ride to the island of Miyajima. At high tide, the famed vermilion torii gate of the Itsukushima Shrine looks like it's floating in the middle of the sea. The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Miyajima has been selected as one of Japan's three most scenic places (nihon sankei). In the afternoon, we will drive through the Shimanami Kaido to Shikoku Island. The Shimanami Kaido is a 60 kilometer long toll road that connects Japan's main island of Honshu to the island of Shikoku, passing over six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. It is also known as the Nishiseto Expressway.

Breakfast / Dinner

Imabari Kokusai Hotel or similar class

Day 11

Oboke Gorge (Oboke Gorge Boat Ride), Takamatsu (Ritsurin Park), Kobe (Wagyu Beef Dinner)

After breakfast, we continue our journey to Oboke Gorge, one of three hidden mountain regions of Japan. Oboke is the valley located upstream of the Yoshino-gawa River. "Boke" means "dangerous to walk along," and Oboke (big boke) was named for its jagged V-shaped rocks and narrow path which, no matter how carefully or slowly you walk, makes walking dangerous. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride and take in the panoramic view of the valley. In Takamatsu we will visit Ritsurin Park, a masterpiece of Japanese landscape 100 years in the making. This sprawling park features beautiful ponds and pavilions, with Mt. Shiun as the perfect backdrop. From there, our private coach takes us across Awaji Island through a series of spectacular bridges. In the evening we continue to Kobe, where we will savor the world famous Wagyu beef.

Breakfast / Dinner

Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class

Day 12

Osaka (Kuromon Market / Katashimo Winery Tour – Wine Tasting / Shinsekai - Tsutenkaku Tower - Kuidaore Street Food Tour)

Today, we visit Kuromon Market, a covered shopping arcade sometimes called "Osaka's Kitchen", filled with fresh seafood and produce, with restaurants and street stalls selling seafood-based rice bowls and other foods. We go from there to Katashimo Winery, the oldest winery in Western Japan, which prioritizes making wines organically to suit local tastes. Enjoy a walk through their vineyard and tour their winery to get an introduction to their processes and learn their history, before tasting a few of their recommended wines. Then, we end the day with a Kuidaore Street Food Tour of the Shinsekai district. Kuidaore is part of a Japanese proverb that means "to bankrupt oneself with food", and no one knows how to indulge on delicious food like the people of Osaka. Taste the foods that Osaka is famous for, including Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, Kushikatsu, and more. While there, visit Tsutenkaku Tower, the symbol of the Shinsekai District, where guests can enjoy delightful views of the Osaka cityscape from the observation deck.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport or similar class
Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class (NOTE 5 & 6)

NOTE 5: If you wish to stay in the center of Osaka for the last night instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included, but we will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance.

NOTE 6: If you will be flying out from Itami Airport (ITM) instead of Kansai International Airport (KIX), we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class) instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport. In this case, airport transfer is not included but we will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance.

Day 13

Tour Ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Checkout time is 11 am and Osaka Kansai Airport can be reached in a three minute walk.

Breakfast

NOTE 7: If you would like to stay longer in Japan, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.