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10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
Bus, Train, Bullet train
Accommodation: Hotel (9 nights), Temple (1 night)
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
Before you book a trip with Intrepid, please take the time to read and understand what terms and conditions apply to your booking. For most of our trips, you will be booking directly with Intrepid so our Standard Booking Conditions and any applicable Special Conditions will apply. Please note that there are three versions of the Standard Booking Conditions depending on what location you are booking from.
Lock in your trip with a $400 flexible deposit if it departs 56+ days from now. Terms and conditions
Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Between the freshest ingredients and generations of culinary know-how, this is a country that celebrates the art of eating well. Your adventure begins in Tokyo – a food lover’s dream. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you get to Tokyo with time to spare, you may like to head out to explore the different sides of the city, from fascinating museums to neighbourhood backstreets lined with izakaya and karaoke bars. After your meeting, it’s time to get acquainted with local cuisine over a welcome dinner with your group. Fancy some perfectly grilled yakitori skewers or super tasty soba noodles? You’re in the right place. Once dinner’s done and stomachs are full, maybe head out to explore Shibuya’s backstreets in search of sake or a couple of local cocktails.
Accommodation:
Included activities
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Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
There isn’t much free time in Tokyo once the trip begins, so consider booking an extra night or two before the trip starts if you wish to cover anything not included in the itinerary.
Kick off the day with a walk around the famous Tsukiji Outer Market, where seafood from Tokyo’s largest wholesale fish market is delivered and ready to sample daily. After, learn the art of sushi making firsthand – it’s the quintessential Edo-era specialty and possibly Japan’s most famous culinary gift to the world. Hear about the history of sushi, how to choose the best fish, learn proper slicing and rice-making techniques and sample some seriously fresh sushi. Then, enjoy free time to explore the historic Asakusa area. Stop by Senso-ji, the city’s oldest temple, founded almost 1400 years ago. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then Asakusa is the place to get your sugar fix. Try fried sweet potatoes tossed in sugar and soy or sweet red bean paste sandwiched between baked pancake batter (yes, it’s as good as it sounds!). Tonight, why not head to Tsukishima to tuck into one of Tokyo’s most traditional dishes, monjayaki (a type of savoury pancake).
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Take the train towards Japan’s northern coastline to the historic city of Kanazawa. Having avoided much of the destruction of World War 2, it’s a place where modern and traditional Japan go hand in hand. On the train, you’ll be treated to ekiben for lunch – a bento box popularly sold on trains in Japan – yum! When you arrive in Kanazawa, join your leader on an orientation walk around the city, followed by a visit to the Chaya Gai district. With its well-preserved streets and old wooden tea houses, this is where geisha perform music and dance for small private functions. In the evening, join your leader for an optional dinner to sample local dishes bursting with regional flavour, particularly fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan. The unique blend of warm and cold currents creates the perfect conditions for a wide variety of fish and shellfish year-round, including the famed Kano crabs and sweet prawns.
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Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
This morning after breakfast, visit the lush, 17th-century Kenroku-en Garden – a highly intricate landscaped acreage of bridges, ponds, waterfalls, fountains and tea houses that are beautiful no matter the season. Perhaps stop for a cup of freshly whisked matcha tea on your stroll through the extensive grounds. Then, take a walk around Omicho market – the hub of Kanazawa’s food culture. Explore the stalls and seek out the best seasonal ingredients, learning how to spot the freshest seafood and vegetables along the way. Then head to a local home for a cooking class with an expert foodie. Pick up some tips and tricks on how to cook local cuisine, learn the history of Kanazawa’s favourite foods and then enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. This afternoon, you’re free to explore Kanazawa at your leisure.
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Today, you’ll make your way by train to Kyoto – a city regarded as the cultural heart of Japan. Before Tokyo, Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years. When you arrive, get acquainted with this gorgeous city on an orientation walk with your leader, making your way to the narrow streets of Kyoto’s charming Gion district. Here, you’ll learn about the city’s geisha culture. If you’re lucky, you might spot geiko (geisha) or maiko (apprentice geisha) in their elaborate dress and makeup. Join your leader for an optional dinner to sample some of Kyoto’s trademark cuisine, like nishin soba (soba noodles with dried herring) or gyu katsu (beef cutlet).
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Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.
Today, gear up for a fun daytrip to Uji – this small city between Kyoto and Nara is a cultural hub famous for its green tea. The Ujigami Shrine is also the oldest extant shrine in Japan and was constructed here (along with the historic Byodoin Temple) during the height of the Fujiwara clan’s power, between 794 and 1192. Known for its superior quality since the 1100s, a hot cup of Uji’s green tea is a must-have while you’re here, so you’ll be taken to a local tea farm for an insight into the growing and harvesting process. Hear about the history of Japan’s tea cultivation and production, then taste five different Japanese teas as you learn how to brew sencha and matcha using traditional utensils. After, you’ll take a leader-led walk around Uji City, stopping along the way to visit the shrine. Then, enjoy some free time to explore at your own pace.
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Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Tuck into some breakfast this morning, then head out for another day of exploration around Kyoto. You’ll first visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine, where you’ll have some time to wander through the iconic torii gates. Snap a few pics, then refuel your energy at a local sake brewery, where you might like to pick up a bottle to take home. Continue on for a food crawl through the glass-covered Nishiki Market. This 400-year-old market is the perfect spot to pick up a few local street eats for lunch, so you’ll follow your local leader and pick out a few favourites – maybe try tako-tamago (translating to octopus egg, this must-try is a savoury surprise of baby octopus with a quails egg inserted into the head after cooking!), beef sushi, matcha sweets or tamagoyaki (an omelette filled with cabbage, carrots, green and white onions and pickled ginger). The rest of the day is free to enjoy Kyoto, whether that means walking off your food baby or heading to a local park for a rest in the sun.
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Rise early, hop on the train and venture into an important region for Shingon Buddhism. Founded in the 8th century by the revered Buddhist saint Kobo Daishi, Koya-san has been a centre for religious activities for over 1200 years. When you arrive, visit Okuno-in – the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi. Your unique accommodation tonight is in one of the many temples still operating here. You’ll stay alongside Buddhist monks and follow their routine of morning prayers. Tonight, enjoy an introduction to shojin ryori, or monastic cuisine, prepared by novice monks. Shojin ryori was popularised in Japan in the 13th century by Zen monks from China. Shojin ryori is plant-based and prohibits the inclusion of meat and fish, following the teaching that it is wrong to kill living animals. Instead, meals are prepared with seasonable vegetables and wild plants from the mountains.
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Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Temple lodgings, known as shukubo, have facilities similar to Japanese ryokans. Rooms have thin futon mattresses that are spread on tatami mats for your night’s sleep.
There are no Western bathing facilities at the monastery. Instead, bathing occurs in a traditional onsen. This two-step Japanese experience is unique and often a highlight for travellers. The first step is to thoroughly clean yourself, then to enjoy a soak in a communal bath. As bathing suits are not permitted, it may seem intimidating at first, but once you are used to them, you will appreciate this longstanding cultural tradition. Your leader can suggest times when you are likely to have more privacy.
Today you have the option to send your main luggage directly to Osaka (at your own expense) and pack a smaller bag for your one-night stay at Koya-san. This is recommended for travellers with larger baggage. Please speak with your leader for more information.
Hop on public transport this morning to Osaka – Japan’s third-largest city and the unofficial culinary capital. Sprawling shopping hubs and tiny backstreets full of restaurants and bars serve up local delicacies here, as well as Japan’s answer to fast food (Osaka is credited with the first kaiten-zushi, or conveyer belt sushi restaurants). When you arrive, visit the lively Kuromon food market for a morning walk through the quirky Doguyasuji Arcade, where you can pick up some kitchen gadgets (or plastic food!) and all the Japanese bowls you’ll ever need. You’ll also learn about one of Osaka’s signature dishes and try your hand at perfecting okonomiyaki. A tasty okonomiyaki lunch will be included afterwards. This evening, maybe dive into Osaka’s twisting back alleys and experience one of the city’s typical tachinomi bars (drinking while standing), maybe sharing a few drinks with your travel pals.
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Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.
Have some breakfast this morning, then pop into a depachika – the food basement hall of one of Japan’s department stores. This is a treasure trove for food lovers, given the endless range of products beautifully displayed. It’s also one of the best ways to understand what the locals eat on a daily basis. Wander the Dotonbori district with your group this afternoon at the heart of Osaka. This bustling district, known for the iconic glowing signs all over the canal, is the go-to destination for local nightlife, delicious cuisine and diverse shopping options. Enjoy a few included snacks along the way, then you’re free for the afternoon to continue exploring at your own pace. Regroup with your fellow travellers tonight for a farewell dinner of kushikatsu (skewered meat and vegetables, battered and deep fried).
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With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. You’re free to leave anytime after check-out, but your adventure doesn’t have to end here! Osaka has so much to explore, it’s recommended that you stay a few extra days and continue to feast on the city’s many foodie favourites.
Meals
From AUD $7,110 per person, twin share · 11 Days
Prices are per person, twin share, in AUD and can change at any time. Tap a departure to enquire.
Tell us what suits you and our Australian travel team will take care of the rest.
Refund policies vary by operator and depend on how far in advance you cancel. Many offer partial refunds, while others may charge cancellation fees.
Date changes depend on the tour operator’s policy and availability. Fees may apply for last-minute changes.
Most tours include accommodations, transportation, a guide, and select meals or activities. Check the itinerary for specific inclusions and exclusions.
Extras like airfare, optional activities, meals not listed in the itinerary, personal expenses, and tips are usually not included.
There are group tours, private tours, self-guided tours, luxury tours, adventure tours, cultural tours, and more. Choose one that matches your interests and budget.
Book 3–6 months in advance for popular destinations or peak seasons. Last-minute bookings are possible, but availability may be limited.
Group Tour: You travel with other participants on a fixed itinerary. Private Tour: The tour is tailored for you and your companions, offering more flexibility and personalized attention.
This depends on the tour operator’s policies. Some allow it with prior arrangements, but you may still need to pay the full tour price.
Day Tour: A single-day excursion focusing on one or a few attractions. Multi-Day Tour: Covers multiple destinations over several days and includes accommodations.
Tips are usually not included. Check the operator’s policy and be prepared to tip guides, drivers, and other staff if not covered.
Yes, many operators offer accessible tours with accommodations for mobility aids. Check with the company for specifics.
Pack according to the tour type and destination. Essentials often include comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, travel documents, and personal items.
Some meals are usually included, especially breakfasts. Check the itinerary to know which meals are provided and which are not.
From $7,110.00
From $7,110.00
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