A gourmet's trip to Japan

You will arrive in Kyoto by Shinkansen and enjoy a day trip with lunch at a traditional Japanese restaurant.

Kyoto is the ancient imperial capital of Japan, one of the oldest cities in the country, the entire historical part of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kyoto was founded in the 8th century and served as the Imperial residence for almost twelve centuries. Among its numerous temples and sacred sites in Kyoto, one can highlight the Sanjusan-gendo temple, built back in 1164. Even today, it is the longest wooden structure in the world. In the long central hall, in the twilight, there are 1001 statues of the goddess Kannon the Merciful. You will have a lunch break then at a traditional Japanese restaurant.

You will walk down the open veranda of Kiyomizudera, or the Temple of Pure Water. You will enjoy a stunning Kyoto panoramic view. The local legend says that if you take three sips from the adjacent spring, your wish will come true! You will wrap up your Kyoto’s experience by visiting the legendary Geisha Gion quarter, which has been a center of entertainment since ancient times.

You will attend a tea ceremony or cha-no-yu, a Zen ritual. The venue is a tea house, cha-niva, and each part is very symbolic. The purpose of the ceremony is not tea drinking as such, but peace, reasoning, meditation, reflection before making an important decision. There are several types of tea ceremony, for example, morning, afternoon or evening. Entering the tea house symbolizes detachment from the bustle of the world and full concentration on the ceremony. The tea itself is prepared in accordance with strict rules. Crockery is also of great importance: usually it is aged, discreetly colored ceramics. The master of the tea ceremony whips thick green tea from the powder with a special brush, after which the bowl with the drink is passed from hand to hand in a circle. At this time, you should evaluate the quality of the drink. At the end of the ceremony, omogashi, traditional desserts, are served. Then, you will enjoy a traditional Japanese lunch at a fine restaurant.

Another Kyoto gem is the Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, an elegant three-level temple with its roof covered with thin sheets of gold. The building is also topped with a traditional bronze phoenix. The temple is located in a magnificent garden from the Muromachi period. Nearby is the world-famous Zen rock garden of Ryoanji: fifteen stones seem to be randomly scattered on the white gravel, but from any point only fourteen are visible...

The Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji, is another architectural masterpiece. The temple is gracefully reflected in the adjacent lake, making it a classic Kyoto view... You will come back to your ryokan, a traditional Japanese hotel, after that.

After your breakfast at the ryokan, you will transfer on the Shinkansen super express 1st class to Osaka, Japan’s gastronomic capital and Kansai’s regional center. 8
Before this, you are strongly recommended to purchase traditional Kyoto sweets at the station, which are based on sweet red beans, sesame seeds, green tea, and rice.

In Osaka’s downtown, Umeda, there is the famous Umeda Sky building, one of the city symbols. These are two high-rise towers, at the very top they are connected by a bridge. On the roof is the Sky Gardens observation deck!

Modern Osaka is also symbolized by the famous Dotonbori, a famous street of gourmet restaurants, a kind of bridge between history and present times. Dotonbori is the main street of the city, it has a three-century history. You can  fully appreciate the local cuisine in all its beauty here. Meals like yakiniku (grilled meat and vegetables), Kansai sushi (marinated, rather than raw Tokyo nigiri-sushi, fish, topped with rice), takoyaki (slices of boiled octopus taco baked in dough) and, of course, the famous local okonomiyaki (omelet of noodles, meat, seafood and cabbage, sprinkled with dry tuna flakes).

It was in Osaka that the concept of kuidaore was born, which means truly epicurean enjoyment of food. You will transfer to the hotel at the end of the excursion.

This day would be another day of trying Osaka’s food. After breakfast at the hotel, depart to the famous Shitenno-ji temple. It was founded at the end of the 6th century by Prince Shotoku to commemorate the victory of pro-Buddhist forces over pro-Shinto forces during religious wars. It is one of the most significant Buddhist shrines in the country: Japanese Buddhism originated here.

After visiting the temple, you will enjoy your lunch in the Dotonbori area at one of the local fancy restaurants.

The famous Osaka Castle, or Osaka-jo, is another symbol of the city. It was built at the end of the 16th century by Shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Osaka-jo became his stronghold in opposition to the Tokugawa shogunate, located in Edo. This castle played an important role during those turbulent times when Japan was torn apart by civil war. The castle's foundation is partly formed by huge boulders. It has eight floors,with three underground. In the basement, there is a historical museum with an extensive exhibition.

Dinner at an izakaya with traditional Osaka meals:  okonomiyaki, takoyaki (special octopus donuts), and kushikutsu (deep-fried pork chop). You will return to Tokyo by Shinkansen in the evening.

After breakfast in your Tokyo hotel, your guide will meet you at the reception.

Hakone is a lovely forested hilly area, full of onsen and ryokan, located in the Five Lakes area nearby Mt. Fuji, famous for its scenery and natural beauty. It has been a place for Tokyoites' weekend getaways for centuries, just around an hour and a half away from the city.

Your first stop is the Hakone Open-Air Museum. You will enjoy viewing various installations while strolling down the stunning landscapes of Hakone. You will have Hoto, a hot udon noodle dish historically served in an iron cast pot for lunch.

Then, you will have a joyful ride on the Hakone Ropeway down to the famous Owakudani Valley. On the way, you will enjoy a beautiful Mt. Fuji view if the weather permits. Try a local specialty: black eggs cooked in natural volcanic vents. Boil your egg in one of the vents; according to the local legend, eating an egg adds seven years to your life! You will wrap your day by visiting the Hakone Shrine.

Spice up your evening at the ryokan with a traditional Japanese kaiseki ryori dinner.

First thing in the morning, you'll meet your guide at the reception. The picturesque Ashinoko SkyLine mountain road has stunning views of the surrounding landscapes. Then, you will move to the park; inside it is the museum of the imperial artifacts, plus an observation deck with the best views of Mt. Fuji. You can also cruise along the mountain lake Asi on a pirate ship. gigantic cryptomerias surround the beautiful Hakone Temple, located near the lake, for you to enjoy. The temple, built in 757 AD, is magnificent any time of the year. Then, the mountain road will lead you to the footsteps of the sacred mountain Kami Yama. You can try tasting eggs boiled in hot spring water in the Owakudani Valley. According to a local legend, each egg eaten extends life by seven years!

It is highly recommended to visit the local winery, where the staff will offer a free tasting of Japanese grape wine, which is very little known outside the country, but is distinguished by its excellent quality.

Finally, you can relax and enjoy yourself at the Yunessun hot springs resort. You can try up to 25 hot spring open baths, known as rotenburo, such as green tea, sake, coffee, cypress, charcoal with dead sea water onsen, and many more. There's also a spa resort that also uses hot spring water. You will have a ride to the hotel after the excursion.

You will wrap up your gourmet adventure by visiting Odaiba, an artificial island. It was built in Tokyo Bay in 1855 as a natural barrier blocking the passage to the capital for enemy ships. Your first stop would be Deisan historical park with the exposed remains of defensive structures.

After lunch at a fine local shyabu-shyabu restaurant, you will visit the Toyota Museum, Fuji Television headquarters, famous for its architectural landmark, a huge titanium ball. After completing the excursion, you will transfer to Tokyo downtown to have a nice farewell dinner.  

We hope you will come back to Japan for more gourmet's discoveries!