Japan Culture and Cuisine

Board the famous Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagano. Speeding through the Japanese Alps, you'll reach Nagano's beautiful mountain city in just 90 minutes. Explore the city's many temples, including the 7th-century Zenkoji temple, home to what is believed to be the first-ever Buddhist statue brought to Japan.

We can also arrange an additional private guided tour where you can explore Zenkoji Temple's underground passages, join a soul purifying goma fire ceremony, and practice zazen, the art of Buddhist meditation.

This evening, stay in a traditional Shukubo, a tranquil monastic temple lodge where famous shojin ryori (Buddhist cuisine) is served.

Join a morning prayer service today at Zenkoji Temple with a local guide and hear the priests chant and drum as they greet the morning before a vegetarian breakfast.

Then, board the Shinkansen for a scenic train ride through the Japanese Alps to Japan's culture capital, Kyoto, home to 2.000 shrines and temples, including 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Spend the rest of the day at your leisure or ask your Travel Specialist to arrange a Homestyle Culinary Walk through the Geisha district, where lanterns illuminate the streets come nightfall. Explore more culinary delights including slow-cooked miso beef, simmered fish, speciality duck, rich dashi broths, and a 'shime' experience with a classic bowl on buckwheat noodles followed by traditional Kyoto sweets.

Start your morning at Fushimi Inari Shrine, one of Kyoto’s most recognisable landmarks. Dedicated to the goddess of rice, the shrine’s vivid orange torii gates create long, sweeping pathways that climb the mountainside. Walking through these tunnels offers a striking sense of how Shinto beliefs are deeply connected to the natural world.

Next, board a train to Sanjusangendo, a stunning off-the-beaten-track Buddhist temple, to behold a mesmerising display of 1001 life-sized golden Buddhist statues inside the world's longest wooden building.

Take a taxi to Nishiki Market, also called Kyoto's Kitchen, for food stall snacks and traditional lunch in a nearby restaurant chosen by your guide. Then, explore Nijo Castle, an ornamental palace built in the early 1600s and marvel at samurai-era architecture and the "chirping nightingale" floors that squeak under the feet of intruders.

Finally, visit Nanzenji Temple in the eastern foothills of Kyoto where monks have lived in peaceful repose since 1291 and see the famous Zen rock garden

Your morning is free to enjoy at your own pace before an afternoon devoted to Kyoto’s culinary heritage.

Meet your local guide and set off for Nishiki Market, a mile-long arcade lined with stalls selling fresh produce, spices and regional ingredients. As you walk through the market, you’ll learn how these items are used in traditional Japanese cooking and select the freshest produce for your class. With your ingredients gathered, continue to a machiya townhouse for a sake tasting, where you’ll hear about the brewing process and sample different varieties.

Then step into the kitchen for a hands-on cooking experience, preparing rolled sushi, miso soup and fruit salad with guidance from a local expert. As you cook, you’ll gain insight into everyday dining customs before sitting down to enjoy your home-cooked meal. After dinner, you can explore Kyoto’s nightlife or return to your hotel.

After breakfast, board the bullet train to Fukuoka, the culinary heart of Kyushu, ready for an afternoon spent discovering the city’s flavours.

Meet your foodie guide and begin exploring Fukuoka’s vibrant food culture. Your first stop is the fish market, where you can watch locals selecting the freshest seafood and sample a range of dried and deep-fried specialities. Continue to the “depachika”, the basement food hall of a department store, where delicatessens, confectioners and bustling counters showcase the variety of everyday Japanese cuisine.

You’ll also experience a stand-up eating shop, a popular choice for busy salarymen looking for a quick yet satisfying meal. The final stop is Fukuoka’s famous yatai food stalls, an atmospheric street-food scene with nearly 100 stalls offering everything from tempura and oden to regional favourites.

After enjoying the lively setting, part ways with your guide and spend the rest of the evening exploring the city at your own pace.

This morning, visit Dazaifu, once Kyushu’s political and diplomatic centre. Begin at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, before continuing to Komyozenji Temple, known for its two Zen gardens — one arranged with rocks, the other shaped with moss, stones and pebbles to represent land and water.

If you’d like to explore further, an optional cycling tour offers a relaxed way to see Fukuoka. Ride through Hakata’s old town, hear stories of its festivals, and learn about the differences between Shinto and Buddhism. Continue past castle ruins and Ohori Park before finishing with a bowl of Hakata’s signature tonkotsu ramen.

Enjoy a relaxed morning at leisure before travelling to Osaka. After checking in, start exploring the lively streets of Japan’s culinary capital, a city known for its energy, character and love of good food. Begin in Dotonbori, famous for its neon lights, busy food stalls and local favourites such as takoyaki and fugu. Umeda offers a more modern feel, with shopping arcades, notable architecture and the Umeda Sky Building, where the observatory provides panoramic city views.

In the evening, you can join an optional guided food tour, stopping at three local restaurants. Taste working-class favourites at a tachinomi bar, enjoy kushikatsu skewers at an izakaya, and finish with yakitori and oden, paired with your choice of drinks, before continuing your night at leisure.

Start your morning at Osaka Castle, admired for its architecture, historical significance and expansive grounds. Explore the artefacts inside and enjoy views from the top floor, then take time to appreciate the surrounding garden and moats, which make this one of the city’s most memorable landmarks. Continue with a scenic Okawa River cruise, passing Nakanoshima Park and the red-brick Mint Museum.

Return to the Namba area to experience more of Osaka’s lively character. Wander through Dotonbori’s colourful streets and venture into its lesser-known backstreets, home to small surprises such as the Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum, dedicated to regional woodblock art. Nearby, Hozen-ji Yokocho reveals narrow alleys lined with traditional restaurants and leads to Hozen-ji Temple, where worshippers splash water over the deity’s statue.