Japanese Culinary Exploration

14 days
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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26%
$10,418
From$7,717
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Japan's culinary history has been boiling and broiling for hundreds of years.
    • Get ready to please every taste bud on every palette.

What's this trip about?

    Japanese Culinary Exploration

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeGroup - max of 50 people
Age range1 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityTokyo
End CityOsaka

Travel Themes

  • Culinary & Wine
  • High Adventure
  • Local Immersion & Homestays

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Japan

Attractions

  • Tokyo

Activities

  • Adventure & Adrenaline

Trip includes

    • Full support before, during & after your trip
    • Meals as mentioned
    • Accommodation as mentioned
    • Tours/activities as mentioned
    • Transport as mentioned

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Tokyo

Welcome to Japan! Your adventure begins upon arrival at Tokyo's Narita Airport. Your driver will be waiting in the arrivals lobby, holding a sign with your name on it. They will transfer you by private vehicle to your accommodation in Tokyo, making for a smooth and co...

Day 2 - Tokyo

In your package, we have included the 14 Day Rail Pass (Ordinary Car). This pass entitles you to unlimited travel on any trains in the extensive Japan Railways (JR) Network. This includes all of the famous Shinkansen "Bullet" Trains, with the exception of the Nozomi S...

Day 3 - Tokyo

While eating Japanese cuisine is the highlight of any trip to Japan, it's nothing compared to learning how to cook it yourself. Today's you'll join local foodie Yoshimi for an in-depth lesson in everyday Japanese cooking. Yoshimi prides herself on using simple, fresh ...

Day 4 - Tokyo - Takayama

From Tokyo, you will use your included Japan Rail Pass to take a Shinkansen Bullet Train to Nagoya. Upon arrival, you will board a Limited Express train for the scenic journey into the Japanese Alps en route to Takayama. The total travel time will take around 4 hours ...

Day 5 - Takayama

Today you will have a 2 ½ hour food and culture walk around Takayama. It’s a great chance to sample local foods, such as Hida beef, sake, and sweets. Your experienced local guide will tell you all about the history, culture, and daily life of the town as you’re led th...

Day 6 - Takayama - Kyoto

From Takayama, you will use your Japan Rail Pass to travel by Limited Express train to Nagoya, where you will make the easy change to the Shinkansen for Kyoto. Total journey time will be around 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Could there be anything more Japanese than p...

Day 7 - Kyoto

For today I have scheduled in a full day tour of the city by public transport with a private guide. Your guide will come to your accommodation at around 9:00 AM and take you on a tour that will encompass some of the more famous sights but also some lesser known places...

Day 8 - Kyoto

Today you have the opportunity to visit Obubu tea farm in Wazuka, rural Kyoto prefecture. Obubu is Kyoto dialect for 'green tea'. The tour begins at 11am with a cup of tea and a brief introduction in English before you head into the mountains to visit several of the t...

Day 9 - Kyoto - Osaka

From Kyoto, you will take the JR Local line to Osaka station. The journey takes about 30 minutes.

Tonight, you will be accompanied by a local guide for a private street food tour of Osaka's exciting Nanba district. Your first stop on this delicious adventure wil...

Day 10 - Osaka

Today you'll join a 6 hour cycling tour around Osaka City. Accompanied by a cycle guide, you will start near the banks of Nakanoshima Island and follow peaceful tree lined riverside paths east along the Tosabori and Dojima Rivers past some Osaka's best preserved pre-w...

Day 11 - Osaka - Hakone

From Shin-Osaka station today, a Shinkansen will take you on to Odawara, the access point for the scenic Fuji-Hakone national park. This 470 km journey takes 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Upon arrival at Odawara station, you will be met by a private taxi driver holdin...

Day 12 - Hakone - Tokyo

After an enchanting experience in Hakone, you will be driven by private car from your hotel to Odawara Station. This transfer will take between 35 and 45 minutes. (This service is on a private basis.)

From Odawara, you will use your Japan Rail Pass to take the Shinkansen to Tokyo, followed by a Yamanote Line train to Shinjuku Station. The total journey will take around 1 hour.

Day 13 - Tokyo

Today you’ll meet renowned confectionery expert Chikara Mizukami for a lesson in the art of wagashi making. Wagashi are Japanese sweets, traditionally enjoyed before receiving tea. Each piece is appreciated for its flavor but also its aesthetics, as well as expressing...

Day 14 - Depart Tokyo

Unfortunately, your journey through Japan must come to an end today. We have arranged a private taxi service from your hotel to the Tokyo Narita Airport, so you can end your adventure in comfort and style. This ride will be about 90 minutes, depending on traffic condi...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,717
Price per day$551
Last Updated: 4/21/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Global Basecamps.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Global Basecamps

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Global Basecamps creates customized experiences for independent travelers – bringing together diverse destinations and cultures, unique lodging and a spirit of adventure to create personal, memorable journeys.

The perfect lodge, the perfect tour guide, the perfect sunrise hike and the perfect cultural experience are all out there, and we’d like to help you find them. Whether hiking the Inca Trail, experiencing a traditional Japanese Ryokan, or relaxing on the beaches of Thailand, we specialize in designing you a completely customized itinerary to meet your specific trip priorities and match your travel style.

Our Philosophy

Global Basecamps believes travel can complete personal transformation, not just a vacation. To this end, we have strived to become the leading experts on all things eco travel, sustainable tourism, ecological preservation, and cultural education. We believe the perfect trip exists. The perfect lodge, the perfect tour guide, the perfect sunrise hike and the perfect cultural experience are all out there, and we’d like to help you find them. The Global Basecamps team brings expertise to the mix, with firsthand destination experience, a deep knowledge base incorporating culture and properties, an in-house air reservations team and local tour operators to ensure a truly one of a kind trip. We are on a quest for adventure that will take us from the mountain tribal villages of Thailand to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, and the volcanic sand beaches of Galapagos, and we’d like to bring you along for the ride.

What Does "Basecamp" Mean?

Traditionally, a basecamp provides supplies, shelter and a communication base. At Global Basecamps we’ve built our approach to travel on that foundation: creating a virtual basecamp that allows travelers to renew and extend their sense of adventure with a safety net provided by our headquarters in California. From the planning stages onward, Global Basecamps strives to create a customized travel experience as unique as the traveler. With individual basecamps (centered on unique, locally owned properties, hotels and lodges), one can venture beyond a “vacation” into a journey, an adventure and a cultural exploration.

Our Mission

Global Basecamps is dedicated to inspiring, empowering and simplifying independent travel to the world's most beautiful and important destinations. We firmly believe that conservation and capitalism can work hand in hand to protect the planet's cultural and ecological resources and that independent travel furthers the exchange of the ideas, understanding and common heritage necessary to create positive change.

Key Advantages of Global Basecamps:

Unparalleled Customer Service

As dedicated travel specialists, we are here to help you plan the perfect trip. We do all the work so that you don't have to! Our firsthand destination experience and comprehensive knowledge base on all the best properties and local tour operators allow you to rest assured that your trip will be one of a kind. We're with you from the beginning, during the crucial planning stages, throughout your trip in case anything comes up, and afterwards to make sure everything went perfectly. If anything goes wrong during your trip (missed/delayed flights, etc.), we and our local in-country partners are here for you.

Hand-crafted Trips

Our specialty is designing custom trips that match your travel style, trip priorities, and budget. While we have sample itineraries to inspire you, we encourage you to tell us exactly what you're looking for, so we can create the perfect custom trip. We also give you access to an amazing product line that would be very difficult to find otherwise, including lesser known activities and off the beaten path lodges.

Social Responsibility

Our trips directly benefit local communities through a variety of educational, environmental, and cultural initiatives. Additionally, all of our partners have been qualified as upholding a level of service that we truly stand behind. We strive to work exclusively with like-minded partners who are committed to making sure tourism does not have a negative impact on destinations.

Other Factors to Consider

--Our pricing is very competitive and lower than the industry standard.

--We are a one-stop shop. We book your hotels, arrange your transfers, and organize your tours.

--You don't need to plan alone! Our travel specialists have experience and destination knowledge to help you plan the perfect trip.

--We only work with local expert professional guides.

--We are proud members of ASTA, IATA, ATTA, TIES, APTA, and STI

--We are a licensed Seller of Travel, by the State of California, # 2090147-40

Why we love this operator
Unlike other brands, they only use local professional guides so travelers can really get a sense of the culture and community they’re visiting.
What they’re known for
Completely personalized trip packages for independent travelers that emphasize environmental sustainability and cultural awareness.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International & domestic flights Travel insurance (highly recommended)
    • Entrance visas when applicable
    • Other services not mentioned
    • Tips and gratuities to guides, drivers
    • Taxes and fees
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
1 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
globalbasecamp-GBC0160-06198

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