
Food & Drink
Area
Season
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Foodie tour in the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, Usuki, exploring the cycle of food and nature from the perspective of soil cultivation
Usuki City has a long history of diverse food culture, and this tradition continues to this day. The city is committed to the "cycle of food" in the Usuki style, with the whole city working together to promote organic farming, local production for local consumption, and the creation of soil that has vitality. This is a foodie tour where visitors can enjoy the local food culture, including the "authentic agricultural produce" grown in the soil of Usuki, as well as the local brewing traditions. From the careful cultivation of the soil, to the fields where the produce grows, and finally to the dinner table after being cooked, this program allows visitors to experience the Usuki style of the cycle of food and invites them to appreciate food even more deeply.
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1,300 Years of Tagajo’s Founding: A Special Culinary Experience Connecting the Ages
Tagajo City is a historic town where one quarter of the area is occupied by historical sites. In the Nara period, 1,300 years ago, "Kokufu Tagajo" was established as the political and cultural center of the Tohoku region. Come and experience the rich history and food culture of Tagajo by making a short trip from Sendai.
・A short journey from Sendai Station to Kokufu-Tagajo Station (approx. 15 minutes)
・Ancient Costume Experience
Enjoy a dressing experience with Nara-period replica costumes, allowing you to feel like an aristocrat from that era.
・Tohoku History Museum
Visit a special exhibition, which is only open for a limited time, as well as the permanent exhibition. Check the reservation site for the dates of special exhibitions. The permanent exhibits provide insight into the history of the entire Tohoku region.
・Ancient Rice Lunch
Enjoy a special lunch featuring ancient rice, a local specialty of Tagajo City.
・Shell Painting Experience
Try your hand at painting on clam shells, once used in the noble game of "Kaiawase" (shell matching).
・Learn the History of Tagajo
Deepen your understanding of Tagajo’s historical significance at the Tagajo City Archaeological Research Center.
・Shiogama Shrine
Visit Shiogama Shrine, dedicated to the god of salt production. Salt production was closely connected with the history of Tagajo.
・Ancient Cultural Experience at the Tagajo Ruins
Experience the atmosphere of the time at the historical ruins of Tagajo Castle, including the newly restored southern gate.
・Special Imperial Cuisine
This tour offers a special meal inspired by the idea of what imperial cuisine from the Nara period might be like if it were served today, a unique culinary experience only available in Tagajo.
*Please note that program content may vary depending on the event date.
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Setonaikai National Park: Teshima Sustainable Tour - "Island Life in Japan"
This tour offers a hands-on experience of island life, including agricultural and fishing activities, as well as interactions with local artisans. You'll get to participate in a private farm tour, connecting you to the sea and land through its food that only uses the island's organic vegetables.
You can also enjoy cycling around the island on an E-bike, which promotes carbon neutrality, while appreciating the art that harmonizes with the natural beauty of Teshima. The tour includes a private viewing of art installations, which makes for a special experience in a unique space. This sustainable tour provides an exclusive chance to immerse yourself in the island lifestyle and art, allowing you to fully appreciate the tranquil beauty of Teshima. -
Experience life as it was in the authentic Japanese fishing village of Sagiura – Next-generation living in a traditional house made from reclaimed materials
Take a guided walk through Sagiura Village, and experience one of Japan’s most well-retained landscapes to understand why the traditions and culture here have been preserved and passed down to the present. Stay at a traditional inn made of materials reclaimed from vacant houses, and become one with the nature and life of Sagiura as you reflect on your own past and future.
[What you will experience]
・A guided walk around Sagiura village
・Make salt using seaweed from the Sea of Japan based on a traditional method unique to Sagiura, and take home the salt as a souvenir
・Stay at Wajimaya, which is a traditional inn made from reclaimed lumber
・Take a fishing boat cruise on the Sea of Japan and visit a “blue cave” geopark spot, which is a rare cave where light shines deep inside
・Watch a video to experience a local festival held every New Year’s with "Shagiri," a type of music played with a short flute
・Gaze out at the Sea of Japan as you take a private bath with arame, a type of seaweed that is a specialty of Sagiura
・Enjoy a Japanese dinner made with local ingredients
・Have a traditional Sagiura fisherman's breakfast prepared by a local -
[Chartered One-Day Tour with Early Morning Departure] Unique Japanese Cuisine Made with Local Fish at A Restaurant in Kanagawa Prefecture’s Manazuru Peninsula Nature Park, and a Cruise of Sagami Bay on a Chartered Sightseeing Boat
This tour is a private tour limited to one group per day, with a dedicated car and a full-time guide. Participants will be picked up and dropped off at their accommodation by private car. The first leg of the tour will be observing the auction process at the Manazuru Town Fishery Cooperative, which is closed to the public. They will then enjoy a unique Japanese meal only available on this tour, at a restaurant in Manazuru Peninsula Nature Park booked out especially for the days these tours run. The chartered sightseeing boat will then cruise Sagami Bay on a special route exclusive to this tour. If you are lucky, you may even be able to get a view of Mt. Fuji from aboard the ship.
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Enjoy the Great Outdoors in a Spectacular Location Overlooking a National Park! Premium Mobile Home Stay with Sauna and Special Dinner
This plan allows guests to enjoy a sense of oneness with nature as they overlook the national parks of Joshinetsu Kogen and the Myoko-Togakushi Mountain Range from a premium mobile home with a sauna. Enjoy an exclusive view of scenery that can only be seen here and changes with the time of day.
Participants will be treated to a special dinner made with local ingredients.
The tour also offers optional guided cultural experiences in the area as part of the basic plan, such as a special guided tour of the temple grounds by a Zenkoji monk and high-quality shojin ryori (vegetarian Buddhist meal) with an explanation of the cuisine.
There is also the option of an all-inclusive tour complete with private cabs for guests visiting from the Tokyo metropolitan area. Transportation within the region will also be through private cab, ensuring each aspect of the tour (experience, transport, and accommodation) will be private. -
Overnight Tour in Sabae, Including a Workshop on Echizen’s Most Treasured Craft, True Lacquer Kintsugi
Learn kintsugi (the art of repairing broken pottery with urushi lacquer) from traditional craftsman Takenobu Komamoto, who has preserved and passed down the traditional crafts of the city of Echizen in Fukui Prefecture for generations.
Takenobu himself will teach participants the techniques involved in kintsugi using real gold. This is a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Kintsugi is applied to Echizen ware ceramics that have been discarded due to chips that occur in the manufacturing process. These chips prevent them from being sold as products.
A bowl restored by one's own hands will become a treasure for a lifetime.
Upon completing the workshop, those interested will receive a certificate of apprenticeship acknowledging the master-apprentice relationship with Takenobu. A cup of limited-edition local sake will be presented to solidify this master-apprentice relationship.
On each part of the tour, participants will be accompanied by a professional interpreter.
Private cars with chauffeurs are also available for transport from the meeting point and the accommodation. -
Wagyu and Yakatabune Boat in TOKYO
A fusion of a nighttime cruise on a yakatabune boat, a symbol of Tokyo's Edo period culture, with a full-course French meal prepared by Chef Kakegawa from a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The secret ingredient that will bring this amazing collaboration to even greater heights is Japan's world-renowned wagyu beef.
This luxury dinner cruise also includes a gift of Tokyo sake and an ochoko sake cup made of Edo kiriko glass.
This special tour is designed to offer a different taste of Tokyo, with a focus on Tokyo products—Wagyu beef, sake that brings out the flavor of the meals, and souvenirs and handicrafts.
Chef Kakegawa's Michelin star cuisine is sure to impress the senses with its delicacy and concentrated umami.
The original Wagyu beef full-course menu created especially for this tour and the unique Tokyo nightscape cruise on a yakatabune boat are sure to make for an unforgettable night for all visitors to Tokyo. -
Hands-On Workshops to Learn About and Experience Kutani Ware Ceramics and Ogura Textiles! Two-day tour to enjoy ceramic painting and molding techniques
This tour gives participants a chance to learn traditional Kutani ware techniques from the Asakura Family, the first Kutani ware potters to be awarded the Order of Culture. With its distinctive molding and painting, the colors and shapes of Kutani ware objects are very different from pottery found in other regions. Try your hand at the Asakura family's secret techniques of painting and molding pottery, which have been passed down from generation to generation. This tour features a special backyard tour of the only silk weaving factory in Japan. All food at the accommodation will be served in Kutani ware ceramics. Enjoy this rare opportunity to learn about the history of Kutani ware pottery, and hear directly from Kutani ware ceramic artists themselves. An easy-to-understand tour with an interpreter on hand.
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Seto Inland Sea Gastronomy Cruise
Travel by yacht and enjoy a gastronomy experience with a private chef, exploring the nature and gastronomy of the Seto Inland Sea, while delving deep into the local culture through interactions with local fishermen and farmers. This one-of-a-kind cruise, which includes special programs such as private viewings at museums and a mindfulness workshop based on Zen philosophy, is sure to leave a lasting impression.
◾️ Contemporary art island tour: Take a tour of Naoshima, Inujima, Teshima, and other islands for a special chance to view artworks by Claude Monet, James Turrell, and other artists.
◾️ Onboard gastronomy with private chefs: Special dishes made with the freshest ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea, served onboard the yacht by dedicated private chefs.
◾️ Interactions with local fishers and farmers Interact closely with locals to delve deeper into the culture and lifestyle of the islands.
◾️ Mindfulness workshop: A special mindfulness program called UNDOING. It is based on Zen philosophy and aims to help you achieve harmony of body and mind.
◾️ Luxury accommodations: Includes lodging at special accommodations such as suites at Benesse House.
◾️ Custom itinerary: Itineraries are flexible and can be adjusted to suit your preferences and maximize your enjoyment of this special experience
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