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KYOTO GASTRONOMY PREMIUM DINING, FAIR ＆ SUMMIT
KYOTO GASTRONOMY PREMIUM DINING, FAIR & SUMMIT is an initiative that takes guests through Kyoto Prefecture with food as the main focus.
Under the theme of gastronomy, Kyoto chefs serve gourmet dishes using ingredients sourced from the prefecture.
There are four events: “PREMIUM DINING,” a collaboration between top chefs of Kyoto cuisine and Italian and French chefs working in various parts of the prefecture to offer on-site course meals highlighting local culinary appeal; “Shoku no Kyoto TABLE,” a hub for sharing local food information with the aim of creating new specialties in the region; “FAIR,” which sells gourmet food at the Kyoto Prefectural Office Former Main Building, a National Important Cultural Property; and “SUMMIT,” which offers a taste of the culinary attractions of the entire prefecture at Daigo-ji Temple, the head temple of the Daigo School of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary of World Heritage registration.
We invite you to a food festival where you can enjoy all the cuisines of Kyoto Prefecture in one place. -
Enjoy a snowshoe trail, snowy mountain biking experience, and a snowtop restaurant on a lookout deck in in Kamifurano, Hokkaido
This guided snowshoe trail and snowy mountain biking program is a special winter experience in which you'll bike on snow and hike in snowshoes. You can freely explore the undulating hills of Kamifurano surrounded by powdery snow. Even first-timers can confidently enjoy this experience by receiving extensive instruction in mountain biking and walking in snowshoes. Snowshoes and other equipment are available for rent, so you do not need to bring your own. If you are lucky, you may even spot wild animals such as foxes, mountain hares, and deer. After these snow activities, enjoy a lunch prepared with local Kamifurano ingredients at a pop-up restaurant on a snow lookout deck. Savor special Kamifurano pork, pork skirt, local vegetables, and Japanese cuisine made with yama-wasabi horseradish. Lunch is paired with local beer brewed by Hop Kotan Brewing using Kamifurano hops, Japanese wine from the local Tada Farm, and sake brewed with rice grown in an area that underwent extensive recovery after being damaged in a volcanic mudslide in 1926.
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Traditional Japanese Dance and the Unique Flavors of Sendai at Ryokusaikan
(1) Private night tour of Zuihouden, one of Sendai’s leading tourist spots. Zuihouden is the mausoleum of Lord Date Masamune, the founder of the Sendai domain. Enjoy the gorgeous, illuminated Zuihouden Hall while learning about the history of the Date clan. The tour includes a special viewing of the main hall and a performance of traditional Japanese musical instruments played in the solemn atmosphere.
(2) Restaurant Shozan is run by the Isawa family, who also own Katsuyama Sake Brewery, a leading brewer of sake in Sendai. A unique sake pairing dinner will be hosted by owner Yuka Isawa at the restaurant. She will guide guests through a special dinner, which includes a selection of exclusive Japanese sake, in Japanese, English, and Chinese.
Before the dinner, take a tour of sake breweries in the area personally selected by Isawa.
(3) At Rinnoji Temple, a temple associated with the Date clan, tour one of the best gardens in the Tohoku region and be led in a private prayer and Zen meditation session. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture as you learn about the history of the Date clan and Rinnoji Temple, as well as the mysteries of Zen. After the prayer and meditation experience, participants have the option to enjoy a taste of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine upon request.
(4) At the Ryokusaikan, where Tanabata decorations and floats from Sendai's festivals are on display, experience the traditional Suzume Odori dance and try your hand at making zunda mochi rice cakes. Upon request, you can also attempt the art of drawing a Japanese sword or making a fan for use in the Suzume Odori dance with specialized instructors.
Professional English, Chinese, and Thai interpreters can be arranged upon request. -
Experience Traditional Culture in the Historic City of Himeji
On this traditional culture tour, spend meaningful time in Himeji, a city where history abounds, and meet the people who keep Japanese traditions alive. Your travels in Himeji will transform normal sightseeing to meaningful encounters.
The tour includes an exclusive nighttime visit to Himeji Castle accompanied by one of Japan's leading researchers on Himeji Castle, who will also provide commentary. The tour also includes a seminar on Japanese swords directly from the Myochin family, who have carried on the swordsmithing tradition in Himeji for 53 generations.
The Japanese sword seminar takes place at the Myochin family's own workshop, where you will learn about the process of making swords from special tamahagane steel using ancient Japanese methods. After learning about the process, visitors can handle a genuine Japanese sword and experience forming the hot steel with a mallet.
Next, receive instruction in Zen meditation at the prestigious Shoshazan Engyoji Temple, founded over 1,000 years ago, directly from the temple's 141st abbot. The secluded mountaintop location and sacred atmosphere, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, is a great spot for a moment to relax. The temple also offers a chance to experience traditional monastic vegetarian cooking and to work with artisans who produce shosha-nuri lacquerware which is unique to the region.
If you want to learn more about art and other aspects of Japanese culture, tours of the Himeji City Museum of Art with commentary by curators are also available.
This is a private tour, so you are able to choose the experiences that interest you and combine them to make your ideal trip.
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Snow Gastronomy Tour Showcasing the Food and Nature of Hokkaido by Private Jet
In Hokkaido you can ski to your heart's content in the world-class powder snow of Niseko.
For lunch, your own table of snow will be set up on the slopes. Enjoy a gastronomic experience by top chefs with glorious views of Mt. Yotei in the background.
Stay at Zaborin, a contemporary ryokan which has earned two Michelin Keys. Inspired by Zen, Zaborin is a tranquil retreat where you can soothe your soul and become one with nature. Applications for accommodations in the winter season are no longer being accepted on the Zaborin website, but we will guide you to your specially reserved rooms.
Visit the world-class Nikka Whiskey Yoichi Distillery, which is the pride of the nearby town of Yoichi. On a private tour just for you, observe the production process and then sample some rare whiskies not normally served to visitors.
Next, head to Sapporo City and dine at Sushi Tanaka, a restaurant that specializes in Hokkaido ingredients. A private space will be reserved to ensure maximum enjoyment.
The following morning, visit Sapporo Central Wholesale Market with the owner of Sushi Tanaka to experience the professional skill that goes into purchasing the finest fish.
Transportation throughout the tour is effortless and hassle-free on a state-of-the-art HondaJet private aircraft along with hired cars. Enjoy your time to the fullest! -
A High-Value Dining Program Set at a Natural Monument, Open Only During Low Tide – Orochi Restaurant
Iwami Tatamigaura, a nationally designated Natural Monument, is often referred to as the "Uyuni Salt Flats of Shimane" due to its stunning reflections of the sky at sunrise and sunset. Its beauty is comparable to the stunning Chichibugahama in Kagawa Prefecture or Unosaki Coast in Akita Prefecture, which are popular for taking Instagram-worthy photos. Because it is a Natural Monument there are very few events held at Tatamigaura, but this event with host a Kagura performance here to create a truly extraordinary and immersive experience.
We will invite performers of Iwami Kagura, a Traditional Cultural Heritage of Hamada City that is nationally recognized as Japan Heritage. Iwami Kagura has also been selected to perform at the Osaka Expo in 2025, and this event will help to build up momentum for that. By inviting visitors to enjoy the local food and culture, we hope that this will lead to more people discovering the appeal of Hamada City's diverse resources.
In additional, the event will also showcase dishes made using local ingredients, such as fresh seafood (including "Nodoguro" blackthroat seaperch) landed at the San'in Hamada Port, and the beef from castrated and virgin cattle raised in Shimane Prefecture. The beef is highly praised and has twice received the Prime Minister's Prize at the National Wagyu Excellence Contest, a competition for the quality of Japanese beef.
There is a lack of nighttime entertainment in Shimane Prefecture, and data shows that people often just eat at accommodation facilities, but this event was designed to extend into nighttime. By holding this event and tour, we aim to stimulate nighttime tourism in Shimane Prefecture by encouraging people to go out at night. -
Activities in the tea fields of Uji surrounded by the scent of mist, where you can experience "another Kyoto" that has continued for 800 years
Enjoy a variety of handmade experiences using high-quality tea leaves inside a former tea factory. Try your hand at "tea tasting" in the hidden tea fields shrouded in deep mist, or take part in a "hand-rolled tea making" experience, where you can make your own original tea by kneading the tea leaves by hand. There is also a programme called the "tea chef experience," in which you can cook and serve foods such as "cha-gayu" (tea porridge) and "Uji tea cookies." In the Yamada area of the Kamo District of Kizugawa City, another Kyoto that is unknown to many but has a free-spirited culture, you can experience the little-known origins of Uji tea culture.
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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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Enjoy the Onsen Culture and Natural Beauty of Shiga Kogen: "Long-Stay Nature Tour" and "ONSEN Gastronomy Tour"
[Long-Stay Nature Tour]
・Get an up-close view of wild monkeys bathing in the hot springs at the ever-popular Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, wild snow monkey park.
・A guide will take you through the winding streets of the Yudanaka, Shibu, and Kanbayashi Onsen areas. The labyrinth-like alleys will make you feel as if you're on a journey through another world.
・These onsen towns have thrived thanks to the blessings of the surrounding mountains. With a nature guide by your side, you’ll explore the natural and cultural beauty of Shiga Kogen. A gondola ride to an altitude of 2,000 meters ensures that even those worried about their stamina can comfortably participate.
・Most accommodations have onsen or large baths within facilities, so after a day of hiking, you can soothe your tired body and fully appreciate the healing power of the hot water.
[ONSEN Gastronomy Tour]
・On the first day, you’ll participate in the PREMIUM ONSEN Gastronomy Walking Tour, strolling about 5km through the onsen towns and enjoying the local produce of Yamanouchi Town like fruit and sake at various gastronomy points.
・After the walk, relax and unwind with a soak in one of the area's hot springs.
・On the second day, you’ll explore various spots that allow you to experience the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the Yudanaka & Shibu Onsen Resort, including a visit to Jigokudani Yaen-Koen.
・Yamanouchi Town, home to the world’s only place where wild Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) bathe in hot springs, is also where you’ll find the "Yudanaka & Shibu Onsen Resort", with a history dating back 1,300 years. The stone-paved streets in Shibu Onsen and traditional eaves of this onsen town evoke a nostalgic atmosphere.
・It is possible to book this tour as a one-day walking event. -
Weaving the Ryukyu Story on Izena Island: A Tour of King Sho En’s History and Nature Exploration
This tour is designed to immerse you in the traditions, culture, performing arts, and natural beauty of Izena Island, which still retains a strong trace of the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Throughout the tour, local residents, who are knowledgeable about the history and culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom, will accompany you as interpreter guides.
In the "King Sho En Special Guide" tour, descendants of King Sho En's family will personally guide you through the birthplace of the kings who ruled the Ryukyu Kingdom for 450 years. You will also have the opportunity to dress in traditional Ryukyu royal costumes and take commemorative photos.
The "Traditional Festival Experience" allows you to visit sites where island residents still practice sacred rituals and festivals, such as "Shinugu," "Naakuchi" and "Iruchayo," which are used to pray for bountiful harvests and fishing. You will get to experience these time-honored traditions through simulated participation.
In the "Traditional Performing Arts Experience," the island's performers will deliver a lecture through which you can experience "Sho En Drums," a traditional performing art of the island that uses Japanese drums, and the sanshin, a three-stringed instrument.
For the "Nature Appreciation Plan," you can choose between enjoying the breathtaking natural beauty and stunning sea views with a clear kayak experience or a special cruising and fishing experience."