Flavors of Tokyo Cultural & Culinary Adventure

After checking into your hotel in the heart of Tokyo, you will have the opportunity to explore the city before settling down at a traditional restaurant for a delicious shabu-shabu dinner. Shabu-shabu is a traditional Japanese experience in which you cook a variety of meats and vegetables in a simmering broth set over a burner on your table.

Each morning, relax and enjoy breakfast with breathtaking city and mountain views. The hotel serves a Western and Japanese style buffet breakfast on the 25th floor in the ART Lounge. Breakfast is included in your tour.

Tsukiji is home to the world’s largest fish market. More than 1,000 bustling food establishments line the streets of the market and its surroundings, filled with fresh tuna and hundreds of different types of fish. The freshest and finest foods from around the world can be found here. With your English-speaking professional chef, you will learn about all varieties of fish and natural produce, visit the auction floor, and even have the opportunity to sample different varieties of fish and sauces. In the afternoon you will proceed to your cooking class, where you will put the fish to good use, learning how to make a variety of sushi, nigari and sashimi dishes.

Each morning, relax and enjoy breakfast with breathtaking city and mountain views. The hotel serves a Western and Japanese style buffet breakfast on the 25th floor in the ART Lounge. Breakfast is included in your tour.

This morning you will embark upon a journey through the Japanese countryside to glorious Mount Fuji. Cast your gaze on the majestic views from Tenjosan Park and enjoy a sweeping panorama of Lake Kawaguchi. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the shores of Lake Kawaguchi before traveling on to a nearby fruit orchard in the small town of Misaka. Here you will have the opportunity to pick and eat fresh grapes, peaches, strawberries and cherries (depending upon the season) and visit a local winery where you will sample some of Japan’s best wines. During March-April you might even witness the debut of the beautiful Japanese Cherry Blossoms.

Each morning, relax and enjoy breakfast with breathtaking city and mountain views. The hotel serves a Western and Japanese style buffet breakfast on the 25th floor in the ART Lounge. Breakfast is included in your tour.

Did you know that noodles originated from the Eastern Countries of Japan and China before being brought over to Italy and transformed into what we now know as “pasta” today? In your hands-on cooking class you will learn about the origin of each variety of noodle, and what it has come to represent in Eastern culture. You will learn how to make the perfect Ramen broth (known as dashi) which is the staple to all Japanese cooking. From there you will learn how to cook the meats and eggs, and handcraft a variety of noodles. After your course, you will have the opportunity to sit across from your hosts, dine on delicious Japanese Ramen, and learn more about the culture of the Japanese people. In the afternoon you will spend some time exploring Tokyo City and visit the Askusa Temple and Meiji Shrine.

Each morning, relax and enjoy breakfast with breathtaking city and mountain views. The hotel serves a Western and Japanese style buffet breakfast on the 25th floor in the ART Lounge. Breakfast is included in your tour.

Your day will begin with a visit to the local market to select ingredients for your final cooking class. Today you will learn about the balance of a traditional Japanese meal – called Washoku cuisine (we know it as a Bento Box). Washoku cuisine is known as one of the most ancient (and healthiest) cuisines in the world, and is protected by the UNESCO world heritage organization. Washoku cuisine is based on rice with miso soup, and side dishes of fish, pickled vegetables, and vegetables cooked tempura style. In your cooking class you will have the unique experience of learning how to prepare a perfectly balanced Washoku meal, complete with Tempura vegetables. After your hard work, you will dine on the cuisine you helped prepare, followed by an evening out in Tokyo City.

Each morning, relax and enjoy breakfast with breathtaking city and mountain views. The hotel serves a Western and Japanese style buffet breakfast on the 25th floor in the ART Lounge. Breakfast is included in your tour.

After a delicious breakfast, depart on a tour of Tokyo City. Here you will explore the iconic Tokyo Tower, the picturesque neighborhoods of Asakusa, the shopping streets of Nakamise and even stop by the Imperial Palace. You will be driven around Tokyo Bay and see many more incredible sites. In the evening you will embark on an evening tour of some of Tokyo’s most dazzling street vendors. As the center of the food trend in Tokyo, Ebisu is a huge theme park of food, with new restaurants emerging every day. Here you will experience the famous Japanese Izakaya (skewers), a similar concept to Spanish Tapas. You will experience both the old and new iterations of the food culture in Tokyo, trying dishes such as yakitori, edamame, sashimi, sake, okonomiyaki, and many other exotic dishes designed to mold your memories of this amazing tour of Japan’s capital city.

Each morning, relax and enjoy breakfast with breathtaking city and mountain views. The hotel serves a Western and Japanese style buffet breakfast on the 25th floor in the ART Lounge. Breakfast is included in your tour.

Time flies when you’re having so much fun, but alas…it is time to check out and depart this delicious, asian paradise. Remember, you can always extend your stay based on availability. Should you desire an extension, please let your culinary travel specialist know prior to your journey abroad. May your future travels come from sweet dreams, and create tasty memories!