The Best Organized Food and Culinary Tours through Japan
Guided Group Tours, Vacation Packages, or Planned Itineraries through destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Mount Fuji
Are you ready to dive into a world of culinary delights and indulge in the most exquisite flavors? We've scoured through a variety of food and culinary organized tours, holiday packages, and tour packages in Japan from highly reviewed companies, meticulously analyzing key criteria such as service, price, guest ratings, enticing destinations, and immersive activities. Join a delectable journey through Japan, where you'll have the opportunity to savor local delicacies, embark on food tastings, explore bustling markets, and even participate in hands-on cooking classes. Whether you're a seasoned foodie or simply curious about local cuisine, these tours are sure to satisfy your appetite for adventure!
The Best Food and Culinary Tours through Japan
Including guided tours, organized tours, holiday packages, all-inclusive vacations, and guided itineraries.
All tour prices are listed in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically. While we do our best to evaluate all tours to maintain accuracy, always confirm the details directly with TourRadar or the tour company before booking. The information provided on this website is sourced directly from TourRadar and may change at any time.
Why does Japan appeal to foodies?
Japan entices food lovers with its flavorful cuisine and emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya are foodie destinations with fantastic cuisine and world-class restaurants. The region's blend of traditional recipes and contemporary innovation creates a food culture as vibrant as its people and landscapes.
How much do food and culinary tours in Japan cost?
The average daily price of Food and Culinary Tours in Japan is $487 per day. Prices can vary widely due to the included amenities, length of the trip, number of guests on the tour, and many other factors. If you want more information about prices, we have put together a complete analysis of the costs of Food and Culinary Tours in Japan here.
We partner with TourRadar because they offer the world's largest selection of multi-day organized tours, offering seamless travel experiences while supporting local businesses. It's the perfect way to explore new destinations with ease and confidence.
Which Tour Companies Offer Food and Culinary Tours?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer culinary tours in Japan. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
UME Travel Co. Ltd
UME Travel Co. Ltd offers local cultural tours through Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and others. Most participants are adults and the tours range in length from 4 days to 4 weeks. Despite being priced a bit higher, the small group sizes create a more personal and unique experience for travelers. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. Many of their tours are priced in the mid-range category.
See All Tours from UME Travel Co. Ltd
Explore!
Explore! Is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. A number of their tours visit destinations in Europe and Asia. Some of their most popular destinations include India, Italy, Vietnam, and Spain. A large number of their tours fall within in the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as island hopping, wine tasting, camping, whale watching, white water rafting, and bird watching.
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include Australia, Thailand, Tanzania, and Italy. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as camping, wine tasting, snorkelling, kayaking, cooking classes, island hopping, white water rafting, surfing, horse riding, whale watching, and bird watching.
See All Tours from Intrepid Travel
Food and Culinary Destinations in Japan
Wondering where food and culinary tours visit in Japan? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Tokyo
Tokyo is the high tech, ultramodern capital city of Japan. It's filled with neon lights and high reaching skyscrapers, but there are also many hidden temples and historic neighborhoods tucked away. You can spend your days wandering through green parks and your nights singing karaoke in one of the many bars around town.
With an astonishing number of Michelin star restaurants, this is one of the most interesting and impressive food destinations in the world. Not all restaurants are high end though. You'll find plenty of cheap eateries that offer their own rewarding culinary experience. Must try local dishes include okonomiyaki, ramen, and of course, sushi.
Osaka
Osaka is an economic and commercial center in Japan that attracts tourists for its world class culinary scene and vibrant nightlife. The neon lights, high energy shopping areas, and high reaching skyscrapers make this a fascinating and fun Japanese city to experience.
It's one of the top culinary cities in Japan, and you'll find both local and regional dishes throughout. Street food is famous here, but there are also award winning restaurants and small traditional venues. Sushi and sashimi is a favorite, and it's focused simple and high quality ingredients. You'll find some great sushi restaurants around Kuromon Ichiba Market. Another unique experience is to visit a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. Land lovers should try the Yakiniku and Horumon, which is Japanese barbecue. And, of course, there's the ramen. Don't miss the ramen!
Kyoto
Kyoto was once the capital of Japan, and today it is a beautiful historic city that is filled with temples and traditional neighborhoods. There are gardens and palaces as well as traditional shops and dining opportunities. The city is filled with culture and fascinating places to wander and explore.
The local cuisine is as beautiful as it is delicious. There is a long running history to many of the dishes, and the recipes are expertly prepared by world class chefs at many of the restaurants. You can enjoy everything from a tea ceremony to multi-course meals, referred to as kyo kaiseki.
Kanazawa
Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture and some people consider it a "Little Kyoto". The city has several traditional areas with preserved buildings. There are also museums and large markets to explore.
There's a long history to the city's cuisine and you'll find many diverse dishes that combine traditional ingredients with international fusion. The cuisine uses a lot of seafood, but you'll also find the one pot meal of Hanton Rice, Oden (hot pot), and Jibu-ni (made with duck and vegetables).
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Other popular destinations for food and culinary tours through Japan include Takayama, Mount Fuji, and Uji.
Food and Culinary Tours vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons
When deciding between a self-planned trip and an organized tour, remember to evaluate the key features of each travel style.
Organized Tours
- Guides provide in-depth knowledge about each dish and restaurant.
- Tours offer a curated experience, saving time.
- You get access to hidden food spots locals love.
- Logistics, including transport and reservations, are handled.
- Enjoy a variety of food in a short amount of time.
- Learn about the local food culture and traditions.
- Socialize with fellow food enthusiasts.
- Make the most of your time by visiting multiple spots.
- Some tours include beverage pairings with meals.
- Limited flexibility with the schedule.
- Group dynamics may slow down personal exploration.
- Cultural experiences may be limited to general tastes.
Independent Travel
- You control the itinerary and food choices.
- Customize the experience based on your preferences.
- Spend as much time as you want at each spot.
- Research and planning take time.
- Finding the best spots can be tricky.
- Coordinating transport and timing can be complicated.
- Miss out on expert insights about the dishes.
- Risk of ending up at tourist traps.
- Unpredictable closures or availability of places.
- Limited variety in the amount of food you can try.
- Language barriers may cause communication issues.
Which is cheaper?
Is traveling independently less expensive than taking guided culinary tours? The answer isn't straightforward. Guided tours often include services like hotels, transportation, meals, entry tickets, guides, and activities, all of which you would need to arrange and pay for individually if traveling on your own. To determine the cost difference, you'd need to compare the total cost of the tour package with the cost of booking everything separately. You may prefer a less expensive hotel or splurge on dining, so the cost of a tour could either save you money or cost you more. Be sure to review what's included in the tour package before making your comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, The Best Historical Tours in Japan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Japan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Japan, The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Japan, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Eco Tours in Japan, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Japan, The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in Japan, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, The Best Music Tours in Japan, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, The Best Religious Tours in Japan, The Best Walking Tours in Japan, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Japan, The Best Luxury Tours to Japan, The Best Budget Tours to Japan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Japan, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, or The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.
Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Osaka, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Fukuoka, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 10-Day Tours from Osaka, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Osaka, or The Best 2-Week Tours from Kyoto for more package tour options.
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