Itinerary - Green Wood Tourism, Myanmar Travel, Tour, sightseeing

8Days Food for Through
Tour Information:
Tour ID: GOT-001-EN
Theme: Japan Gourmet Tours
Season: Round Year
Start: Tokyo
Finish: Osaka
Group size: 2-15
Travel style: Youth in Action
Summary
Tours Destinations
Tokyo - Nagoya - Osaka - Kobe
Tour Description
For those of you who put an emphasis on trying out as much local food as possible when traveling, ILJT
presents to you a simple gourmet tour that feature delicacies from both East, Central, and West Japan!
While traveling and sightseeing in Japan, you will have the chance to try out various food in various
settings, be it an exotic tempura dinner in an atmospheric izakaya, a crab meat lunch in a restaurant
behind a robotic crab mascot, or a meal of the finest Japanese beef served by the chef right in front of you!
In other words, wherever you go, this tour will provide you cultural and gastronomical satisfaction!
One of the several Gourmet Tours that we offer, our Food for Thought is really something to consider!
Tour Highlights
 Experience Japan on two levels: cultural sightseeing and local dining
 Explore the best of Tokyo’s urban landscape, during both daytime and the evening
 Feast on the freshest sushi in Tokyo and the most famous crab in Osaka
 See some of the biggest castles in Japan with historical significance
 Visit automotive museums of Toyota and Kawasaki
 Have authentic, real Kobe beef from its place of origin
 ...And many more!
Itinerary
Day1: Tokyo
Arrival at Narita International Airport Transfer to Tokyo Hotel check-in Free day in Tokyo
Our staff will be waiting to greet you at the airport. You will be transferred to Tokyo using the Narita
Express, whereupon you will check into your hotel in the heart of Tokyo. You will then be given a briefing
and a rundown on your itinerary
After the exhausting flight to Japan, you deserve a good rest for the remainder of the day. Drop your
luggage, catch a breather, adapt to the surroundings, maybe call your family and friends at home to share
your excitement. In case you have not already done so, the first day is a good opportunity to exchange
your currency for yen and rent a mobile/wi-fi router.
Be sure to equip yourselves for your gourmet adventure on the days to follow!
Day2: Tokyo
Ginza →Tsukiji (lunch) → Harajuku → Omotesando → Roppongi (dinner) → Hotel in Tokyo
11:00 - Day start
Your day will start near noon, so you will have the whole morning to yourselves. Your guide will pick you up
at the hotel lobby.
11:30 - 12:30 - Ginza
We will start the day by taking a stroll along Ginza, a prosperous and lively urban center. The area is lined
with renowned department stores and luxurious boutiques and restaurants, making it a highly popular
shopping district. There are also impressive works of architecture that make for great pictures, such as the
Kabuki-za theater.
At the end of the walk you will find yourselves at Tsukiji, the largest fish market in the world.
12:30 - 14:00 - Tsukiji (lunch)
For lunch, you will have sushi, a world-renowned Japanese dish of raw fish eaten with bite-sized balls of
vinegared rice. The taste is largely affected by the texture and freshness of the fish, which makes Tsukiji
one of the best places to eat high-quality sushi. Professional sushi chefs will serve you finely prepared sushi
rice with the freshest fish directly from the market.
You can also use the excess time after lunch to roam around the market area to shop for seafood products,
and maybe some snacks for later.
14:30 - 15:30 - Harajuku
After lunch, we will take the train to Harajuku. Harajuku Station partitions two very contrasting areas. To
its west is Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife,
Empress Shoken. To its east is Takeshita-dori, a trendy street lined up with boutiques and local stores
selling all kinds of fashion items for young people.
While much of the shrine area is located deep within a vast forest, the easily accessible main gate, which is
a gigantic wooden torii gate that bears the Imperial Seal of Japan, is just as much of an attraction in itself.
The general tranquility of the shrine area is proof of the Japanese veneration toward the late Emperor.
Takeshita-dori, a symbol of Harajuku as well as of Japanese teenage culture, is an interesting place with its
hodgepodge of shops and stalls. Walking along the street, you will occasionally catch sight of young
Japanese people clad in the most extreme fashion styles. You can also buy clothes and accessories at a
bargain price, should the colorful lineup of goods interest you.
15:30 - 16:30 - Omotesando
Parallel to Takeshita-dori is Omotesando, a road in the Aoyama area that leads to and away from Meiji
Shrine. Notably less cramped than its neighboring street, the avenue is nevertheless a busy one. Here you
can find numerous brand stores and boutiques, as well as cafés and restaurants. The goods are relatively
more expensive than those at Takeshita-dori, but the selection is eclectic in this 1-kilometer-long shopping
area. The atmosphere is also more European in comparison, which makes it a classy place to take a walk in.
Go wild with your shopping here!
17:00 - 18:30 - Roppongi (dinner)
Late in the afternoon, we will take the train to Roppongi, a so-called city within the city of Tokyo. Building
complexes such as Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills provide an urban landscape that is nothing short of
inspiring, with stylish walks and platforms, fancy shops, artistic museums, and tall skyscrapers. From
Roppongi, you can also see Tokyo Tower, one of the most important landmarks in the capital of Japan.
As you have walked intensively in the day, we have arranged for you to dine at an exquisite Japanese
izakaya where you can unwind and rest. You will sit down in the beautifully decorated interior of the
restaurant, which is designed to recreate an old Edo feel. The menu itself feature a lot of traditional
Japanese cuisine, such as tempura, yakitori, and seafood grilled on special Japanese charcoals (binchotan).
From the small platters to the big dishes, you can feast on some of the best classic Japanese dinners in a
very relaxing atmosphere.
By the time you are done with your meal, the sun will have completely set, allowing you to see the city
once again in a different light. The illumination on Tokyo tower should also start to light up. Enjoy the view
of nighttime Tokyo before we leave Roppongi.
19:00 - Back at the hotel in Tokyo
After a full day of sightseeing, shopping, and dining, you will return to the hotel and rest. Your guide will
brief you to give you a rough idea of what you can do on your next day. Feel free to consult and ask
questions to your guide about places of interest that you want to visit! Your guide will also hand you tickets
for your shinkansen ride on the fourth day.
Day3: Tokyo
Free day in Tokyo
This is your chance to do the Japanese things you have heard so much about, your way! You might want to
do the hip and happening stuff by visiting places you have yet to visit, such as Akihabara, paradise for
anime lovers and tourists in search of consumer electronics. Alternatively, you can also enjoy some of the
cultural aspects of Japan, such as visiting the oldest and most significant Buddhist temple of Tokyo at
Asakusa. The possibilities are endless!
This is also your chance to enjoy other local delicacies, such as Tokyo’s signature monjayaki!
Day4: Nagoya
Hotel check-out → Self-guided transfer to Nagoya → Hotel check-in → Lunch → Nagoya Castle → Toyota
Techno Museum → Dinner → Hotel in Nagoya
09:00 - Day start
It is time to leave Tokyo for your next destination, Nagoya. Check out of your hotel, and go to the train
station as your guide previously instructed you to. You will be riding on a shinkansen (bullet train).
11:00 - Arrival at Nagoya
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your guide at the station. You will then drop your luggage at the hotel
and proceed on a full-day excursion around Nagoya.
11:30 - 13:00 - Lunch
Your lunch will be one of the most beloved local delicacies of Nagoya - miso-katsu. This popular dish, while
now found all over Japan due to its rich taste, originates in this city. The sweet combination of the deepfried pork cutlet with the ever-flavorful miso sauce is just heavenly. This is the perfect food to fill you with
the stamina you need to explore the city of Nagoya.
13:30 - 14:45 - Nagoya Castle
Your first destination after lunch is Nagoya Castle. Originally constructed in the Edo Period, the castle was
destroyed in the World War II due to air raids. The castle has been rebuilt since, and the newest
reconstruction efforts have allowed visitors to see the entrance of original palace (Honmaru Goten) with its
beautifully painted sliding doors. As the project to restore the complete palace is scheduled to finish soon,
this is also your chance to observe the traditional castle construction techniques!
On top of the teal-colored main keep are two golden dolphins The colors, which contrast and yet
complement each other makes the castle look majestic even from afar. The castle grounds also house
many smaller donjons that are interconnected. Overall, the castle is massive, and you will have a blast
exploring the insides of the massive stone walls of Nagoya Castle.
15:15 - 16:30 - Toyota Techno Museum
Toyota, the giant automobile company, has its headquarters in Nagoya. Naturally, many of its corporate
museums are found in the city as well. We will take a train to one of them - the Toyota Commemorative
Museum of Industry and Technology. Car enthusiasts rejoice; this high-tech museum exhibits the industrial
and technological breakthroughs of the company through real machines and moving exhibits!
17:00 - 18:30 - Dinner
For dinner, you will try out Nagoya-style tebasaki. Tebasaki are seasoned, deep-fried chicken wings that are
made without batter. Crispy, salty and spicy, they make a great accompaniment to ice cold beer.
19:00 - Check into the hotel in Nagoya
At the end of the day, you will return to the hotel to check-in. Your luggage, which has been dropped there
earlier in the day, will be waiting for you in your room. Have a good rest, because the next day is just as
intensive!
Day5: Osaka
Hotel check-out → Self-guided transfer to Osaka → Hotel check-in → Free day in Osaka
In the morning, you will check out of your hotel in Nagoya and head to the main station, where you will
take another shinkansen to Osaka. Upon arrival, you will check into your new hotel. You will then have
time to unwind and explore the biggest city in West Japan at your own pace.
Day6: Osaka
Osaka Castle → Namba (lunch) → Shinsaibashi → Umeda Sky Building → Hotel in Osaka
10:00 - Day start
Your guide will greet you at the hotel lobby. Prepare for a full-day excursion around the city of Osaka.
10:30 - 12:30 - Osaka Castle
Our first destination is Osaka Castle - the symbol of the city with its 500-year history. While the colors are
similar, there is a distinct difference in design between this castle and the one you visited in Nagoya.
You will be able to enjoy panoramic view of Osaka from the castle observatory and visit the castle’s
museum. Due to the castle being reconstructed in the 20th century, unlike in other castles, getting to the
observatory floor is not an exhausting affair of climbing up countless flights of stairs, but merely a matter
of taking an elevator. This makes it easier for your group to move around within the castle tower.
The Nishinomaru Garden west to the castle is a beautiful lawn garden with nice views of the castle tower
and verdant trees. As an extra bonus, in spring, you can have a hanami (flower viewing) session when the
600 cherry blossom trees are in full bloom.
The grand Osaka castle is complemented by a massive park, which covers over 1 km2 in surface area. Here
you can find many facilities such as concert halls and sports fields, as well as groves and fountains.
13:00 - 14:30 - Namba (lunch)
We will then head for Namba, the center of the south area of Osaka. Namba is a famous entertainment
district in Osaka, with its iconic Glico Man neon sign and, of course, the crab restaurant, Kani Doraku.
The giant motorized crab on the front of the restaurant is a recognized symbol of Osaka, but the restaurant
itself is not just for show. With various crab dishes ranging from raw crab delicacies to crab meat steaks,
any lunch here will certainly be a meal to remember the city by.
After the fulfilling meal, you will take a stroll around the area to enjoy the bustle of daytime Osaka.
14:30 - 16:00 - Shinsaibashi
Shinsaibashi is a short distance away from Namba. This area is a well-known shopping district, with many
brand shops, boutiques, and department stores lining up the street. Shinsaibashi’s popularity as a shopping
area is due to it having something for everyone of every age. For young and active people, there is
Amerikamura (American Village) among others, which, as its name suggests, is an American-themed
shopping center.
Go wild; it is time to shop for souvenirs to bring back home!
16:30 - 17:30 - Umeda Sky Building
Moving up to the north area of Osaka, we will arrive at Umeda Sky Building. It is actually a set of two
parallel towers, conjoined at the top by the Floating Garden Observatory. Looking up from the base, the
hole in the middle of the platform resembles a giant skylight. The main attraction is undoubtedly on top of
the open-air observatory itself. The view of the city skyline at dusk is absolutely stunning. Enjoy the
changing colors of the city as the sun gradually sets! There are also the famous “Love Locks” left by visiting
couples. For those of you in love, you can buy one of these to vow your eternal devotion!
18:00 - Back to the hotel in Osaka
At the end of the day, you will take the train back to your hotel. The guide will take his/her leave.
Afterwards, for dinner, you can check out another local delicacy of Osaka - okonomiyaki - by yourselves. On
the next day is a day-trip to Kobe, where you will have the long-awaited Kobe beef!
Day7: Kobe
Transfer to Kobe → Kobe Harborland → Meriken Park → Lunch → Kobe Chinatown → Hotel in Osaka
09:00 - Day start
You will meet up with your guide at the hotel lobby. We will leave Osaka in the morning for Kobe, one of
the main port cities in Japan. It is an attractive city with many modern design elements, and it is famous for
its beef.
10:00 - Arrival at Kobe
10:15 - 11:15 - Kobe Harborland
There is nothing better to start the morning in Kobe than a stroll along Kobe Harborland. This place is a
quaint shopping district that doubles as a park to have nice walks in. Located at the waterfront of Kobe,
many attractions here emphasize the view of the sea. The nicely decorated promenades feature some
unique designs, and overall the area provides the atmosphere of an antiquated harbor.
11:15 - 12:30 - Meriken Park
A short walk away from Harborland is Meriken Park, which by contrast looks rather futuristic with its two
main landmarks employing a modern architectural concept. The first is Kobe Port Tower, which looks like a
giant water tower with red steel frames. The tower is an icon of Kobe itself, and visitors can go to the top
for a view of the city from the observatory. The second is the Kobe Maritime Museum. On top of the allwhite building is a massive steel framework which is shaped like a sail. Together, the sight of the two
structures with clashing colors provides an interesting contrast to the tranquil sea just behind you.
The museum itself exhibits models of ships both modern and historic. One half of the museum is also used
as the corporate museum for Kawasaki, a leading Japanese manufacturer of vehicles. This will be a
continuation of the excitement since Toyota’s museum in Nagoya.
12:45 - 14:15 - Lunch
You will enjoy lunch in a Kobe beef restaurant. Kobe beef is a special grade of beef (wagyu) from cattle
originally raised in Kobe. These cattle are massaged with sake and are fed a daily diet that includes large
amounts of grain. This produces extraordinarily tender, finely marbled, and richly flavorful meat. In fact,
the beef has become so famous throughout the world that it became the namesake of an internationally
celebrated basketball star.
14:45 - 16:00 - Kobe Chinatown
After the beef, we will head to the main Chinatown of the Kansai area, Nankinmachi, which literally means
Nanking Town. The colorful street is lined with shops and food stands that sell popular Chinese snacks. Like
the Chinatown in Yokohama and Nagasaki, this place is almost always crowded. Have a blast browsing for
souvenirs here - there are many Chinese items that have undergone a Japanese reinterpretation, which
allows for a unique shopping experience!
17:00 - Back at the hotel in Osaka
After the day in Kobe, we will take the train back to your hotel in Osaka. This will be your last night in Japan
for this trip.
Day8: Osaka
Free day in Osaka → Hotel check-out → Self-guided transfer to Kansai International Airport
By now, you have tried out many of Japan’s local delicacies in many different places. You can use any free
time you have left trying to find even more food before checking out and catching your flight at the airport.
We hope you return home satisfied in more ways than one!
Pricing
2 pers:
3 pers:
4pers:
5 pers:
6-8 pers:
9-15 pers:
USD 1,645
USD 1,394
USD 1,268
USD 1,192
USD 1,142
USD 1,058
***PRICE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. FIND OUT ABOUT THE BEST PRICES FROM
US.
Price Includes
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3-star hotel (7 nights)
Airport transfer on arrival (Narita Express) with a briefing session
Guide on days 2, 4, 6, and 7
Lunch on days 2, 4, 6, and 7
Dinner on days 2 and 4
Entrance tickets on guided days
Train tickets on guided days
Two shinkansen rides (Tokyo - Nagoya, Nagoya - Osaka)
Price does Not Include
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Air Tickets to Japan (separate charges based on seasonal ticket price & airline)
Insurance in Japan
Transportation on free days
Any additional meals, transportation and entrance tickets outside the ones included
Personal expenses such as laundry and phone bills
***Purchase of flight ticket to Japan and visa application is available upon request. Price base on
seasonal ticket price & desired airline. Find out about the best prices and get useful tips from us.