Discover the hidden gems of Japanese Vegan Cuisine with the famous Vegan influential expert Miyoko Schinner
This 11-day tour will take you on an unforgettable journey across seven prefectures and introduce you to treasured historical sites, time-honored traditions, and of course, delectable vegan cuisine. In between the local artisan-run workshops, vegan meals, and breathtaking landscapes, you will lodge at high-end ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) where Japanese hospitality meets utter relaxation. With your tour guides’ friendly support, you can enjoy a stress-free Japanese experience without any language barrier worries. To top it all off, this tour will be held during one of Japan’s most beautiful times of year—cherry blossom season.
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Reach Tokyo Narita Airport where our local guides, who will be with you for the entirety of the tour, will meet you up and guide you to your private shuttle bus to reach Ana Intercontinental Tokyo hotel. Check-in and enjoy your free time in your first night in Japan in the vibrant Tokyo.
ANA InterContinental Tokyo is a luxury 5-star hotel located in Akasaka in the heart of Tokyo.
We start our quest for authentic Japanese Vegan food in Shizuoka, the capital of Japanese Green Tea. Our first stop will be a local vegan restaurant where you will be served tea along with a premium vegan course featuring seasonal and local products of Shizuoka. After lunch, we will also make a stop at a local tea farm where we would be granted exclusive access to the factory to learn about tea cultivation process and the different varieties consumed in Japan by having a first tasting experience. For the evening, we will be welcomed in a traditional onsen ryokan nestled inside the Izu peninsula. Enjoy a kaiseki dinner and enjoy the health benefits of the hot springs by soaking into natural onsen.
Taste different varieties of green tea consumed in Japan and learn about harvesting and cultivation processes.
Beautiful Japanese Ryokan in Izu with delicious vegan culinary choices and natural hot springs.
On this day, we will head back to Shizuoka where we will attend a workshop based on Shizuoka traditional Suruga Bamboo Lattice Ware at Takumishuku. Discover the elegance of this traditional craft recognized for its cultural importance by the Japanese government and create your own unique flower vase using “maruhigo” or rounded bamboo strips. Afterwards, we will head to Gyokuro no Sato. Situated along the beautiful cherry trees lined banks of the Asahina River, it is one of Japan's three largest Gyokuro (high quality) green tea-producing areas. At the tea house “Hyogetsutei”, in front of the gourd-shaped pond, you will be able to enjoy the traditional tea ceremony experience with either Gyokuro or matcha-powdered tea. A tea ceremony master will serve you excellent green tea and teach you the manners of the tea ceremony and how to appreciate the tea utensils. Later, you will also attend a "matcha" calligraphy session, a new concept of writing letters using matcha green tea instead of ink. The vivid green color gradually changes to brown when exposed to air, which is the charm of this calligraphy style. For the evening, back to our onsen ryokan in Izu.
Learn the traditional manners of the tea ceremony from a tea master and learn how to appreciate the utensils.
Calligraphy workshop experimenting a new concept of writing letters using matcha green tea instead of ink.
Try out this traditional craft and create your own unique flower vase using “maruhigo” or rounded bamboo strips.
Beautiful Japanese Ryokan in Izu with delicious vegan culinary choices and natural hot springs.
Today, we leave Shizuoka prefecture behind and we move north costing Mt. Fuji. Along the road, enjoy the views of the most famous volcano around the world before reaching the temple of Kuon-ji. Here, we will tour the temple and attend a vegan-class based on local specialties, including award-winning Yuba (Japanese tofu skin). As we reach Nagano, we will be making our first stop at Takashima Castle with its spectacular sakura cherry trees starting to blossom as we enter spring season. For evening, we reach Matsumoto, a vibrant city surrounded by the beautiful Japanese Alps. Enjoy your free time walking around the old town or relax yourself in your accommodation just in front of the Matsumoto Castle.
Vegan-class based on local specialties from Minobu town, including award-winning Japanese Yuba.
It is known as the “Floating Castle” for being the highest elevated castle ever constructed in Japan.
Located close to Matsumoto Castle, is a comfortable modern hotel to explore the city and nearby attractions.
On this day, we have a short day trip to Azumino, famous visit the Daio Wasabi Farm, Japan's largest wasabi town. Here, together with our local guide, you will visit the great wasabi plantation of Daiou Wasabi Farm and taste for lunch a local handmade Shinshu Soba with fresh grated wasabi. At the end of your visit in Azumino, you will also stop by the farm of our local guide, learn about her farming life and taste her homemade soy sauce variety. Back to Matsumoto for dinner time.
Learn about Azumino Wasabi and local soy sauce varieties produced in Nagano.
Located close to Matsumoto Castle, is a comfortable modern hotel to explore the city and nearby attractions.
In your last day in Matsumoto, we will be visiting Obuse, an artistic and vibrant small town rich of local artisan shops where the heritage of Katsushika Hokusai is still strong nowadays in its masterpieces. Here we will tour first a miso shop with more than 250 years where we will learn about the unique flavor of Shinshu Miso and try to make our own in a miso-making experience. Later, we will stop for lunch at a ramen restaurant nearby which makes use of the same miso variety for its famous vegan ramen. We will continue our trip by having a factory and sake tasting tour at Matsubaya, a Sake brewery rewarded first-place last year for its excellent quality among the new brews of sake. In the afternoon, we will also visit the Ukiyo-e master Hokusai Museum to appreciate its artistic heritage and relax hopping shop by shop in the old town. At the end of your day, you will be able to unwind yourself at Tobira Onsen Myojinkan, a luxury hot spring resort nestled in the mountains of Matsumoto.
Factory tour and tasting experience at a 200-years-old sake brewery.
Hands-on experience at Kokuhei brewery, a 250-year-old miso shop in Obuse.
Tribute to the renowned Japanese artist Hokusai Katsushika who spent last years of his life in Obuse.
Located close to Matsumoto Castle, is a comfortable modern hotel to explore the city and nearby attractions.
Today, we leave Nagano behind and transfer by bullet train "Shinkansen" to Kanazawa. Upon arrival, have an exclusive Kenroku-en Garden Tour, one of Japan's most beautiful landscape gardens. For dinner, savor local Vegan Sushi and enjoy your free time strolling around Higashichaya, the famous geisha district of the city. Your accommodation for the following two nights would be Hyatt Centric Kanazawa.
Tea ceremony experience and special guided tour.
5-stars hotel located close by Kanazawa Station, ideal to explore the city's authentic art, shops and restaurants.
On this day, we will explore the area of Yamanaka Onsen, famous for its arts and crafts. We will be granted exclusive access to a performance and guided tour at the Yamanakaza. This theater is dedicated to preserving Yamanaka-bushi, Yamanaka Onsen’s iconic folk song. Get entertained by geisha and her musical instruments and enjoy the authentic atmosphere. After lunch, visit Nata-dera Temple, a historic Buddhist temple worshipping mother nature. The forest surrounding the temple provides a place for healing and unwinding yourself during this eventful trip. Our last activity of the day would be a workshop based on Yamanaka Natural Lacquerware. Decorate a beautiful bento box with Japanese motifs and bring it back home as souvenir of your trip. Conclude the day with a gourmet dinner in Kanazawa.
Enjoy geisha performances of Yamanaka Onsen's famous folk song inside a traditional theater.
Yamanaka Lacquerware style - Bento Box making experience.
Buddhist temple which represent the best expression of buddhist harmony between nature and human life.
5-stars hotel located close by Kanazawa Station, ideal to explore the city's authentic art, shops and restaurants.
Today, we head south to reach the famous buddhist monastery of Eiheiji, originally founded by Zen Master Dōgen in 1244. Retreat yourself for a day and actively partake into monk's life by attending an authentic meditation session before relaxing at your ryokan and enjoying buddhism vegan cuisine "shojinryori".
One of the most notorious buddhist monastery of Japan, originally founded by Zen Master Dōgen in 1244.
Zen program for the pilgrims visiting Eiheiji Temple.
Modern Japanese style hotel that offers Zen retreat program to its visitors.
On your final day, we will head Kansai area and cross the beautiful Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake with its famous Shirahige Shrine. Take a memorable picture of your journey to Japan with your dears and Miyoko before reaching the romantic canal city of Omihachiman. Navigate on a boat tour through the canals of the city surrounded by sakura cherry trees and feel the spring at its best. Your day concludes in the ancient capital of Kyoto, where you will spend your last wonderful night at Dusit Thani hotel.
Located north-west of Lake Biwa, its large vermilion torii gate in the middle of the lake has about 2000 years ago.
Enjoy a boat tour through the canals of the old town under wonderful cherry blossoms trees.
5-star luxury hotel in Kyoto with visual nods to both Japanese and Thai cultures and traditions.
Your journey in Japan concludes today. At 10:00 AM, a bus leaving from your hotel in Kyoto will take you to Kansai International Airport for your onward departure (2h route to reach the airport). It is time to say goodbye to our fantastic guides and Miyoko Schinner, unless you would like to book an extension tour with us through other wonderful vegan-friendly destinations in Japan!
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