Embark on an unforgettable spring journey across Japan's artistic cities and countryside (March 19–29, 2027). Discover the country's vibrant vegan scene alongside renowned plant-based 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.
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 a local tea master will personally serve you meticulously brewed tea, accompanying a premium vegan course featuring seasonal and local products of Shizuoka. After lunch, we will visit the historic Ogino Seicha for an exclusive afternoon experience. We will begin with a guided walk through the lush tea fields—offering a breathtaking view of Mt. Fuji, weather permitting—before stepping inside the production facility for an insider's look at the tea cultivation and manufacturing process. The true highlight of our visit will be an extraordinary live demonstration of traditional hand-rolling (temomi) by a master tea artisan who won the prestigious 2025 National Hand-Rolling Competition, giving us a rare glimpse into this pinnacle of Japanese tea craftsmanship. 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.
Savor premium green tea, walk through the lush tea fields of Mt. Fuji and enjoy a live demonstration of traditional hand-rolling.
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 through the expert hands of a prestigious artisan 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. 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.
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 move north, skirting the base of Mt. Fuji. Along the road, enjoy breathtaking views of the world's most famous volcano before reaching the sacred temple of Kuon-ji. At this magical time of year, the entire temple complex is surrounded by an ethereal sea of blooming, centuries-old weeping sakura cherry trees. Here, we will be granted an exclusive tour of the temple grounds led by the head monk himself, followed by a delicious lunch focused on local Yamanashi specialties, including the region's award-winning yuba (tofu skin). In the evening, we reach Matsumoto, a vibrant city surrounded by the majestic Japanese Alps. Enjoy your free time walking through the historic old town, or simply relax at your accommodation situated directly in front of the illuminated Matsumoto Castle.
Learn about Nichiren Buddhism and explore the grounds and interiors of Kuon-ji Temple with the head monk.
Located close to Matsumoto Castle, is a comfortable modern hotel to explore the city and nearby attractions.
We begin our morning with a visit to the majestic Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's most beautiful and well-preserved historic fortresses. Afterward, we embark on a short day trip to Azumino, home to the famous Daio Wasabi Farm, Japan's largest wasabi plantation. Here, alongside our local guide, you will explore the lush fields and savor a lunch of handmade Shinshu soba paired with freshly grated wasabi. Before leaving Azumino, we will also stop by our guide's personal farm to learn about her rural lifestyle and taste her artisanal, homemade soy sauce varieties. At the end of the day, you will unwind at Tobira Onsen Myojinkan, a luxury hot spring resort nestled in the mountains of Matsumoto, where you will be staying for two consecutive nights.
Learn about Azumino Wasabi and local soy sauce varieties produced in Nagano.
Known as the "Black Crow" for its striking dark walls, this 16th-century treasure is one of Japan's oldest original fortresses.
Luxurious mountain sanctuary in Matsumoto with exquisite vegan kaiseki dining and rejuvenating hot springs.
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. 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. Back to Tobira Onsen Myojinkan for another night of welness and exquisite food.
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.
Luxurious mountain sanctuary in Matsumoto with exquisite vegan kaiseki dining and rejuvenating hot springs.
Today, we leave Nagano behind and journey toward Oigami Onsen, stopping along the way at the innovative Takiviva in Karuizawa for a unique nature experience. Here, we will explore the whimsical treehouses tucked within the Sweetgrass campsite, learn about the local flora, and discover the sustainable philosophy behind the complex. Afterward, we will gather for an immersive open-air lunch, experiencing the joy of cooking rice over a wood fire in a traditional stove and preparing a flavorful wild vegetable miso soup. In the evening, we reach Oigami Onsen Gorokaku, our serene home for the next two nights. This traditional riverside ryokan offers a peaceful mountain escape, where you can unwind in therapeutic, skin-smoothing hot spring baths and savor exquisitely prepared local cuisine.
Nature-focused retreat that connect visitors with the forest through treehouses, sustainable architecture, and open-air culinary experiences.
Serene riverside ryokan in Gunma with therapeutic natural hot springs and exquisite local vegan cuisine.
Today, we dive into the rich culinary heritage of Numata, beginning with a visit to the renowned Machidaya Shirasawa. Here, we will learn about the meticulous production process of traditional Japanese tofu before sampling an array of freshly made yuba and tofu, including unique regional varieties like black sesame goma and vibrant edamame. Next, we journey to Nango no Magariya, a beautifully preserved historic farmhouse, where we will share a heartwarming cooking experience alongside local residents. Together, we will learn the art of making traditional dishes, including savory nozawana (pickled mustard greens) and sweet red bean oyaki dumplings, alongside comforting suiton soup and local konjac.From there, we head to the esteemed Tsuchida Sake Brewery, famous for its mastery of the traditional, completely natural Kimoto brewing method, where we will discover how they craft deeply flavorful sake using centuries-old techniques. Afterward, we will visit Kawaba Denen Plaza, a celebrated roadside village marketplace where you can browse local artisanal crafts and countryside delicacies—the perfect final stop for some shopping. In the evening, we return to the peaceful comfort of Gorokaku Onsen to relax and soak away the day's adventures.
An artisanal tofu and yuba (tofu skin) manufacturer in Gunma from 1950, famous for utilizing the region's clear, natural water and high-quality domestic soybeans to craft exceptional soy products.
A beautifully preserved, historic farmhouse in Gunma that offers cooking regional specialties alongside local residents and relaxing footbath in the peaceful rural atmosphere.
Learn about Kimoto method, using entirely natural microbes, zero chemical additives, and minimal rice polishing to craft Umami-rich sake.
Serene riverside ryokan in Gunma with therapeutic natural hot springs and exquisite local vegan cuisine.
Today, we leave Gunma 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.Here you will be able to enjoy the traditional tea ceremony experience with 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. For dinner, savor exquisite culinary traditions with an artfully curated vegan Kaga kaiseki dinner at Tsubajin, Kanazawa’s oldest ryotei, elevated by the timeless elegance of Kanazawa-geiji geisha hospitality and a captivating performance of traditional music and dance. Stay at Hyatt Centric Kanazawa for the night.
One of Japan's three most beautiful landscape gardens, featuring pristine ponds, historic bridges, and a traditional teahouse.
Kaga kaiseki dinner at Tsubajin, Kanazawa’s oldest ryotei, accompanied by Kanazawa-geiji geisha hospitality and a captivating performance.
5-stars hotel located close by Kanazawa Station, ideal to explore the city's authentic art, shops and restaurants.
On your final day, we head south to the famous Buddhist monastery of Eiheiji, founded by Zen Master Dōgen in 1244. After learning about the monastery's rich history and the daily life of its practicing monks, we will gather for lunch at the renowned Ryuzen Soba. Here, you will savor Fukui's celebrated regional buckwheat noodles in a beautifully authentic, traditional setting. Later, our journey continues across the scenic shores of Lake Biwa—Japan's largest freshwater lake—where we will pause at the iconic Shirahige Shrine. Capture a final, memorable group photo with your loved ones and Miyoko against the floating torii gate before arriving in the ancient capital of Kyoto, where you will spend a wonderful last night at the luxurious Dusit Thani hotel.
One of the most notorious buddhist monastery of Japan, originally founded by Zen Master Dōgen in 1244.
Located north-west of Lake Biwa, its large vermilion torii gate in the middle of the lake has about 2000 years ago.
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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