Taste of Japan (by Rail): Tokyo, Kyoto, & Osaka

Upon arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport, your driver will meet you and provide a private transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for relaxation or exploration, with dinner on your own. Tokyo is a vibrant megacity blending modern skyscrapers with serene parks, shrines, and gardens. Its mix of Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and futuristic architecture reflects its rich history and forward-thinking spirit. Explore diverse neighborhoods like fashion-forward Harajuku, tech-savvy Akihabara, and the traditional-modern fusion of Asakusa and Marunouchi. Tokyo also boasts a world-renowned food scene, with numerous Michelin-starred restaurants and a lively street food culture.

Today, the morning and afternoon are spent at your leisure before your Local Gourmet Evening Tour. Meet your local, English-speaking guide and get ready to dive-in to Tokyo's renowned and always-evolving culinary scene. Explore some of Tokyo's many foodie hotspots near your hotel to discover the local specialties and culinary classics. You’ll be sure to try yakitori and grilled chicken skewers served with salt or tare, which is a staple of Japanese street food. Depending on where you are in the city, you’ll also have the chance to try sashimi, okonomiyaki, Japanese fried chicken, sushi, tempura, and so much more. Let your taste buds run wild and savor the unique flavors of the night!

After breakfast, meet your guide and begin your exploration of the buzzing and lively Tsukiji Market. One of the world's biggest seafood markets in the world, the market handled about 2,888 tons of marine products a day worth about 2.8 billion yen (US$20million) before half of the market moved to its new location in Toyosu. While the inner market has moved to its new location, the outer market remains standing. You will stroll around the market with a guide who will be able to tell you about how each item is caught, prepared, and served while you try some tasty samples as you explore. Next, travel via public transit to visit a local sushi chef for a sushi-making demonstration and tasting. You'll be able to ask the chef questions about how sushi is traditionally eaten and about Japanese foodie culture while he/she prepares the artisan sushi. Enjoy the handmade sushi for lunch and then the rest of the day is at your leisure.

After breakfast, check out and take a taxi to the Tokyo train station, where you'll board the Bullet Train to Kyoto, a 90-minute ride on Japan's fastest train. In Kyoto, a private driver will take you to your hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is free to explore this cultural and spiritual hub. Kyoto, Japan's former imperial capital, is home to over 2,000 religious buildings, including temples, shrines, and gardens. Known for its well-preserved history, Kyoto boasts UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), Nijo Castle, and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, making it a prime destination for traditional Japanese architecture.

After breakfast, meet a local guide and explore the mile-long Nishiki Market shopping street that is lined by over one hundred shops and restaurants. Known collectively as "Kyoto's Kitchen", this bustling yet pleasant area is a great way to explore the flavors and ingredients that most characterize Japanese cooking. Your guide will accompany you as you purchase the ingredients for a Japanese cooking class later in the day. But before we get to the cooking class, venture through the back alleyways of Kyoto to pay a visit to a traditionally constructed townhouse for a bespoke sake tasting. Once you have wet your palette with sake, begin the Japanese cooking class where you'll learn how to make rolled sushi, miso soup, and a cooked fruit salad for dessert. Enjoy your creations for dinner and the rest of the evening is at your leisure.

Today you will partake in one of the most peaceful of all Japanese traditions - a tea ceremony within a local's home. This delicate ritual involves a series of highly intentional and specific movements, each of which holds deep meaning. During the ceremony you will learn about the various types of tea, the instruments used to prepare it, and the deeper meaning behind the movements. By the end of the ceremony, we hope you will have gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of what serving tea to guests means in Japan. After the ceremony, the rest of the day is at your leisure to explore Kyoto one last time.

After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and meet your driver for a private transfer from Kyoto to Osaka by car. This drive will take only about one hour, giving you plenty of time to check-in to your hotel in Osaka and explore Japan's other megacity! Considered as one of Japan's culinary capitals, Osaka is Japan's second largest metropolis and is famous for its eclectic modern architecture, bustling nightlife, and delicious street food. Visit the canal-side neighborhood of Dotonbori, a pedestrian district surrounded by restaurants and bars that is known for its buzzing energy and neon-lit streets. Along the side-streets and alleys you'll find famous crab restaurants, hole-in-the-wall takoyaki stands, Osaka-style sushi, and stalls serving freshly prepared ramen.

After breakfast, spend the morning and afternoon exploring Osaka at your leisure. With the city's efficient subway, you can visit neighborhoods like Amerikamura for coffee, Horie for souvenirs, or Minami for shopping. Other highlights include the Osaka Aquarium, Osaka Castle, and Japanese Gardens. In the evening, meet your private guide for a food tour in either Shinsekai or Dotonbori. Known for their vibrant food scenes, you'll sample local delicacies like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu, with one drink included. After the tour, your guide can recommend more places to enjoy ramen, udon, and izakaya bars.

After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and take a private transfer to Kansai Airport for your return trip home or onwards to your next Avanti Destination!