At A Glance
City explored: Tokyo, Kyoto
Length: 8 days
Date: October 5th to 12th, 2024
Availability: Limited to 9 guests
Highlights
❀ A smorgasbord of traditional Japanese fare including Sushi, Yakitori and Yakiniku, Tempura, Unagi, Ramen, Soba and Kaiseki.
❀ Access to award-winning, difficult-to-book restaurants
❀ A journey through Japanese cuisine past and present with modern masters.
❀ Spend time in the intimate company of interesting and like-minded people from all over the world.
The Juicy Details
On this eight-day culinary adventure, our guests will experience the finest Sushi, Yakitori and Yakiniku; the tastiest steaks, Unagi and Tempura; the premier Ramen and Soba; the best in Kaiseki, fusion and Izakaya – In short, the very best food Tokyo and Kyoko have to offer.
Many of these restaurants have been awarded Michelin stars or Tabelog Gold or Silver medals: This is a truly a unique program that will take each guest on a delicious journey through the incomparable Japanese culinary tradition.
Since we can’t really commit on which specific restaurant each tour will visit, under each section you can see example of where we went in past tours. They are all truly the best!
Sushi
In order to have a perspective of how wide the world of sushi at the highest level is, and how different in style and expertise each master is, we shall visit 2 of the best sushi establishments in the world. Life for sushi lovers will be divided to ‘Before the tour’ and ‘After the tour’
| Sushi shops past tours have visited: | ||
| Arai | Hakkoku | Hatsune |
| Kimura | Namba | Ookawara |
| Saito | Sushisho Masa | Tenzushi |
Kaiseki
The haute cuisine of Japan. A structured, but ever changing with the seasons, tasting meal of 6 to 15 courses.
The chef/master demonstrates the skills he developed for many years in all cooking methods (steaming, frying, grilling etc.) always using seasonal ingredients at the peak of their freshness, and plating his creations in beautiful tableware to highlight the natural beauty of ingredients and their true flavor.
| Kaiseki/Kappo restaurants past tours have visited: | ||
| Higuchi | Ishikawa | Kichisen |
| Miyasaka | Ogata | Tomura |
| Yamagishi | Tempura Matsu | Kyoaji |
Tempura
Tempura will never be the same after you experience the art of one of these best masters in the world.
The great Tempura masters who we shall visit use the best ingredients the season offers from the land and sea (some even fry beef) with endless creativity and skills developed over many years to produce a feast to all senses.
| Tempura masters past tours have visited: | ||
| Kondo | Motoyoshi | Takiya |
Wagyu
Enjoy Japanese Beef (Wagyu) at the highest level possible.
Yakiniku (Grilled meat in Japanese) was Inspired by Korean BBQ restaurants that opened after WW II, and like most adopted cuisines developed over the years to a form of art.
Today, Yakiniku is the most popular way enjoy beef in Japan, when thin slices and small cuts of different parts of beef are grilled on a griddle over charcoal or gas by the guests themselves.
At the very high end of Yakiniku establishments which we will visit, the quality of Wagyu cuts are second to none, and the Master himself will do the grilling right before our eyes.
| Yakiniku/Wagyu Kaiseki/Steakhousespast tours have visited: | ||
| Miyoshi | Nakahara | Shima |
| Vesta | WagyuMafia | Yakiniku Jumbu |
| Yoroniku | ||
French, Chinese & Modern Japanese
“I wish that Paris had restaurants like Florilège!” a French chef told me on one of last year’s tours.
Award-winning Florilège may serve a French menu, but its spirit is Japanese. Chef Hiroyasu Kawate and his team deliver an 11-course masterpiece performance from the theater-like open kitchen that dominates this elegant space. Skill, sustainability, and seasonality are the foundation of chef Kawate’s inventive, delightful cuisine.
| Japanese French, Chinese, Spanish and Other Top Restaurants past tours have visited: | ||
| Aca | Den | Florilege |
| Fureika | L’Effervesance | L’equateur |
| Sazenka | ||
Yakitori/Unagi/Japanese Curry Restaurants
Savor Japan’s most popular ‘simple’ food like Curry Rice, Yakitori, Unagi and Soba at the best possible level.
No visit to Japan is complete without sampling popular staple foods like Curry rice, Unagi, Yakitori and Soba. We’ll taste them at their best at Tomato, Obana, Hirokawa and more.
| Yakitori/Unagi/Japanese Curry Restaurants past tours have visited: | ||
| Hirokawa | Obana | Tomato Curry |
| Torikado | Torishiki | Shinsenichinoya |
Ramen
We will go on a quest for Tokyo’s best ramens with no other than Abram Plaut, AKA the Ramen Beast, co-creator of the first ever English-language guide to Tokyo’s hard-to-crack Ramen scene.
We’ll spend a few hours discovering some of the best Ramens in the city with the man who has slurp-tested over 200 bowls in the last six years alone!
Toyosu Fish Market
We will visit the new wholesale Toyosu fish market which is open only to chefs and restaurateurs and is restricted for the general public.
The Gate hotel, Kyoto
The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by HULIC is a blend of modern elegance and traditional Japanese aesthetics, perfectly situated in the heart of Kyoto. This hotel stands out for its prime location, offering easy access to iconic sites like Kiyomizu Temple and Gion, Kyoto’s historic geisha district.
Guests are treated to luxurious accommodations, exceptional service, and amenities that ensure a comfortable and memorable stay. The hotel’s design thoughtfully incorporates local culture and history, making it a gateway to Kyoto’s rich heritage.
The Tokyo Edition
The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon embraces both the authentic history of the ancient city along with the modern skyscrapers that have recently revitalized the city’s skyline.
Designed by Kengo Kuma with the vision of Ian Schrager, all 206 guest rooms at The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon offer a breathtaking glimpse of the Tokyo skyline including views of Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Bay. The hotel is steps away from Tokyo’s best neighborhoods and attractions.
The Essentials
Check-in: Saturday, Oct 5, 2024
Check-out: Saturday, Oct 12, 2024
First meal: Dinner on Saturday, Oct 5, 2024
Last meal: Lunch on Saturday, Oct 12, 2024
A full timetable of meals and activities will be emailed to participants ahead of the tour.
A Note on Set Menus
The Hungry Tourist selects the menus offered during the tour with the help of our local partners. We believe they represent the best culinary fare that Tokyo and Kyoto have to offer. Guests may order outside of these menus at their own expense.
Transportation:
Tokyo has a wonderful and efficient subway system that we take advantage of for most of our stay in the city; taxis may be used later in the evening.
Tour Fees
Per person, shared room: USD 9850
Single occupancy supplement: USD 2650
Price includes all food, beverages, taxes, service charges, and seven nights of accommodation, plus a first-class Shinkansen ride from Kyoto to Tokyo.
Price does not include airfare, transportation in Tokyo, or any travel or medical insurance.
Extra nights at the Tokyo Edition Hotel before or after the tour can be booked in advance at a special rate of USD 750 per night, including taxes and service charges.
Payment
A non-refundable deposit of US$1,500 per person will be charged upon reservation.
The balance must be paid no later than 60 days before the first day of the tour.
Payments are preferred by bank transfer. Payments with Credit Cards will incur a 4% supplement.
Cancellation Policy and Penalties
If cancellation is received up to 30 days before the first day of the tour, the deposit will be forfeited.
If cancellation is received up to 10 days before the first day of the tour, a penalty fee of 50% of the remaining balance will be charged. If a cancellation notice is received within ten days of the first day of the tour or the guest is a no-show, the entirety of the remaining balance will be charged.
Apply to Join The Tour
Testimonials
Where do I start…
Our amazing group, the food, the city, the one and only Dudi..and his partner in crime, Tomoko, our special local Tokyo guest – this is the ONLY way to explore Tokyo… with food-driven friends and a personable, energetic, and organized tour guide. Dudi has Tokyo locked down with the best restaurants and hidden gems (not known to the public) the city has to offer! I was ready to see what Japan had to offer and I trust Dudi to lead the way. You start the trip with individuals from around the world and by the end, you are a close group of friends not wanting to leave Japan.
I’m fortunate to make friends living in every corner of the globe whom we were able to share our experiences with and an opportunity to enhance our palates in a humbling way. Dudi and Tomoko – Thank you for your dedication to what you do and for organizing everything flawlessly. We cannot wait to see you again on our next food endeavor!
Margarita and Kevin
#1: The people.
I have had the pleasure of getting to know a wonderful group of like-minded people with one purpose for this trip, which is exploring the finest of Tokyo and raising the bar for their pallets.
#2: the learning curve.
Before coming to this trip I thought of myself as a pretty knowledgeable person when it came to food, turns out I was wrong. This humbling experience gave me access to well-seasoned chefs that broaden your palettes with exquisite knowledge, there is always more to learn!
#3: I saved the best for last, David, AKA “Dudi”
The man, the myth, the legend. This man has dedicated himself to exploring, experiencing, and last but not least TASTE. He will go above and beyond to make sure your trip is unforgettable and other than his mastery and connections at getting you seats at places you wouldn’t dream of going to, he’s a pretty cool guy to hang around with.
If you haven’t done this yet with him, you are missing out
If you like the idea of treating your senses to the best the world has to offer follow your instincts and allow David and the team to take you there. They will skillfully lead you to unforgettable experiences you just hope to have the time to fully appreciate, there is so much to take in.
From the get-go David introduced us to local chefs that excel at what they do like only the Japanese know-how. The intimacy and attention to detail is second to none. The aesthetic experience is guaranteed. You will come across true masters in their field who will do nothing short of reshaping your world into a more beautiful place forever.
Just as enjoyable is getting to know the rest of the Hungry Tourist, all of which you would gladly meet again.
If you care for memories you don’t wish to forget, welcome David into your life, you will be very happy you made the time for it.
