Day 1: Australia - - Tokyo

Today depart Australia for Japan on an overnight flight!

Day 2: Tokyo

A Webjet representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to

your hotel.

The rest of the day is the free to explore Japan’s incredible neon city

wonder at your own pace.

Day 3: Tokyo - - Nagano - Yudanaka Hot Springs (B,L,D)

Today, take the famous bullet train to the Nagano Prefecture, travelling at

320km/h! On arrival, try your hands at Soba Making, one of the most

popular foods from this region. Learn how to knead and cut Soba noodles

before enjoying your creation over lunch. After, we visit the Zenkou

Temple. Built in the 7th century it is one of the last few remaining

pilgrimage sites in Japan. We then visit the Monkey Park famous for its

large population of wild Japanese macaques, more commonly referred to

as Snow Monkeys, that go to the valley during the winter, foraging

elsewhere in the national park during the warmer months. The monkeys

descend from the steep cliffs and forest to sit in the warm waters of

the onsen (hotsprings). Tonight we enjoy our first Traditional Japanese

meal at our hotsprings hotel.

Day 4: Yudanaka Hotsprings - Matsumoto - Takayama (B,D)

Today we visit the 400 year old Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's premier

historic castles, along with Himeji Castle and Kumamoto Castle. The

building is also known as the "Crow Castle" due to its black exterior. We

then continue on to the Kamikochi (Highlands) which has been preserved

in its natural state within Chūbu-Sangaku National Park. It is sometimes

referred to as the "Japanese Yosemite Valley”. Our next stop is Takayama's

old town that has been beautifully preserved with many buildings and

whole streets of houses dating from the Edo Period (1600-1868), when the

International airfares

Bullet train from Tokyo - Nagano

Express Train Kanazawa - Kyoto

Airport transfers

Deluxe 4 star accommodation

Most meals, plus unique food

experiences

Sightseeing as per the itinerary

Professional tour guide throughout

All tipping

9 Day Japan Food Safari

Get hands on in a Soba Noodle making

class before tasting your creation over

lunch

Taste what is considered some of the

world’s best beef – Hida Wagyu

Learn how Sake is made, and taste this

famous Japanese drink

Enjoy the degustation of a Kaiseki Ryori, a

multi-course dinning experience

Visit local markets and learn about

Japanese produce as it has existed for

hundreds of years

Enjoy Arashiyama-style French cuisine in

Kyoto. A true Iron Chef experience

(B) - Breakfast / (L) - Lunch / (D) - Dinner

Flight Cruise Train Unique Food Experience

city thrived as a wealthy town of merchants. We continue on to Omachi, a region very

renowned for producing Japan’s famous alcoholic drink, Sake. Here we get to taste and

learn about how this drink is created. We finish off today with a stunning drive to see the

famous Japanese Southern Alps. Tonight we enjoy Hida Beef, known as one of the finest

quality varieties of beef in the world!

Day 5: Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa (B,D)

This morning we visit the local Takayama market where we wonder the stores learning

about Japanese produce and foods popular around Japan, and also unique to the region. It

is then on to the Yatai Museum. Yatai are elaborate floats which are decorated used in an

autumn festival. Some several hundred years old and beautiful examples of Takayama's

legendary craftsmanship. Be impressed by Shirakawago, known as a traditional village

showcasing unique Japanese building designs, listed as UNESCO World Heritage. This

afternoon, we visit he Kenroku-en gardens, regarded as one of the Three Great Gardens of

Japan. Tonight, enjoy a taste sensation of a Kaiseki Ryori. Kaiseki Ryori is traditional

Japanese multi-course haute cuisine. Its origins are found many centuries ago and evolved

into an elaborate dining style popular among aristocratic circles. Kaiseki meals have a

prescribed order to their dishes, most of which are prepared by using one of the common

techniques of Japanese cooking. However, kaiseki chefs have considerable freedom to add,

omit or substitute courses in order to highlight regional and seasonal delicacies and

personal style.

Day 6: Kanazawa (B)

Today, we visit Buke Yashiki which was a private property for Samurai. The residence

served as the quarters of the region's most important and highest ranked samurai, as well

as his family, employees, and servants. Because of the prestige of the samurai and the size

of his retinue, the samurai residence is quite expansive. Enjoy the modern arts at Kanazawa

21 Century Museum. The architecture of the 21st Century Museum is unique and

distinguishes it from other museums and buildings around Kanazawa. The museum is

comprised of a circular building, 112.5 meters in diameter, with no facade or main

entrance. It was designed without a front or back to discourage its patrons from

approaching the museum, and consequently its art, from only one direction. Later, stroll

and taste local foods in Kanazawa at Omi Food Market. The Omi market has

been Kanazawa's largest fresh food market since the Edo Period. Today, it is a busy and

colorful network of covered streets lined by about 200 shops and stalls. While most shops

specialize in the excellent local seafood and produce, you can also find flowers, clothing,

kitchen tools and more on sale. After the markets, take a drive to Toujinbo with spectacular

view of basaltic cliffs on the Sea of Japan. This one kilometer long stretch of rugged basalt

cliffs along the Sea of Japan coast north of Fukui City. The rocky coastline has been carved

out by the waves, leaving deep chasms and precipitous bluffs that tower up to 30 meters

above the water below.

Day 7: Kanazawa - - Kyoto (B,L,D)

Today we re-board Japans World leading rail network and head to incredible Kyoto.

Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a refined city on the island of Honshu with thousands of

classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and

traditional wooden houses. On arrival we visit the Kiyomizu temple. A UNESCO World

Heritage site, it is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. From the top of the temple,

you have an incredible view of Kyoto. After, we head to the North of Kyoto to visit the

Golden Pavilion, a Zen temple whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf

before heading to the Silver Pavilion which shows similar architecture. We finish with a

visit to the Ryoan Temple, the site of Japan's most famous rock garden. Originally an

aristocrat's villa during the Heian Period, the site was converted into a Zen temple in 1450.

Tonight we farewell Japan with a culinary feast - Arashiyama-style French cuisine. A

fusion of traditional French cooking which is lavished with Japanese ingredients such as

seasonal vegetables, chicken and Kuroge Wagyu (Japanese Beef) a true Iron Chef

experience.

Day 8: Kyoto - - Australia (B)

Today it is time to farewell Japan. You will be assisted with a transfer to the Kansai Airport

Express Train to board your flight home.

Day 9: Australia

Arrive home today.