In Search of Umami
- Route
- Fukuoka → Hiroshima → Kyoto → Kanazawa → Tokyo
- Duration
- 14 days, 13 nights
- Group size
- Min 4, max 14 participants
- Departures
- 23 May 2027 / 7 November 2027 / 21 November 2027
- Price (twin room)
- 540,000 yen Single supplement: 60,000 yen
About the tour
In 1908, while researching the taste of dashi (a broth made from seaweed), Japanese chemist Ikeda Kikunae uncovered the chemical basis of a taste he named umami. Almost 80 years later, in 1985, umami was recognized as the fifth human taste, alongside the four traditional tastes of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.
On this tour, you will delve deeper into the Japanese food and drink culture. You begin with the basics, by preparing an authentic dashi (broth), and you’ll end with the epitome of Japanese cuisine, an exquisite kaiseki dinner on the last night of the tour. In between, there will be ample opportunities to try different dishes. From classics like sushi or tempura, to lesser known (and perhaps more challenging) delicacies like fugu (pufferfish) or funazushi (fermented carp).
There will also be plenty of attention given to Japanese drinking culture. In Fukuoka you will get an introduction to sado, the traditional tea ceremony, while in Kyoto you will be able to discover the wonderful world of Japanese sake.
While the focus is on culinary exploration, there will also be opportunities to enjoy Japan’s scenic beauty, with visits to Miyajima, Kyoto, and Kanazawa. This journey is designed for those who truly appreciate Japanese cuisine and culture, offering a deep dive into flavours, traditions and some of the country’s most picturesque locations.
Prepare to eat, drink and discover Japan.
Highlights
- Make your own dashi in a workshop with Atsuko-san (kombu, shiitake, katsuobushi)
- Meet the makers: a soy sauce brewery, miso maker and wagashi shop in Iizuka
- Taste expertly prepared fugu in Shimonoseki, the pufferfish capital
- An introduction to sake in Kyoto's Fushimi district; shojin-ryori (Buddhist cuisine) at Daitoku-ji
- Walk the tea farms of Wazuka with the young growers keeping the tradition alive
- Try funazushi by Lake Biwa, the ancient ancestor of sushi
- The Daio Wasabi Farm near Matsumoto; a closing kaiseki dinner in Tokyo
Day-by-day itinerary
DAY 1 Arrival Fukuoka
Meet your tour leader; welcome dinner.
DAY 2 Fukuoka
A dashi workshop with Atsuko-san — the 'soul' of Japanese cooking; a tea ceremony (sado) and matcha.
DAY 3 Fukuoka · excursion to Iizuka
Along the old Nagasaki Kaido, visit a soy sauce brewery, a miso maker and a traditional sweets shop (by chartered bus).
DAY 4 Fukuoka → Shimonoseki → Hiroshima
Lunch on expertly prepared fugu in Shimonoseki, the pufferfish capital.
DAY 5 Hiroshima → Miyajima → Kyoto
The floating torii of Itsukushima Shrine; afternoon on to Kyoto.
DAY 6 Kyoto
Shojin-ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) at Izusen, Daitoku-ji; in the late afternoon, an introduction to sake in Fushimi.
DAY 7 Kyoto · excursion to Wazuka
Tea country — walk the plantations with the young growers reviving the craft.
DAY 8 Kyoto → Kanazawa
Along the shores of Lake Biwa, taste funazushi, the fermented ancestor of sushi.
DAY 9 Kanazawa
Kenroku-en, one of Japan's three great gardens; optional cooking class (book ahead).
DAY 10 Kanazawa → Matsumoto → Tokyo
Matsumoto Castle, then the Daio Wasabi Farm; shinkansen to Tokyo.
DAY 11 Tokyo
Old Edo — Ueno, Yanaka and Nezu, Senso-ji in Asakusa, Kappabashi's kitchenware street.
DAY 12 Tokyo
Modern Tokyo — Shinjuku, Harajuku, the Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
DAY 13 Tokyo
Free time, then a farewell kaiseki dinner.
DAY 14 Departure Tokyo
After breakfast, farewells.
What's included
- 13 nights' accommodation in twin rooms with private bathroom
- Chartered bus for the Iizuka excursion (Day 3)
- 7-day Japan Rail Pass
- A dashi-making workshop and a tea ceremony
- 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 8 dinners
- Experienced English-speaking tour leader, Day 1–14
Not included
- International flights to/from Japan
- Meals not listed above
- Personal expenses (drinks, tips, souvenirs)
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Departure tax
Good to know
- Luggage is forwarded by takkyubin twice (Fukuoka→Kyoto, Kyoto→Tokyo); you'll need a small daypack with essentials for those nights. Pack light (suitcase under 125 cm total for the shinkansen).
- Some tastings are adventurous (fugu, funazushi); let us know about dietary needs in advance.
- Travel insurance is required and arranged independently.
A Map of Your Journey
