Food and Yoga Tour of Japan with Jody Vassallo

Arrive to your Ryokan in Asakusa. Check in is from 3pm.

After breakfast, take a walk around Asakusa and visit Senso-ji Temple. This is one of the most famous temples in Tokyo and it’s also home to Nakamise Dori, a shopping street that sells traditional Japanese souvenirs and a lot of popular street food. We will sample senbai rice crackers, watch kombu seaweed being stretched and weave our way through the outer alleys where you will find plenty of great shopping. Then we will head over to Yanesen  we will enjoy lunch this area is famous for yakitori and minchi katsu (mince croquettes). You can then spend the afternoon wandering on and off Yanaka Ginza into shops selling tea, antiques, woodblock stamps or discovering galleries and exploring the charming cafes the area has to offer. Before we head back to our accommodation we will stop off at Nezu shrine, one of Japan’s oldest shrines that houses a stunning Japanese garden.

DescriptiStart the day at Family yoga with a class taught by an 80 year old Oki do master before heading out to Kawagoe – this old castle town is famous for its traditional treats made from sweet potato and its Edo period architecture We will visit the famous sweet potato shop and try some of their delicious treats before heading over to a local sake brewery where we can sample some of their finest products.

Highlight tour visit Shibuya, Roppongi, Harajuku We will start the day by visiting Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s most famous neighbourhoods. We will walk around the area and see some of its highlights including the famous Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko statue. After that we will head over to Roppongi where we can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting some of the shops in this trendy district.

Take a train to Nozawa, an onsen town in the mountains where we will enjoy a yin yoga class in the afternoon before a welcome dinner at a traditional restaurant in the village.

We will start the day with a yoga class. Following yoga, you’ll have a guided tour through Nozawa village and learn about the cooking onsen in the centre of town before heading to a local soba restaurant.  This region is renowned for its pure soba noodles as buckwheat is grown locally. The afternoon you will have free time to enjoy local onsens, bike ride or browse around the town. Our day will finish with another yin yoga class.

We take a day trip to Nagano where we will sample Oyaki (filled buckwheat dumplings cooked on an open grill), gyunpu (milk bread) and Shinshu miso ramen. Nagano prefecture is the largest producer of miso in Japan.

Travel to Kanazawa a small coastal town famous for its seafood. You will have the chance to enjoy Oden (one of Japan’s hot pot comfort food) and Kanazawa curry which is thicker and richer than most Japanese curries. Should you wish you can will try Kanazawa’s legendary Hanton rice which consists of an omelette over rice with fried prawns and rich sauce. Kanazawa is also well known for its gold leaf so we will sample gold leaf ice-cream if that’s your thing. Once our tummies are full we will head up to Kenrokuen Garden for a stroll through top three most beautiful gardens.

Travel by train to Kyoto enjoy a vegetarian lunch in a Zen temple then head out to visit the highlights of Kyoto. Our tour will include stops at the Golden temple and Neijo Castle. Arriving at the bamboo grove at Arashiyama.

Hike from Kurama to Kibune (approx. 2-3 hr gentle hike) then return to Kyoto for a traditional tea ceremony in the afternoon. We finish the day wandering through the geisha district as the sun is setting.

Visit Kyoto's famous Nishiki market in the morning. You will have ample time to meander around and visit the nearby Takoyama department store for any last minute gifts. In the afternoon we take the train to Osaka where we hit Dotonburi street sampling takoyaki, wagu beef and okonomyaki. We will enjoy a final dinner together at a traditional restaurant in Osaka before heading back to Kyoto.