Oku Japan takes you on gastronomic journey to meet Japan and its people through cherished culinary traditions

Oku Japan, a tour company specializing in rural Japan and walking adventures, is expanding its portfolio with the launch of its new unique culinary adventure “Japan's Culinary Heritage.” With this new adventure, Oku Japan wants to show travellers the importance of Japanese food culture and how culinary traditions reflect the Japanese way of life.

Learn the art of earth-oven cooking with a 70-year old grandmother in Hida-Furukawa.

In Japan, food is the best way to engage with local lifestyles and to gain an in-depth experience of regional culture, the daily life of Japanese communities, and individual inhabitants. Going way beyond what is currently on the market, this 11-day guided exploration features key locations such as the ancient imperial capital of Kyoto, the modern metropolis of Tokyo, as well as hidden rural villages and the unique culture of Awaji Island in the fabled Inland Sea.

From foraging for wild ingredients and harvesting the bounty of the land, to cooking lessons with emblematic figures and ordinary members of local communities, this culinary adventure reveals how food is the most intimate way to uncover Japan’s history and culture. Benefiting from the knowledge of one of the Oku Japan’s outstanding professional guides, guests will travel from mountain villages to fishing ports, staying in rural Japanese inns and in the heart of dazzling cities. They will taste the sake, experience the food and the culture, awaken their senses and share unforgettable moments with people they’ll meet on their journey.

Nakanishi-san cultivates rice to brew Doburoku sake.

Oku Japan’s guests will enjoy unique and exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences with iconic figures: a friendly family of local organic farmers who are part of a "return to the land" movement in Japan – for an outdoor kitchen experience; a food-designer who creates exquisite “foodscapes” which delight the eye and the palate – for a beach lunch experience; a sansai (wild mountain vegetable) specialist, a sake brewer, and their community – for a community-hosted meal; a kaiseki chef in Kyoto with 30 years of experience.

On this culinary adventure, Oku Japan provides full-time services of an English-speaking tour guide, 10 nights in hotels and Japanese-style inns (ryokan and minshuku), daily breakfast, six dinners, four lunches, all transportation between tour locations, forwarding of one item of luggage. The price per person starts from 480,000 yen.

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About Oku Japan

Oku Japan is a tour operator with a deep passion and strong knowledge of traditional Japanese culture. The company operates small-group guided tours, self-guided tours and custom programmes around Japan, providing unique off-the-beaten-track journeys for its clients. With offices in the UK as well as in Kyoto and on the Kumano Kodo trail, Oku Japan values community connections and can provide unparalleled local support to its guests.