Japan with Bar Lab

Day 1: Kyoto

Welcome to Japan! We meet up in the afternoon in Kyoto, Japan’s capital from the 12th to 19th centuries—and one of the most visually stunning cities in the country. Up first is dinner with Elad and Gabe leading the way. We’ll pony up to one of Kyoto’s iconic counters and try a little bit of everything—fresh sushi and sashimi to poke and miso—as we ready ourselves for tonight’s welcome celebration of cocktails.

Feeling revitalized and whole, we’ll wander over to Ki No Bi, Kyoto’s premier gin distillery, where Elad and Gabe will take over the bar and introduce us to to a whole new world of scratch cocktails with a dazzling palette of raw materials to work with: locally grown ingredients such as yuzu, sanshō and the legendary teas of Uji, and the soft waters of Fushimi, famed for centuries for producing the highest-quality sake. We’ll sip our way through centuries of Japanese tradition and toast to the week ahead!

Day 2: Kyoto

We start the day in pious repose at nearby temple a local monk guides us through a simple meditation. Whether you choose to stroll the serene grounds lost in thought or immerse yourself in this storied practice is up to you. Centered once again, we venture into the heart of Kyoto and wander the back lanes of the historic Gion district on the way to lunch at Michelin star Shimogamo Saryo. After savoring dishes like steamed tilefish and grated turnip, we’ll make room for gratitude and contemplation at the 7th-century Shimogamo shrine.

We’ll return to the hotel in the late afternoon to pause and reflect on the day’s experience. Though it may be tempting to call it a night, we still have an epic dinner to attend to—hosted in the hotel’s kitchen, we’ll be treated to remixes of traditional Japanese dishes and a surprise collaboration with Elad and Gabe.

Day 3: Kyoto

This morning, we’ll venture just outside the central districts to Fushimi Inari Shrine. There’s time to explore the mountain trails, or simply to admire the thousands of bright red torii (wooden gates), curving in parallel rows along the trails. At this time of year, spring is in full bloom, and it’s truly a stunning sight.

Our next stop is just down the road and written in the tea leaves. It’s said that Zen monks first brought green tea from China to nearby Uji some 800 years ago. We’ll explore the history — and taste a variety of traditional teas — at a local tea farm, before a traditional and highly seasonal tempura lunch. Before returning to Kyoto proper, we’ll make time to explore the stunning grounds of Byodoin Temple, built in the 11th century by Buddhists to mark the beginning of the end of the world. We’ll have ample time to stroll the grounds and contemplate.

To cap off our day, we’ll find dinner on our own. If you’re up for it, we’ll reconvene at the hotel and paint the town with Elad and Gabe—among our stops will be Kyoto’s ode to speakeasy culture and World’s 50 Best Bar, Bees Knees.

Day 4: Kyoto to Izu

This morning we head to the mountains: After a short shinkansen (bullet train) journey we arrive in Izu. This is the wettest part of Japan, and the climate is ideal for cultivating wasabi (Japanese horseradish) in uniquely designed water terraces. We’ll tour behind the scenes at a local wasabi farm, and sit down to a family-style meal of sashimi and fresh seasonal vegetables.

And now we climb via cable car up to Panorama Park gets us one of the finest views of Mount Fuji (assuming the weather is kind). After admiring her sacred summit, we’ll head to our lodging for the night: a traditional ryokan (inn). It’s a stunning 150-year-old architectural museum surrounded by nature, with its own natural hot springs. Here, bathing in the traditional baths, we commit ourselves to pure relaxation. Dinner is a traditional kaiseki meal, each small dish jewel-like in its presentation.

Day 5: Izu to Tokyo

Welcome to Tokyo, the world’s greatest food city, and home to more Michelin stars than any other city (even Paris). With its Blade Runner-like highways, towering skyscrapers lording over quiet back alleys and a dazzling kaleidoscope of shops and restaurants, there’s no such thing as a ‘wrong turn’ here.

We begin our culinary odyssey with pizza. Yes, Pizza. Just opened in 2022, Pizza Marumo is chef Yuki San’s ode to great classic pizzas with an occasional katsuo or shitake twist. It’s an only-in-Tokyo kind of fusion, and we embellish this theme even further at our next stop: the Yebisu Brewery. Here, they’ve been making lager since 1890 with robust yebisu yeast in strict accordance with the German beer purity law. 

Our evening begins with the best views in the city— a panorama of Tokyo from the Shibuya Sky Viewing Platform— and a float down to Earth for a cocktail at SG Club, one of “Best 50 Bars” in Asia. What’s up next is up to you. Follow Elad and Gabe to a few of Tokyo’s vinyl listening room bars, or go back to the hotel and indulge in the height of the hospitality.

Day 6: Tokyo

By now, we’ve had a few incredible cocktail experiences and explored the nuances of Japanese beer culture. Today, is all about sake, Japan’s national beverage with origins that trace back to the 3rd century. We start at Tonoike, where we’ll taste centuries of tradition in every sip alongside the brewery’s toji (brewmaster). After a deep dive into the nuances of fermentation, we’ll wander down the road for a simply incredible meal.

Lunch is at a local hotspot for simple yet exquisite bento boxes where we’ll fill up on seasonal delicacies and prepare ourselves for an afternoon of even more sake tastings. Up next is Shimzaki sake brewery cave—here we’ll learn about aging techniques, and thanks to Elad and Gabe, we’ll get a private tour of the cave itself, accompanied by flights of their most coveted vintages. After a day like this, we yearn for repose. The late afternoon and evening are yours to embellish. We’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.

Day 7: Tokyo

Our morning starts with a visit to Meiji Jingu, a tranquil shrine in the heart of western Tokyo and dedicated to Emperor Meiji, the great modernizer who opened up the country to outside influences in the late 19th century. After ample time for contemplation, we’ll meander through the hip shops and cafes of the Omotesando neighborhood.

Lunch is small and intimate and refreshingly informal. We’ll belly up to a local hotspot for sushi and sashimi. 

The afternoon is yours to explore the surrounding Roppongi district, but make sure you find your way back to the hotel for a truly memorable farewell celebration. Elad and Gabe are taking over the gold bar at The Edition, and we’ll toast on the rooftop (as electric Tokyo buzzes on the horizon) to a week’s worth of discovery and joy.

Day 8: Tokyo

Alas, our journey has come to an end. As we say goodbye to our new friends, we know that we’ll have to return, and soon. In the meantime, the soul of Japanese cuisine and cocktail craft will travel home with us, helping us find the beauty wherever we look.