Japan with Justin Warner

Day 1: Tokyo

Welcome to Tokyo, the world’s greatest food city, and home to more Michelin stars than any other city (even Paris). There’s only one way to start an adventure through Japan, and that’s a sprawling welcome banquet specially curated by one of Tokyo’s finest.

We begin with a sake tasting designed to thrill and tantalize our palates for the feast to come. Dinner is a personal culinary love letter from chef Hideki Ohnishi of Kisaiya Hide — he’ll dazzle us with sashimi, nasu (eggplant) salad and dishes that remind him of home in Shikoku: taimeshi (snapper) served with Japan’s finest rice. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the start of our adventure.

Day 2: Tokyo

Today, we dive into the dazzling world of ramen with a hands-on workshop. Not only will we have Justin to lean on, but we’ll learn the ins and outs of preparation from a local master. After slurping the noodles of our labor, we find ourselves in lively Kappabashi, otherwise known as ‘Kitchen Street.’ We’ll wander its zigzagging streets, taking in the sights and smells of this incredible food-centric neighborhood.

We’ll spend the afternoon exploring the capital independently before meeting with Chef Daisuke Shimazaki at Sushi Yuu. His quiet backstreet restaurant is small and intimate, and his sushi and sashimi are close to perfection. 

What’s on tap for the rest of the evening? That’s up to you, but we can disclose that Justin might have something up his sleeve. Hint: it may have something to do with a cocktail, a microphone and a karaoke bar.

Day 3: Tokyo

This morning is at your leisure, and we encourage you to immerse yourself in the electric buzz of Tokyo. 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’ll reconvene around noon only to dive deep into Shibuya, a mecca for Japanese hobby culture; whether you’re like Justin and can gleefully nerd out with Pokemon, manga and Sofubi, or if you’ve never really dabbled in these trends, today is a backstage pass to this dynamic, playful and creative realm. Thanks to Justin’s network, we’ll meet up with a leading manga artist to help unlock the secrets of the scene. Though we can’t say much more, we might even strike a pose and become the stuff of art.

Dinner tonight is humble izakaya—small informal tapas-like plates bustling with fresh vegetables and punctuated with the catch of the day.

Day 4: Tokyo to Izu

After a short Shinkansen (bullet train) journey we’ll arrive in Izu. This is the wettest part of Japan, ideal for cultivating wasabi 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.

The 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: Osaka & Kyoto

We’ll board the Shinkansen to Osaka; at 200 miles per hour, it’s a no-hassle, two-hour journey. While Osaka is famous for its cuisine, first we’ll experience another of the city’s traditional crafts, knife-making, in the heart of the Sakai prefecture with a master artisan.

Next, it’s time for one of the best food experiences in the world. Osaka’s reputation as the culinary heart of Japan is built on its concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants (99 at last count), its excellent street-food scene, its openness to foreign cuisines, and two delicious indigenous snacks: okonomiyaki (yam-flour pancakes filled with seafood, pork, kimchi) and takoyaki (octopus doughnuts). We’re here specifically for the street foods — our dinner is a delicious movable feast on foot.

In the late evening, we’ll head out for Kyoto, Japan’s capital from the 12th to 19th centuries and one of the most visually stunning cities in the country. After we settle in to our gracious hotel in the heart of Kyoto, the evening is ours to explore the city’s graceful waterways and shrines, or to wander the back lanes of the historic Gion district, famous for its geisha culture.

Day 6: Kyoto

Our first stop today 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 Fushimi Inari Shrine and its network of trails— the thousands of bright red torii (wooden gates), curving in parallel rows along the footpaths is a stunning sight on its own. Dinner is on your own tonight. Justin will be happy to recommend a few of his favorite haunts.

Day 7: Kyoto

No visit to Kyoto is complete without a pilgrimage to Arashiyama and the Ōkōchi Sansō gardens. With the help of our local guide, we’ll wander far from the teeming crowds and admire the stunning bamboo groves on our own.

Lunch is yours to arrange. In the late afternoon, we’ll reconvene at the hotel and transfer to the scene of our epic farewell diner.

Before we settle down to toasts and a sumptuous hotpot, one more lesson is in order. We’ll dive into the art of shodo calligraphy, learning that beauty and balance comes not just in what you write, but how you make flowing strokes with a deft brush.

Our meal tonight — in the Anrakuji Temple complex, with its manicured pathways and graceful gardens — is equally rooted in tradition: a classic winter nabe (traditional clay hotpot) prepared by Justin, restorative and warming. We’ll share a joyful toast and celebrate our week of adventure and connection.

Day 8: Kyoto

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 craft will travel home with us, helping us find the beauty wherever we look.