Japan Agriculture Tours – 16Nights /17 Days

Assemble at India Airport for your flight to Tokyo – Japan’s incredible capital and home to 13 million people! On arrival  this evening, transfer to your city hotel. Get to know your fellow travellers which may include a few Aussie counterparts.

Today we visit Tsukiji Outer Fish Market to see how fish is presented for sale. Next visit Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest ‘free-standing’ structure with an amazing observation deck. Later explore famous Kappabashi; a fascinating street lined with 170 kitchen supply shops devoted to every conceivable culinary implement! Return to the hotel with the evening at leisure.

A day sightseeing in Tokyo including a chance for you to try your hand at Taiko drumming! We’ll also visit the fascinating Ginza District housing some of Tokyo’s original stores, the Edo Tokyo Museum and the gardens of the Imperial Palace (Emperor’s residence). Later enjoy a group welcome dinner.

An early start to bustling OTA Wholesale Market, Japan’s largest vegetable and flower market. See how produce is displayed and sold… quite different to what you see at home! After time to relax, visit interesting greenhouse and hydroponic enterprises in the greater metropolitan area – learn how they operate within this populated environment. Also gain an insight into Tokyo’s increasingly popular Urban Agriculture movement. A free evening tonight.

Depart north by bullet train and visit farms in the Kurikoma region, including a rice producer and a Wagyu cattle operation. Continue to picturesque Matsushima Bay with its breathtaking views over hundreds of pine-clad islets scattered throughout the bay. Tonight you will stay in a Japanese Ryokan with a traditional dinner and onsen (hot spring baths). Enjoy!

A relaxing morning in Matsushima Bay including a scenic cruise where you may spot a little of the region’s commercial aquaculture such as mussel farms. After lunch, visit a local livestock farm then head into Sendai, interesting to visit following its tsunami recovery. This evening at leisure.

This morning travel south by bullet train to Nagano, a region surrounded by alps and known for its soba (buckwheat) noodles and miso. Take a 45 minute walk to see where troops of Japanese macaque (snow monkeys) live and bathe – depending on the weather – in hot springs at an altitude of 850m. This is a popular observation location for researchers, photographers and visitors.

A great range of visits today as you meet local producers and learn how crops such as Enoki mushrooms, rice and asparagus, are grown and processed for the Japanese market.

This morning visit a wasabi farm in Daio. Described as Japanese horseradish, wasabi can only be grown in cool, clear water and here it is grown in abundant natural springs.  An opportunity   to sample wasabi culinary delights including wasabi ice cream! You’ll also see Matsumoto Castle, known as the ‘Crow Castle’ due to its black exterior. Matsumoto is the oldest and most complete of Japan’s original castles. Check in to your hotel for a two night stay.

A range of farm visits today, including a beef farm and a chance to make soba noodles – complete with a cooking lesson and,    of course, tasting! Soba is the Japanese name for buckwheat  – it usually refers to thin noodles made from buckwheat flour in contrast to the thick wheat noodles known as udon. You’ll also visit an apple orchard and tomato grower to learn how fruit and vegetables can be grown at high altitude.

Take a walking tour of the charming town of Takayama this morning. Located in the mountainous Gifu Prefecture, Takayama is known for its picturesque narrow wooden merchants’ houses dating back to the Edo period. Later transfer to the station to take the limited express and bullet trains to the beautiful city of Kyoto – Japan’s former capital – on the island of Honshu.

This morning we visit an established green tea plantation near Hyogo. Learn about the production process and the importance of tea in Japan. Afterwards we have lunch at a leading Kobe beef farm. Here black Wagyu cattle are housed and raised on a controlled diet which some say includes sake mash, beer and a daily massage – see for yourself! The meat produced is known for its unique flavour and aroma and you can judge the end product for yourselves. Later return to Kyoto where you have a free evening.

Today is a day of sightseeing to fully appreciate this ancient city. Kyoto is an elegant city with a rich cultural heritage. There’s an air of old Japan here; a reminder of traditions of time long past when geishas were often seen walking quietly to secret assignations. Kyoto is a city steeped in tradition which often contrasts sharply with first impressions of the ultra-modern glass and steel train station. This evening enjoy dinner with an intriguing Maiko dance performance.

Enjoy the day visiting Nara, including exquisite gardens, and further exploring Kyoto. Once Japan’s capital, Nara is a fascinating city with eight UNESCO World Heritage sites and is second only to Kyoto in significance. Visit the famous Todaiji temple and neighbouring deer park in Nara. There’s also a chance to visit a sake brewery to sample the local brew! A free evening tonight.

After breakfast take the train to Odawara, gateway to Hakone hot springs and Fuji-Hakone National Park. With a boxed lunch, enjoy a cruise on beautiful Lake Ashi with views to Mt Fuji. Afterwards take a cable car ride over the amazing landscape with views to Mt Fuji (weather permitting!). Later visit Owakudani Valley, a fascinating volcanic valley with sulphur vents and hot spring. Enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel this evening.

After breakfast return by coach to Tokyo where you’ll have a buffet lunch and a final night in Japan.

After breakfast and time for packing, check in for your overnight flight to India.