JANESCO special Event Tours
13 Day
Culinary Tour with Adam Liaw
Dates
3rd March 2025 – 15th March 2025
From $9,970*
*Price is per person, twin share air and land package. Plus airline taxes & fees
Adam Liaw Culinary Tour of Japan 2025
Join us on a culinary tour in Japan. 13 Days in Honshu and Kyushu from 03 – 15 March 2025, travelling with Adam Liaw on a fully escorted tour with an experienced tour leader.
Adam will be sharing his insights into Japanese cuisine and culture including a cooking demonstration in Kyoto. See some of the many faces of Japan, from famous destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka to mountain villages and seaside resorts. Experience the serenity and beauty of famous temples and a Zen rock-garden in the ancient capital, Kyoto. Enjoy both fine dining Japanese style with Kaiseki meals at ryokans, and delicious comfort foods, savouring the differences and range of flavours. Learn to make Okonomiyaki with a hands-on lesson in Hiroshima, the home of this delicacy. Visit a traditional Katsuo smokehouse and learn the finer points of this source of umami in so many Japanese stocks and soups. Stay at an onsen ryokan and relax Japanese-style with a soak in the onsen before a special ryokan banquet. Indulge in a little retail therapy as you wander through centuries old shopping streets in Kyoto and Ise Peninsula and through high-end department stores in Ginza
Tour Highlights
Days 1-2
Sydney – Tokyo
Days 3-4
Nagasaki – Arita – Imari – Yamaguchi
Days 5-6
Yamaguchi – Kintaikyo – Hiroshima – Kyoto
Days 7-9
Kyoto – Ise Kashikojima
Days 10-13
Ise Kashikojima – Tokyo – Sydney
Day 1 Sydney – Tokyo [No Meal Arrangement]
Interstate passengers take connecting Virgin Australia domestic flights. 21:45 Depart Sydney by All Nippon Airways’ flight: NH880 dep. SYDNEY 21:45, arr. HANEDA at 05:20 (04 Mar).
Day 2 Tokyo – Nagasaki, Kyushu Island [L, D]
05:20 Arrive in Tokyo. After clearing quarantine and customs, check-in for your connecting flight to Nagasaki on the island of Kyushu, Flight no. NH661 dep. Haneda at 08:15, arr. Nagasaki at 10:15. Famous in part for being the second city destroyed by an atomic bomb, Nagasaki is also famous for being the setting for the play and operetta Madame Butterfly. We will visit Glover House, the restored residence of a Scottish merchant, showing the Western décor of the late 19th Century. It is said that the dramas of Glover’s Japanese wife and family were the inspiration for the story, play and eventually Puccini Opera “Madama Butterfly”. After 3:00pm we check in at our hotel for 2 nights. This evening enjoy welcome drinks at the hotel
Accommodation: Hilton Nagasaki or similar
Day 3 Nagasaki – Arita & Imari – Nagasaki [B, L]
Today we travel to Arita & Imari pottery villages. Centuries ago, a potter from Korea discovered a fine-quality white clay (kaolin) nearby in Mt. Izumiyama leading to the development of the pottery village, Arita. Now the cradle of porcelain manufacturing in Japan, it is a quiet and peaceful town hidden away in the mountains. We will visit a master potter’s workshop for an insight into this delicate craft. While in the village we will enjoy an exquisite traditional Japanese lunch, served in a beautiful Arita porcelain box.
Accommodation: Hilton Nagasaki or similar
Day 4 Nagasaki – Yamaguchi [B, L, D]
We travel to Hagi, Yamaguchi. Hagi is a former castle town off the major transport ways along the tranquil Sea of Japan coast in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It was the capital of the Mori Clan, one of the most powerful clans during the feudal age. Mori lords governed present day Yamaguchi (then known as Choshu) for more than 250 years and played a central role in bringing about the Meiji Restoration in the second half of the 19th century. Hagi is best known for its nicely preserved former castle town district and its local Hagiyaki Pottery which ranks among Japan’s finest. The town has been fortunate to have avoided major disasters since the Edo Period (1603-1868), thereby maintaining an appearance generally in accordance with town plans from centuries ago. Several beautiful old samurai and merchant residences survive and are open to the public. We stay tonight at a famous Onsen Ryokan and enjoy a gourmet Japanese banquet. Enjoy the onsen experience in one of the best in Japan.
Accommodation: Otanisanso – 5 star ryokan or similar
Day 5 Yamaguchi – Kintaikyo – Miyajima – Hiroshima [B, D]
This morning we travel to visit Kintaikyo bridge in Iwakuni, immortalized for centuries in many Ukiyoe prints. We travel on to Miyajima Island, famous for the Itsukushima Shrine & floating torii gate. Miyajima is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and officially one of Japan’s Top 3 Views. Travel then to Hiroshima to view the Peace Park (Atomic Bomb Museum). Dinner tonight is at an Okonomiyaki cooking studio where you will learn to how to make your very own okonomiyaki, a versatile dish that can be adapted to any food culture or dietary restriction.
Accommodation Hotel: Granvia Hiroshima or similar – 4 star hotel or similar
Day 6 Hiroshima – Kyoto [B]
After checking out from the hotel, we travel to Kyoto by deluxe coach. First stop, we visit the Zen garden of Daisenin with its surreal stone garden. We then travel on to Fushimi Inari, whose shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha) in southeast Kyoto is one of Japan’s best known Shinto shrines, and a World Heritage Site. It is famous for its tunnels of more than 10,000 closely-spaced vermillion torii gates beyond the entrance to the shrine that wind over the hills of Mt. Inari. We check in at our hotel for 3 nights. .
Accommodation: Hotel Okura Kyoto – 4.5 star, or similar
Day 7 Kyoto [B, L]
Today we take a Kyoto sightseeing tour, beginning this morning with a walking tour of Kiyomizu temple, nestled in a mountain on the east of the city and overlooking the city. Part of the fun of visiting Kiyomizu temple is the approach to the temple along the steep and busy lanes of Kyoto’s old atmospheric Higashiyama district. After lunch at one of Kyoto’s Michelin award winning restaurants, we will visit another two UNESCO world heritage sites, the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and Nijo Castle. Kinkakuji is a beautiful Zen temple once the retirement villa of the Shogun Ashikaga in northern Kyoto , and whose top two storeys are completely covered in gold leaf. Nijo castle (built in 1603) was the Kyoto residence of the first Shogun, Tokugawa, and is one of the best surviving examples of feudal Japan’s castle palace architecture.
Accommodation: Hotel Okura Kyoto or similar
Day 8 Kyoto [B, L] Adam Liaw Cooking Demonstration
Adam Liaw will be travelling with us throughout the tour from Nagasaki to Tokyo, providing an extra insight into Japanese food, customs and culture and their delightful interaction to produce the delicious Japanese cuisine we all love.
This morning we are privileged to join Adam for a cooking class. The winner of Masterchef in 2010, he has moved on to write an array of cookbooks and his series on SBS Destination Flavour saw him take home an AACTA award in 2016 for the Best Lifestyle Television programme. In 2016, the Japanese government appointed Adam as an official “Goodwill Ambassador of Japanese Cuisine” and he is going to present us with an amazing opportunity to learn alongside him about one of his greatest passions.
After Adam’s cooking demonstration, we will enjoy a teppanyaki lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel Okura Kyoto or similar
Day 9 Kyoto – Ise Kashikojima [B, D]
We bid farewell to Kyoto this morning and head to the Ise Shima Peninsula which is home to Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrines, the Ise Shrines. Ise is also a popular seaside leisure resort area. Cross the Ujibashi bridge over the Isuzugawa River at the entrance of Naiku which is said to separate a sacred realm from the daily world. Enjoy visiting the old town of Okage yokocho with its historic streets, and experience delicious local food . We stay tonight in an authentic Onsen (hot spring) resort ryokan on the pearl island of Kashikojima. Enjoy a traditional feast this evening.
Accommodation: Shin Hojoen – 4 Star or similar
Day 10 Ise Kashikojima – Tokyo [B]
We leave Kashikojima for Nagoya and on the way we stop by a Katsuo Smoking Hut. Learn about Katsuobushi, an essential Japanese ingredient that you will have encountered in your okonomiyaki cooking lesson and enjoy tasting some samples. From Nagoya we catch the Bullet Train back to Tokyo. We end our trip with a stay in a 5 star hotel, checking in at The Imperial Hotel Tokyo for 2 nights.
Farewell Drinks and Supper, get together with your travelling companions and reminisce over drinks and supper in a private function setting at Aqua Lounge on 17th floor.
Accommodation: Imperial Hotel Tokyo – 5 star hotel or similar
Day 11 Tokyo [B]
Day at leisure
Perhaps explore the nearby famous Ginza shopping district or venture over to the “Kitchenware Town” Kappabashi. You may wish instead to take a half or full day tour of Tokyo or nearby regions. Enjoy your day at leisure
Accommodation: Imperial Hotel Tokyo – 5 star hotel or similar
Day 12 Tokyo – Haneda – Sydney [B]
Today is our last day in Japan, so you might wish to do some last-minute souvenir hunting or an optional half day activity. The official hotel check-out time is 11:00. Late afternoon, transfer from the hotel to Haneda airport by chartered coach, to check in for your flight back to Australia.
22:45 Depart Haneda by All Nippon Airways’ overnight flight:NH879 dep. HANEDA 22:45, SYDNEY at 10:30 +1 day
Day 13 Sydney Australia
10:30 Arrive in Sydney
Interstate passengers make your way to Virgin Airlines connecting flights.
-Sayounara-
Other Tour Inclusions
Tour Inclusions:
- All international and domestic flights.
- Return airport transfers in Japan included with Tour & Air Package deal
- Chartered coaches and Bullet Train rides.
- All transportation as specified
- 11 nights – 4～5 star hotel accommodation
- Baggage porterage service – 1 piece per person and tips/service fees
- Adam Liaw Cooking Demonstration in Kyoto. Hands on experience: Learning cooking Okonomiyaki savory pancake in Hiroshima.
- 19 Meals: Breakfast x 10, Lunch x 5 and Dinners x 4
Exclusions:
- Your travel insurance (JANESCO can help you arrange travel insurance through our partner NIB Insurance)
- Beverages during meals (except where specified)
Participants: The minimum number of guests for the tour to proceed is 35, with maximum of 42
Air and Land Package Prices and details 2025
| Departing Airport | Air and Land package per person, twin share | Plus Airline
tax & fees* |
||
| Economy CL | Premium Economy CL | Business CL | ||
| Sydney | $9,970 | $ 12,660 | $14,880 | $198 |
| Canberra | $10,230 | $12,920 | $15,140 | $294 |
| Melbourne | $10,290 | $12,920 | $15,200 | $250 |
| Brisbane | $10,290 | $12,980 | $15,200 | $255 |
| Adelaide | $10,290 | $12,980 | $15,200 | $251 |
| Coolangatta | $10,290 | $12,980 | $15,200 | $253 |
| Perth | $10,670 | $13,360 | $15,580 | $265 |
| Single room arrangement | $ 1870 | |||
*Taxes and fares are subject to change
- International & Japan domestic flights arrangements by All Nippon Airways
- Australian domestic flights by Virgin Australia Airlines
- Interstate travellers fly to Sydney on 03 March 2025 to join flight for Japan.
- The Inflight service on Virgin Australia Airline is not included in the tour & air package deal.
- Travellers wishing to request any service on Virgin Australian Air flight can organize them individually on the Virgin Australia website after the group tickets have been issued.
International and Japan domestic flights
| Flight No. | Date | Departure/Arrival | Time |
| NH880 | 03MAR ‘25 | Sydney / Haneda Tokyo | 21:45 / 05:20 + 1 day/04MAR |
| NH661 | 04MAR ‘25 | Haneda / Nagasaki Kyushu | 08:15 / 10:15 |
| NH879 | 14MAR ‘24 | Haneda / Sydney | 22:45 /10:30 + 1 day/15MAR |
Make an Enquiry