Get to know nigiri sushi, Japan’s most iconic food

Stroll through rice paddies in one of Japan’s top growing regions, then savor nigiri sushi made with local fish caught just off the coast in the Sea of Japan, prepared right before your very eyes.

A BBQ with a view, and yamabushi shojin ryori cuisine

In the mountains of Shonai, yamabushi mountain monks continue their ascetic practices to this day. The wisdom developed through these practices gave birth to yamabushi shojin ryori cuisine. Learn how to cook some of the dishes most representative of this 1400-year-old culinary tradition. Later, dig for potatoes with a local farmer and enjoy a communal BBQ at a campsite offering stunning views of the surrounding nature.

Local homestyle cuisine at a farmhouse restaurant

Relax in an old-fashioned Japanese house while enjoying homestyle cuisine cooked by a local woman using homegrown rice and vegetables.

Arranged and guided by the editor-in-chief of a regional culture magazine

A 2-night, 3-day private tour exploring the cuisine of northern Japan, culinary traditions nurtured by the region’s beautiful but harsh nature. Guided by the editor-in-chief of local culture magazine Cradle and his experienced English interpreter, meet active members of the local culinary scene and savor the fruits of their labor.

Tsuruoka, Japan’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

Surrounded by mountains on three sides and sea on the other, the tremendous snowfall the mountains receive every winter irrigates the rice paddies and fields come spring; the sea here itself is also a source of delicious ingredients.