Travel with Bon Appétit on a Culinary Getaway to Japan

Bon Appétit invites you on a 9-day, 8-night Culinary Getaway to Japan with acclaimed chef Jesse Ito. As the visionary behind Philadelphia’s Royal Sushi and Izakaya (named one of North America’s 50 best restaurants in 2025), Chef Ito brings his deep reverence for Japanese cuisine and craftsmanship to this itinerary. From the bustling food stalls of Tokyo to the serene tofu temples of Kyoto, each day offers a new opportunity to explore the flavors, rituals, and artistry that define Japanese food culture. Witness the iconic Toyosu tuna auction at dawn, observe sushi chefs that inspired Ito’s own sukibiki knife skills, savor shabu-shabu and omakase meals that echo his culinary philosophy, and delve into the heritage of knife-making in Sakai. Whether you’re sampling street snacks in Harajuku or crafting pottery in Shigaraki, this journey is a celebration of the senses—guided by a chef whose passion for innovation will deepen your appreciation for Japan’s rich gastronomic legacy.

Highlights

• Join Bon Appétit Culinary Getaways for a curated journey through Japan with chef Jesse Ito, acclaimed omakase master and co-owner of Royal Sushi and Izakaya, as he shares his culinary insights and personal connections to Japanese food traditions.
• Savor a wide range of Japanese cuisine, including shabu-shabu, sushi, yakitori, tofu kaiseki, street snacks, and omakase —each meal reflecting regional flavors and seasonal ingredients.
• Witness the artistry of Japanese knife-making in Sakai, where you’ll learn about the tools and techniques that inspire Chef Ito’s signature sukibiki slicing style.
• Explore Japan’s rich cultural heritage, from a sumo stable and Edo-period neighborhood to kimono fittings, pottery workshops, and UNESCO World Heritage temples.

Pricing and Details

Read on for the full getaway itinerary. In the meantime, some key information:

• Dates: November 8–16, 2026
• Deposit: $1,000 (required upon booking to secure a spot)
• Price: $11,350 (double occupancy); $12,500 (single occupancy)
• Hotels: Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu (Tokyo, 3 Nights), Royal Park Hotel – Kyoto Sanjo (Kyoto, 3 Nights), Moxy Osaka Honmachi (Osaka, 2 Nights)
• To book your trip: Visit here or call 1-877-298-9677
• Questions?: Reservations@academic-travel.com or 1-877-298-9677
• Terms and conditions

Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday, November 8): Hello, Tokyo!

• Arrive at the Haneda Airport and transfer as a group to go to your hotel in the vibrant Shibuya district, known for its bustling energy and proximity to Tokyo’s top culinary neighborhoods.
• Gather for a celebratory welcome dinner at a local restaurant, featuring Kyoto-style dashi shabu-shabu with premium pork, seasonal vegetables, and handmade udon.

Included Meals: Dinner, Reception
Accommodations: Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Day 2 (Monday, November 9): Sumo, Sushi, and Shibuya

• Begin the day with a walking tour of Yanaka, a nostalgic neighborhood untouched by modern development. Sample local street foods like taiyaki and senbei from family-run stalls nestled along narrow alleys.
• Step into the Fukagawa Edo Museum, a life-sized recreation of the Edo-period neighborhood of Shitamachi, where you’ll explore how food and daily life intertwined in historical Tokyo.
• Travel to a sumo training center for an interactive sumo experience, including a private demonstration and a traditional chanko nabe lunch, the protein-rich stew that fuels Japan’s wrestlers.
• Head to Harajuku, where kawaii culture meets creative street snacks like rainbow cotton candy and crepes.
• Then take a short train ride to Shibuya, observing the famous scramble crossing before ascending to the Shibuya Sky observation deck for panoramic city views.
• Enjoy a casual dinner on your own at Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka, a high-tech conveyor belt sushi spot where you can sample a variety of nigiri and rolls.
• Those who choose, can end the night with a stroll through Shinjuku’s Golden Gai, a maze of tiny bars and izakayas, each with its own personality and menu, before returning by train to your hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Day 3 (Tuesday, November 10): Tuna at Dawn

• Begin your day before dawn with a visit to the Toyosu Fish Market for an aerial view of the renowned tuna auction, where a single 612-pound bluefin tuna was sold for more than $3 million. Witness the precision of fish handling and slicing, an art form that inspired chef Jesse Ito’s sukibiki knife skills.
• Continue to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where you’ll join Tokyo locals and some of the city’s best-known chefs in sampling fresh seafood, tamagoyaki, and grilled skewers from long-standing vendors.
• Explore Kappabashi Street, Tokyo’s kitchen town, filled with shops selling Japanese knives, ceramicware, and food replicas.
• Return to the hotel for lunch and time to refresh.
• Later this afternoon, stroll down Nakamise Alley, where you can snack on ningyo-yaki (doll-shaped cakes) and age-manju (fried buns).
• Enjoy grilled skewers, sashimi, and small plates at Gonpachi Izakaya, the lively restaurant that inspired scenes in Kill Bill and that is reminiscent of Ito’s own Philadelphia izakaya.
• Those who choose can end the evening with a visit to the Tokyo Whisky Library, home to over 1,000 bottles.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Day 4 (Wednesday, November 11): Bento Boxes and Bullet Trains

• Begin the day with a guided exploration of a depachika, Japan’s gourmet basement food halls. Sample beautifully packaged seasonal sweets, savory bites, and artisanal pickles, gaining insight into the Japanese art of presentation and flavor balance.
• Board the Shinkansen bullet train for a high-speed journey to Kyoto. Pick up an ekiben (bento box lunch) to enjoy en route, a quintessential Japanese travel tradition.
• Upon arrival, visit Kiyomizudera Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site perched on a hillside with sweeping views of Kyoto.
• After settling into your hotel, enjoy dinner at Okabeya, a specialty tofu restaurant where you’ll prepare your own fresh tofu and savor a multicourse meal that celebrates soy in its purest forms—an homage to the simplicity and elegance of Japanese cuisine.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Royal Park Hotel Kyoto

Day 5 (Thursday, November 12): Clay and Craftsmanship

• Travel to Shigaraki, one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, known for its rustic pottery and whimsical tanuki statues. Visit Tanuki Village and local potters’ studios to observe traditional ceramic techniques.
• Participate in a hands-on pottery class, where you’ll have an opportunity to shape and glaze your own work of art.
• Your exploration of Japanese pottery continues with lunch at Mutsumian, where seasonal ingredients are slow-cooked in handmade earthenware.
• Explore the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, including the Ceramic Art Gallery and Industrial Exhibition Hall, where you’ll see how form and function merge in Japanese tableware.
• Return to Kyoto and explore the Kyoto Nishiki Market, a narrow arcade lined with over 100 food vendors. Here you can sample yuba (tofu skin), tsukemono (pickles), and fresh mochi.
• Enjoy time at leisure for dinner this evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Royal Park Hotel Kyoto

Day 6 (Friday, November 13): Cultural Kyoto: Castle, Cruise, and Kimono

• Visit Nijo Castle, a UNESCO site known for its “nightingale floors” and ornate interiors. Learn how feudal lords once dined and entertained in this historic setting.
• Embark on a Hozugawa River boat cruise, a scenic 90-minute journey through forested ravines once used to transport goods—including sake and rice—into Kyoto.
• In Arashiyama, enjoy a kimono fitting before strolling through the Bamboo Grove and visiting Tenryuji Temple, where Zen aesthetics influence both garden design and cuisine.
• Savor shojin ryori (Zen vegetarian) for lunch at Shigetsu, located within the temple grounds. This meal emphasizes mindfulness, balance, and seasonal ingredients—principles that are echoed in Chef Ito’s omakase philosophy.
• Visit Okochi Sanso Garden, the former villa of a silent film star, and enjoy matcha tea with traditional sweets in a serene teahouse setting.
• Refresh at the hotel before an evening walking tour of Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district, where you’ll learn about the refined world of kaiseki dining and seasonal hospitality. Continue to explore the area with dinner on your own.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Royal Park Hotel Kyoto

Day 7 (Saturday, November 14): Shrines, Sweets, and Skewers

• Jumpstart your day with a cup of % Arabica cold-brew coffee in Higashiyama, a Kyoto-based brand known for its minimalist design and single-origin beans.
• Visit the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of torii gates. Learn about the shrine’s connection to rice, sake, and food prosperity.
• Drive to Nara and explore Naramachi, a preserved merchant district. Here, you will visit a mochi-making shop to witness the rhythmic pounding of rice into chewy confections. Then, stop at a wagashi (traditional Japanese confections/sweets) shop, where you’ll learn how delicate treats are crafted to reflect the seasons and complement matcha tea.
• Enjoy a yakitori lunch, where skewers of chicken and vegetables are grilled over binchotan charcoal, a technique that emphasizes umami and texture—similar to the fire-focused dishes in Ito’s izakaya.
• Arrive in Osaka and explore Dotonbori, a neon-lit street food paradise. Try takoyaki, kushikatsu, and other local specialties before gathering for a group okonomiyaki dinner at Chibo, where you’ll have an opportunity to grill your own savory pancakes at the table.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Day 8 (Sunday, November 15): Sukibiki in Sakai

• Take a day trip to Sakai, Japan’s legendary knife-making city. Tour a knife factory and gallery, where you’ll learn about forging, sharpening, and the craftsmanship behind the blades used by top chefs like Jesse Ito.
• Learn about the art of knife sharpening and gain insight into the tools essential for precise fish slicing and the art of sukibiki.
• Enjoy a crab-focused lunch at Kani Douraku, where you’ll indulge in kani miso, grilled crab legs, and hot pot—celebrating the sweet, delicate flavors of Japanese snow crab.
• Continue to explore Japanese craftsmanship and metalwork with a visit to a gunsmith’s home and the Denshokan Traditional Craft Museum.
• Return to Osaka for a farewell omakase dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Day 9 (Monday, November 16): Departure

• Begin your last morning with a visit to Sennichimae Market, a bustling Osaka food arcade where you can purchase last-minute snacks, souvenirs, or a final bowl of ramen.
• Transfer to the airport for individual flights home.

Included Meal: Breakfast

About Your Hotels

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu (Tokyo, 3 Nights)

Perched above the iconic Shibuya Scramble Crossing and directly connected to Shibuya Station, the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu offers unbeatable access to Tokyo’s most dynamic district. The hotel’s modern architecture offers panoramic views from its upper-floor restaurants and guest rooms. Compact rooms are designed with calming neutral tones and minimalist Japanese aesthetics. Guests can select from a variety of on-site dining options with sweeping skyline views.

Royal Park Hotel – Kyoto Sanjo (Kyoto, 3 Nights)

The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo offers a refined stay in the heart of Kyoto’s historic Kawaramachi Sanjo district, just a 3-minute walk from Sanjo Station and near iconic sites like Gion and Nishiki Market. The property blends modern elegance with subtle nods to traditional Japanese design. Amenities include an on-site restaurant and bar. All rooms were fully renovated in 2024 and feature contemporary decor, plush bedding, air purifiers, black-out curtains, and premium toiletries.

Moxy Osaka Honmachi (Osaka, 2 Nights)

Located in Osaka’s lively downtown district, Moxy Osaka Honmachi is a playful, design-forward hotel that caters to modern travelers seeking both comfort and character. Just a short walk from Honmachi Station and close to Dotonbori and Osaka Castle, Osaka Moxy Honmachi offers easy access to the city’s top attractions. The building’s industrial-chic architecture is matched by vibrant interiors filled with neon accents, bold artwork, and communal spaces designed for socializing. Rooms are compact yet cleverly designed, featuring motion-activated LED lighting, 50-inch smart TVs, and plush platform beds. Amenities include a grab-and-go deli, bar and lounge, and 24-hour fitness center.

About Your Expert Guide

Chef Jesse Ito is the acclaimed chef and co-owner of Royal Sushi and Izakaya in Philadelphia, where he curates one of the city’s most sought-after omakase experiences. Raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Jesse grew up in his family’s restaurant, Fuji, one of the region’s first Japanese eateries. He began working there at 14 and trained under his father, Master Chef Masaharu Ito. After studying marketing at Rutgers, Jesse partnered with restaurateurs David Frank and Stephen Simons to open Royal Sushi and Izakaya in 2016. Known for its intimate 8-seat sushi counter and vibrant izakaya, the restaurant has earned critical acclaim, including a four-bell review from The Philadelphia Inquirer. Jesse has been recognized by Eater’s Young Guns, Zagat’s 30 Under 30, and as a James Beard Award semi-finalist. A passionate advocate for mental health and sobriety, Jesse continues to shape Philadelphia’s culinary scene with precision, heart, and resilience.