Join executive chef-owner Taichi Kitamura
on a one-of-a-kind trip to Japan.

 
 
 
 

 
 

Taichi Kitamura, chef-owner of Sushi Kappo Tamura, invites you on a journey through his hometown of Kyoto, Osaka, and a hidden countryside onsen. This is Japan beyond the guidebooks, where every meal tells a story by a dear friend.

Dine with Taichi at his favorite neighborhood wagyu spot, sip hand-poured coffee at his family’s Meiji-Era cafe , and retreat to a remote onsen town and savor pristine, seasonal flavors.

Leave with a deeper understanding of Japanese hospitality, culinary mastery, and the quiet beauty that lingers beyond the neon glow. Take home the memories—the meals, the moments, and the warmth of the people who make Japan unforgettable.

 
 
 

Trip Details


9 Day - Taichi Kitamura X TTLT Japan Trip

 

Dates

November 2025

Pricing

$9,650 per person based on double occupancy 
$10,850 per person based on single occupancy

Group Size

6 to 12 travelers

Destinations

Osaka, Kyoto, A countryside hot spring town

 

Save your seat now and finalize event details later! If plans change, you have 24 hours to request a refund and get fully reimbursed to your original payment method. Learn more here.

 
 

Trip Inclusions


 

✓ Boutique Accommodations

✓ Airport meet & greet with private transfers

✓ All ground transportation

✓ All meals except for one

✓ Sake tasting & select alcoholic beverages with most meals

✓ All activities, experiences, and tours

✓ All taxes & gratuities

✓ Local Osaka Neighborhood Street Food Tour

✓ Market Tour + Cooking Class

✓ Visit to a Japanese knife maker

✓ Hot springs and Japanese kaiseki meal experience

✓ A private visit to Taichi’s family cafe

✓ Premium Wagyu experience

✓ Private temple meditation & traditional Buddhist meal

✓Private tea ceremony

✓ Afternoon free time to explore

✓ 24/7 Tour Host

✓Exploring Japan with Taichi Kitamura, Chef-owner of Sushi Kappo Tamura

 

Exclusions: transportation or airfare to/from the arrival and departure points, travel protection and trip cancellation protection, hotel room incidentals, and premium alcoholic beverages

 
 

Trip Itinerary


Our detailed itinerary is always subject to change as we constantly research, update our trip, and coordinate with our friends in Japan to work with their schedules! This itinerary is a great resource for getting an idea of what kind of experiences you’ll have when you travel with Taichi to Japan!

 
 

Day One - Osaka

Welcome to Japan!

Upon arrival at one of Osaka’s Airports (KIX or ITM), a driver will be waiting to take you into the heart of the city in a private car, approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour. Your tour leader, Carly, will meet you at the hotel lobby to help with check-in.

We will have a short introduction and welcome before meeting our first local friend, Kenji, who will introduce you to the city on a mouth-watering walking food tour through his local neighborhood.

It’ll be a night on the town with friends are we hop from one izakaya to the next trying Japan’s most iconic street foods in some of the unlikeliest of settings!

Included meals: dinner

 
 
 

Day Two - Osaka

We’ll kick off our day with a market tour with our friend Yoko! We’ll spend the day experiencing and tasting all things Japanese cuisine - visiting markets, shotengai (traditional shopping streets), and even a few hidden spots you might not expect to find food.

We’ll also enjoy a hearty, hands-on hot pot lunch together before heading to a private knife sharpening lesson with our friends at Osaka’s most famous knife shop.

In the evening, we’ll meet up with Yoko, as she leads us through a cooking class where we will learn to make regional food and enjoy dishes that are special to Osaka.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

 
 
 

Day Three - Countryside Onsen

For Japanese people, visiting an onsen town is a very normal and nostalgic part of life. Many Japanese look forward to the experience of soaking in hot springs, enjoying a meal at a ryokan, and embracing the serene environment as a regular part of relaxation and rejuvenation.

After taking the train to the onsen town, we will meet our passionate guide and dear friend, Ciharu, who will give us an in-depth introduction to the town.

From there, we’ll enjoy a leisurely stroll through the town on our way to the ryokan. Once settled in, we’ll enjoy a beautiful representation of the season in a regional kaiseki meal.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

 
 
 
 

Day Four - Countryside Onsen

We’ll meet artisans and producers around the town, where we’ll have hyper-local experiences that you can’t find anywhere else in Japan — from making lacquerware in a tiny studio, to paper making, and ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging — all while meeting the locals who bring their craft to life!

The rest of the day is yours to explore the town and discover its gems on your own! We will equip you with recommendations on what to do and where to do some shopping in the town.

We will regroup at the end of the day to have an intimate dinner at a local restaurant where Japanese ingredients are prepared with French techniques.

Included meals: breakfast, dinner

 
 
 

Day Five - Kyoto

Onward to the moment we’ve all been waiting for —exploring Kyoto with Taichi!

We'll get to know Kyoto and settle into it's quaint charms with a brief tour and stunning welcome dinner. We'll enjoy light bites to start and end with a traditional kaiseki dinner, Japan's version of a course meal and the essence of Japanese haute cuisine — all while joined by a very special guest!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 
 
 

Day Six - Kyoto

We'll begin our day with a peaceful, private Zazen meditation session in one of Kyoto’s most important temples, guided by the head monk. 

After finding inner peace, we'll enjoy a delicious shojin ryori meal in a secret tea house -- the traditional Buddhist cuisine highlights seasonal ingredients, mindfulness and other Zen principles.

In the evening, we'll enjoy a hands on meal at Taichi’s favorite Wagyu restaurant tucked away in a local neighborhood.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner


Meals Included: Breakfast

 
 
 

Day Seven - Kyoto

Step into Taichi’s family kissaten, a retro-style coffee shop, a slice of old Kyoto where time slows cups of coffee and their signature dessert made by his mother, daily!We’ll pop in, sip, and share stories, experiencing the warmth and tradition that make Japan feel like home.

Then we’ll head to an rather unusual location for lunch — a department store! Taichi will expertly guide you through the depachika, a gastronomic paradise hidden in every basement of a Japanese department store. We weave in and out of aisles with food in every corner you can see picking up our lunch along the way.

After lunch, the rest of the day is yours to explore Kyoto on your own!


Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

 
 
 

Day Eight - Kyoto

It’s not a visit to Japan without partaking in a traditional tea ceremony! We’ll visit Mrs. Konishi for a special in-home tea ceremony in the neighborhood of Fushimi.

Gather with your fellow travelers to one of Taichi’s beloved restaurants in all of Kyoto for a memorable dining experience! We’ll have the place to ourselves for our final meal together as we enjoy the chef’s creations focused on high-quality, seasonal ingredients.


Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 
 
 

Day Nine - Departure

Our departure day begins with an optional group breakfast before saying farewell. We will coordinate a private driver and transfer to the airport or train station on your behalf.


Meals Included: Breakfast

 
 

*Itinerary, hotels, activities, and modes of transportation are subject to change based on availability and/or weather conditions. In the event a hotel is unavailable, another comparable hotel will be substituted. All Terms and Conditions will be sent upon inquiry and must be agreed upon during booking.

 
 

What Travelers Say About Us


 

Get More Trip Details


 

Ask a tour host your questions! Or if your bags are already packed, you can go ahead and secure your spot here!

 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions


  • Upon payment, travelers have a 24-hour period to request a refund with full reimbursement to the original payment method. After 24 hours from payment, the travel deposit becomes non-refundable consistent with our Terms & Conditions. Any cancellation or refund requests made thereafter will not be eligible for reimbursement. To request a refund, contact us at hello@thetablelesstraveled.com.

 
 

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