Do you want to explore Takayama like a local? Maybe you aren’t sure where to find the best eats or quality Japanese cooking utensils and vessels. On this private tour, you can take a culinary adventure and get the best of Takayama’s unique food culture! The cold climate is ideal for making miso, pickles, sake, and many other traditional Japanese food. Get ready to go on a delicious journey where you can learn about Takayama through its authentic cuisine.
At your hotel or a location that is convenient for you in central Takayama
Start your day with a visit to the morning market, one of the three largest markets in Japan. Your expert guide will not only help you find the best products but also introduce you to the local vendors, the important faces of Takayama’s food scene!
You will learn about Hoba Miso, Takayama’s must-try local cuisine!
Check out a wide selection of knives, kitchen utensils, and cutlery used in Japanese cooking (available for purchase).
Learn about Hida Shunkei, beautiful lacquerware unique to the Hida region.
Get a taste of savory dango (Japanese dumplings), one of the most popular street foods in the Hida region
Get recommendations on a variety of regional and seasonal products with from your local guide!
At your hotel or a location that is convenient for you in central Takayama
Guide fee, hotel pick up in central Takayama
Transportation (if necessary),
lunch/dinner or other food expenses (you and the guide)
・You can purchase additional food samples not included in the tour.
・Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal options are available. Please write your allergies/dietary restrictions and any other requests you may have.
・Please contact me for evening food tours. I can also take you to the best eats in town, including sushi bars and izakaya (casual Japanese pubs) offering seafood specialties for fish fanatics, and sukiyaki joints and Japanese BBQ restaurants offering Hida beef for meat lovers.
・Please note that I cannot take responsibility for any accidents that occur during the tour. I highly recommend getting travel insurance before you come to Japan.
I will guide in the Ishikawa and Aichi areas if you can pay for my transportation fee. In the case that I need to stay a night prior, please note that the hotel cost is need to be paid by customers. For Kanazawa, it is about 8,000 JPY for the transportation cost. For Aichi or Nagano, it costs around 6500 JPY, depending on where you want go.
Ying sing L.
Takayama Half-Day Tour & Sake Sensations
Customized
“Thank you Mika!”
We did the Takayama and sake sensation tour combined with Mika. It was snowing heavily that day and Mika was very patient with us as my toddler was throwing tantrums due to the unexpected snow and rain at the same time. The most interesting part was the sake knowledge that has imparted to us during the tour. Lunch planned was delicious and Takayama morning is beautiful! Amazing tour highly recommended!
Mika S.
(24 reviews)Thank you for the gracious review, Ying! I’m delighted that you enjoyed the tour despite the chilly weather. Your baby was absolutely adorable, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of his time in Takayama! Also, sake is essential in local Takayama culture, and it was a pleasure to share about it with you and Jun Lee. I look forward to welcoming you back on your next trips to Japan!
“Mika was an outstanding guide for us to Takayama & Shirakawa”
Mika was an outstanding guide for us to Takayama & Shirakawa showing us all of the little out of the way things & her knowledge was excellent. With us not knowing anything her recommendations were awesome. She helped us book our train tickets & a place to eat that night in Takayama where the food was excellent. The coffee shop was also an excellent recommendation. Would book her again as a guide in a heartbeat. 100%
Mika S.
(24 reviews)Thank you for such a kind review, Bryan! It was a pleasure hosting the tour for you and your lovely family! You had a keen interest in the local culture and I’m so happy I could help make memorable experiences during your time here. I had so much fun sharing the wonders of Takayama and Shirakawago. I hope to see you again on your next visit to Japan!
Melanie T.
Full-Day Takayama Tour for Foodies & Sake Lovers
Customized
“Best tour of our vacation!”
Our day with Mika in Takayama was a wonderful adventure! Mika's english is FLAWLESS, and she knows everything about everything!! :-) We got a beautiful tour of the town and got to try some sake. She is an expert on sake, so it was great to learn all about the process and try many different kinds. She tailored the day to exactly what we wanted to do, and had so much wisdom to share with us. She also went at a pace that we were comfortable with. Make sure you book a tour with Mika! You will have an amazing day and get to spend it with an amazing person! We loved our day with Mika and you will too!
Mika S.
(24 reviews)Thank you, Melanie! I truly appreciate your thoughtful review! It was a delight guiding you and Jeff through Takayama, and I'm so happy that you enjoyed the experience as much as I did. Sharing the unique sake and food culture of Takayama with a fellow sake lover and foodie was an absolute pleasure. Thank you for the wonderful time and I hope to see you in Japan again one day! :)