An 8-day/7-night gastronomic journey through Tokyo's dim-lit alleys and unmarked doors.
June 15-22, 2026
Join culinary travel specialists Explore Soigné and the award-winning Boutique Japan on a week-long fine dining adventure in the food-obsessed city of Tokyo.
Explore Soigné creates exquisite fine dining experiences around the world, seeking out opportunities to meet talented chefs, whether rising stars or masters of their trade. Inspired by a heartfelt appreciation for the creative people behind the world's best restaurants, Explore Soigné is dedicated to forging connections with brilliant chefs and showcasing hidden gems.
Boutique Japan is a small company that eschews volume and spends more time customizing each trip to offer travelers a fresh, creative approach to Japan. Founded in 2013, Boutique Japan has received industry accolades and delighted travelers from around the world thanks to the company's in-depth expertise, tight-knit Japan network, meticulous approach to trip-planning, and passion for authentic travel experiences.
Don't miss the chance to join Boutique Japan founder Andres Zuleta and Explore Soigné founders Nickie Peña and Aria Saam on this intimate small-group culinary tour designed to reward open-minded travelers with adventurous palates.
Itinerary Highlights
Behind-the-scenes buyout at one of Shinjuku's top ramen shops
Private Japanese breakfast at an elegant Zen-inspired contemporary teahouse
An intimate kaiseki meal with an acclaimed soba kappo specialist in lantern-lit Arakicho
Fine dining meets theater at an outlandish, virtually impossible-to-book restaurant
Luxurious French-Japanese dining at the private counter of a brilliant, boisterous chef
An unforgettable yakiniku dinner featuring the pinnacle of Yamagata A5 wagyu
A selection of Tokyo's best sushi, yakitori, and — yes — Neapolitan pizza
A week-long stay at the quietly luxurious Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park
Drink pairings, an innovative private sake tasting, and more
Your Day-by-Day Culinary Experience
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Welcome (back) to Tokyo. Whether it's your first or fifth time, Japan never fails to delight. Our trip begins with a relaxed evening to settle in before our adventures begin in earnest tomorrow. Please make your own arrangements to fly into Tokyo's Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) Airport. If traveling from the Americas or Europe, you will need to depart on the previous calendar day to arrive in Tokyo on June 15th.
After passing through immigration, baggage claim, and customs, your driver will meet you in the arrivals hall. Your arrival transfer by private vehicle is included. You will be dropped off at the stylish and intimate Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park, our home for the next week.
Depending on your arrival hour, spend some time settling in this afternoon. Our time together begins this evening with champagne and oysters at the hotel's exclusive rooftop pool bar overlooking the verdant Yoyogi Park. Consider getting some rest tonight as our adventure officially kicks off in the morning. If you can't resist, the neighborhood is home to some of Tokyo's best bars. Kanpai!
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Ohayou gozaimasu! If you wake up early, as often happens with jet lag, take an early-morning walk to the nearby Yoyogi Park or Meiji Jingu before our dining adventures commence.
We begin with a casual but immersive experience, as we have a behind-the-scenes invitation to a renowned ramen shop in Shinjuku, where we'll be treated to a private tour of the kitchen, followed by an up-close look as the master prepares each of our mouthwatering bowls.
We'll have some free time this afternoon to walk or sleep it off before making our way to a secretive restaurant located in a quiet residential area near the atmospheric Kagurazaka district. For tonight's unforgettable dinner, we'll have a private dining experience at the virtually impossible-to-book counter of a brilliant and theatrical chef who highlights creative preparations featuring ingredients from the remote Noto Hanto region of Japan.
Afterwards, enjoy an intimate drink at the restaurant's guest-only bar with the chef himself.
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Relish a free morning and afternoon to make your own discoveries. Your hosts will be on hand to provide in-the-moment insight, whether you'd like to explore iconic spots or off-the-tourist-track Tokyo gems. Save room for dinner, as tonight we'll be feasting at one of the city's most decadent counters.
Before our memorable meal, we'll gather for a pre-dinner drink at a local mixology warehouse where a young team employs high-tech lab equipment to develop creatively delicious cocktails featuring unique ingredients.
Tonight we enjoy a late seating for a private dinner at the counter of a boisterous chef who employs sophisticated French techniques utilizing luxurious ingredients — not only from the top purveyors in Japan, but from around the globe. The elegance of the Tabelog Silver-recognized cuisine is beautifully counterbalanced by the jovial atmosphere of the counter seating, where we will be the only guests. This is French-Japanese cuisine at its finest.
We recommend eating lightly today, as this will be one of our most decadent meals.
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This morning we reset with a moment of Zen over a beautiful breakfast inspired by the traditional tea ceremony. Tucked away in a quiet residential district south of Shibuya, our venue is a stunning contemporary teahouse by designer Shinichiro Ogata. Following this meditative private dining experience, we'll have the late morning and afternoon to relax or explore independently before another magnificent meal.
In the early evening we will stop at one of the many great gin bars of Tokyo for a pre-meal tipple. Here, the hostess and owner is also your bartender and guide for the visit as she delves through her personal collection of gins collected from Japan and beyond.
In the late evening, we dine at the private counter of a young master, whose quietly elegant Michelin-starred soba kappo restaurant is located in the quiet backstreets of Arakicho, a historic pocket of greater Shinjuku known for its lantern-lit alleys. As part of our private dining experience we'll savor a kaiseki progression rooted deeply in the seasons. Sitting at the smooth wooden counter, we can observe each step of preparation, hear the soft rhythms of the kitchen, and speak directly with the chef, who balances professionalism with gentle warmth.
The elevated meal concludes with a heartwarming finale featuring lovingly prepared soba.
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Perhaps no culinary trip focused on Japanese cuisine would be complete without an impeccable sushi experience. After a morning at leisure, we'll make our way to the counter of a rising young sushi star who has been lauded by his peers for an intimate, private lunch. He sources a dizzying array of fish, typically showcasing a wider variety of Toyosu market’s bounty than other omakases in town. Lucky for us!
Then we'll venture to an unmarked building in a residential district near Shimokitazawa for a surprising sake experience. We'll be hosted by a Tokyo-based drinks insider for a private sake experience designed for both people who love nihonshu and those who fail to see the appeal. During our unorthodox tasting, we'll sample a selection of rare and often astounding sake from unique producers from around Japan.
Our day concludes with a casual dinner at a favorite local izakaya, where we can drink and dine alongside locals letting off steam after a busy workweek (theirs, not yours!). In unpretentious surroundings amid a lively atmosphere, we can sample tried-and-true izakaya staples alongside friendly locals letting loose.
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Enjoy a day to decompress before our lively and delicious dinner this evening.
Tonight we dine on one of Japanese cuisine's most enduring and heartwarming classics: yakitori. Grilling chicken from head to tail (and everything in between) over binchotan charcoal is a time-honored Japanese tradition. In recent years, talented chefs have elevated this once humble food to new heights, working directly with farmers around the country to raise the best heritage breed chickens and source the finest vegetables.
Our chef tonight even pushes the boundaries past chicken, sourcing wild duck from Gifu (his home prefecture). While his skewers are absolutely remarkable, there are some other special surprises in store for those lucky enough to get a seat at this temple to poultry.
Tonight is about experiencing the once “simple” yakitori elevated to fine dining.
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Before our final dinner together, this afternoon we'll attend a baseball game together (baseball schedules permitting).
Attending a baseball game is a quintessentially Japanese experience. Despite its origins outside Japan, Japanese baseball is a phenomenon all its own. Tickets, drinks, and Japanese baseball game snacks are included. In true Japanese fashion, there’s a lot more than nachos and hot dogs here.
No culinary tour of Tokyo would be complete without a taste of the pinnacle of beef. Wagyu has become a global sensation, but too often the name has been bastardized internationally where you can find “Wagyu” from supermarkets to burger stands. Tonight, we dine at one of the top yakiniku restaurants in Tokyo. Boasting a Tabelog Silver award, each cut of perfectly marbled Yamagata A5 Wagyu is expertly grilled by the staff directly at your table.
Afterwards, we'll venture out together to explore Tokyo's inimitable nightlife on the final night of our adventure.
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After an early morning to relax and prepare for check-out, we'll enjoy a final lunch together. When booking your flights, please plan to depart late enough that you won't miss our final meal, an early lunch enjoying some of Tokyo's best pizza at the shop of a rising young Japanese pizzaiolo. It’s been said by many famous international chefs that the pizza Napoletana of Japan rivals or even surpasses that of Naples itself. We invite you to be the judge.
After lunch, the time has come to bid farewell. In good time for your departure flight, a private transfer from our hotel to Tokyo's Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT) Airport is included.
Bon voyage!
Key Details
Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime culinary tour of Tokyo, hosted by the founders of Explore Soigné (Aria Saam and Nickie Peña) and Boutique Japan (Andres Zuleta).
To maintain an intimate and personalized atmosphere, space is strictly limited to a maximum of 7 guests.
This trip is designed for enthusiastic, respectful, and open-minded travelers with adventurous palates. We will be experiencing a mouthwatering and eclectic array of foods, some less familiar to Western palates than others. Due to the nature of our itinerary, dietary modifications are not feasible to request. We invite you to join us with an open mind, an empty stomach, and an eagerness to learn about techniques, flavors, and Tokyo's unbelievably rich culinary culture.
Trip Price
$12,230 per person (double occupancy)
$14,320 per person (single occupancy)
What’s Included?
7 nights at the stylish Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park, located in the quiet and charming Tomigaya district of Shibuya, in the heart of Tokyo.
Private arrival and departure airport transfers (please arrive no later than afternoon of June 15, and depart no earlier than evening of June 22)
Private dining experiences as described above including drink pairings (alcohol and NA available). Please note that the itinerary is subject to change.
Additional experiences as outlined above, including welcome champagne and oysters, sake experience, pre-dinner drinks where noted, and baseball experience as described.
Transportation to all meals (including private cars and subway rides)
Expert on-the-ground insights, and pre-departure information filled with essential advice
Extraordinary support, with thoughtful service from start to finish
Not Included
Flights
Meals other than those outlined in the itinerary
Additional drinks other than those included
Expenses such as baggage handling, hotel incidentals, laundry, visa fees, etc.
Travel insurance
Any other services not specified
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Why Tokyo?
We’ll let Bourdain take this one: “Every chef I’ve ever met, if you asked them, ‘If you had to spend the rest of your life in one country, eating one country’s food for the rest of your life, where would that be?’ They’re all gonna say the same thing: Japan. Tokyo.”Can you accommodate any dietary requests or preferences?
Due to the nature of this itinerary, no dietary modifications are possible.Can you assist with pre- or post-trip arrangements?
Although we do not handle pre- or post-trip bookings, we will be more than happy to provide guidance to all our guests, including itinerary and hotel suggestions, etc.What is our room type at the hotel?
Each guest or couple will be in a Park View Standard + Balcony room with a Queen bed. Upgrade options may be available at additional cost, highly subject to availability.Are children allowed on this trip?
This adults-only trip is limited to adults of legal drinking age in Japan.What are the payment terms?
A 30% deposit is due to confirm your space on the trip. The final balance is due 90 days before the trip start date.
Book Your Place
To reserve your place, contact us below and we will get back to you to finalize your booking.