Paragon Gastronomic Tour - Immerse yourself in an authentic Japanese culinary experience.

  • Travel with Paragon Culinary School students
  • Learn the basics of Japanese cooking at a famous cooking school
  • Explore traditional Japanese cuisine at its source, experience sake tasting at a family owned sake brewery, and attend a tea ceremony conducted by a head Buddhist monk.
  • February 28th (Thursday) — March 6th (Thursday), 2008
  • 8 days, 7 nights

Where We Go

Where We Go

Trip Description

Paragon Gastronomic Tour takes you to Kanazawa, one of the most recognized capitals of Japanese food culture. Not yet discovered by foreigners, Kanazawa is highly regarded among the Japanese for its gastronomic experience. The nearby Sea of Japan is famous for producing Japan's highest quality seafood. Kanazawa is also perfectly situated for quality sake making — the region's rice paddy fields have been producing high quality rice for hundreds of years, and fresh, pristine water flows straight from the nearby mountains to produce the perfect base for this classic beverage.

We will introduce you to a variety of Japanese meals: Sushi, Kaiseki, Japanese course meals, Buddhist vegetarian cooking, Soba and Udon noodles, and so much more. You will attend a well known cooking school in the region to learn about the basics of Japanese cooking for three mornings. Chef Yasu Kizaki from Denver's Sushi Den restaurant will translate all cooking classes and help you understand the art of Japanese cooking. You will learn how to pick the freshest seafood from the local seafood market and actually taste what you selected. You will also explore different types of Japanese sweets.

The Japanese culinary experience does not end at the usual breakfast, lunch and dinner. Learn the connection between making and drinking tea and deep tradition by attending a tea ceremony conducted by the head priest of the famous Natadera Temple. Visit a sake brewery to see how sake is made. Of course no tour is complete without a sake tasting!

What is included

  • Full time, bilingual guide(s).
  • All accommodations in first-class hotels and Japanese style inns. Accommodations are double occupancy. Single occupancy accommodations may be available for an extra charge.
  • Transportation to and from airport, lodging, and activity sites, with the exception of sites within brief walking distance.
  • All meals, except one adventure night and the last day at the airport if you wish to eat prior to departure. Drinks such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are not included in the fare unless otherwise stated.
  • Entrance fees and a guide fee for designated visits to cultural sites.

What is not included

  • Airfare.
  • Personal travel insurance, laundry, phone calls, faxes, personal expenses, free time activities, and drinks.
  • Any personal beverages not included in the meals.
  • Additional expenses arising from the delay or extension of a trip due to weather, illness, failure of transportation, or other causes beyond our reasonable control.
  • Visas — US citizens DO NOT need a visa to visit Japan at this time.
  • Overweight luggage charges.

Trip Itinerary

> Download Paragon Gastronomic Tour Itinerary PDF (2.0mb)


Please see our official registration form for more important details . Call 720.331.7532 or email info@undiscoveredjapan.com to request a copy.