Japan Tours
Luxury Food & Culture Tours of Japan
Zenbu Travel’s immersive, luxurious cuisine and culture tours of Japan are designed and hosted by Japan specialist food and travel writer Jane Lawson.
Author of Tokyo Style Guide, Zenbu Zen – finding food, culture and balance in Kyoto, and upcoming title Secret Japan – an insider’s guide to deeper travel in the world’s most fascinating country (publishing April 28 2026), ex-chef Jane fell in love with Japan over four decades ago. She launched Zenbu Travel in 2013 to share her insight, experience and wonderful connections with those longing for deep culinary and cultural travel in Japan.
Known for her warmth, humour and attention to detail, her authentic and exceptional tours run just 3 times yearly, offering rare and in-depth access to artisans & tastemakers, and the textured cities and remote regions of her beloved Japan.
Each sumptuous and fascinating tour is limited to 8 (adults only), This not only enables access to private homes, high-end restaurants and other intimate spaces such as galleries, workshops and artisan ateliers but ensures every single guest is looked after in a personal and caring way that cannot be rivalled.
Every tour features highly considered and special arrangements, luxurious accommodations, private transport, spectacular food & drink experiences, wonderful hospitality and unlimited visual & sensory feasts. No itinerary is repeated twice.
BOOKINGS FOR: Nov 2026 Shikoku and the Setouchi Islands are now open, more tour dates coming soon!!
Please use the contact form to request more on :
– our tour brochures
– a highly personalised and detailed self-guided itinerary
– an insightful, info-rich online Japan travel consultation
– a private guided tour
We hope to share Japan with you one day, in whatever way works for you!
ZENBU HIGASHI-JIMA: Shikoku, Tokyo and the Setouchi Islands
Raw, real, magical Shikoku and the blissful Seto art islands. I know that open-minded, sophisticated travellers are going to absolutely LOVE our Shikoku itinerary which offers an experience like no other – true local traditions, food, culture and people.
With a side of artful island-hopping and a glam Tokyo city-stay book-ending its entirety.
ZENBU DEEP FUKUOKA: Food, Craft, Culture & Countryside
Our brand-new tour offers a wonderful exploration of genki Fukuoka city and the surrounding prefecture of the same name – diving deep into its regional food & drink, arts, craft and culture and blissful scenery.
We also dip a big toe into neighbouring Saga prefecture to visit Karatsu, Arita and Imari, extending our overview of Kyushu island’s famous pottery villages.
ZENBU KYO-ZA: Kyoto, Kanazawa and Noto Peninsula
The Japanese believe that Fuyu (winter) offers the best seasonal cuisine (think naturally sweeter vegetables, fatty fish, premium shellfish, fresh sake, comforting hotpots, and the like).
This beautiful 16-day winter tour takes a deep dive into Japanese cuisine, both in a traditional and contemporary sense, with a focus on Kyoto, Kanazawa and the remote Noto peninsula and the culture and landscape that wraps itself around the regions.
ZENBU KYO-RYORI: w/ Chef Peter Gilmore
A culinary Japan tour like no other.
This exclusive and luxuriously textured Kyoto food and culture tour is co-hosted by world-renowned Chef Peter Gilmore and Japan food and culture specialist Jane Lawson, owner of Zenbu Tours.
ZENBU Tokyo Tabetai Tour
Tokyo Tabetai (literally I want to eat Tokyo!) is an uber-luxe eat, drink and shop experience in magnificent TOKYO, JAPAN!
Ever dreamt of an intimate, super-luxurious, sophisticated, and fun foodie adventure in Tokyo but weren’t sure where to start?
Testimonials
Private Japan Tours
Zenbu Tours are happy to offer tailored private cuisine and culture day-tours either side of the more extensive pre-planned Tours. Please enquire about available dates.
Fees
- For up to 4 people:
- $1500 AUD* for one day (plus additional costs for transport/meals/accommodation etc – see below)
- *Price on application for larger parties or longer private tours
Please note
- Day or mini tours are tailored to you or your group’s specific desires and needs and therefore each is unique and requires detailed planning but can be arranged on short notice depending on Jane’s availability.
- Your accommodation (plus mine if travelling with you) plus meals, drinks, entry fees and transportation etc will be at an additional expense for you/your group to cover. The fee above covers my time connecting with you prior to the tour to assess and develop the perfect tour for you or your group, planning, making arrangements for and hosting tours specifically tailored to your group’s needs/desires – and of course sharing my passion for, and local knowledge of, Japanese cuisine and culture.
- All private tour fees must be paid for at the time of booking and the fee is non-refundable if you cancel a longer private tour within 2 months of the tour departure, or 1 month prior to departure for day tours. If you have to cancel your travel due to illness or similar your travel insurance should cover it so please ensure you are with a good provider. All travellers on Zenbu Tours MUST have their own travel insurance and your policy number must be provided to us in advance of the tour, regardless of the number of days.
- High-end restaurant meals on private tours must be paid for one month in advance of the reservation and any cancelled restaurant bookings (within 4 weeks) of the booking will not be refunded. Drinks are to be paid for in situ.
- Any transport or experience bookings cancelled within one month of the tour may or may not be refunded – this will be at the discretion of the individual provider.
- Please note that costs for longer private tours would be in line with the scheduled and promoted Zenbu Tours – as long as there are 6-8 guests. We are happy to discuss options for smaller private group tours.
Tailored Self-Guided Itineraries
Our finely detailed, self-guided Japan itineraries are tailored to your specific interests, desires and needs.
Hosted tours aren’t for everyone (as intimate, luxe and wondrous as ours may be!). Sometimes you need to dance to your own rhythm. Perhaps the dates don’t work, you prefer to wake up in your own good time, travel solo or with kids (sadly our tours are only open to those 20 years and over), have a particular season in mind, or very specific dietary requests.
We know better than anyone how much time and energy is involved in the research and intimate planning required to produce an incredible Japan experience. This fascinating country can be tricky to get around sometimes- particularly if you don’t speak or read the language. And the culture.. well it goes way deep, friends—you’re not even scratching the surface if you ‘just turn up’ and ‘wing it’. Truly. A little information up front goes a long way with great Japan travel. And the choices are vast.
We sat down and considered how we might best share a little taste of what we do on a Zenbu Tour – without us actually being by your side. And Voila!
Enjoy your very own Zenbu Tours Japan travel experience—whenever and however it suits you, with us in your carry-on luggage instead of waving a flag in front of you! (er, for the record – we don’t do flags…. ever..!)
How does it work?
First we get some details from you e.g. the kinds of things you are interested in experiencing (seeing, doing, eating) etc, even if you have no idea yet – we’ll draw it out and paint a picture!
We’ll also ask for your ideal on the ground budget, your expectations, any mobility issues etc– and any other plans or timing you’d like to work around.
Then we start developing something perfect for you – significantly reducing your pre tour research and planning time, ensuring valuable time in situ is not wasted with unnecessary running around, and helping boost your confidence to do it on your own (knowing we’re here if you need us, at any time..just an email or phone call away! Just in case..).
What does it cost?
$700 AUD per itinerary day – with a minimum of 3 days (which don’t have to be consecutive of course – you can be travelling 3 weeks and only employ our services for 3 days within it – we usually end up providing more than you need!)
Please note that payment must be received before we commence developing your personalised itinerary.
How long does it take?
Ideally we’d love as much notice as possible so we can take our time carefully detailing the ideal itinerary for you, and also allow you time to absorb it, and for us to tweak as required – before you depart. However, if you are in a pickle – we’ll do what we can to expedite proceedings!
NEW! Japan travel online consult call !!
If you really don’t know where to start we now offer a standalone online consult service (between 1-1.5 hours) to help discover the right Japan travel destinations and style for you. We follow up with an email covering everything discussed in the call so you can move forward with your own planning.
What does it cost?
$350 flat fee.
However, should (within a week post call) you decide to follow up by engaging us in designing a self-guided itinerary (as per above) the consult fee will be deducted from the itinerary fee.
