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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 30 May, 2023
Expert travel writer: Rob Goss

The succession of artistically presented dishes that comprise a kaiseki-ryori dinner has come to represent the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine.

Featuring anywhere up to 12 fixed courses that focus on in-season produce, kaiseki will include some familiar elements, with sashimi early in the dinner, delicate tempura later, and maybe a few mouthfuls of wagyu as a centrepiece. The rest, however, can be wonderfully indecipherable.

Being such an exalted cuisine, kaiseki dinners don’t come cheap – expect to pay at least £100 a head. Or, go for lunch, when many restaurants offer taster sets at a fraction of the price.

Just reserve well ahead – even though Japan has plenty of kaiseki restaurants, they always book up quickly.

They are often served at ryokans (traditional Japanese inns). For a real flavour of traditional Japan, book in for a night at one, and tick off both bucket list experiences at once.

Price from: £100
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Duration: 3-4 hours

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Small-Group Wagyu Beef and 7 Japanese Dishes Tokyo Cooking Class

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Small-Group Wagyu Beef and 7 Japanese Dishes Tokyo Cooking Class
Wagyu is a premium Japanese beef known for its refined quality. On this activity, you will prepare a total of 8 different types of dishes from appetizers to desserts including delicious Wagyu dish.  Also, you will get to experience what it’s like to make a traditional Japanese meal with seasonal ingredients which have a range of colors, textures, and flavors. At the end of this 3-hour Japanese dishes cooking journey, you will have a wonderful lunch that you created!

Price: ¥9,800

Rating 4.93 / 5 [81 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Authentic Geisha Performance and Entertainment including a Kaiseki Course Dinner

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Authentic Geisha Performance and Entertainment including a Kaiseki Course Dinner
Experience an authentic geisha performance and entertainment with multi-course kaiseki dinner, including an English host/interpreter at a ryoutei, or traditional Japanese restaurant, for a small group.

Price: ¥28,000

Rating 4.86 / 5 [36 ratings]

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