Palace Hotel Tokyo Debuts ‘Best of Japan’ Experiences
The Forbes Five-Star hotel launches a new, tailored gastronomic stay package
TOKYO (May 15, 2024) — A hotel renowned for showcasing the best of Japanese hospitality iswhetting appetites with the launch of its new gastronomic stay experience.
For ‘The Best of Japan: The Art of Gastronomy,’ Palace Hotel Tokyo has curated a selection ofeating and drinking experiences designed to peel back the layers of Japan’s vast culinary landscape.
The tailored glimpses of Tokyo’s multi-faceted dining scene include a scouring of the city for thebest street-eats, ‘ramen hunting’ with an expert, bento-making with a popular television presenter,and an introduction to Japanese wines with one of the hotel’s seasoned sommeliers.
To start, ‘The Best of Japan: The Art of Gastronomy’ stay package includes:
Two nights of accommodation

Daily breakfast in-room or moat-side at Grand Kitchen

Choice of a prix-fixe kaiseki lunch or dinner at the hotel’s signature Japanese restaurant,
Wadakura, accompanied by a matcha tasting

Guests can then opt to enhance their stay with additional on-site or off-site experiences (at-charge):
A Hunt For Epic Ramen
The author of “Brian's Guide to 50 Great Tokyo Ramen Shops”, Japan’s incomparable ‘ramen
hunter’ Brian MacDuckston has been living and traveling throughout Japan for the last 15 years,
sampling the popular dish and sharing his ramen journey with fellow enthusiasts. His two-hour,two-shop tour (or three, if ravenous) introduces guests to a variety of ramen shops known for theirflavorful broths, seasonal menus or spicy specialties. Special requests (including vegan ramen) canbe accommodated.
Tokyo’s Ultimate Street EatsExclusively designed for guests of Palace Hotel Tokyo is MacDuckston’s ‘Insider’s B-kyū Gurume’tour, which offers an introduction to the everyday comfort foods enjoyed by the masses.
Customizable based on interests and preferences, guests can choose between a half-day or full-day
outing to sample a variety of delectable ‘b-rank gourmet’ (casual) cuisine or to home in on aparticular favorite, such as:
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A Japanese curry tasting in Shimokitazawa ‘curry town’
An introduction to yakitori – from casual spots to higher-end eateries
All about noodles – a sampling of ramen, udon, soba and Japanese-style spaghetti
Japan’s best A5 wagyu sando at a tucked-away cigar bar
A gyoza extravaganza – with a tasting at 4-5 shops
Experiencing izakaya at a fish monger’s outpost in Yoyogi
Discovering monjayaki – Tokyo’s version of okonomiyaki
A sake tasting accompanied by small bites

For a palate cleanser, guests can opt to conclude their jaunts at an artisanal Japanese coffee house,or with a tasting of Japanese craft beer at a local spot.
Building Bentos with a Bento MasterFor the first time ever, and available exclusively to Palace Hotel Tokyo guests, host of NHK’s
popular cooking show ‘Bento Expo’ and author of “Ultimate Bento” Marc Matsumoto is offering
a private bento-making class in his in-home kitchen studio.
The approximate 3½-hour experience begins with a visit to a local grocery store before returning to
the studio for an immersion into the history of bento, the various styles of bento presentations andthe blend of colors, flavors and textures that goes into making the delightfully portable meal.
Available to children (ages 9 and up) and adults alike, the family-friendly activity includes hands-on
preparation of several bento items and packing them into handcrafted bento boxes before sitting
down together to savor the results of their efforts.
An Insider’s Glimpse Into Japanese Food Culture
Also creator of the online cookbook NoRecipes.com, Matsumoto has cultivated a deep
understanding of Japan’s multi-faceted food culture over the years. Through personalized tours andstrong personal connections with those dedicated to the food scene, he presents experiences thatelevate a key component of any traveler’s wanderings - the local cuisine.
Entirely customizable to guests’ interests, time spent with him can include experiences such as:An ‘ingredients tour’ introducing regional delicacies from Hokkaido to Okinawa, with a visit
to one of Japan’s famous, subterranean food halls to discover the treasure trove that awaits.

A step back in time to the bustling lanes of historic Tsukiji market for a flavorful explorationof the building blocks that make Tokyo one of the world’s greatest dining destinations.

A visit to Kappabashi, Tokyo’s ‘kitchen town’, to unearth the craftsmanship behind theJapanese knives, tableware and kitchen tools coveted by chefs and amateur cooks alike.

An introduction to the country’s culinary zeitgeist with an exploration of Japan’s famousconvenience stores as well as grocery and specialty food stores to uncover emerging trends.

A private cooking lesson on how to prepare a multi-course Japanese meal. Tailored entirely
to guests’ interests and dietary preferences - whether plant-based or seafood-centric - theexperience concludes with a sit-down to enjoy the dishes together. Detailed recipes included.

A Sophisticated Tea Tasting
As an alternative to the traditional tea ceremony, guests can delve into Japan’s rich tea culture
through conversation with an exclusive tea-tasting at Higashiya-man, a chic, contemporary tea salonin Marunouchi just a brief stroll from the hotel. Hosted by one of the salon’s tea sommeliers, theprivate, 60- to 90-minute session introduces guests to a variety of high-grade Japanese teas and tips
on how best to enjoy different brews, complete with pairings of seasonal wagashi (traditionalJapanese confectionery) specially handcrafted for Palace Hotel Tokyo to complement the rich umamiof each tea.

An Introduction to Sake & Japanese Wines
Hosted at Wadakura by one of Palace Hotel Tokyo’s award-winning sommeliers, guests can enjoya private, 60-minute tasting of distinctly different sakes as well as wines from Yamanashi, Hokkaidoand Nagano – Japan’s top three wine-producing regions. Guests can opt to do a beverage-only
tasting or have it accompanied by food pairings (small bites) from Wadakura’s kitchen.
Please click here for more information on the above on-site and off-site experiences, including
pricing. All experiences require advance bookings and are subject to availability.
Rates for ‘The Best of Japan: The Art of Gastronomy’ stay package start at JPY 400,000*.
*Inclusive of consumption tax, excluding 15% service charge and accommodation tax of JPY 200 per person, per night.
For booking inquiries, please visit:www.en.palacehoteltokyo.com/offer/art-of-gastronomy-tokyo-food-tours/

ABOUT PALACE HOTEL TOKYOAs the anchor to a billion-dollar, mixed-use development built entirely from the ground-up, theForbes Five-Star Palace Hotel Tokyo commands some of the city’s most exclusive real estate andincomparable views of the much-loved Imperial Palace gardens and the surrounding skyline.
Located in the capital’s prestigious Marunouchi district, the property features 284 rooms & suites,
a Forbes Five-Star rated evian SPA, and 10 distinctive restaurants and bars presenting an impressivearray of dining experiences – including exquisite Japanese and Michelin-starred contemporary
French haute cuisine.
As heir to a legacy going back more than half a century as one of the city’s most iconic properties,
the hotel remains firmly rooted in its commitment to offering Japanese hospitality at its finest.
Drawing deeply from the country’s history, culture and art, the award-winning hotel continues toredefine luxury in Japan with sophistication and authenticity.
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