his japan premium food & travel in madrid

• HIS JAPAN PREMIUM

JAPAN PREMIUM

Retailers and wholasalers of japanese food

HIS JAPAN PREMIUM FOOD&TRAVEL

Food is a door to cultural understanding. We believe that even though you are in Europe, you could still feel like you are travelling to Japan by eating Japanese food which leads you to be exposed to Japanese culture, way of living and touch people’s hearts. Japan has various food cultures to be proudly introduced to the world. Shedding a light on local producers, we introduce to Europe their passion and traditional methods of manufacturing. Besides, we would offer real tours to visit factories and farms in Japan. Connecting "Food" and "Travel" is our mission as a travel agency. We offer JAPAN PREMIUM, a selection of high quality food, which you can enjoy at home. We will be your assistants at our highest Japanese hospitality "OMOTENASHI". This is JAPAN PREMIUM FOOD&TRAVEL.

We have a growing network of premium stores

What is H.I.S.

H .I.S. is the largest travel agency in Japan in terms of the number of passengers handled. With an extensive network of 183 branches in Japan and 191 more abroad. The company has been growing in recent years in many more sectors and now, we use this valuable network to offer top quality Japanese products to the rest of the world through our retail stores (Japan Premium) and with a very selective importations of high-quality products in accordance with the local cummunities.

Agencias de Viajes

Otoño en Japón

Guía en castellano y vuelos incluidos.

Yokoso Japón 2024

10 días / 9 Noches con guía en castellano desde 2530€/Pasajero

Japón para todos 2024-2025 (Tokyo in)

14 días / 13 Noches La ruta mas completa, por libre. Desde 2350€/Pasajero

Japón para todos 2024-2025 (Osaka in)

Agencia especializada en viajes a japón desde españa, agencia oficial emisora japan rail pass.

El Japan Rail Pass es un bono de transporte que permite moverse por el territorio japonés en casi todas las líneas de ferrocarril de la compañía Japan Railways. Incluye también algunos autobuses, y el ferry que va desde Miyajima-guchi hasta Miyajima.

Tour Otoño 2024

Tour de otoño en japón. guía en castellano y vuelos incluidos..

Aproveche la oportunidad de viajar a Japón en nuestro Tour de Otoño. Una de las mejores estaciones del año para visitar este apasionante país. Viaje con la tranquilidad de estar en Japón con una de las agencias de viajes japonesas más importantes.

Tour Yokoso 2024 Japón con guía en Castellano 10 días y 9 noches

Salidas regulares garantizadas desde 2 pasajeros, japón para todos desde osaka 2024-2025 14 días 13 noches, entrada desde osaka, japón para todos desde tokyo 2024-2025 14 días 13 noches, entrada desde tokyo, viajes his newsletter. información y ofertas..

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Viajes a Japón desde España

¡Descubre Japón de la mano de la mejor Agencia de Viajes Japonesa! En nuestra agencia, ofrecemos Viajes a Japón todo incluido , diseñados para que vivas una experiencia inigualable.

Nuestros expertos en viajes se encargarán de planificar y organizar tu viaje a Japón de manera eficiente y ajustada a tus necesidades económicas. 

Nuestros Viajes a Japón organizados te permitirán aprovechar al máximo tu estancia en este fascinante país. Desde las bulliciosas calles de Tokio, Kanazawa hasta los templos serenos de Kyoto , visitarás los lugares más emblemáticos y descubrirás los secretos mejor guardados de Japón. ¡Te aseguramos una experiencia enriquecedora e inolvidable!

Si deseas una experiencia aún más enriquecedora, te recomendamos nuestros Viajes a Japón con guía . Nuestros guías locales, apasionados por su país, te acompañarán durante todo el viaje, compartiendo contigo su conocimiento y experiencia. Te llevarán a lugares auténticos, te recomendarán los mejores platos de la gastronomía japonesa y te sumergirán en la cultura y tradiciones del país del sol naciente.

¿Quieres viajar a Japón desde España? En nuestra agencia, te ofrecemos la posibilidad de realizar el viaje de tus sueños desde diferentes ciudades de España. Nuestros itinerarios flexibles te permitirán personalizar tu viaje de acuerdo a tus preferencias y disponibilidad.

No pierdas la oportunidad de descubrir Japón de la manera más completa y auténtica. Contáctanos hoy mismo y deja que nuestra Agencia de Viajes Japonesa se encargue de hacer de tu viaje a Japón una experiencia inolvidable. ¡Te esperamos con los brazos abiertos para mostrarte la belleza y la magia de Japón!

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Welcome to the HIS JAPAN PREMIUM FOOD & TRAVEL Online Shop.

We believe food is a doorway to cultural understanding. To eat Japanese food is to experience Japanese culture. It’s another way to travel to Japan.

From Hokkaido to Okinawa, every region of Japan has its own world-class cuisine. Championing local producers, we are committed to sharing their passion and traditional manufacturing methods with our customers in Europe. We also provide packages that combine real experiences, such as factory and farm tours in Japan.

We offer a selection of high-quality, ‘Japan Premium’ food. We hope that your journey to Japan through food inspires you to experience the real thing  with a trip to  Japan.

At JAPAN PREMIUM FOOD & TRAVEL, we are committed to providing Japanese ‘OMOTENASHI’ hospitality.

HIS is a Japanese travel agency founded in 1980 in Tokyo. As of September 2021, it has 170 offices in 118 cities throughout 61 countries, as well as 163 offices in Japan.

In Europe, HIS has a network of 18 offices in 10 countries along with the JAPAN PREMIUM FOOD & TRAVEL retail shops in the following cities; ( SHOP LIST )

WHAT IS JAPAN PREMIUM

At JAPAN PREMIUM, we are committed to bringing authentic Japanese food to Europe. With this in mind, at HIS we carefully select and import premium products directly from Japan, hence the name JAPAN PREMIUM.

With cooperation from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  (MAFF), we exclusively sell handpicked products made available by passionate local producers. We deliver these products directly from Japan to your home.

Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic drink that has been enjoyed since ancient times. Throughout history, sake has been an integral part of ceremonies and rituals and, over the years, has become a popular drink throughout the world. Sake pairs well with not just Japanese cuisine, but also with a variety of European cuisine.

Under the supervision of Natsuki Kikuya, a sake sommelier based in London, we offer a carefully selected range of sake, including ones that have never made their way into Europe until now. We are able to do this through our own purchasing channels with the support of local producers.

Whether you are a first time sake drinker or looking for a specific grade of sake, we have something for you.

A cup of tea has the power to soothe the body and soul. There are many types of green teas in Japan, each with their own healing effect.

When preparing Japanese tea, the temperature of the water depends on the type of tea leaf. The tea is enjoyed on its own, without sugar, milk, lemon or honey. This traditional Japanese way of drinking tea allows you to enjoy it in its purest form. Take a moment to relax and appreciate the tea’s subtle taste and aroma.

We offer a wide range of Japanese teas to suit every moment.

OUR VEGETABLES

Washoku (wa=Japanese, shoku=cuisine) would not be the same without the rich variety of produce made possible by Japan’s climate and terrain that stretches from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. Japan’s four distinct seasons - or five if we were to include the early-summer monsoons - yield produce unique to each region. Chefs can take advantage of this vast range of regional produce, a result of the varying climates and altitudes encountered from one end of the country to the other. This diversity and range is reflected in Japanese cuisine. The vegetables grown in Japanese soil owe their excellent flavour to a naturally abundant supply of high-quality soft water, and also to the selective cultivation process that enhances the taste as much as it increases the yield.

We deliver fresh premium Japanese vegetables to you directly from Japan.

HONBA NO HONMONO

『Honba No Honmono』 - The labelling standard to protect and nurture the rich food culture of each region of Japan.

- Proof of the producers' commitment to local ingredients and manufacturing methods “Honba No Honmono” is a label affixed to local products. It attests to the authenticity of the product and its commitment to using local ingredients and manufacturing processes. The “Honba No Honmono” label is awarded only to select food products in a specific geographical area. The term "local ingredients" refers to the ingredients chosen by industry organisations or authorised certifiers who set their own standards for each product. The specifics are published in accordance with regional food brand labelling standards.

- Proof of authenticity The criteria set by industry organisations and authorised certifiers are examined by a jury of experts set up by the Japan Food Industry Association. Once a product is certified, it is labelled a “Honba No Honmono” product.

After certification, a third-party organisation verifies that the product meets the standards annually. With this verification process, the label is recognised as a link between consumers looking for genuine local products and manufacturers who are committed to producing such products.

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The Best Japanese Restaurants in Madrid

Discover the best places to eat sushi, ramen, tempura, and other Japanese food in Madrid.

Updated on Feb 13, 2024 | World of Mouth team

Looking for a Japanese meal while in Madrid? We've got you covered with this list of places approved by the local World of Mouth experts, including food journalists Lydia Itoi and Paula Móvil, to help you find the best Japanese restaurants in Madrid. From fine dining sushi at Ebisu by Kobos to the izakaya-style eatery Taberna Riscal , these restaurants are our top Japanese picks in Madrid.

Ebisu by Kobos

Calle de Luciente, 14, Centro

Calle de Luciente, 14, Centro, 28005 Madrid, Spain

Ebisu by Kobos is a sushi restaurant where you can experience the trust relationship between the chef and the diner, known as Omakase. The restaurant is founded by Chef Kobos Cortés, who brings his experience from Japan, where he worked at an Edo-style sushi bar. The restaurant's philosophy is rooted in technique, product, and seasonality, combining Japanese tradition with local seafood to elevate sushi to its highest expression of purity.

Recommended by

@thegastrojourney – Palma, Spain

Av. del Pdte. Carmona

Av. del Pdte. Carmona, 2, Tetuán, 28020 Madrid, Spain

This restaurant, Kabuki, offers a unique blend of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines. Known for its original "Spushi", or Spanish sushi, it presents seafood with a distinct Iberian touch, including fried quail's eggs and juicy Denia prawn head nigiri. The cheesecake mochi is a recommended dessert to end your meal.

Food journalist – Madrid, Spain

C. de Raimundo Lulio

C. de Raimundo Lulio, 24, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid, Spain

Nanako is a unique Japanese restaurant that creatively infuses Latin flavors into its dishes, thanks to its Brazilian owner. The omakase menu, particularly the charred salmon nigiri with burnt onion and the Brazilian style beef robata with farofa, are highly recommended. The ambiance is lively, with seating options near the counter for guests who enjoy watching the culinary action, or at the tall tables in the front part of the restaurant.

Journalist & PR – Madrid, Madrid

Sushi Bar Hannah 鮨花

C. del Marqués de Villamagna, 1, Salamanca

C. del Marqués de Villamagna, 1, Salamanca, 28001 Madrid, Spain

Focused on offering the freshest seasonal seafood and incorporating fresh herbs and vegetables imported from Japan, Sushi Bar Hannah 鮨花 provides an authentic Japanese culinary experience. The restaurant is known for its individual nigiri servings, tempura dishes, and traditional Japanese grilling techniques. Their menu features a Kaiseki option with carefully balanced dishes, a personalized Sushi Omakase selection, and an a la carte choice, catering to diverse preferences.

Taberna Riscal

C. del Marqués del Riscal, 6, Chamberí

C. del Marqués del Riscal, 6, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid, Spain

This is a unique Japanese tavern that marries the flavors of Madrid with traditional Japanese cuisine, offering a cozy and modern atmosphere. Their menu extends beyond typical izakaya offerings, featuring dishes like katsu sando, calamari sandwich, juicy croquettes and gyozas, and fun baos. You'll also find a selection of Japanese beer and great sake, complementing the small tapas that are their norm.

Looking for more restaurant recommendations to

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destinations, curated by top chefs, food writers and sommeliers. From street food to fine dining and well known institutions to hidden gems, World of Mouth is your ultimate insider's guide to the world's best restaurants.

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H.I.S. Japan Travel | TOP PAGE

Explore Japan with HIS!

Authentic Japan and undiscoverd Japan awaits you. We promise our customers the finest Japanese "omotenashi" - hospitality in every planning and arrangement.

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Enjoy your Summer tours

Japanese Summer Tour

Japan World Heritage Tour

Natural Wonder Tour

Seasonal recommendation

Tateyama Kurobe ｜Central Japan

One of the world's leading mountain sightseeing routes which connects Toyama and Nagano through North Alps. It is very famous for the great snow wall, where you go through by bus.The snow wall is created by removing piled snow on the road around Murodo.

Awa Dance Festival ｜Tokushima

A fool dancing is watched by a fool, If they're both fools, let's dance♪. It's the lyrics sung by the dancers during the festival.

Gion festival ｜Kyoto

The grand parade, called the Procession, happens on July 17th and 24th and goes through the streets of Kyoto. It is the most exciting part of the Gion Matsuri festival.

Farm Tomita ｜Hokkaido

This is Furano's representative flower garden, where 80 types of flowers, mainly lavender, decorate the gentle hills.

Kawaguchi Lake ｜Mt.Fuji

Kawaguchi Lake has the longest shoreline among the lakes located around Mt. Fuji.

Top Activities

Tour from tokyo.

Mt. Fuji, Oishi Park & Seasonal Fruits Picking

From 10,980 JPY

Mt. Fuji & Hakone Day Tour

From 15,980 JPY

Japanese Traditional Yakatabune Dinner Cruise on Tokyo Bay

From 12,000 JPY

Tour From Osaka

Kyoto and Nara Golden Route 1 Day Bus Tour

From 17,500 JPY

Hiroshima and Miyajima 1 Day Bus Tour

From 41,000 JPY

Kyoto Gion Festival and Lake Biwa Lunch Cruise Bus Tour

Tour from nagoya.

Snow Wall Bus Tour with English Speaking Guide

From 25,000 JPY

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and Kamikochi 2 Day Tour

From 48,400 JPY

Nagoya Grand Sumo Watching Tour 2024

Book by your travel style, japan free & easy travel.

You can be free to travel to Japan by choosing from over 100 products.

Find Your Travel

Japan Guided Tours

Our professional guides will carefully guide you through your trip around Japan.

Japan Luxury Private Tours

Life is only once, so I want to witness things that can only be encountered here.

Discover new destination

Discover Kagoshima

OWe bring you the charm of Kagoshima, colored by beautiful nature and inhabited by various cultures!

Discover Nikko

Come enjoy its beautiful nature and long history in this oasis two hours from the city.

Discover Mino City

Mino City is located in Gifu prefercture, central Japan. It is famous that has a history of 1,300 years as Japanese paper industry towns and connects the traditional culture and thoughts of our ancestors.

Discover Tottori

A natural land of sea, desert and mountains.

Discover Yamagata

where attracting visitors thanks to its Zaō Hot Springs, historic Yamadera Temple.

Based in 8 major cities of Japan, we are available nationwide from Hokkaido to Okinawa to welcome tourists from all over the world.

TOKYO OFFICE

OSAKA OFFICE

HOKKAIDO OFFICE

SENDAI OFFICE

NAGOYA OFFICE

HIROSHIMA OFFICE

FUKUOKA OFFICE

KAGOSHIMA OFFICE

OUR BUSINESS

Group tours.

We offer a wide variety of travel products all over Japan, including a tailor-made itinerary that suits your preferences.

What we cover

• Leisure tourism
• Company trips
• School trips

We accept FIT requests for smaller number of people.

• Hotel reservations
• Airport transfers
• Sightseeing Tours
• Activity/experiences

MICE / INCENTIVE

We welcome MICE guests for meetings, trainings, company trips, as well as incentive trips in Japan.

• Inspection trips
• Incentive tours
• Participation in conferences
• Participation in events

PARTS ARRANGEMENT

We arrange JR Pass and other tickets too through our services for a more pleasant experience.

• Train pass tickets
• Ticket to theme parks
• Restaurant reservations
• Pocket Wi-Fi rental

Tourist Information Center

Harajuku tourist information center.

Welcome to Harajuku Torist Information Center, the departure station for your discoveries in Tokyo. A place to fulfill each customer's needs for their trip to Japan. To enjoy the "only one" style of Japan's journey. Feel more comfortable and travel more freely in Tokyo!

SHOP SERVICE

Turn left form Takesita exit of Harajuku Station,walk for 1 minute. Located on the 1st floor of Harajuku Asheville.

Kyoto Tourist Information Center

Welcome to Kyoto Tourist Information Center, the central for travelling in Kyoto. Our center is a place to fulfill each customer's wishes for any Japan trip. Information in the center is available up to 18 languages. And for Japanese, English, Indonesian and Russian speaking staffs are always available.

Turn right form Hachijo exit of Kyoto Station,walk for 2 minute. Located on the B1 floor of Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo.

JAPAN LUXURY TRAVEL

ZENSES is a professionally arrangement brand which provides a higher-grade special trip with the theme of "a once-in-a-lifetime experience" for wealthy foreign travelers. Specialized consultants with abundant knowledge and experience handle everything from tour consulting to creation, commercialization, and promotion.

OMOTENASHI - A Heartfelt Hospitality

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We at HIS International Tours have long been established in the trav el industry. Our company began as a Japanese travel agency and has expanded globally to over 500 branches. We believe in the importance of a well-rounded business and offer a range of services and hotels globally as well as amusement parks in Japan. We are committed to providing excellent service along with high standards in everything we do.

Our story started in Japan 1980. Since then we have expanded our business globally. We are now present in over 700 cities and 150 countries.

Our Offices & Holdings

H.I.S. Travel Nederland B.V. Arent Janszoon Ernststraat 595 E1, 1082LD, Amsterdam, the Netherlands registration number 34299265  VAT/TAX ID Number: NL819275475B01 [email protected]

HIS JAPAN PREMIUM FOOD & TRAVEL

We import and sell products direct from Japan that are only available in that region.

The products are made with carefully selected ingredients paying special attention to production methods.

Our aim is to create a shop where people in the UK can feel and taste what Japan has to offer and connect

its producers with their thoughts and spirits through the experience of Japanese Food and Drink.

One shop is scheduled to open in France and Italy this year and in addition to our three shops in Germany and one in Spain,

bringing the total to seven shops in five countries.

Upcoming (0)

Grand Tasting of Premium Sake - 7:00 starts

Thu, Mar 30, 7:00 PM

Check ticket price on event

Sake de Travel- Grand Tasting of Premium Sake - 7:30 starts

Mon, Mar 27, 7:30 PM

Sake de Travel- Grand Tasting of Premium Sake- 6pm starts

Mon, Mar 27, 6:00 PM

Ise cha Japanese tea tasting

Thu, Mar 23, 7:00 PM

Thu, Mar 23, 6:00 PM

Taste of Japan. Ise Matcha

Wed, Mar 22, 7:00 PM

Wed, Mar 22, 6:30 PM

Wed, Mar 22, 6:00 PM

Thu, Mar 16, 7:00 PM

Thu, Mar 16, 6:00 PM

Wed, Mar 15, 7:00 PM

Wed, Mar 15, 6:30 PM

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• Secret Food Tours: Madrid

On our Secret Food Tour: Madrid, you'll discover a local Spanish food experience and enjoy the unique way locals eat out. You'll walk through streets where each and every corner has a story to tell. Eat seasonal pastry, the famous deep fried squid sandwich, drink wines and other alcohols, taste Spanish cheeses and hams and enjoy our secret dish and much more!

At the end of your tour, you'll have sampled some of Madrid's most delicious dishes and gained a better understanding of our culture and history.

All the food will be served with quality drinks or if you prefer, non-alcoholic beverages. A thoughtfully curated Upgraded Drinks Package is available.

• You'll start in a historic pastry shop to enjoy a seasonal pastry.
• Followed by a visit to a deli over 180 years old, here we'll sample two types of Iberian ham, Iberian Salami, Loin and Chorizo, and extra virgin olive oil.
• You'll dine on a classic deep fried squid sandwich, a local favorite, with some patatas bravas, and olives.
• Taste a vermouth with the tapa of the day, a favourite with the locals.
• Finish the tour inside a restaurant that is located inside an 18th century building with a piece of Spanish omelette, manchego cheese, padron peppers and the Secret Dish that and learn how to pour the Spanish cider.

One or Two Drink selections from the following:

• Orujo - Herbal Liqueur
• Patxaran - Sloe flavoured Liqueur
• Coffee Liqueur

* Please note: the itinerary and menu is subject to change, based on the locations' availability, weather, and other circumstances.

If a tour is fully booked, or you are looking to book a *Group or Private Tour - please email us about Group & Private Tours options.

*Please note - Group & Private Tours are specifically organised for your group and therefore subject to a premium price.

Our Top Recommendations For You

Book Now to Save on These Amazing Tours

• Seasonal pastry
• Manchego cheese
• 2 types of Iberian ham
• Iberian Chorizo, Salchichón, and Lomo
• Deep fried squid sandwich
• Patatas bravas
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Padrón peppers
• Spanish omelette
• The tapa of the day that changes every day
• Our delicious Secret Dish
• Handcrafted chocolate / coffee or tea
• Authentic Spanish Cider
• Spanish Red or White Wine or Sangria
• Non-alcoholic options
• Upgraded Drinks Options

Due to the nature of creating a well balanced and thoughtful gastronomy experience, many of our tours are unable to accommodate certain dietary restrictions. Please contact us prior to booking your tour to see if we are able to accommodate your dietary needs.

Madrid is an open-minded city where friendly and passionate Madrilenians make everyone feel like at home. You will enjoy Madrid's culture and our professional guide will show you the amazing offer of entertainment options you can enjoy during your trip. We have chosen the Madrid Historical Centre because it has a great offer in terms of cultural legacy, history and of course it shows the richness of Spanish gastronomy. In the past, this was an area where Kings lived together with famous artists. Today the area is best known for its flourishing restaurant scene, historical culture and lively atmosphere. You will have a great understanding of Spanish food culture along with some top tips about the city and its secrets.

Secret Food Tours Madrid

Mon - Sun 11 a.m.

Oso y Madroño statue

More Cultural/Historical Tours

That is very easy! Go to our "Book Now" page, where we detail our tours. Select your tour and the time of your tour and book it! You are looking for something special? You are organising an event? Just email us at Group & Private Tours and we will do our best to arrange something that suits you. After your booking is made, we will send you an automatic e-mail confirmation. If you have any questions before booking, feel free to contact us via email.

*Please note if you are using a special promo code then enter it in the "Voucher Code" section before you select the amount of tickets you would like to purchase*

All the delicious food and drinks mentioned above, but if you want more alcohol (and who doesn't?) We offer a upgraded drinks package that gives you 1/2 drinks, tax included.

You can find the meeting spot here and if it's not clear you can always contact us.

We begin our tours at 11am. The meeting spot is outside metro Sol (lines 1, 2 and 3), where the "Oso y Madroño" statue, just in front of the Apple store, with and orange umbrella and a big smile! »»CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS««

The tour will end at Cava de San Miguel, 8, 28005 Madrid. (Next to Plaza Mayor)

You can always tell our guide of any food allergies or special dietary requirements so that way we will adapt the menu so you can enjoy the tour! If you have any doubt or concerns, feel free to email us at [email protected] before booking. We have had many vegetarians doing the tour with us and they all enjoyed it thoroughly.

Children are more than welcome to our tour and it's free for any child 2 years or under! We have had many families attend from all over the world and everyone enjoyed the tour.

This is not a problem. Just inform our guide before the tour starts. During the tasting you can select another beverage you like!

We give enough food to all our customers. Trust us, you will not need to go to any restaurant after the food tour!

Our tours are often sold out very quickly. If the date you requested is not available, please do not hesitate to email us and we can see if there is anything we can do. We cannot promise but we will try our best to sort something out for you.

To join our food tour, you must wear comfortable shoes. There will be around 20-25 minutes walking but it's not too difficult and there are no hills or stairs. If you walk slowly, then our guide will walk slowly as well.

12 people max Tuesday to Sunday and 10 people max on Mondays. If you are more than 10/12 people, please do not hesitate to email us and will try to see if we can accommodate.

You do not have to print your voucher. A confirmation on your phone will be fine!

All of our vouchers expire one year from the date of purchase.

No, our guide will take care of everything. Should you wish to try something special, please inform our guide and he will do his best to make you happy.

Top - quality, fresh and local !

Unfortunately, the weather is unpredictable in Madrid. We do not issue refunds as per our terms and conditions. We also inform you that we never cancel a booking even if we have only 2 people! However we do reserve the right to cancel the tour if we feel the weather is extreme, and we cannot run the tour due to this for more info see our Terms and Conditions: https://www.secretfoodtours.com/terms-and-conditions/

You must book directly on our website. We do not accept cash payments. Our online payment is safe, secured and SSL protected.

The booking fee that you have to pay is up to our ticket provider and we can't change it. All our clients need to pay for it upon booking. The booking fee charged contributes to the cost of the ticketing system to provide an excellent service to our customers.

A few banks have charged their customer an extra fee while booking with us (this isn't the booking fee but another fee added by the bank). We think this is unfair, if this happens let us know by showing us in your bank statement and we will refund this fee as a gesture of good will.

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Discover Japan

Boats, tree houses and more-

spaces are more  than just a place to tour

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Embark on a journey like no other with our handpicked selection of tours designed to cater to every traveller’s needs.

Whether you're a history buff, a food enthusiast, or a nature lover, our diverse range of itineraries ensures something in store for everyone.

Don't miss this opportunity to create long-lasting memories in one of the world's most captivating destinations.

Ready to begin your journey? Explore our tours now!

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Travel to japan.

Book your holiday to Japan with H.I.S. an authentic Japanese Travel Agency with over 40 years of experience. We are offering a wide selection of tours and services

JAPAN RAIL PASS

**the best way to travel Japan by train** With the JR Pass, you have access to the nationwide Japan Rail network. This way, your travel costs will be far more economical than buying individual

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The Global Profile

First, He Conquered Paris. Now, a Japanese Chef Wants to Become a Brand.

Kei Kobayashi, who earned three Michelin stars in France, has come home to build an empire.

By Motoko Rich and Kiuko Notoya

Reporting from Tokyo

In cooking, timing is everything. So much so that if the chef Kei Kobayashi spots diners heading to the restroom as he sends a dish out from the kitchen, he stops them. Nature’s call can wait; his culinary offerings should be tasted at peak flavor.

Such imperiousness and exactitude align with what Mr. Kobayashi, the first Japanese chef to earn three Michelin stars for a restaurant in Paris, said he had learned from one of his earliest mentors in France: The chef is king.

“Unless you commit to your worldview to this extent, you won’t be able to be a chef,” Mr. Kobayashi, 46, said during a recent interview in Tokyo.

Having earned his third star — the maximum — for his Restaurant Kei in Paris in 2020, he has now expanded his ambitions back to Japan, where he has opened four restaurants over the past two years.

The goal, Mr. Kobayashi said, is to become a brand. In that sense he seems to be emulating Alain Ducasse , at whose now-closed Paris restaurant, Plaza Athénée, Mr. Kobayashi worked before opening his own in 2011.

He also joins a line of creative Japanese — including the artists Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami — who first found fame outside their homeland.

Mastering the art of French cooking has become something of a Japanese specialty. In Tokyo, which has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world, four of the dozen restaurants awarded three stars feature French cuisine.

Mr. Kobayashi wants to show how French food can evolve with seasonal Japanese ingredients, he said in the interview, just hours before the official opening of Kei Collection Paris , his new restaurant on the top floor of the Toranomon Hills Station Tower in Tokyo.

At Kei Collection, he has sneaked some classic Japanese comfort dishes onto the menu, including curry and breaded beef cutlet, alongside fancier items like butter-roasted large clams, smoked bonito with white cheese foam, or delicate hand rolls of tuna and caviar.

For the restaurant’s opening, Mr. Kobayashi, his hair dyed platinum blonde, wore a traditional chef’s double-breasted white coat embroidered with three Michelin stars over black trousers and green suede New Balance sneakers. An Audemars Piguet watch was strapped to his wrist.

He spoke modestly, rejecting descriptors like “first class” or “genius” and saying he never allowed himself to think he had reached the pinnacle of cooking. But Mr. Kobayashi appeared coiled and a little aloof, belying his humble words.

His uncompromising approach is embodied by what he said was his favorite French phrase: “aller plus loin” — go further.

“If you make a compromise, or think ‘OK, this is good,’ then it is time to quit,” he said.

His attention to detail extends beyond the food. “He cares about the furniture selection and the interior, the softness of the sofa,” said Tadashi Nobira, manager of Esprit C. Kei Ginza, another one of Mr. Kobayashi’s new restaurants in Tokyo. “He cares to the last centimeter.”

Just minutes before a guest arrived for a solo lunch with the chef on opening day at Kei Collection earlier this spring, Mr. Kobayashi was adjusting the volume of a curated jazz collection playing in the dining room.

Mr. Kobayashi grew up in Nagano in central Japan, where his father worked as a chef. His mother cooked homemade meals every night, including his favorite, curry rice. But Mr. Kobayashi said he did not learn to cook from either of them.

Instead it was a documentary about the French chef Alain Chapel that first captivated Mr. Kobayashi, who envied the chef’s crisp white jacket. Forgoing high school, he took a job at a local French restaurant, where, as he recalled, he spent four years in which “the chef just kept getting mad at me.”

At 19, Mr. Kobayashi moved to Tokyo to work for Ikuo Shimizu, a mostly self-taught chef who gave his apprentice basic training in how to work with meat and fish.

“He was very mischievous, but he had a strong backbone,” Mr. Shimizu said in an interview at his eight-seat restaurant in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, where he serves rustic French meals. “I thought he was really an artisan. He was particular about the details, like the shape of the knives and how to sharpen them.”

Having fixated on French cuisine, Mr. Kobayashi decided he needed to move to France. An acquaintance helped him land a job at Auberge du Vieux Puits in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, where he worked for four years under the tutelage of the chef Gilles Goujon, who has also earned three Michelin stars.

In a video interview, Mr. Goujon said he was immediately struck by the young cook with bleached hair.

With a touch of stereotyping about Japanese prowess, Mr. Goujon first assigned Mr. Kobayashi to the fish station, instructing him with gestures and cookbook illustrations. Even on days off, “he wanted to come and work,” Mr. Goujon said. “So we had to lock the restaurant so he could go and rest.”

After two seasons at the fish station, Mr. Kobayashi tried to convince his boss that he had developed allergies and needed to switch to meat and game. Mr. Goujon was amused, and he eventually moved Mr. Kobayashi to the meat station to learn how to debone birds, deer and wild boar.

Mr. Kobayashi also worked briefly at a patisserie in Provence and at a restaurant in Brittany. The latter didn’t go well, he said. “At the time, there was a movement to make French cuisine more scientific, and I didn’t agree with that,” he said. “I went to learn Breton cuisine, not science.”

He worked at Mr. Ducasse’s Plaza Athénée for seven years before going out on his own, buying a restaurant whose chef was retiring.

“Maybe I was stupid,” he said, “but I figured the cooking would work itself out.” He was worried, however, about whether he could support the staff he was hiring, who “were putting their lives on the line.”

Within a year, he earned his first Michelin star; the second came five years later. After the third, he decided to make the move back to Japan.

In addition to Kei Collection Paris and Esprit C. Kei Ginza, Mr. Kobayashi has opened a restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Tokyo and one in Gotemba, near Mount Fuji. The Gotemba and Ginza restaurants are collaborations with Toraya, a centuries-old Japanese confectionary company.

With Mr. Kobayashi spending most of his time in Paris, he handpicked chefs to run the kitchens at the new Japanese restaurants, relying on them to develop dishes based on local ingredients.

Teruki Murashima, 50, the chef de cuisine at Héritage by Kei Kobayashi at the Ritz, said he talked frequently by phone with Mr. Kobayashi and sent him photos of dishes and lists of ingredients.

“We both may make completely different dishes with the same ingredients,” Mr. Murashima said in an interview at the Ritz. “But we know that about each other, and we respect each other.”

Still, Mr. Murashima said, Mr. Kobayashi is “very particular about certain things, and really gets quite angry if things don’t reach his standards.”

At times, Mr. Kobayashi is prone to remind customers of those standards. If a diner takes out a cellphone to snap a picture of a dish, said Mr. Nobira, the Ginza restaurant manager, Mr. Kobayashi might appear at the table, encouraging the customer to take a bite right away instead.

Is he, then, a king? “I might be close to one,” he said.

Ségolène Le Stradic contributed reporting from Paris.

Motoko Rich is a reporter in Tokyo, leading coverage of Japan for The Times. More about Motoko Rich