For incentive groups heading to Japan, a visit to the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto are a must on any itinerary. From an authentic Japanese culinary encounter in Tokyo to a touring Kyoto’s temples on two-wheels, DMC Destination Asia Japan can recommend a range of programmes to give groups an authentic local experience…

TASTY TREATS IN TOKYO
Discover local Japanese delicacies such as yakitori with a local guide as we head out onto the streets of Tokyo for an authentic Japanese culinary encounter. To start the evening guests head to Yurakucho and mingle with office workers who relax with a beer and snack on grilled chicken skewers (yakitori), in the so called yakitori alley.

After a couple of drinks, we then jump on the underground and head to Tsukishima, a ‘shitamachi’ neighbourhood just across the river from Tsukiji market. Here, guests can walk by and see many of the retro restaurants that line the sides of the street, each offering a special dish called ‘monjayaki’ – a tasty dish consisting of flour and vegetables with batter and an array of delicious toppings. Each one is cooked on the table in front of you using a hot plate and eaten with small iron spatulas.

At the end of the dinner your guide can drop you off at an izakaya (Japanese pub) in central Tokyo to let you carry on socializing with the local – or they can take you back to the hotel.

BACK STREET BIKING IN KYOTO
From the travelers’ hearts to their mind – Kyoto captivates like nowhere else. The city’s temples are astounding, mystical and monumental; but Kyoto has much more to offer than temples alone. Following a guided tour of temples such as Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera (above), we suggest jumping on a bicycle and exploring the vibrant back streets of Miyagawacho and Gion geisha districts – encountering old-world architecture and timeless forms of entertainment.

Miyagawacho and Gion have retained the old-fashioned Kyoto atmosphere, where Geisha drink and dine with customers in traditional houses. Here we cross stone-paved streets lined with Machiya-style townhouses that exude a typical Kyoto presence.

Our route follows the Shirakawa canal lined with majestic weeping willow trees, stopping at the Imperial Palace Park and its beautiful gardens. The pace is slow and easy, with plenty of opportunities to capture photos. Peddling back alongside the Kamogawa River, we admire one of Japan’s most beautiful sights, the cloud-like formation of endless cherry trees in full bloom; an experience never to be forgotten.

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