Nov 13-20, 2025
Before there were foodies, there was Kansai. There was Osaka and Kyoto, a one-two combination of totemic culinary excellence that has forever shaped the art of eating. Nearly a decade after his book on Japan with Anthony Bourdain took readers inside the secret rhythms of the country’s food culture, Matt Goulding returns to the source.
R&K Co-founder, Writer, Producer
Matt Goulding
Culinary Connector
Yuko Suzuki
Overview
Before there were foodies, there was Kansai. There was Osaka and Kyoto, a one-two combination of totemic culinary excellence that has forever shaped the art of eating. Nearly a decade after his book on Japan with Anthony Bourdain took readers inside the secret rhythms of the country’s food culture, Matt Goulding returns to the source. This journey traces a personal and culinary arc through western Japan—Osaka, Kyoto, and the mountain villages in between—guided by the chefs, artisans, and fixers who have helped inspire a 15-year love for the region.
Over seven days, we’ll explore Japan’s deep craft: forging knives in Sakai, foraging in the Kyoto countryside, dawn market runs, chasing the perfect donburi. There will be temple feasts and back-alley yakitori, tea ceremonies and sake-fueled dinners that stretch late into the night, each encounter a window into one of the world’s great food cultures. Light activity level. Seafood-centric itinerary.
R&K Host
Writer, Producer, R&K Co-founder
Matt Goulding is an award-winning writer, producer, and publisher. His new documentary series Omnivore, created with Chef René Redzepi of NOMA, is now streaming on Apple TV+. His Eat This, Not That books sold over 10 million copies, and his R&K books with Anthony Bourdain’s imprint won numerous awards. He divides his time between the tapas bars of Barcelona and the barbecue pits of rural North Carolina.
Local Guide
Culinary Connector
Yuko Suzuki is a food marketer and consultant based in Osaka. She works directly with chefs and food producers to support their vision and build their audience. She also runs the very first Japanese food incubator, Osaka Food Lab. Yuko has been working with Roads & Kingdoms for more than a decade, proving a valuable guide on everything from books to short documentaries and now the League of Travelers.
Big City Energy
In the heart of Osaka’s high-energy Kita Ward, Zentis Osaka is a crowd-pleasing boutique hotel mere steps from the north shore of the Dojima. Design is a major focus here, with exposed brick and timber beams, a dramatic stone staircase, and sleek rooms that riff on “bento” themes with modular, functional layouts, not to mention floor-to-ceiling views of one of the world’s great cities.
A Seaside Retreat
Monjusou is a resort ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) on the shores of Amanohashidate. Located in the northern part of Kyoto, known as “Kyoto by the Sea,” Amanohashidate is famous as one of the Three Most Scenic Views of Japan. To truly understand the power and history of Kyoto, you need to visit its countryside, and Monjusou is our favorite way to do so.
Kyoto Cool
We rarely do chains, but this one is special. Asia’s first Ace Hotel is housed in the former Kyoto Central Telephone office building, an incredible 1920s structure designed by Tetsuro Yoshida, one of the pioneers of modern architecture in Japan. Two contemporary architectural trailblazers, Kengo Kuma and Commune Design of Tokyo and California, respectively, turned it into an eclectically creative lodging that nods at Kyoto culture while catering, affably, to today’s cool-kid jet set.
Dawn F.I had no idea what a deeply moving experience this trip would be—far beyond just a culinary tour.
Katie K.If you love far-flung, intrepid travel and food, you will love traveling with Roads & Kingdoms.
Amanda C.The connections R&K has in the community made this trip feel like a once-in-a-lifetime experience that could not be replicated by any other company.
Feb 8-15, 2026
Join us for a week of culinary exploration that is sometimes rustic, sometimes luxurious, but always fascinating. By foot, by plane, by private vehicle, by speedboat: this is a kinetic journey through the heart of the South. Your hosts Andy Ricker and Phongsila “Mapeng” Comack are the perfect guides through the big history and bright flavors of the region, mixing places you think you know with locations that few outsiders ever see.
Chef, Writer, Traveler
Andy Ricker
Culinary Connector
Mapeng Commak
Sept 1-9, 2026
From the misty matsutake-rich mountains of Ma Pin Guan to the hidden Bai enclaves of ancient Silk Road towns, this is a weeklong journey through China’s most varied province, a biodiversity hotspot home to more ethnic groups than any other. Yunnan: land of mushrooms, birthplace of tea. Led by the Chinese writer Jane Yang and R&K co-founder Nathan Thornburgh, we begin in Shanghai and end in Dali, traversing four ancient towns that ring the storied Lake of Erhai—culminating in an extraordinary multi-course dinner in a secret restaurant for Chinese chefs.
Writer, Entrepreneur
Jane Yang
Ready for a new adventure?
Ready for a new adventure?
Dates don’t work, want a private experience? We can custom tailor any of our trips for you and your group. Reach out to learn more.