Ramen Meets World-Class Tourism
A Journey into Kyoto
Where culinary artistry, cultural heritage, and mindful moments converge.
A curated Kyoto journey beyond sightseeing,
connecting tradition with innovation,
and taste with world-class tourism design.
About the Producer
Shin Miyazawa
Ritsumeikan Business School, Tourism Management Program
The program is produced by a student of Ritsumeikan Business School’s Tourism Management Program, whose career reflects Kyoto’s resilience and creativity. After revitalizing his family’s ramen shop into a globally recognized brand, he expanded into immersive cooking experiences, launched a bakery during the pandemic to sustain local employment, and later founded a travel company focused on high-end, experience-driven journeys.
Drawing on long-standing relationships across Kyoto’s cultural and business communities, this excursion offers access and experiences rarely available to the public. In particular, through close collaboration with senior custodians of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, participants are granted special entry to normally non-public areas of this World Heritage site—an opportunity made possible by deep trust built over many years. The itinerary is thus not only a tour, but a carefully curated journey shaped by local networks, cultural respect, and hands-on expertise.
Schdule
Participants will be assigned to one of two parallel programs: Ramen Factory or Fire Ramen Menbaka. While we will do our best to accommodate individual preferences, final group allocation will depend on capacity and logistics. The itinerary shown reflects the current plan and may be subject to minor adjustments.
9:30
Kyoto Station
Pick up at Kyoto station
10:00
Ramen Factory Kyoto
Fire Ramen Menbaka
Group A: Ramen Factory (ramen-making workshop)
Group B: Menbaka Fire Ramen (fire-ramen performance)
11:30
Sasaki Sake Brewery
At Sasaki Sake Brewery, participants will tour the production facilities while learning about the history of Japanese sake and the brewing process. A sake tasting will also be included, with non-alcoholic options available.
2:00
Gesshin-in temple
At Gesshin-in Temple, participants will take part in a guided Zen meditation session, where they will learn the basic posture and breathing techniques of zazen and experience a moment of quiet reflection in a traditional temple setting.
4:00
Kiyomizu dera temple
At Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks, participants will be granted special access to normally non-public areas, opened exclusively for the APacCHRIE excursion. The visit will include a private guided tour and explanation by a senior temple representative, offering rare insight into the history, architecture, and spiritual significance of the site—an exceptional opportunity seldom available even to regular visitors.
6:00
Jankara Kyoto Staion
At international conferences, networking is as important as academic presentations. After spending the day together, participants will conclude the excursion with a karaoke session—one of Japan’s most popular and uniquely social forms of communication—enjoying light snacks while strengthening connections in a relaxed and lively atmosphere.
Objectives
This excursion is designed to achieve the following objectives:
-
Enhance cultural understanding by providing direct engagement with Kyoto’s culinary arts, craftsmanship, spiritual practices, and World Heritage sites.
-
Showcase experiential hospitality through immersive activities such as ramen-making, fire-ramen performance, sake tasting, and Zen meditation—illustrating key concepts in experience design, co-creation, and service innovation.
-
Promote sustainable and community-based tourism by highlighting local businesses, traditional cultural institutions, and off-peak or non-public access that supports cultural preservation and responsible visitation.
-
Facilitate academic and professional insight into how local culture, heritage, and entrepreneurship can shape tourism offerings, providing APacCHRIE participants with practical examples relevant to research and teaching.
-
Strengthen international networking by offering shared, meaningful experiences and a relaxed cultural setting at the end of the program that encourages and collaboration among participants.
Participation Fee：50,000yen~70,000 / person
The participation fee is currently being finalized and will be announced as soon as it is confirmed.
-
Chartered bus transportation (Kyoto Station → all sites → Kyoto Station)
-
Ramen Factory Kitayama: Hands-on ramen-making workshop (ingredients & instructor fee included)
-
Menbaka Fire Ramen: One bowl of Fire Ramen + live fire performance
-
＊Please note that participants will be assigned to either the Ramen Factory or the Menbaka Fire Ramen experience (one of the two programs), depending on group allocation and availability.
-
Sasaki Sake Brewery: Guided brewery tour & premium sake tasting
-
Gesshin-in Temple: Zen meditation session & temple admission
-
Kiyomizu-dera Temple: Exclusive access to non-public areas + guided visit
-
Karaoke experience at Jankara (Kyoto Station)
-
Light snacks & one drink during karaoke
Please register in advance
The capacity for this excursion is planned to be approximately 30 participants, making it a highly exclusive program that is expected to fill quickly.
Registration is scheduled to open in February. If you are interested, please register your email in advance, and you will receive priority notification when enrollment begins.
Please note that this pre-registration does not constitute a formal booking. Official registration will open in February.