Me Time Japan Travel will launch an eight-day "Exploring Japan with Brazil's Joyful Spirit" tour, May 15-22, 2026, led by Maíra Kimura, Yumi Shimada, and Fernanda Ueno-the trio behind Japas craft beer. The Japanese-Brazilian brewers will guide just 14 travelers through Tokyo, Naoshima, Kochi, and Fukuoka, weaving tastings, craftsmanship, and personal stories into every stop. The small-group format promises hands-on encounters with fermentation, folk arts, and regional cuisine that fuse Japanese heritage with Brazilian energy.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Connects beer lovers to Japan's craft and culinary scenes.
- Eight-day, four-region itinerary, May 15-22, 2026.
- Guided by Japas founders-women pioneers in Brazil's beer industry.
- Focus on fermentation, mingei folk crafts, and regional flavors.
- Limited to 14 travelers, Adults Only.
Snapshot
The Japas Japan tour is a curated, small-group journey designed for culturally curious travelers who enjoy craft beer, local food, and artisan workshops. Participants stay in boutique hotels, move by Shinkansen and regional rail, and share immersive activities such as koji making with a mother-daughter team and bar-hopping Fukuoka's lively izakaya district. A Me Time Japan Travel host ensures seamless logistics, while the brewers provide insider access to breweries, galleries, and street-food landmarks.
Background
Japas burst onto Brazil's craft-beer scene in 2014 with Wasabiru, an APA laced with wasabi. As third-generation Japanese-Brazilians, Kimura, Shimada, and Ueno channel dual heritage into inventive brews and culture-blending events like Kurafuto craft fair. Their profile as female founders in a male-dominated field, combined with Me Time Japan Travel's expertise in niche itineraries, set the stage for a tour that spotlights women, craft, and cross-cultural storytelling.
Latest Developments
The operators opened bookings on July 17, 2025, and released full program details:
Tour Details
- Capacity: 14 guests plus one Me Time escort. Single-room supplement: $600.
- Route: Tokyo → Naoshima → Kochi → Fukuoka.
- Lodging: Park Hotel Tokyo, Setouchi Keirin Hotel 10, Kuroshio Honjin, and a downtown Fukuoka boutique property.
Cultural Highlights
- Private tour of 300-year-old Ozawa Sake Brewery in western Tokyo.
- Hands-on koji-fermentation class in Kochi with a mother-daughter artisan duo.
- Guided mingei shopping in Asakusa and Fukuoka.
- Visits to Chichu Art Museum and other Setouchi art sites.
Gender and Craft
Japas will share their perspective as women brewers, leading discussions on diversity in beverage and artisan sectors. Activities include tasting flights that pair limited-edition Japas releases with regional dishes, underscoring the tour's "flavor journey" theme.
Analysis
For U.S. travelers seeking beyond-the-brochure Japan, the Japas Japan tour bundles culinary depth with creative exploration. The brewer-led format appeals to craft-beer fans, yet the emphasis on mingei, fermentation, and shrine culture broadens its reach. Limiting the group to 14 maintains intimate access, a key differentiator in a market crowded with 40-seat motor-coach products. The May timing avoids peak-season crowds while offering mild weather-average highs of 73 °F in Tokyo and 77 °F in Fukuoka. Pricing has not been released, but comparable premium small-group Tours to Japan typically start around $6,000 per person, excluding airfare.
Final Thoughts
Reservations are open now, and spots are expected to fill quickly given Japas' fan base and the limited capacity. Travelers eager to taste Japan through a dual-cultural lens-and to share toasts with the brewers themselves-will find the Japas Japan tour a spirited way to dive into flavor, craft, and celebration. Japas Japan tour bookings close once the roster reaches 14 guests, so early commitment secures a place on this one-of-a-kind adventure. Japas Japan tour