Yakuzen is a type of medicinal cooking rooted in ancient Eastern principles, designed to nourish both body and soul.

In this experience, led by a team of yakuzen specialists, you’ll learn about these long-standing traditions and experience their benefits firsthand.

Begin by meeting your host at Asuka Station before traveling to the lush fields of Taru Taru Farm. Asuka, once Japan’s first capital, is now a picturesque rural area full of natural beauty.

At the farm, harvest traditional Yamato mountain vegetables, grown organically without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and gain a deeper appreciation for the ingredients that form the foundation of yakuzen cuisine.

Next, visit the scenic Nara Sakura no Sato hotel for an engaging yakuzen cooking session led by Professor Kyoko Onishi, a renowned expert with over three decades of experience teaching yakuzen principles in Europe.

Professor Onishi shares fascinating insights into traditional Chinese medicine, as well as cooking and plating techniques, allowing you to see how ingredients, balance, and presentation come together in this healing cuisine.

Your experience concludes with a fresh, seasonal lunch prepared with the ingredients you harvested, offering a delicious taste of Asuka’s countryside flavors and the restorative principles of yakuzen.