Japan : February 17-25, 2026

Attention all celiacs and gluten free eaters! This version of Into the Wild is your unique chance to take a moment for you. to experience japan, safely, easily, all without worry about what or where you are going to eat! With this trip just for Gluten Free eaters, you’re sure to enjoy so much of What Tokyo and Kyoto offer.

Imagine- a vacation to Japan for gluten free people! Japan is notoriously extremely difficult to do as a celiac or gluten free person- but Into the Wild has got it all figured out for you. This is your chance to sightsee and explore without having to do the work of finding GF eateries or having to stress about your next meal. As a celiac myself, I (Wendy) definitely know the difficulties of vacationing while being gluten free. On this trip, I’m taking all the stress and worry away from you! All you have to do is follow our itinerary and have a great time with other awesome women who are also gluten free.

Do you exploring new places? Delicious food and drink? Self-rediscovery? New cultures? Self-empowerment? Bringing out your inner wild woman? If so- this trip is for you!

Japan is on the top of my favorite places to visit- and for many reasons. Yet- it is extra challenging for the gluten free woman. On top of this challenge, Japan can be very expensive, crowded, intimidating, and still has that exotic stereotype that keeps people feeling unsure if they can travel there on their own.

Japan is a gorgeous and culturally rich destination. Yes, it can be very expensive, but we’ve created this trip with the intention of making it a trip of a lifetime while keeping it luxury feeling yet as low in cost as we could. The goal is for us all to immerse ourselves in all things Japanese- sights, sounds, TASTES, and experiences.

So- instead of wondering “What can I eat?” “Where should I go? What should I see? How can I make the most of my time there?”, let us show you how to see the best of what Japan has to offer in 9 days.

On this trip, we will spend time in the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. The itineraries in both cities is designed to give you a great understanding of Japanese culture, people, and food, but without exhausting ourselves by visiting too many places. We will eat food that you never though you could eat in Japan, including Japanese pastries fluffly pancakes, ramen, sushi, tempura, you name it! We will see temples and shrines and gorgeous scenery, and even delve into the quirkiness and weirdness that Tokyo has to offer.

I would be honored for you to join us- so if Japan has been on your bucket list, let’s check it off now!

Please read all the way through this page for all the information.

Cost for Japan is $3099 per person for 9 nights. All lodging, all meals and excursions during the retreat are included except your flights from your home to Tokyo and back, and rooms are shared occupancy. Please read below for details:

1. This retreat includes all transportation EXCEPT: You must buy your own 7 day Japan Rail Pass. This makes travel in a group SO much easier and is currently about $350-$$400 per person. We have subtracted it from the cost of the trip because each of you need to buy it and have it sent to your home. This is something I will help you with beforehand. I’ll provide exact instructions on how to do this.

2. This retreat focuses on 100% safe and contaminate free food. It is best if you eat seafood, aren’t vegetarian and don’t have other allergies, but it can be done. But the restaurants and food have been based only around a gluten free diet. It may include a few meals where you may be placed in front of adventurous foods. You don’t have to eat anything out of your comfort zone, but just be aware that food is a big part of this trip and you may encounter several foods you’ve never thought of eating before :). Additionally, as there is a lot of foot and train travel on the trip, there will be fast lunches/meals at local shops on the go that are based on rice and a meat tucked inside.

3. Arriving in Tokyo: You can fly into either Tokyo Airport. I can provide either exact directions on how to get to the hotel via train. We will make a plan beforehand!

4. We have chosen February to visit Japan on purpose. With the giant task of avoiding foods with Gluten, it makes no sense to complicate the trip with huge crowds hoping to see Cherry Blossoms, or to have it during other high tourism seasons. Plus, in February you’re very likely to see the very vibrant plum blossoms! This is a colder season so expect to bring coats and to dress warmly.

5. Please ask if you have any questions. I’m reachable at wendy@itwadventure.com

All rooms are shared occupancy. No private rooms are available. This is key to the Into the Wild experience.

Japan gluten free trip itinerary

Feb 17th: Arrive in Tokyo and get together with the group. This involves taking a train from the airport you land in (Narita or Haneda) to our hotel in the Akihabara District. Wendy will give you exact instructions on how to do this with your JR Rail pass. We will eat dinner together at 6:00pm and rest up.

Feb 18th: We will start the day with Breakfast at the hotel, completely gluten free as all meals on this trip are! Sight see around Tokyo, specifically the Meiji Shrine and Harajuku area. We are going to visit a Mini-Pig Cafe and have lunch in Harajuku.  We will go see another shrine in the afternoon, check out some gluten free churros and then visit the famous Shibuya crossing in the evening. Dinner, then and drop into bed fully satisfied from our awesome day!

Feb 19th: Breakfast at hotel, then Visit Rizlabo Kitchen for fluffy pancakes! Does this sound like two breakfasts in one day? It is, but we are eating Rizlabo for lunch. This is a worth it but time consuming eatery- but a lot of fun. Visit the famous Fish Market (worth a look even though we won’t be able to eat or try much.)  and the Nezu Shrine with its  many, many tori gates. Dinner back at the GF eatery in the hotel, and get a good night’s rest.

Feb 20th: One more day in Tokyo. Today we will wrap up anything we night have missed or that the group agrees they want to see, perhaps the Asakusa area and walk to some really quaint old streets in the area. Afternoon Sushi Making class- and if we are still hungry we will go for more dinner afterwards!

Feb 21st: Travel by railway to Kyoto, one of my favorite cities in the world! Drop luggage at hotel and start sight seeing after lunch at Kikyo sushi. We will visit the Golden Pavilion, the Ryon-ji Temple, and wander around markets and parks. Have dinner at Cafe and Bar Maru and rest up for an early morning.

Feb 22nd: Early morning Bamboo forest walk. Visit Toshoan if you have another hankering for those fluffy Japanese pancakes. Take a late afternoon walking tour of Gion, the historic geishsa district. Dinner at Gion Soy Milk Ramen, which is so delicious! Sleep.

Feb 23rd: One more day in Kyoto. We are planning a Gluten Free Tea Ceremony complete with Kimono! Very cool experience. We will also tour the Nishiki market. Dinner together at Teppan Tavern Tenemonya. 

Feb 24th: Leave Kyoto and head back to Tokyo via train ride. When we get back to Tokyo, you’ll have free time until dinner to wander as you please and get all the sightseeing and shopping done. We will eat dinner together and have more free time after dinner.

Feb 25th: This is the day we all leave. We will eat breakfast and depart via subways and trains to the airport. Please note that the retreat officially ends at 10am, and though I will absolutely help you get to the airport on time, etc, the trip leader will be leaving at a different time than you and likely won’t be traveling to the airport with you. We will figure it out together!

A reminder: your expenses for this retreat exclude flights to and from Japan, but do include all breakfasts and lunches, and dinners. We cover lodging, activities, etc! You are responsible for buying your own 7 day Japan Rail Pass (around $375 USD). Do not buy the pass until shown how to do so by ITW.