CURATED
FOR YOU
Curated, otherwise unobtainable encounters, tailored to the personal preferences of each and every client.
Top chefs, destination restaurants, street eats, and food related producers and businesses.
We enrich our clients’ experiences in ways that no-one else can by drawing on deep first-hand experience, connections and insider knowledge, gained from years of living, working and travelling in Japan.
Our unique focus on the cuisine and dining space means our clients can be assured that they will have an enriched, authentic experience – Not one dictated by hype or industry trends that see most visitors telling the same tales again and again.
OUR
STORY
Before Umai Japan was established, we spent years travelling and dining across Japan; Ben, over 15 years of regular visits, and Jason, more than 30 years living and working there.
Along the way, we built real relationships with the chefs behind some of the country’s best undiscovered restaurants, reaching kitchens and menus most visitors never see. Many of the places found went on to earn recognition from Michelin and the food press after we already knew them well. Realising this kind of access and knowledge was worth sharing, we created Umai Japan to bring other visitors into the same world.
THE BEST MEALS ARE REMEMBERED, AGAIN, AND AGAIN. THE FOOD. THE PEOPLE. THE OCCASION.
our
Team
Ben Kushinsky
Founder
While travelling through Japan on and off for over a decade Ben has explored food and food culture in Japan at every level from street food to Michelin recognised restaurants. He started Umai Japan to share his passion for this amazing world with sophisticated travellers wanting experiences not available to most visitors to Japan.
Risano
Local Guide & Client Support
With connections to the culinary industry through her family, and extensive experience travelling throughout the USA and Australia, Risano is the perfect face of Umai Japan in Tokyo. Her passion for Japanese culture, and sharing it with visitors from overseas means that our guests receive a first hand understanding of the best of Japan and its people.
Jason Quinn
Culinary & Activities Consultant
Jason is a fundamental part of why Umai Japan has the unique access and insight into Japanese culinary culture and experiences that we do. Living in Japan for over 20 years and working in the culinary industry, which has taken him from one end of the country to the other, gives Jason a breadth of experience in restaurants, food producers and boutique accomodation that cannot be found elsewhere.