Join me and my wife, Mette, a gifted chef in her own right, as we embarked on a three-day immersion in the heart of Kyoto alongside the extraordinary team at Noma. From behind-the-scenes kitchen experiences to foraging adventures with Fukunaga, lobster hunts with Hirokazu at Nishiki fish market, and serene moments of meditation in a nearby temple, our journey was nothing short of enchanting. And, of course, we savored the pinnacle of our experience as honored guests, relishing an unforgettable meal.
In those three days, we uncovered the essence of omotenashi, reveled in the delights of cloudy sake, and delighted in the nuances of a kinki serving, among countless other joys.
Our voyage spanned 20,000 kilometers, described in 6,000 words, and captured in thousands of images, 50 of which found their way into the pages of Gastro. Now, with a glimpse into our adventure, let your anticipation grow and appetite flourish. Welcome to the journey of a lifetime.
![Gastro front page - Noma in Kyoto - photo Martin Kaufmann](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/0b5b4af5-cb6d-42bd-b3f5-4d206b710b32_rw_1920.jpg?h=25a4becda273c4921c484a1a682cdb8e)
![Scenes from Kyoto - Noma pop-up in Japan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/a12b3824-81d8-4c87-857e-f287c04bb6f1_rw_1920.jpg?h=897271cd9f3cdd66c7c040063a2356dc)
Scenes from Kyoto - Noma pop-up in Japan
![Street view in Kyoto - Noma pop-up in Japan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/0f8aa15c-e6c5-4070-9188-0ff74c30d9ce_rw_1920.jpg?h=c293ff7299bbb2d393b7c38aea86b91c)
Street view in Kyoto - Noma pop-up in Japan
![The beautiful scene entering Noma at Ace Hotel in Kyoto](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/7090387a-5d1f-4e15-9be1-865240adb7ff_rw_1920.jpg?h=b3c4f1be19cfa573bddbf876e50ed0d0)
The beautiful scene entering Noma at Ace Hotel in Kyoto
![The noren made for Noma pop-up at Ace Hotel in Kyoto](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/40b1b27a-a437-4c76-b52a-d9af549296ec_rw_1920.jpg?h=7ede1c73e71419ebbd1b5ad3f304d14b)
The noren made for Noma pop-up at Ace Hotel in Kyoto
![Ise ebi (Japanese lobster) at Nishiki Fish Market in Kyoto - from three days with Noma in Japan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/8fa129d4-3987-4ee2-ae4d-11b4b9036ac1_rw_1920.jpg?h=29cc4220d5cabcb58359871c924ca0e0)
Ise ebi (Japanese lobster) at Nishiki Fish Market in Kyoto - from three days with Noma in Japan
![The ise ebi serving at Noma in Kyoto](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/377c7423-017a-4e67-8e92-4081898efe3d_rw_1920.jpg?h=c8a57df110cd913e957a0bffdd769476)
The ise ebi serving at Noma in Kyoto
![Starbursts cloudy sake at Noma Kyoto](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/00b86ea5-ca50-449f-b335-d93ec4a3d8e8_rw_1920.jpg?h=c96be1d11832894b1f342cbe4728fda2)
Starbursts cloudy sake at Noma Kyoto
![Kinki fish serving at Noma Kyoto](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/622e4491-54bb-48ab-a007-ee487789b923_rw_1920.jpg?h=e65b189b839bae9af3a1612f0093eeeb)
Kinki fish serving at Noma Kyoto
![Green rice serving at Noma Kyoto](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/421d5654-12f0-4cb2-be3b-cf2fab7e5a63_rw_1920.jpg?h=34c4ad1091c3fe0be9f9c0833d7e8b93)
Green rice serving at Noma Kyoto
![Sashimi serving at Noma Kyoto](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/b1a4ab8e-0b96-474c-86da-f64a7cf0be38_rw_1920.jpg?h=393487a68e0c34eef2813f2b1bf79913)
Sashimi serving at Noma Kyoto
![René Redzepi and Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann at Noma in Kyoto](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/0cb0fa2f-e00f-48fc-ae63-de56dc0bf491_rw_1920.jpg?h=fb11b33c609b3095a0af47a821eb1037)
René Redzepi and Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann at Noma in Kyoto
![Ace Hotel in Kyoto - and Kengo Kuma transformation](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/41795d0e-1e7c-48f4-9c2f-f8d6eb86012f_rw_1920.jpg?h=8a4a0a0c0aa69fe3a95b9420d8d4fc97)
Ace Hotel in Kyoto - and Kengo Kuma transformation
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/6dc103b9-9f67-4b43-b6e0-cd9d7f5cdb4e_rw_1200.jpg?h=871b44ddb8ce0008038818048a3c7ac5)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/e06fa58e-7274-43db-94bb-ffb2dc4f6110_rw_1200.jpg?h=5c3225f4ba5b44cc1e20dccd39ece8c6)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/aae5350f-4c3f-49bc-98aa-86f587b61b1a_rw_1200.jpg?h=091eefc9d690c69b45c1069cd80532ba)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/5842b0b2-2d45-4b56-8595-d86c68402ce2_rw_1200.jpg?h=24b9d9a211844b514033528b67b1cf63)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/40e84d7f-6e72-4997-a98a-343706401064_rw_1200.jpg?h=535868bbfa11ea2efdafaa455141be75)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/9b91cc72-bd02-4491-868a-9fb32f3c2592_rw_1200.jpg?h=78e9f3d95b2c02b29ecd0a3d892881aa)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/f5a747d0-e90b-44e1-b10d-d7f822abe369_rw_1200.jpg?h=05255501a8c9e0804a01e546857fa2c9)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/d3b569aa-d653-4380-a658-b3c88938ceac_rw_1200.jpg?h=fa339d5ebfd1a16df6eb80c73d0e96d2)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/60d415eb-3930-4d35-958a-a759ed299dff_rw_1200.jpg?h=14db2c88c7266cc916eced5578333795)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/3f908d03-13b9-4cce-baac-99c4c68fdb9b_rw_1200.jpg?h=28c3a38befcf624707c9836221466008)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/7f8090d1-3137-41a2-b6e6-382b75e465f1_rw_1200.jpg?h=85ed1ef52030ddd6e16f545df70f1950)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/11e9b91d-593b-4bdf-b8fd-d846a7a9e818_rw_1200.jpg?h=236b4bff65dc8611664a75d2dcac8352)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/b51da738-a78b-4f28-ba2e-71000a092024_rw_1200.jpg?h=25d1189daf7792eba172a3b1e3266842)
Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)
![Article about Noma pop-up in Kyoto, Japan (by Mette Juulsgaard Kaufmann and Martin Kaufmann)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/cd971839e00d2d4f17f80a87043f5cb1/da217165-0f4c-45ae-b382-d4ca879e29c4_rw_1200.jpg?h=b26b4f0725e5045d9474b365b5db1955)