Tours & experiences

Tours in Japan

Small-group tours, day trips, cooking classes and multi-day adventures. Every tour vetted for traveller reviews first.

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Samurai Training Experience KENDO in Osaka

★ 5.0 (614)

🛕 Culture & History

Japan

Samurai Training Experience KENDO in Osaka

Step into a working dojo in central Osaka and train in kendo under qualified instruction. This two-hour session teaches you foundational stance, footwork, and bamboo sword technique whilst dressed in full traditional gear. English-speaking instructors pitch the teaching to absolute beginners, though experienced martial artists can arrange sparring with a certified master. You'll handle authentic equipment, understand the philosophical roots of samurai combat, and leave with photos in proper samurai kit.

Tokyo: Make Your Own Chopsticks Shibuya

Craft a pair of wooden chopsticks from scratch in a Shibuya workshop, a short walk from the Scramble Crossing. Over one hour, you'll select timber, shape and sand your sticks under expert guidance, then finish them to take home. No prior skill needed. Choose from standard or premium woods, and add engraving for a personalised touch—ideal for keeping or gifting.

Mt Fuji Area Private Guided Tours in English-Nature up close, quiet, personal

A private 5–6 hour tour of Mt Fuji's surrounds led by a long-time English-speaking local. Travel by van and on foot through the volcanic landscape around Lakes Kawaguchiko and Saiko, exploring moss-draped forest trails, tucked-away shrines, and waterfalls. Your guide knows the quiet corners and lesser-trodden paths, moving at a pace that lets you absorb the detail: the texture of ancient lava rock, the mist rising off the water, the rhythm of the place rather than ticking boxes.

5 hours – 6 hoursfrom AUD $455

Private Curated Tour | Get Tokyo’s Must Sees & Unique Insights

★ 5.0 (291)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Private Curated Tour | Get Tokyo’s Must Sees & Unique Insights

Explore Tokyo's most vibrant neighbourhoods—Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Odaiba and Akihabara—on a private guided tour tailored to your interests and pace. Your English-speaking guide steers you towards local spots most visitors miss, sharing insights into how ordinary Tokyoites actually live. Choose your start time and duration (2–8 hours), enjoy a traditional Japanese drink and snack along the way, and leave with photos at iconic landmarks. No crowds, no set itinerary—just you, your companions and a guide who knows where the real Tokyo hides.

2 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $202

Ninja 2-hour Hands-on Lesson by Japanese master in Kyoto -Medium

★ 5.0 (251)

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Japan

Ninja 2-hour Hands-on Lesson by Japanese master in Kyoto -Medium

When Em from our team tried this Kyoto ninja lesson, we got a genuine taste of what martial arts training actually feels like — not a costume photo op. You'll spend two hours learning foundational ninja techniques, meditation, and movement under an English-speaking Japanese master in a proper dojo. The instructor covers breathing control, traditional walking forms, and basic kata, and you're dressed in full ninja gear throughout. It's intimate and hands-on; the dojo is quiet and focused, so expect a working class atmosphere rather than a tourist spectacle.

Tokyo: Shinjuku Calligraphy Workshop & Original T-Shirt Creation

When Em from our BugBitten team booked this Shinjuku workshop, we were curious whether a 90-minute calligraphy session could deliver genuine craft skills or just feel like tourist theatre. Turns out, you actually learn brush technique from a working professional artist, then apply it to design your own kanji for a t-shirt. The studio sits in central Shinjuku—busy, accessible by train, mixed crowd of travellers and locals. You walk away with your calligraphy piece and the t-shirt design you've created, though the finished shirt itself costs extra.

1h 30mfrom AUD $41

★ 5.0 (223)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Tokyo West-Side Cycling & Food Tour

When Ben from our team pedalled this west Tokyo route, we found exactly what the blurb promises: backstreet cycling and proper neighbourhood eating, minus the tourist theatre. The tour hits 12–15 km of riverside paths and tight local streets on sturdy mamachari bikes, stopping for street food hits and a casual lunch spot where salarymen actually eat. It's three-and-a-bit hours of genuine wandering, small group, English-speaking guide, and the kind of Tokyo most visitors miss. The vibe is exploratory and low-key — no temples, no fine dining, just riding and tasting.

Tokyo: Gameboy Advance IPS Modding Workshop in Akihabara

Spend three hours in Akihabara learning to retrofit a Game Boy Advance with a modern IPS display. Work alongside experienced technicians to disassemble, modify, and reassemble your handheld into a fully playable device with crisp LCD visuals. You'll leave with a functioning, customised console that bridges retro gaming and contemporary screen technology—a tangible keepsake from your Tokyo trip.

Private Tea Ceremony and Sake Tasting in Kyoto Samurai House

Step into a three-century-old samurai residence in Kyoto for a 50-minute tea ceremony and sake tasting. You'll have the entire historic house to yourself, learning to prepare organic matcha in a traditional tea room whilst sampling locally-brewed sake. The experience sits just eight minutes' walk from Kyoto station, so it slots neatly into any itinerary without requiring transport faffing.

Akihabara Tailor-made Private Tour for Anime Fans

Navigate Akihabara's anime culture with a local otaku guide who knows which shops stock what and where the genuine experiences hide. This 3–4 hour private tour starts at JR Akihabara station and covers the district's most relevant spots for your interests. Your guide has tested every maid café in the area and will take you to an underrated gem most visitors miss. Bring a wishlist of items or locations you're after, and the itinerary flexes to match your priorities.

3 hours – 4 hoursfrom AUD $179

Game Boy Mod Workshop in Akihabara, Tokyo

★ 5.0 (177)

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Japan

Game Boy Mod Workshop in Akihabara, Tokyo

When Em from our team booked this Akihabara workshop, we walked into a tight, buzzing space packed with circuit boards and retro kit. You're modifying an actual Game Boy—fitting a new backlit IPS screen and picking a custom shell colour—while the guides (proper enthusiasts, not just staff) riff about Nintendo's engineering and chat with everyone in the room. Two hours, hands-on, and you leave with a working handheld that actually glows. Akihabara's electric hum in the background adds to the vibe.

Osaka Sake Tasting & Takoyaki Cooking Experience

Spend two hours in Osaka learning to craft takoyaki from a sommelier-turned-guide who doubles as a sake expert. You'll shape and fry your own octopus balls using an elevated recipe featuring wagyu and cheese, then taste your way through 10+ sake varieties to understand brewing, history, and how to spot quality bottles at restaurants. By the end, you've cooked a meal and developed a genuine appreciation for sake beyond the tourist experience.

Tokyo:Samurai sword and archery class from a samurai descendant

When Jake from our team booked this Tokyo class, he walked in expecting tourist theatre and found something genuinely different. Run by a swordsmanship and yabusame (horseback archery) master who's rare in holding mastery of both, the three-hour session teaches actual technique rather than Instagram moments. You'll handle a real bokken, draw a proper bow, and even hold an antique matchlock gun. It's a shared class with other keen learners, set near good public transport, and the instructor tailors your practice uniform to your frame beforehand.

Kamakura Walking Tour - The City of Shogun

This 3.5-hour guided walk traces Kamakura's medieval power through its most significant temples and shrines. You'll stand before the Great Buddha, explore the atmospheric grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and Hasedera Temple, and piece together how this former shogun capital shaped Japan's spiritual landscape. Small groups mean your guide can linger on details that catch your interest, whether that's the craftsmanship in a temple's woodwork or the view across Sagami Bay. Local food stops punctuate the route—authentic rather than tourist-focused.

3h 30mfrom AUD $50

★ 5.0 (147)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Private car tour in Kyoto (up to 4)

Spend seven hours exploring Kyoto in a private air-conditioned vehicle with local driver Kosuke, who tailors the route to your interests. You'll navigate the city at your own pace, stopping where you choose—whether that's temple districts, traditional neighbourhoods, or lesser-known corners. The vehicle and parking are included; you arrange meals and pay entry fees separately. Best booked as a two-day experience to properly see what matters to you.

Coffee on a Kayak with Mt. Fuji - Early Morning

Paddle across Lake Kawaguchiko at dawn with Mt. Fuji as your backdrop. This 90-minute kayak outing pairs early light, glassy water, and views of Japan's iconic peak with a hot beverage of your choice. An English-speaking guide shares local knowledge while you navigate the lake at your own pace—no prior paddling required. The experience suits first-timers and works well for those staying near Kawaguchiko Station, reachable from Tokyo via train or bus.

Become a Samurai Movie Star in Kyoto by Filming with a Real Actor

Learn sword techniques from a working samurai actor at Myokaku-ji Temple in Kyoto, then film your own action sequence. This 70-minute session has you dressed in period costume, drilling genuine kata alongside your instructor, then performing choreographed moves while a professional cameras roll. The temple grounds—where warlord Oda Nobunaga once walked—provide an atmospheric backdrop. You'll leave with digital footage of yourself as the lead in your own samurai film.

Harajuku Meiji Shrine Walking Tour in Tokyo

Walk through Tokyo's cultural crossroads on this 2-hour guided tour starting at JR Harajuku Station. You'll visit Meiji Shrine, a tranquil forested sanctuary dedicated to Emperor Meiji, then explore Takeshita Street's fashion-forward energy and the upmarket boutiques of Omotesando. A local guide reveals how this neighbourhood bridges Japan's spiritual heritage with contemporary youth culture, ending near excellent transport links.

2 hoursfrom AUD $36

Explore Kanazawa Half Day Private Tour with Local Guide

★ 5.0 (141)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Explore Kanazawa Half Day Private Tour with Local Guide

A bespoke 5–6 hour walking and bus tour of Kanazawa led by a local with two decades of city knowledge. After booking, you'll plan the route together—whether that's Kenrokuen Garden, the castle, Omicho Market, the geisha district, or tucked-away spots most visitors miss. You'll move at a comfortable pace on foot and by local transport, stopping where your interests take you. Your guide is a qualified nurse, so basic medical support is available if needed.

5 hours – 6 hoursfrom AUD $206

Samurai Experience - Learn Bushido through Kendo, in Tokyo

★ 5.0 (135)

🛕 Culture & History

Japan

Samurai Experience - Learn Bushido through Kendo, in Tokyo

This two-hour Tokyo session teaches you kendo—the martial art that preserved samurai values through centuries. Rather than sport mechanics, you'll explore Bushido philosophy by holding a bamboo sword, understanding discipline through stance and breath. A guide walks you through proper form and the mental focus that made kendo essential to samurai culture. You'll leave with rental gear worn, a souvenir carried, and a felt sense of why this practice still matters in modern Japan.

Kyoto: Zen Garden, Zen Mind (Private)

Walk through three temple gardens within Nanzen-ji Monastery with a landscape designer who spent 15 years studying Japanese garden philosophy. Rather than treating these spaces as backdrop, you'll learn to read the deliberate choices—stone placement, water flow, borrowed scenery—that transform gardens into three-dimensional poems. By the end of this 3.5-hour tour, you'll understand the logic beneath what first appears as peaceful chaos, giving you a framework to appreciate every garden you encounter in Kyoto.

Cozy Tokyo Class: Ramen, Sushi, Sake Pairing & Cultural Exchange

Cook two staple Japanese dishes—ramen from scratch and handmade sushi or gyoza—alongside a Japanese host in a Tokyo kitchen. Over three hours, you'll build each element thoughtfully: noodle dough, broth balance, knife skills for fish or filling prep. Sake pairings arrive between courses with context on why each bottle suits the food. The group stays small enough that conversation flows naturally, and you leave with techniques that actually stick.

Kyoto: Zen Meditation at a Private Temple with a Monk

Sit zazen with an English-speaking monk at a private Kyoto temple closed to casual visitors. Over ninety minutes, you'll learn the fundamentals of seated meditation, practise under guidance, then walk the temple grounds and gardens. The monk shares insights into Zen philosophy and Japanese culture throughout. Few Western travellers get access to spaces this quiet or instruction this direct.

Experience all of Japanese culture and Japanese food experience classes "origami, udon, Japanese food, green tea, calligraphy" in 4 hours

Spend four hours at a local home learning five pillars of Japanese culture alongside a home-cooked meal. You'll fold origami, hand-roll udon from scratch, prepare sushi and tempura, whisk matcha, and watch your name brushed in calligraphy on coloured paper to take home. Sake, shochu, beer and soft drinks flow throughout. Vegetarian and vegan versions of every dish are available.

Near Fushimiinari: Kyoto Home Cooking Class & Supermarket tour

Learn to cook four Japanese dishes in a traditional Kyoto home near Fushimi Inari, then eat what you've made. This four-hour class keeps groups small (max six people) so you'll get proper attention from your instructor. Afterwards, you'll tour a neighbourhood supermarket to identify the ingredients and seasonings used, picking up tips for recreating these meals at home. You'll leave with recipes and the confidence to cook Japanese food properly.

4 hoursfrom AUD $161

Chill Out in Tokyo: Personalized Private Tours with Local Friends

★ 5.0 (108)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Chill Out in Tokyo: Personalized Private Tours with Local Friends

Explore Tokyo on foot with a local guide who knows the city inside out. This 2–4 hour private walking tour adapts to your interests, whether you're after hidden neighbourhoods, specific districts, or spots that don't make the guidebooks. Your guide meets you at a location of your choice and uses public transport where it makes sense, revealing Tokyo as locals actually experience it rather than as a packaged attraction.

2 hours – 4 hoursfrom AUD $143

Half-day Himeji Castle Town Bike Tour with Lunch

★ 5.0 (106)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Half-day Himeji Castle Town Bike Tour with Lunch

Cycle through Himeji's castle town on a guided half-day tour that connects landmarks and local flavour. Starting from Himeji Station, you'll visit a 300-year-old sweets maker, climb Shirasagi-jo castle for panoramic views, fuel up with lunch at a neighbourhood restaurant, and finish with tea in the serene Kokoen garden. Your MagicalTrip guide handles logistics whilst you navigate the town by bike, covering roughly 5.5 hours total.

5h 30mfrom AUD $125

Private Osaka Tour from Your Hotel with Local Guide

★ 5.0 (104)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Private Osaka Tour from Your Hotel with Local Guide

A customised walking tour of Osaka led by a local English-speaking guide who collects you from your hotel. Over 3–5 hours, you'll navigate the city's contrasts: feudal landmarks like Osaka Castle, the raw energy of Shinsekai's street food stalls, and quiet corners locals favour. Your guide shapes the route around what interests you—whether that's architecture, food, or neighbourhood culture. You'll use public transport between zones.

3 hours – 5 hoursfrom AUD $152

Traditional Japanese Washi Papermaking- Kyoto morning

★ 5.0 (102)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Japan

Traditional Japanese Washi Papermaking- Kyoto morning

Learn kamisuki, the centuries-old technique of hand-pulling Japanese washi paper, in central Kyoto. This 60-minute workshop guides you through forming delicate sheets from natural fibres, then pressing seasonal flowers into the wet surface. You'll leave with handmade paper suited to framing, gifting or repurposing. The studio sits minutes from three metro stations, welcoming all ages and fitness levels with bilingual instruction.

Tsukiji Fish Market: Street Food Tour with Tasting

Spend 90 minutes wandering Tsukiji's wholesale stalls with a local guide who'll unlock the market's rhythms and introduce you to the craftspeople behind Tokyo's finest seafood. You'll taste your way through the morning—premium sushi, grilled eel, Wagyu skewers, tamagoyaki—whilst learning how artisans source, cut, and preserve fish to coax out umami. The guide brings a curated wasabi selection that transforms each bite.

Shamisen Experience in Kyoto 【Private】

Learn shamisen directly from a 20-year professional in Kyoto's traditional dojo. This 90-minute private session teaches you to play a recognisable Japanese song within the first half-hour, followed by guided practice in an authentic wooden house. You'll wear samue robes, handle a rental instrument, and take home a commemorative souvenir. English instruction makes this rare hands-on experience accessible to non-Japanese speakers.

1h 30mfrom AUD $134

Shinjuku Neon Night Photo Tour with Pro Photographer

★ 5.0 (97)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Shinjuku Neon Night Photo Tour with Pro Photographer

When Charlie from our team did this Shinjuku neon photo tour, we walked through Tokyo's most electric neighbourhood for an hour with a pro photographer who knew exactly where to position us for maximum impact. The vibe is pure urban Japan — neon signs reflecting off wet pavement, pachinko parlours humming, crowds moving through narrow streets — but the tour carved out quiet moments in the right spots to shoot. You leave with 35+ edited photos depending on group size, plus cloud access for a month. It's short, punchy, and built for anyone wanting polished shots without needing to know what they're doing in front of a camera.

1 hourfrom AUD $142

Private Customizable Walking Tour of Tokyo

★ 5.0 (91)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Private Customizable Walking Tour of Tokyo

Explore Tokyo on foot with a guide who knows the city like a resident. Choose your duration from 4 to 8 hours and pick your focus—whether that's architecture, anime, postwar history, street food, or neighbourhood culture. You'll navigate using the subway alongside locals, eat where Tokyoites eat, and discover both famous spots and corners tourists miss. Morning, afternoon or evening departures suit different rhythms. Kids under 11 go free.

4 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $287

Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Osaka Dotonbori

★ 5.0 (86)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Japan

Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Osaka Dotonbori

Roll up your sleeves in central Osaka to learn how ramen and gyoza are actually made. Over three hours, you'll knead noodle dough by hand, simmer broth from chicken bones, and dress your bowl with toppings matched to your taste. By the end, you'll have crafted a complete meal and walked away with recipes to recreate it at home. Based in the bustling Dotonbori district, this is a hands-on detour from eating ramen to understanding it.

3 hoursfrom AUD $97

★ 5.0 (86)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Private car tour in Kyoto (up to 9)

Spend seven hours exploring Kyoto with Kosuke, a local driver who tailors the itinerary to your interests. Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle through Japan's cultural heart, stopping at temples, gardens, geisha districts, or neighbourhoods you want to discover. Best experienced over two days to avoid rushing between sites. Groups up to nine welcome.

Kyoto Hiking Tour: The Nature and Legends of Kurama and Kibune

An 8-hour guided hike across Mount Kurama and down to Kibune village, exploring Kyoto's forested highlands where reiki originated and tengu folklore persists. You'll trek through stands of ancient cedar, visit Kuramadera Temple, and reach the quiet mountain settlement of Kibune. Your guide shares local stories and spiritual history whilst you move at an unhurried pace through terrain that feels genuinely removed from the city's rhythm.

Harajuku Private Tour: Kawaii Fashion & Animal Cafe Included

Navigate Harajuku's fashion-forward streets and quirky cafés on this 4-hour guided wander through Tokyo's most colourful neighbourhood. You'll hit Takeshita Street's vintage and designer clusters, stop for a coffee with elaborate latte art, visit an owl café to interact with these striking birds, and finish at an animal sanctuary stocked with hamsters, hedgehogs, and other small creatures. A local guide handles the navigation while you soak in the energy.

Tokyo Private Walking Tour Hidden Gems and Icons

Shino, a Tokyo native and certified guide, leads you through neighbourhoods beyond the typical tourist trail over 2–4 hours. She'll navigate you towards local spots—cafés, shops, temples—where everyday Tokyo unfolds, and teach you conversational Japanese along the way. Hotel pickup included. This isn't a checklist tour; it's a chance to understand how people actually live here, trade small talk with shopkeepers, and discover places that don't make guidebooks.

2 hours – 4 hoursfrom AUD $72

★ 5.0 (82)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Japan

Kyoto Ramen Noodle Making Class

Roll up your sleeves in central Kyoto's Gion district to learn noodle-making from a specialist instructor. You'll operate a traditional ramen machine to shape dough into noodles, then taste your handiwork in a bowl of broth prepared by the restaurant's chef. The one-hour class includes all equipment, a souvenir bandana, and a soft drink. Vegetarian, vegan, and pescetarian options available.

1 hourfrom AUD $76

Perfect Nara Park Half-Day Bus Tour with English Speaking Guide

★ 5.0 (81)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Perfect Nara Park Half-Day Bus Tour with English Speaking Guide

This four-hour guided bus tour covers Nara's two major UNESCO sites: Todaiji Temple, home to the massive Great Buddha, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine with its atmospheric lantern-lined grounds. You'll also ascend Mt. Wakakusa for sweeping views across the city. An English-speaking guide handles commentary whilst you travel in an air-conditioned coach, and you'll leave with a two-day local bus pass plus deer crackers to feed the park's semi-wild deer.

4 hoursfrom AUD $90

Some tours listed with Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Prices and availability confirmed at checkout.