Tours in Japan

Create Hokusai Red Fuji inspired Art Character Bento Experience

Spend 90 minutes crafting a bento box modelled on Ukiyo-e aesthetics, where you'll arrange naturally dyed rice and seasonal produce to echo Hokusai's iconic mountain print. This hands-on session fuses Japanese visual arts with culinary technique, letting you build and take home an edible artwork whilst learning the cultural layers behind both. Photographs are yours to keep afterwards.

25-Min Downtown Helicopter Tour : Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower

When Mia from our team booked this 25-minute helicopter flight over Tokyo, we got a straight-up rush: banking over Skytree, Tokyo Tower, the Rainbow Bridge, and Shibuya's neon sprawl all at once. You're in a chopper with max two other passengers, so it's intimate rather than cattle-car cramped. The flight path shifts based on wind and weather—which is the reality of aviation, not a con—so you're seeing Tokyo's eastern sprawl from angles you genuinely can't get anywhere else. It's pricey for quarter of an hour aloft, but the scale of the city from 300 metres up hits different.

25 minfrom AUD $1784

Tokyo Shopping Street Hopping Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide

★ 4.9 (25)

Tokyo Shopping Street Hopping Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide

When Noah from our BugBitten team tried this, we discovered it's a solid way to decode Tokyo's shotengai—those bustling local shopping streets packed with independent shops, food stalls, and real neighbourhood life. You pick 3–4 spots from a curated list (temples, markets, quirky laneways, residential strips), then walk them with a government-licensed English-speaking guide for six hours. It's customisable, which means you're not herded through tourist traps; instead, you get a guide who actually knows Japanese culture and can explain what you're seeing as you go. The mix of old and new Tokyo comes through naturally when you're browsing vintage shops one moment and stumbling into a tiny ramen counter the next.

Osaka Okonomiyaki Cooking Class "Learn here and make it at home"

When Noah from our BugBitten team signed up for this Osaka cooking class, we were keen to see if we could actually nail okonomiyaki and takoyaki without mucking it up. The 3-hour session splits into prep, hands-on cooking, and then eating what you've made with a drink in hand. You're in central Osaka, surrounded by locals who know their way around a griddle, so the vibe is genuine. The class handles English, Japanese, and Spanish speakers, and they kit you out with everything bar the skill — though the instructors walk you through it methodically enough that even first-timers leave with real dishes, not disasters.

3 hoursfrom AUD $101

1-Day Tour from Takayama: Hida Folk Village, Caves & Ropeway

★ 4.9 (25)

4 hours – 5 hoursfrom AUD $217

1-Day Tour from Takayama: Hida Folk Village, Caves & Ropeway

When Lily from our BugBitten team ran this 8-hour loop from Takayama, she tackled three distinct stops that rarely disappoint: a sprawling open-air museum of farmhouse heritage, a limestone cave system carved deep into the Hida highlands, and a ropeway ascent into the Northern Japan Alps. The region feels quieter than the central tourist corridor, with a mix of domestic visitors and a handful of international crews. Guides speak English, transport is handled throughout, and you're moving steadily from cultural site to natural wonder without much dead time. Worth the full day if you want a proper taste of rural Hida without the faffing about with train schedules.

Spirit of Ishigaki: explore the land and lore

When Jake from our BugBitten team booked this private tour around Ishigaki, what struck us was the flexibility baked in from the start. You meet your guide, sketch out what actually interests you — whether that's coastal walks, local produce, wildlife spotting, or the island's layered history — and then spend 4–5 hours exploring on your own terms. It's the kind of tour that doesn't pretend to know what you want before you arrive. The guide speaks English fluently and knows the land well enough to pivot if you spot something unexpected. You're driven in an air-conditioned vehicle and dropped back where you started, with the freedom to shape the day around your pace and curiosity.

Nagasaki Like a Local: Private & Custom Experience (2-3 hrs)

★ 4.9 (24)

🛕 Culture & History

2 hours – 3 hoursfrom AUD $88

Nagasaki Like a Local: Private & Custom Experience (2-3 hrs)

When Sarah from our team booked this Nagasaki walk, we expected a scripted heritage tour—instead got a proper local's eye view of the city. City Unscripted matches you with a resident who's actually invested in the place, not just rattling off facts. You fill in a quick questionnaire beforehand so your guide knows whether you're keen on wartime history, local food spots, hidden shrines, or a mix of everything. It's a flexible 2–3 hour ramble, mostly on foot, that shifts based on what you find interesting. Nagasaki itself is compact and walkable, layered with stories about trade, faith, and how the city rebuilt itself—exactly the kind of place where local perspective makes a real difference.

Nikko Private SightSeeing Day Tour With Guide (From Tokyo)

★ 4.9 (24)

Nikko Private SightSeeing Day Tour With Guide (From Tokyo)

A 10-hour private guided tour from Tokyo exploring Nikko's layered blend of sacred architecture and alpine scenery. Visit the ornamental Toshogu Shrine and Rinno-ji Temple, take the Akechidaira Ropeway for views over Lake Chuzenji, see Kegon Falls, and step inside Tamozawa Imperial Villa. Your own driver and guide navigate you through UNESCO-recognised temples and dramatic landscapes at your own rhythm, with air-conditioned transport, onboard WiFi, and complimentary water included.

10 hoursfrom AUD $1075

Photoshoot in Shirakawago/Takayama by professional photographer

1 hour – 2 hoursfrom AUD $489

Photoshoot in Shirakawago/Takayama by professional photographer

When Sarah from our BugBitten team booked a professional photoshoot in Shirakawago and Takayama, she got exactly what she needed: a local photographer who actually knows the light and angles in these picture-perfect regions, so you're not juggling a phone or pestering strangers for snaps. The photographer handles composition whilst you soak in the thatched-roof villages and alpine mountain air. You'll walk away with dozens of edited shots—40 for the shorter session, 80 for two hours—that actually look magazine-ready rather than phone-booth awkward. It's intimate, English-speaking, and designed for anyone wanting proper travel photos without the DIY stress.

🍜 Food & Cooking

Private Art Sushi Roll Class in Kyoto

When Em from our team tried this private art sushi class in Kyoto, we stepped into a small studio run by a Tokyo Sushi Academy–trained instructor who's also a local and JSIA member. The focus: learning kazarimaki—decorative sushi rolls with intricate patterns, in this case a peach-blossom design. It's a hands-on hour where you roll, admire, and eat what you've made. The space is intimate, the pace relaxed, and the instructor patient with absolute beginners. Kyoto's craft-obsessed vibe comes through; you're not just making food, you're learning a traditional technique with modern flair.

Exclusive Ramen Kitchen Experience

When Em from our team rolled up to one of Tokyo's award-winning ramen shops, we got something most tourists never see—a proper stint in the working kitchen. For an hour, we weren't just eating ramen; we were stood alongside the chefs, learning the craft in a real operating space the restaurant rarely opens to outsiders. You'll come away with two bowls and a pair of gyoza, plus the kind of hands-on memory that beats watching from a stool any day.

1 hourfrom AUD $109

Port Pick-Up: Hakata Private Tour Licensed Guide＆ Vehicle

Port Pick-Up: Hakata Private Tour Licensed Guide＆ Vehicle

When Ben from our team caught a cruise into Fukuoka, we booked this private guide setup to squeeze the most out of a port day. You get picked up at Hakata Port (or nearby hotels) and paired with a government-licensed, English-speaking guide who knows the city inside out. Over 6 hours, the guide steers you toward 2–3 spots you've chosen from a curated list — temples, markets, neighbourhood laneways, whatever clicks for you. Fukuoka's this blend of old shrines and cutting-edge food culture, and the guide digs into both. It's built for cruise passengers who need efficiency without a tour bus full of strangers.

Kurama Onsen Guided Tour: Cultural Bathing Experience & Meal

When Mia from our BugBitten team did this Kurama onsen experience near Kyoto, she got a proper education in Japanese bathing culture—not just hot water and relaxation, though plenty of that too. A specialist walks you through the etiquette and ritual of soaking properly, then you're kitted out in a yukata and guided through the whole thing in the quiet of Mt. Kurama's foothills. You'll sip matcha beforehand, soak in the outdoor bath with mountain air on your skin, and finish with a warm bowl of udon. The whole thing runs about two hours, and it's pitched at anyone curious about how this stuff actually works in Japan, not just tourists seeking a tick-box spa moment.

Let's make Japanese accessories with Mizuhiki

When Mia from our team tried this mizuhiki craft session in Japan, she spent an hour learning to braid decorative paper string into wearable keepsakes. Mizuhiki is deceptively simple — thin twisted paper wound tight — but the real magic happens once you start looping and knotting. You'll walk out with a finished accessory (think strawberry straps, hair clips, or earrings) and a moment of proper calm over matcha and sweets. It's the kind of low-key cultural activity that feels less touristy and more like you've actually learned something with your hands.

Private Echizen Knife Making Factory and walking Tour

When Sarah from our team visited Echizen, she got behind the scenes at two working knife factories — Yamaken Woodworks and Ryuzen Hamono — where craftspeople still hand-make blades the traditional way. It's a properly niche experience: you'll watch skilled makers at their benches, handle the tools, and understand why Japanese knives command respect worldwide. The Echizen region itself is quiet and rural, with a real workshop vibe rather than tourist theatre. Runs about 2.5 hours and suits anyone with a genuine interest in craft or cooking kit.

2h 30mfrom AUD $226

Private Fuji Full-day Car Tour with Hotel Pickup -Local Guide

Private Fuji Full-day Car Tour with Hotel Pickup -Local Guide

When Sarah from our BugBitten team did this private Fuji tour, it was a seven-hour day shaped entirely around what we wanted to see. You're picked up from your hotel in a comfortable, air-con car with an English-speaking guide who doubles as your driver — and here's the clever bit: the itinerary gets hammered out at the start based on the weather, season, and your actual interests. Want multiple viewpoints of the mountain? Oshino Hakkai, Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda. Keen on caves and waterfalls? Narusawa Ice Cave and Shiraito Falls are on the table. Or brewery visits, if that's your style. You'll typically hit four to five spots depending on your hotel location and how the day flows.

Kyoto Early Summer UMAMI Masterclass Dashi and Japanese Food

When Noah from our team ran this Kyoto masterclass, we found ourselves in a serene kitchen learning the fundamentals of umami from someone who genuinely knows their way around Japanese flavour. Over 75 minutes, the session breaks down dashi — that foundational stock that underpins so much of the cuisine — through hands-on tasting and comparison. You'll shave bonito flakes yourself (a rarity in most food experiences), then put your new knowledge to work making onigiri and miso soup using techniques simple enough to replicate at home. It's a small-group affair in early summer, pitched at anyone keen to understand how Japanese cooking actually works rather than just following recipes.

Kyoto: Japanese Calligraphy Class in 150 years old townhouse

When Jake from our team tried this 45-minute calligraphy class in a 150-year-old Ninenzaka townhouse, he found himself in a genuinely quiet corner of Kyoto—no crowds, just brushes and ink. The class is set up for total beginners, so there's zero pressure to have steady hands or prior experience. You'll work through the basics of holding the brush and forming characters in a space that actually feels removed from the touristy buzz of central Kyoto, even though it's accessible by public transport and suits any fitness level.

Private Bars & Dinner by Train from Shinjuku with Ex-JR Conductor

When Ben from our BugBitten team booked this, we got Sho, a former JR conductor with 22 years on the Chuo Line, as our guide for a three-hour evening crawl through Tokyo's local drinking scene. This isn't the usual tourist bar hop — you travel between spots by premium train car with just three other guests, hitting a mix of retro alleys, neighbourhood izakayas, sushi counters, and craft beer bars depending on the night's flow. The whole thing unfolds like a local commuter's Friday night, just with someone who actually knows the line's hidden gems.

Kamakura Secret - Private Walking Tour & Photoshoot

When Lily from our BugBitten team did this Kamakura walk, she got the dual benefit of a proper guided tour and a professional photographer on hand. You'll hit the biggies—a serene forest temple, the old town's narrow streets, the iconic vermilion-lined shrine staircase, and a hidden cave sanctuary—all in three hours. The photographer angle means you're not just seeing Kamakura; you're getting polished shots of yourself actually being there, delivered within three days. It's pitched at small private groups, so the pace feels intimate rather than rushed.

2-Hour Karaoke at Roppongi 7557 in Tokyo

When Jake from our team tried the 2-hour unlimited karaoke session at Roppongi 7557, he found himself in a properly kitted-out venue smack in the heart of Tokyo's liveliest nightlife district. The room's got disco balls, fog machines, and a song catalogue that spans the globe — thousands of tracks you can belt out, plus the option to stream your own picks via phone mirroring. The real draw isn't just the gear; it's the mixed crowd of locals and visitors actually mingling and taking turns at the mic, which beats the typical solo-booth experience. Cocktails, Japanese whiskey, sake, and snacks keep the energy going for the full two hours.

Wagyu and Sushi : Tokyo Gastronomic Journey

When Alex from our team hit this tour in Shinjuku, we got a proper dive into Tokyo's wagyu and sushi scene across three hours. It's a guided experience through one of the city's most food-obsessed neighbourhoods, hitting two quality stops where you'll learn the genuine craft behind Japan's most celebrated proteins — the history, regional variations, preparation methods, and how to actually taste what you're eating. The vibe is group-based and educational rather than loose wandering; you're there to understand the food culture, not just eat and move on.

3 hoursfrom AUD $217

Osaka 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

★ 4.9 (12)

2 hours – 6 hoursfrom AUD $90

Osaka 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

When Charlie from our team ran this private walking tour through Osaka, we got a real sense of why locals call this city the kitchen of Japan. You're matched with a government-licensed English-speaking guide who'll map out 3–4 spots tailored to your interests — could be Osaka Castle, the neon-soaked Dotonbori strip with its takoyaki stands, the retro Shinsekai district with its oversized blowfish lantern, or hidden food haunts serving okonomiyaki and regional dishes. It's 8 hours of ground-level exploring with someone who knows the neighbourhood rhythms and can steer you toward genuine local eats rather than tourist traps.

7 Kinds of Sake Tasting with Complementary Foods

When Sarah from our team ran this tasting in Japan, we worked through seven distinct sakes paired with seven thoughtfully matched dishes, each curated by a certified sommelier and food expert. The experience walks you through sake's history, regional variations, and production across about 75 minutes. You'll taste everything from lighter, delicate brews to richer, more robust styles, learning how each pairs with specific flavours — umami, sweetness, acidity — in the dishes served alongside. It's pitched at everyone from sake newcomers to those already curious about the nuances between regions.

Discover Kanazawa with a Local: Private & Custom Tour

When Charlie from our team booked this private Kanazawa tour, we got a guide who actually lives here—25-plus years embedded in the city. You pick the pace and flavour: heritage landmarks like Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle, or slip into quieter neighbourhoods where tourists rarely wander. Charlie's pitch is honest—this isn't a rigid itinerary; it's a local showing you around like you're a visiting mate. You'll get insider tips, stories that explain how the city ticks, and recommendations that feel genuine rather than packaged. Tours run from 2 to 6 hours, so you can stretch it or keep it tight.

Nagoya Super Market Tour & Home Cooking Class with a Local, Akiko

★ 4.9 (12)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Nagoya Super Market Tour & Home Cooking Class with a Local, Akiko

When Lily from our team did this Nagoya experience, we met Akiko at the station and headed straight into a local supermarket—the kind of place where actual Nagoyans shop, not tourists. We learned which ingredients matter for proper Nagoya cooking, grabbed what we needed, then moved to Akiko's home kitchen for a proper cook-up. Over three and a half hours, we made red miso stew, shrimp tempura rice balls, and Nagoya-style fried chicken, starting with dashi from scratch. The whole thing felt like visiting a food-loving mate rather than joining a class—Akiko's keen to share dishes most people outside the region never attempt at home.

3h 30mfrom AUD $172

Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

★ 4.9 (1,749)

Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

When Tom from our BugBitten team booked this four-hour private Tokyo tour, we got a government-licensed guide who actually knows the city's history and culture — not just the Instagram spots. Tokyo's massive, so trying to cram it all in one day would be pointless; this setup lets you pick 2–3 sites that matter to you and explore them properly with someone who speaks English fluently. You'll cover a mix of old and new depending on what you choose, meet your guide on foot in a designated area, and move around the city at a pace that feels less frantic than solo wandering.

Kyoto Live Sumo Show Sumo Challenge Photo Experience

When Em from our team caught the Kyoto Live Sumo Show, we got a proper close-up of Japan's national sport — wrestlers in the ring, rules explained in English, and a genuinely surreal moment stepping up to challenge one ourselves. It's a 90-minute pocket of Kyoto that strips sumo down from formal tournament mystique to something raw and interactive. The bilingual guide walks you through the traditions and technique while live matches happen metres away. Small crowds, high energy, and a photo with an actual rikishi is the kind of cultural tick that sticks with you.

Tokyo: Japanese Knife Craft & Sharpening Workshop in Asakusa

When Tom from our team did this workshop in Asakusa, we got hands-on with a local craftsman to shape our own Japanese knife from scratch. You're not watching from the sidelines — you're actually sharpening and refining a blade using whetstones in a calm, intimate setting tucked away in one of Tokyo's most atmospheric neighbourhoods. The whole thing takes 90 minutes, and you walk out with a functional knife you've literally made yourself, plus a wooden handle. It's the kind of experience that makes you understand why Japanese knife-making is treated as serious craft, not just a souvenir activity.

Kyoto: Kimono & Traditional Matcha Tea Ceremony

When Alex from our team tried this Kyoto experience, we got the full traditional setup: kimono fitting, hair styling, and a hands-on matcha tea ceremony in a proper Japanese tea room. It's a 90-minute dip into the rituals and precision behind Japanese tea culture, set in the heart of Kyoto where tourists and locals alike seek out these kinds of cultural anchors. You're not just watching — you're in a kimono, whisking your own bowl, tasting wagashi (traditional sweets), and learning from an instructor who knows the ceremony inside out. It's the kind of thing that feels slower and more intentional than the usual sightseeing blur.

Japanese Speaking Experience Meet the locals Friend Cafe Shibuya

When Em from our team dropped into this language exchange event in Shibuya, it was exactly what solo travellers after real Tokyo contact need. The setup is simple: rock up to a café, grab a drink, and spend two hours rotating through conversations with Japanese locals and other expats. No Japanese required — just genuine curiosity and willingness to chat. The vibe is relaxed and social, and plenty of people stay on afterwards to explore the neighbourhood together. It's one of those rare tours that actually connects you with the city rather than just showing it to you.

Yanaka Walking Tour: Historic and Traditional District of Tokyo

When Alex from our team walked through Yanaka, Tokyo's older neighbourhoods, it felt like stepping sideways out of the city's relentless modern grind. This 3.5-hour guided tour threads through a temple district that's stayed mostly intact since the Edo period — narrow lanes, small shrines tucked between homes, and locals going about their day as if the skyscrapers weren't just a 20-minute train ride away. Our group of 8 or fewer moved at a proper pace, led by an English-speaking guide who knows the area's layers. It's a genuinely quiet corner of Tokyo, and the walk itself is moderate but steady.

Kyoto Geisha District Walking Tour in Gion

When Charlie from our team walked through Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district, it felt like stepping into a different era. This small-group tour covers two separate areas within Gion over two hours, led by a local guide who shares stories about geisha culture and the neighbourhood's history. You'll walk narrow lanes lined with wooden machiya houses and ryokans, and if timing's right, you might spot an actual geisha or maiko heading to an appointment. It's less about performance and more about understanding how the district actually works—the real rhythms of a place that's been central to Kyoto's identity for centuries.

2 hoursfrom AUD $41

Osaka Walking Tour with Dotonbori River Cruise

★ 4.9 (359)

1h 30m – 2 hoursfrom AUD $145

Osaka Walking Tour with Dotonbori River Cruise

When Jake from our team ran this Osaka walking tour, we got the full Dotonbori hit—neon signs, packed food stalls, and a river-level view of the city's energy. You spend the first hour weaving through the lively backstreets and narrow alleys most tourists miss, stopping for takoyaki and gyoza at hole-in-the-wall spots, then board a small river cruise to float past the iconic billboards and feel how the neighbourhood really thrums. It's 2 hours start to finish, and it captures what makes Osaka tick: food, noise, and that particular buzz you only get when locals and visitors collide in one of Japan's most unapologetic districts.

Vegan-Friendly Tokyo Sumo Show, Mochi-Pounding Dinner Experience

When Noah from our BugBitten team stepped into SUMOLAND in Ryogoku, Tokyo's sumo heartland, he found a proper entertainment package that doesn't pretend to be what it isn't. Opened in June, this venue is run under the eye of the 63rd Yokozuna and features former pro wrestlers putting on muscular displays. You'll watch them compete, have a crack at the ring yourself, grab photos, tuck into chanko hot pot (vegan versions available with notice), and have a go at mochi pounding. The whole experience runs 90 minutes to two hours, all housed steps from Ryogoku Station in a neighbourhood thick with temples, neon, and tourist pull.

Tokyo: Shibuya Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

★ 4.9 (328)

🍹 Nightlife

Tokyo: Shibuya Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

When Mia from our BugBitten team ran this Shibuya bar crawl, she got the real insider's take on Tokyo's izakaya scene — three venues in three hours that most visitors never find on their own. The tour threads through the chaotic energy of Shibuya's busiest streets and quieter pockets, hitting a traditional izakaya tucked into Scramble Square, a slick bar in Miyashita Park, and a proper neighbourhood watering hole on Center-gai where locals actually hang. Your guide steers you through ordering, introductions, and the occasional karaoke moment. It's less about ticking boxes and more about landing somewhere real.

[1 Group Only] Tokyo Shinjuku Food Tour for Family

When Noah from our BugBitten team took a family through Shinjuku's backstreets on this private evening tour, it was clear the pitch — one group, no strangers — actually lands. Three and a half hours covers a tight loop of local food stops where you cook okonomiyaki and monja-yaki alongside your crew, hit a retro arcade and purikura booth, then wrap with yakitori in a proper neighbourhood joint. It's Shinjuku's neon-lit side streets and corner eateries, packed with locals and school kids, not tourist plazas. The guide documents it all, photos included.

3h 30mfrom AUD $109

★ 4.9 (287)

10 hours – 11 hoursfrom AUD $131

Full Day Tour to Mount Fuji in Spanish

When Alex from our BugBitten team ran this full-day Mount Fuji tour, it felt less like being herded around and more like exploring with mates who actually know the place. You're out for 10–11 hours, moving through the iconic Fuji area on foot and by public transport, stopping at key spots and soaking up local stories from someone who treats it like a conversation rather than a lecture. Small crew, plenty of laughs, the kind of vibe where you leave feeling like you've genuinely connected with the region rather than ticked off a checklist.

Gion Nocturno: Secretos y Leyendas de las Geishas

★ 4.9 (202)

🛕 Culture & History

2 hours – 3 hoursfrom AUD $30

Gion Nocturno: Secretos y Leyendas de las Geishas

When Mia from our BugBitten team walked Gion after dark, the difference from the daytime tourist crawl was striking. This 2–3 hour nocturnal tour through Kyoto's geisha district strips back the crowds and cameras to show you the neighbourhood as it actually breathes at night. The small-group format (capped at 15) lets you move at a pace where you can actually absorb the atmospheric alleyways, traditional wooden machiya buildings, and the quieter rhythm of the place. Your guide speaks Spanish and knows the area's history and geisha culture inside out.

Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama

★ 4.9 (171)