Tours & experiences

Tours in Japan

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

Start with a country

🌍

CategoryDurationRatingPrice (AUD)

9,920 tours in JapanClear filters

Sort by:

Second Time Tokyo Highlights Private Tour WI TOKYO NATIVE

★ 5.0 (18)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Second Time Tokyo Highlights Private Tour WI TOKYO NATIVE

When Jake from our team booked this private Tokyo highlights tour, we got exactly what we needed: a local guide who knew the city inside out and the flexibility to shape the day around our interests. You can follow the classic must-see route—landmarks, neighbourhoods, food spots—or pivot entirely to what appeals to you, whether that's a deep dive into one neighbourhood like Tsukiji or a food-focused ramble. The tour runs anywhere from 2 to 10 hours depending on what you pack in, making it solid for first-timers short on time or returnees hunting something different. It's just you and your guide, no coach full of strangers.

2 hours – 10 hoursfrom AUD $226

Little EDO Sushi Making workshop in Kawagoe

★ 5.0 (18)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Japan

Little EDO Sushi Making workshop in Kawagoe

Roll sushi alongside a trained Japanese chef in a 140-year-old Kawagoe building that once dealt rice wholesale. Over 90 minutes you'll master the fundamentals of sushi rice preparation and hand-rolling techniques in this intimate, English-friendly workshop held in a cherished local café. Walk away knowing how to recreate what you've made at your own table, plus the historical backstory of nigiri sushi's invention three centuries ago.

Kyoto Gion Night Tour: Discover Geisha District and Hidden Gems

When Tom from our team did the Gion Night Tour, we wandered Kyoto's geisha district as lantern-lit streets came alive. This 90-minute walking tour threads through one of Japan's most atmospheric neighbourhoods — narrow lanes lined with wooden machiya houses, temple gates, and the occasional glimpse of a geisha or maiko heading to an appointment. It's pitched at everyone from casual strollers to culture buffs, and you get a knowledgeable English-speaking local guide plus professional photos to prove you were there. It's the kind of evening that makes you actually feel the weight of Kyoto's history rather than just ticking it off.

1h 30mfrom AUD $45

Mount Fuji Private Day Tour from Tokyo with Hotel Pick Up.

★ 5.0 (18)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Mount Fuji Private Day Tour from Tokyo with Hotel Pick Up.

When Mia from our team tried this private Mount Fuji day trip from Tokyo, she was after a way to see the mountain without wrestling with a packed coach. The tour runs for around ten hours, with hotel pickup and drop-off in the city, and takes you west into the Fuji Five Lakes region. It is a very different world from Tokyo's crowds: the roads open out, the air cools, and the views of the volcano start to dominate the horizon. Most of the people you'll see out there are other day-trippers chasing the same sunrise-and-photo spots, plus locals going about their business in small villages and lakeside towns. Mia's day was built around the stops that the tour lists, with the flexibility to adjust as conditions changed. It suits travellers who want a relaxed, guided look at the region without giving up their own pace.

10 hoursfrom AUD $528

Kappabashi Knife Shopping Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

★ 5.0 (18)

🛍 Shopping & Markets

Japan

Kappabashi Knife Shopping Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

When Charlie from our team did this Kappabashi tour, we got the proper kitchen-knife rundown from a licensed local guide across two of Tokyo's best supply districts. You'll start at Tsukiji Market, where Japan's top chefs actually shop for blades and fresh stock, then head to Kappabashi Street — the long-standing hub where Tokyo's food industry sources serious kitchenware at decent prices. The guide picks you up at your hotel and walks you through both areas over four hours, with the option to tag Tokyo Sky Tree nearby if you've got energy left. It's a solid fit if you cook or just love watching how professional kitchens get their gear.

Kyoto Sushi Making Experience with a Professional Sushi Chef

Learn to hand-shape nigiri and roll maki under a master sushi chef in Kyoto, then sit down to eat what you've made alongside his tempura. The 3.5-hour experience kicks off at a traditional wagashi shop, moves into the sushi kitchen for hands-on instruction, and wraps up in a Kyoto garden where you'll whisk matcha and pair it with the sweets you selected earlier. Three sake varieties feature throughout, chosen to complement each dish.

Authentic Onsen Experience Tattoo Friendly Hidden Gem in Shinjuku

When Alex from our BugBitten team tried this hidden-gem bathhouse in Shinjuku, we stepped into a slice of postwar Tokyo few tourists ever see. Built in 1954, this local sento (public bathhouse) is the real deal — the kind of place where neighbourhood regulars have been soaking for decades. A bilingual guide walks you through the etiquette (shoe lockers, washing protocol, the whole ritual), fills you in on the Mount Fuji murals that grace the wall, and explains why a cold milk after a hot soak hits different. The whole experience runs about an hour, whether you're brave enough to bathe or happy to observe with a drink in hand.

1 hourfrom AUD $50

Tokyo Private SightSeeing Day Tour With Guide

★ 5.0 (18)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Tokyo Private SightSeeing Day Tour With Guide

Spend ten hours with a private guide navigating Tokyo's contrasts—centuries-old temples and shrines sit alongside neon-lit shopping districts and observation decks. Your driver handles the navigation while you move between the serene Imperial Palace East Gardens, the bustling Tsukiji Fish Market, the vermillion gates of Senso-ji, [Meiji Jingu](/places/meiji-shrine)'s forested grounds, the fashion chaos of Takeshita Street, and the organized mayhem of [Shibuya Crossing](/places/shibuya-crossing). You'll experience how Tokyo layers its past and present without pretension.

10 hoursfrom AUD $986

Short Tour to View Mt. Fuji from Various Angles from Shimizu Port

★ 5.0 (18)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Short Tour to View Mt. Fuji from Various Angles from Shimizu Port

When Noah from our BugBitten team booked this short tour from Shimizu Port, the pitch was straightforward: hit multiple Mt. Fuji viewpoints in four hours, tailored to whatever the weather throws at you. It's designed for cruise passengers who've got a tight window before departure—the guide picks the route on the day to chase the clearest views, mixing famous lookouts with quieter spots locals prefer. The whole thing wraps with a 2.5-hour buffer back to the ship, which is the real selling point for anyone jumping ship briefly.

Explore Maidreamin Akihabara Walking Tour

A three-hour walking tour through Akihabara, Tokyo's epicentre of anime, gaming, and tech culture. You'll navigate neon-soaked streets lined with towering screens, hunt through specialist shops for rare collectibles, and experience the quirky charm of a maid cafe. Your guide steers you past the obvious tourist traps to reveal how this neighbourhood pulses with genuine otaku passion—a place where Japanese pop culture devotion feels almost tangible.

3 hoursfrom AUD $45

(GROUP PRICE)Private Hakodate Guided Day Tour with Transportation

★ 5.0 (18)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

(GROUP PRICE)Private Hakodate Guided Day Tour with Transportation

When Noah from our BugBitten team booked this private Hakodate tour, we appreciated the flexibility straightaway. You get a dedicated vehicle for up to five people and a guide who'll tailor the day to what actually interests you—whether that's hunting down historical sites, chasing good light in Motomachi's sloped streets, or hitting the vintage shops and department stores. Hokkaido's second city has a quieter, more lived-in feel than Sapporo, with pockets of charm that reveal themselves best when you're not herding through a standard itinerary. The tour runs anywhere from six to twelve hours depending on what you want to cram in.

6 hours – 12 hoursfrom AUD $814

Private Snorkeling Tour at Blue Cave Okinawa

★ 5.0 (18)

🐠 Water Activities

Japan

Private Snorkeling Tour at Blue Cave Okinawa

When Tom from our BugBitten team hit the Blue Cave in Onna Village, Okinawa, we found a private snorkeling setup that actually delivers on the no-crowds promise. You're looking at 90 minutes in the water with a certified instructor, full kit included (mask, wetsuit, fins, life vest), plus photos to take home. The Blue Cave itself is the draw — a sheltered cove famous for its electric blue water and healthy coral gardens. It's a solid choice for anyone wanting to see Okinawa's marine life without fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with tour groups.

Traditional Japanese Costumes "Kimono", "Yukata", "Ryuso", "Photograph Course "Hair Set & Lipstick & Kimono & Photography"

Step into traditional Japanese dress at this Tokyo studio where you'll be styled head-to-toe in authentic kimono, yukata, or formal ryuso before a professional photoshoot. A stylist handles your hair, makeup, and garment draping—all you do is show up and pose. The studio stocks over 500 pieces across all sizes, from infants to adults, making it genuinely accessible. You leave with photographs and the memory of seeing yourself as Japanese nobility might have centuries ago. One hour total.

1 hourfrom AUD $31

Hakone Private & Custom Day Tour with English Driver-guide

★ 5.0 (18)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Hakone Private & Custom Day Tour with English Driver-guide

Spend a full day exploring Hakone's volcanic landscapes and cultural attractions with a private driver-guide who tailors the route to your interests. This 10-hour tour covers the region's highlights—from the Motohakone Pirate Ship and cable car rides to art museums and shrine grounds—without the constraints of group schedules. You'll travel in a comfortable air-conditioned van with all transport logistics handled, leaving you free to move at your own pace and linger where things catch your eye.

10 hoursfrom AUD $537

Ise Jingu(Ise Grand Shrine) Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

★ 5.0 (18)

🛕 Culture & History

Japan

Ise Jingu(Ise Grand Shrine) Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

Spend six hours with a licensed English-speaking guide exploring Ise's spiritual heart. You'll visit Japan's most venerated Shinto shrine, home to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami and steeped in two millennia of religious practice. The tour is flexible—choose three to four sites from the available options, including the atmospheric Okage Yokocho street where traditional food and local history intersect. Walking forms the backbone of this experience, with the guide meeting you on foot in the designated Ise area.

6 hoursfrom AUD $211

Private Layover Experience in Luxury SUV (5-6 Hours)

★ 5.0 (18)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Private Layover Experience in Luxury SUV (5-6 Hours)

Transform a Tokyo layover from airport waiting into an actual experience. This five- to six-hour private tour whisks you away in a luxury SUV with a multilingual guide, hitting landmarks, neighbourhoods and shops you've chosen beforehand. You skip the train navigation entirely—airport collection, sightseeing, and return transfer are all handled. A gift bag of Japanese treats and bottled water are included. It's structured around your interests and how much time you have between flights.

5 hours – 6 hoursfrom AUD $717

Sumo Wrestling Chair Seats & ExpertGuide | Tokyo Sep

★ 5.0 (18)

🛕 Culture & History

Japan

Sumo Wrestling Chair Seats & ExpertGuide | Tokyo Sep

When Noah from our team caught this sumo tour at Ryogoku Kokugikan, we scored prime Chair A seats on the 2F for the afternoon's best bouts. It's a small-group setup (max 5 people) with a guide who actually knows sumo's history and rules — not just crowd filler. You're there from 14:00 to 18:00, watching the nakabi ceremony kick off around 15:40, then the heavyweight matches when Japanese TV starts rolling. The vibe is casual; you can wander the venue between bouts, grab your own snacks from the stalls, and soak in how seriously Tokyo takes this sport without the tourist circus feeling.

Calligraphy Experience at Tokyo Ginza and Tsukiji Area

Learn traditional Japanese brush writing in central Tokyo's Ginza district with a certified instructor from the Japan Educational Calligraphy Federation. Over ninety minutes, you'll create two finished pieces—one large, one small—suitable for framing at home. The session fits neatly before or after exploring nearby Tsukiji's food stalls or Ginza's shopping streets, making it an easy add-on to your day.

Shinto Shrine Tour: Explore Japanese Culture in Tokyo

Step inside three of Tokyo's significant Shinto shrines to understand how this spiritual practice has shaped Japanese life for millennia. Over three hours, a local guide walks you through the origins of shrine worship—how ancient communities built sacred spaces to honour the spirits they believed governed nature's forces. You'll move between locations via public transport, seeing firsthand how these sites remain woven into daily Tokyo life. Entrance fees and professional English guidance included.

Nagano Snowshoe Hiking Tour

Strap on snowshoes and trek through Togakushi's winter landscape, where centuries-old cedar avenues guide your path and frozen lakes stretch beneath your feet. This five-hour Nagano experience follows in the footsteps of mountain ascetics who've sought spiritual practice here for generations. You'll navigate both forest and ice, moving through terrain that reveals itself differently in snow than any other season.

Kyoto Private Tea Ceremony at a Japanese Inns

Experience authentic tea ceremony in a private ryokan room in Kyoto after dark, when the city's temples have closed their doors. Dressed in kimono, you'll participate in a full evening of Japanese cultural practice—tea preparation, Zen meditation, and traditional etiquette—guided by a licensed instructor in a space normally off-limits to visitors. A translation device ensures you follow every step. This 90-minute session is yours alone, arranged in a 20-tatami room lit by candlelight.

1h 30mfrom AUD $179

Tokyo Full-Day Private Tour (Customizable)

★ 5.0 (18)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Tokyo Full-Day Private Tour (Customizable)

Eight-hour private tour of Tokyo where you pick five destinations from a curated list spanning markets, temples, parks, museums and quirky neighbourhood shops. Your English-speaking driver navigates you through the city's most-visited quarters—from the serene grounds of Meiji Shrine and Imperial Palace gardens to the controlled chaos of Takeshita Street and [Shibuya Crossing](/places/shibuya-crossing). Flexible routing means you set the pace and focus on what genuinely interests you, whether that's art installations, brewing heritage or anime culture.

Small-Group Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki Cooking Class

Learn to cook Osaka-style okonomiyaki in a local home with a small group of five, guided by an English-speaking host who welcomes genuine cultural exchange. This two-hour class covers ingredient selection, technique, and adapting recipes for vegetarian and vegan diets. You'll walk away with a recipe and the confidence to recreate these savoury pancakes at home.

Easygoing Nature Walk in Hakone Tour

Spend three-and-a-half hours exploring Hakone's distinctive lowland terrain with a certified naturalist guide. This walk focuses on accessible, relatively flat ground, giving you proper time to notice seasonal plants found nowhere else in Japan, resident and migratory birds, insects, local fish, and potentially larger wildlife like deer, foxes, and weasels. You'll carry binoculars throughout to examine distant geological formations and spot creatures across the landscape. The region's unique geology and biodiversity create an entirely different natural world from most places you've visited.

Zen Japanese Massage, Head Spa & Facial at the Temple

Spend three and a half hours at an Osaka temple receiving traditional Japanese bodywork and skincare treatments. Begin with a warm foot soak, move into a full-body oil massage with bamboo fascia release, then enjoy a meditative head spa session. A matcha facial wraps up the physical treatments before you're dressed in yukata for photos and invited to participate in a proper tea ceremony with wagashi sweets.

Shinjuku Perfect Pairing Food Tour: 5 Stops, 4 Classic Pairings

When Tom from our team ran this Shinjuku food tour, we worked through 4 classic Japanese food-and-drink pairings across 5 stops in 3.5 hours. The walk threads through iconic lanes like Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai — tight, neon-lit neighbourhoods packed with salarymen and locals unwinding after work. The tour keeps things manageable: bite-sized tastings mean you're learning the pairing logic (why lemon sours work with ramen, how sake lifts sushi) without overdoing it. Even if you've never set foot in an izakaya, this walks you through the cultural rhythm. Finishes with a convenience store sweet that's become a genuine local favourite — a neat touch that rounds out the experience.

3h 30mfrom AUD $109

Kobe private tour from Osaka (Shore excursion available from Osaka or Kobe port)

★ 5.0 (17)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Kobe private tour from Osaka (Shore excursion available from Osaka or Kobe port)

Explore Kobe's hillside gardens, waterfront district and brewing heritage with a private guide over 8 hours. Starting from your Osaka or Kobe accommodation, you'll ride the Nunobiki ropeway to herb gardens overlooking the city, wander Harborland's modern waterfront, and visit a traditional sake brewery for tastings. The guide handles logistics via public transport, leaving you free to ask questions and linger at spots that catch your interest. Optional Kobe beef dinner arrangements available.

Privately visit local home for tea ceremony &music, Tokyo

Step into a Tokyo home for an intimate two-hour encounter with Japanese tradition. Your host will guide you through matcha preparation—watching first, then whisking your own bowl—whilst a live koto performance fills the room. You'll try your hand at the thirteen-stringed instrument, sample three varieties of traditional sweets, and ask questions freely. Located just twenty minutes from Tokyo Station, this private experience runs flexibly between 10am and 7pm.

Kyoto Photography Masterclass - Private Photography Lesson

Learn photography fundamentals from a practising Kyoto-based photographer during this three-hour private lesson. Your guide shares insider knowledge of the city's most photogenic locations—both obvious and overlooked—whilst teaching you how to read light, compose frames, and navigate your camera's settings. You'll work at your own pace, with instruction pitched to your current ability, and leave with both stronger technical skills and a personal map of where to return.

Private Transfer from Haneda Airport to Tokyo

When Alex from our BugBitten team needed to get from Haneda to central Tokyo, we booked a private transfer and found it a solid no-fuss option. You get a dedicated car with an experienced driver, air-con, and bottled water included — no fighting the rail queues or decoding train maps at 6am. The route takes about an hour depending on traffic, and the driver handles all tolls and parking. It's the kind of service that lets you decompress after a long flight rather than jump straight into Tokyo's transport system. Works well for groups, families with little ones, and anyone toting heavy luggage.

Private eBike Tour Exploring Fushimi with Torii Red Gate Ride

Explore Kyoto's sacred heart by electric bike over 3.5 hours, pedalling through quiet backstreets to Fushimi-Inari's iconic vermillion gates and the serene Sanjusangen-do temple with its thousand Buddha statues. Your English-speaking guide navigates you past local shops and food stalls, then rolls you back alongside the Kamo river's green banks. This is how locals move through the city—unhurried, intimate, avoiding the main crowds.

Yabusame Adventure with Mt. Fuji Views

Shoot arrows from horseback in the shadow of Mt. Fuji, learning the samurai art of Yabusame over two hours. You'll dress in period costume, work with native Japanese horses, and train under instructors before attempting targets on the grounds of an ancient Shinto shrine. It's a hands-on blend of horsemanship, archery, and cultural practice—physical enough to feel real, but structured for complete beginners.

Samurai Guide Sho’s Mt. Takao Hike, Temple & Spa from Shinjuku

Led by a former JR conductor with 22 years on the Chuo Line, this seven-to-eight-hour journey departs Shinjuku in premium Green Car seating and climbs Mt. Takao via a gentle 90-minute trail. You'll eat mountain fare, visit Yakuoin Temple to settle your thoughts, descend by chairlift (weather permitting), then soak at a tattoo-welcoming onsen with sauna before returning to Shinjuku. No gear required—trainers suffice. On clear days, Mt. Fuji appears on the horizon.

7 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $161

Mt.Fuji Private SightSeeing Day Tour With Guide (From Tokyo)

★ 5.0 (17)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Mt.Fuji Private SightSeeing Day Tour With Guide (From Tokyo)

A 10-hour private guided tour from Tokyo exploring [Mount Fuji](/places/mount-fuji)'s full landscape rather than rushing between postcards. You'll visit the 5th Station for alpine views, trek through volcanic caves shaped by ancient eruptions, pay respects at the historic Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, wander Oshino Hakkai's traditional village streets, and take in Lake Kawaguchiko's shoreline from Oishi Park. The route weaves cultural sites, geological formations, and mountain villages into a single arc that reveals why this peak matters beyond its silhouette.

10 hoursfrom AUD $1075

Matcha Making Experience and Matcha Comparison in Tokyo

★ 5.0 (17)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Japan

Matcha Making Experience and Matcha Comparison in Tokyo

Spend 90 minutes in Tokyo learning to distinguish authentic matcha from counterfeit blends. You'll sample ten varieties sourced from five Japanese growing regions, then prepare your own bowl under guidance from a former Kyoto tea farmer with agricultural expertise and a practising pharmacist. Finish with three matcha and roasted tea lattes, plus homemade biscuits. A rare chance to understand what real matcha actually tastes like.

Private Electric Bike Tour & Soba Lunch

Pedal through Matsumoto's countryside on an e-bike, moving at an easy clip past rice paddies and traditional farmhouses. This six-hour guided ride weaves between the city's castle district and surrounding rural landscapes, stopping for sightseeing and photographs. You'll finish with a bowl of fresh soba noodles at a village restaurant, giving you the feel of how locals actually move through this region rather than how tourists typically do.

Kimono and Calligraphy Experience in Miyajima

Dress in kimono and learn brush calligraphy in a serene 300-year-old Zen temple set away from Miyajima's crowds. Over one hour, you'll study the mechanics of the brush stroke, then practise writing your name transliterated into Japanese characters. The session concludes with inscribing a wooden rice scoop—a traditional good-luck charm you take home. All materials and clothing provided.

Kitchen of Nation Food Tour

When Mia from our BugBitten team did this food walk through Osaka's Tenma district, it felt less like a packaged tour and more like having a mate who actually knows where to eat show you around. You're looking at 3.5 hours wandering the Tenjinbashi shopping arcade—Japan's longest—stopping for takoyaki, Korean-style sushi rolls, seasonal fruit, mochi, taiyaki, and a proper sit-down lunch (yakiniku, shabu-shabu, ramen, or grilled fish are on offer). The neighbourhood itself is the real deal: this is where Osaka's food obsession started, and it still feels lived-in rather than polished for tourists. Your guide speaks English and walks at your pace, so it's manageable for most fitness levels.

Mt. Fuji / Hakone Gateway | Authentic Tea Ceremony in Mishima

When Charlie from our team booked this tea ceremony at Umegoten, a 1890s villa tucked into Rakujuen Park near Mishima, we got a genuine glimpse of Japanese tea culture without the tourist theatre. The 90-minute session sits comfortably between Tokyo and Hakone, making it a solid stopover rather than a full day commitment. A host with three decades of experience guides you through the ritual in an intimate group setting, you slip on a traditional haori jacket for photos, and seasonal wagashi arrives alongside properly whisked matcha. The villa itself — a Registered Tangible Cultural Property — feels lived-in and unhurried, forest-quiet and genuinely charming.

Private Kimono Elegant Experience in the Castle Town of Matsue

Slip into a kimono and explore Matsue's castle town on foot, where the garment transforms how locals and fellow visitors perceive you. This three-hour experience pairs traditional dress rental with professional hair styling, letting you move through lantern-lit streets and historic alleyways as part of the landscape rather than a tourist passing through. Plenty of photo stops reveal the town's architectural character—temple gates, wooden merchant houses, riverside walks—all more vivid when framed through the wearer's perspective.

3 hoursfrom AUD $49

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