Tours in Japan

Calligraphy Workshop at Traditional Folk Craft Shop in Hiroshima

Learn brush technique from a professional instructor at Takumi, a venerable Hiroshima craft shop, using traditional Kumano brushes. Over 45 minutes, you'll create your own calligraphy piece on either a fan or shikishi board to take home. Set within a gallery-like space adorned with ukiyo-e prints, the workshop balances artistic practice with meditative focus—no prior experience needed.

Yokohama Ramen Adventure near Tokyo: From Factory to Home Cooking

Roll up your sleeves at a third-generation ramen factory in Yokohama, then shift to a local family's kitchen for a complete cooking session. Over five hours, you'll mix and cut noodles to your specifications, learning how dough choice and blade width alter flavour and bite. Back in the home, prepare a multi-course meal from scratch, share it with your host, and toast with sparkling plum wine or alcohol-free alternatives. Perfect for those wanting to understand ramen beyond the bowl and take genuine cooking skills home.

1-Hour Sushi & Bento Box Making at Tsukiji Fish Market

Learn to craft ten pieces of nigiri sushi and arrange them in a traditional wooden bento box at Tsukiji Fish Market in central Tokyo. This hands-on one-hour class uses professional knives and premium tuna, salmon, and seasonal vegetables sourced from the market itself. You'll eat what you've made straightaway, seated within the bustling market precinct. Groups of up to 16 work with an English-speaking instructor through the entire process, from knife technique to plating.

Ramen Gyoza Onigiri Japanese Cooking Class in Kyoto

Learn to craft ramen broths, gyoza parcels, and onigiri alongside English-speaking instructors in central Kyoto. This 90-minute hands-on class teaches traditional techniques for building layered miso and soy sauce broths from scratch, folding dumplings, and shaping rice balls. You'll cook alongside others, then sit down to eat everything you've prepared—proper comfort food made by your own hands.

1h 30mfrom AUD $125

Private Kyoto Tour by Car with Optional Nara or Osaka Add-Ons

★ 5.0 (78)

7 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $284

Private Kyoto Tour by Car with Optional Nara or Osaka Add-Ons

Build your own Kyoto day with a private car and local driver who adapts the route to what interests you. Choose to stay in Kyoto exploring temples and bamboo groves, or branch out to Nara's deer parks or Osaka's urban energy. Over 7–8 hours, you'll move at your pace without the constraints of group schedules, stopping where you linger and skipping what doesn't appeal. Your guide shares local knowledge and context as you travel between sites in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.

Kyoto Wagashi(Japanese sweets) Cooking Class near Fushimiinari

★ 5.0 (76)

2 hours – 3 hoursfrom AUD $125

Kyoto Wagashi(Japanese sweets) Cooking Class near Fushimiinari

Learn to make three classic Japanese wagashi in a traditional wooden house near Fushimi Inari. This 2.5-hour class welcomes groups of up to six, with an English-speaking instructor guiding you through techniques for confections you might recognise from anime and manga. You'll leave with recipes and the skills to recreate these treats at home. The intimate setting mirrors the Japanese custom of sharing tea and sweets with guests.

Hiroshima History Tour : A-Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial & City

Walk through Hiroshima with a local guide whose family lived through the atomic bombing—many are second-generation survivors themselves. This 3-hour private tour moves beyond museum plaques to share how the city's history shaped everyday life. You'll visit the A-Bomb Dome World Heritage Site and Peace Memorial Park, with skip-line museum entry included. Your guide shapes the pace and depth based on what matters to you, whether you're solo, partnered, or bringing family.

Kyoto: Nishiki Food Market & Hidden Local Spots Walking Tour

When Tom from our team ran this 90-minute walk through Kyoto, we moved fast and covered proper ground. You get Nishiki Market — where vendors sell everything from pickled vegetables to fresh fish — plus a working shrine, laneway shots, and the geisha district of Gion, all threaded together by someone who knows which corners actually matter. It's billed as the real Kyoto beyond postcards, and the walk lands you by the Kamo River with a sense you've caught the city's pulse rather than ticked a box. Paced well for first-timers who want substance without a full-day commitment.

Discover the Art of Ikebana in Tokyo’s Historic Yanaka District

Learn ikebana from a master craftsperson in Yanaka, Tokyo's most atmospheric old quarter. You'll spend 90 minutes selecting blooms at a neighbourhood flower shop, then compose your own arrangement under expert guidance with an English-speaking interpreter. The workshop doubles as a genuine connection to local life—you're supporting family-run businesses and meeting residents who drift in during the session.

Ramen Making from Scratch with Tokyo Mom(Vegan Option Available)

Learn to craft ramen and gyoza from the ground up in Aki's Tokyo kitchen. This 2.5-hour class walks you through kneading noodle dough, simmering a clean broth without additives, and folding dumplings by hand. Aki, a Japanese mum and former traveller, teaches in English and adjusts recipes for dietary requirements including vegan preferences. You'll leave with techniques, confidence, and a printed recipe to recreate the meal at home.

Okinawa: Kayak Mangroves & Ocean Native-English Private Tour

Paddle through the Yanbaru region's mangrove channels and coral waters on a private kayak tour led by an English-speaking guide. This 2–3 hour outing adapts to your group's abilities and conditions—you might explore Kouri Island's hidden coves, drift over Nakijin Reef, or navigate the Haneji Inland Sea depending on weather and preference. You'll learn how mangroves thrive in salty environments whilst paddling through their root systems, then venture into open waters where coral and reef life appear below.

Tuna Auction Market Guided Private Tour in Nachi-Katsuura

★ 5.0 (72)

40 min – 1h 15mfrom AUD $58

Tuna Auction Market Guided Private Tour in Nachi-Katsuura

Step into Nachi-Katsuura's working tuna auction, where Japan's finest catch arrives daily. This guided tour walks you through the port's grading process, revealing how buyers assess quality and the mechanics of the sale floor. You'll learn why long-line fishing keeps these waters sustainable and meet the tight-knit community—fishermen don't even live here—who've built their livelihoods around this single-species economy. Ninety minutes of genuine harbour work, not theatre.

★ 5.0 (72)

Umami Town Street Food Tour

Explore Osaka's neighbourhoods where eating and daily life blur together seamlessly. This five-hour ramble takes you through bustling street markets and family-run eateries, tracing how local ingredients and preparation methods have shaped the city's food identity. You'll taste your way through iconic dishes whilst learning the stories behind them—from small producers to heritage shops—getting a genuine read on why locals consider food inseparable from culture here.

5 hoursfrom AUD $249

Locally Owned: Private Mt. Fuji Icons & Hidden Gems (Kawaguchiko)

★ 5.0 (71)

6 hours – 7 hoursfrom AUD $524

Locally Owned: Private Mt. Fuji Icons & Hidden Gems (Kawaguchiko)

A six-hour private tour of Mt. Fuji's landmarks and lesser-known viewpoints around Kawaguchiko, led by local guides who adjust the route daily based on weather and visibility. Rather than following a fixed itinerary, you'll visit 6–7 spots chosen to showcase the mountain at its best while sidestepping the tour-bus crowds. You can request specific bucket-list locations, or let your guide navigate to a mix of famous sites and local-favourite vantage points.

Takayama and Shirakawago/Photoshoot by professional photographer

★ 5.0 (70)

8 hours – 9 hoursfrom AUD $699

Takayama and Shirakawago/Photoshoot by professional photographer

A private eight-to-nine hour photography tour of Takayama and Shirakawago guided by a professional photographer who documents your day while you explore Japan's mountain villages. Your guide—experienced in portrait and travel photography with published work in Lonely Planet—handles composition and lighting so you can focus on the scenery. You'll receive 30 edited digital images afterwards. Hotel pickup and drop-off included; groups up to seven people.

Tokyo Ueno Food Tour Sushi Ramen and Local Favorites

★ 5.0 (68)

Tokyo Ueno Food Tour Sushi Ramen and Local Favorites

Taste Ueno's four-century culinary heritage across three hours of neighbourhood eating in this small-group tour led by a guide who grew up here. You'll sit down at genuine local restaurants and izakayas—the sort locals queue for—sampling sushi, ramen, yakitori and gyoza at the places that have been doing it right for generations. This is where Tokyo's food story began, and it's written in the dishes you'll eat, not the postcards you'll buy.

Photoshoot session by professional photographer in Kanazawa

A two-hour private photography session in Kanazawa with a professional English-speaking photographer who captures 300–400 frames, delivering 100 polished images. Choose between the serene Kenrokuen garden or the atmospheric geisha district of Higashichaya as your backdrop. Wear kimono or casual clothes—the photographer adapts to your style. Hotel pickup and drop-off included, plus all editing and digital delivery within a week.

2 hoursfrom AUD $179

Tokyo Highlights Private Custom Tour with Licensed Guide & Driver

★ 5.0 (66)

1h 40m – 2 hoursfrom AUD $63

Tokyo Highlights Private Custom Tour with Licensed Guide & Driver

Spend eight hours exploring Tokyo's contrasts with a private guide and driver, moving between neon-lit neighbourhoods and tranquil temples. Visit Shinjuku's electric streets, the organised chaos of [Shibuya Crossing](/places/shibuya-crossing), and Ginza's polished bars, then pivot to serene spaces like Meiji Shrine's forest paths and Asakusa's incense-filled temple grounds. Your guide navigates the city's layered personality—from salarymen culture to 17th-century gardens—leaving breathing room for the sights that resonate with you.

Kyoto Private Tea Ceremony with Tea Master at Home

Step into a traditional Kyoto home for an intimate tea ceremony led by a practised tea master. Over one hour, you'll learn the deliberate gestures and philosophy underpinning this refined art form, prepare two bowls of premium Uji matcha, and taste seasonal wagashi from a heritage Kyoto confectioner. This is genuine practice in an authentic setting—no tourism theatre, no crowds, just you and the ritual.

Hike Japan Heritage Hakone Hachiri with certified mountain guide

Walk the Hakone Hachiri, a Japan Heritage trail that traces the mountain route of Edo-period travellers along the Old Tokaido Highway. This 7-hour guided hike covers roughly 8km between Hakone Yumoto and Mishima Station, mixing footpath and local bus transport to visit Lake Ashi, the Yamanaka Castle Ruins, and the Genbe River valley. A certified mountain guide leads you through steep terrain where Mt Fuji appears across changing vistas, explaining the history embedded in the landscape and the checkpoint system that once controlled travel through these mountains.

Osaka Day Tour: Secret Spots & Local Treasures

Walk Osaka like someone who actually lives here. This four-hour ramble threads together castle ramparts, vintage fashion districts, and neon-soaked alleyways with a guide who reads the city like a book. You'll pick up stories about samurai, street culture, and what locals genuinely find funny about their own town. Small groups mean no queuing behind selfie sticks and enough breathing room for proper chat.

Official Street Go Kart Tour Akihabara 2nd

Pilot a go-kart through Tokyo's streets dressed as your favourite anime, game, or comic character—the real deal, not a theme park. This 1h 40m–2 hour guided tour lets you steer an actual kart alongside professional drivers who keep the chaos legal and safe. Costume rental, fuel, and kart hire included. Expect adrenaline, odd looks from pedestrians, and genuine Tokyo street driving that's become a social-media staple for good reason.

Private Day Tour in Tokyo with Government-Licensed Guide

★ 5.0 (63)

4 hours – 6 hoursfrom AUD $224

Private Day Tour in Tokyo with Government-Licensed Guide

Spend six hours exploring Tokyo with a government-licensed local guide who tailors the itinerary to your interests. You'll visit three to four neighbourhoods or landmarks on foot, moving between them via Tokyo's metro system or taxis. This is flexible sightseeing built around what you actually want to see, not a fixed route. Your guide handles navigation and context while you decide the pace and focus.

Japanese Cooking Class with Local Family in Takayama Old Town

Cook traditional Japanese dishes alongside a multigenerational Takayama family in their 200-year-old wooden townhouse on Old Town's main street. Over three hours, you'll prepare a seasonal meal in an intimate kitchen setting whilst learning how locals navigate food, nature and daily rhythms. Hisa and Bob welcome you with tea and stories, treating the class as genuine cultural exchange rather than performance. A chance to step beyond tourist circuits and understand how a family rooted in this mountain town actually eats.

Private Nara Tour and Sake Tasting (Departing from Kyoto/Nara)

A private guided walk through Nara departing from Kyoto or Nara, hitting the major sights before crowds arrive. You'll encounter the roaming deer, stand before Todai-ji Temple's colossal Buddha, and wrap up with a sake tasting to sample local brews. The guide is a local English speaker who photographs you throughout. Plan on 4 hours from Nara or 6 hours from Kyoto, plus 30 minutes if you do the tasting.

Kimono experience and Japanese home-cooking lesson Osaka Umeda

★ 5.0 (63)

Kimono experience and Japanese home-cooking lesson Osaka Umeda

Learn to cook three-hour Osaka home dishes from scratch alongside a Japanese instructor, then dress in silk kimono and obi using heritage techniques. You'll prepare one of four seasonal menus—ginger pork with rice balls and miso soup, takoyaki, kushikatsu, or a bento box—using supermarket ingredients you'll learn to source. Afterwards, slip into formal wear: brides can try the elaborate bridal kimono rarely worn outside ceremonies, while men experience hakama and formal dress. Photography happens in the room's Japanese corner.

Kyoto Night Experience DRUM TAO Show near Kyoto Station

When Alex from our BugBitten team caught DRUM TAO at their Kyoto theatre, we found a genuinely solid evening out — a 50-minute taiko and traditional Japanese performance that doesn't rely on words, so language isn't a barrier. The venue sits bang next to Kyoto Station, which is handy for travellers on a tight schedule. It's the kind of show that pulls in backpackers and families alike, with two distinct flavours: HIBIKI brings audience members on stage to bash drums themselves, while YUME leans into atmospheric storytelling. The whole thing moves at a cracking pace, and you get a reserved seat plus a drink in the deal.

Calligraphy Workshop in Namba, Dotonbori

Learn traditional Japanese brush writing over two hours in central Osaka's bustling Namba district. A qualified instructor guides you through the fundamentals of calligraphy, from brush control to ink preparation, before you write your own name in kanji or katakana on coloured paper. You'll leave with a personalised handwritten keepsake and a genuine understanding of what makes this centuries-old art form tick. The workshop sits within walking distance of Dotonbori's neon-soaked streets and Kuromon Market's food stalls.

Naoshima Private Custom Tour with Local Guide

When Sarah from our BugBitten team explored Naoshima, we found ourselves on an island that's genuinely rewired what art tourism can be. This private tour threads you through three distinct spots — an underground museum carved into a hillside, a sprawling contemporary art complex, and a village where old houses have become walk-through installations. The island itself feels calm and deliberate, with a mix of serious art lovers and curious travellers moving between venues. Six hours gives you enough breathing room to actually absorb things rather than tick boxes.

Let's make only one original onigawara in the world

Shape your own onigawara—the fierce protective tile guardians that crown Japanese temples and heritage homes—in a relaxed Kyoto workshop. Over two hours, you'll hand-model clay into a one-of-a-kind talisman from raw soil, guided by simplified techniques anyone can master. Take home your finished piece as a functional wall hanging or shelf ornament; firing and delivery follow, turning your creative session into a lasting keeper and conversation piece.

【Family Friendly】Traditional Mochi Pounding Experience

Spend an hour learning to pound mochi the traditional Japanese way, using mortar and mallet to shape glutinous rice dough. This hands-on experience welcomes families with children, guided by patient instructors through the technique and cultural roots of the craft. Taste your freshly pounded mochi plain or dressed with kinako, red bean paste, nori, or sweet soy sauce.

Private Kyoto Photography and Dress up Adventure （ALL PLAN)

Dress in traditional kimono and have your portrait taken in a Kyoto studio with composite backdrops of Japan's landscapes. This 90-minute shoot wraps in a folio with two printed photographs plus digital files—both retouched and raw frames. Kids' kimono and accessories are provided, letting families step into Edo-period aesthetics without the formality of an actual wedding ceremony.

1h 30mfrom AUD $173

Private Snow Monkey Tour - Conveniently Resort Hop and Sightsee

★ 5.0 (57)

8 hours – 10 hoursfrom AUD $689

Private Snow Monkey Tour - Conveniently Resort Hop and Sightsee

A private eight- to ten-hour circuit from Nagano City or nearby ski resorts, visiting the macaques at Jigokudani Monkey Park, the thousand-year-old Zenko-ji Temple, and the preserved Edo-period streets of Obuse. Includes a traditional lunch showcasing local Nagano cuisine and a guided sake tasting. Your own vehicle and driver handle the logistics; you focus on the sights.

Miyajima Guided Tour and Fresh Oyster Farm Tour

★ 5.0 (56)

3 hours – 4 hoursfrom AUD $129

Miyajima Guided Tour and Fresh Oyster Farm Tour

Spend 4.5 hours on Miyajima Island combining cultural heritage with coastal food tourism. Start at Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO site where a guide explains Shinto practice and ritual significance. Stroll the pedestrian shopping lanes at your own pace, then board a boat for close-up views of the Great Torii and working oyster farms. The tour finishes with lunch at a family-run oyster merchant, where you grill and eat your own catch while learning directly from producers about harvest methods and seasonal varieties.

Sushi Cooking Class: AKEMI's SUSHiKiTCHEN in Tokyo

Spend two and a half hours at AKEMI's SUSHiKiTCHEN learning to roll, shape and plate sushi from scratch in Tokyo. You'll discover the craft's backstory, master the language sushi chefs use, and pick up the unwritten rules of how to eat it properly. The kitchen attracts even Japanese diners keen to deepen their knowledge of a dish they thought they already knew. Finish by sitting down to eat what you've made, served alongside a drink and dessert.

Tokyo Coffee and Culture Tour

Spend 3.5 to 4 hours threading through Tokyo's coffee quarters with a guide who knows the neighbourhood's overlooked corners. Visit seven roasteries and cafés across Jimbocho and Kanda, sampling everything from Nordic light roasts to post-war dark brews. You'll learn brewing fundamentals, pick up the history embedded in these streets, and duck into seasonal wagashi and art-supply shops that locals have relied on for decades.

★ 5.0 (55)

🛕 Culture & History