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:

★ 5.0 (54)

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

Japan

Hike Hakone Hachiri

Walk a preserved stretch of the Tokaido Highway, the ancient trade route connecting Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. This nine-hour hike winds through forest thick with 400-year-old Japanese cedars, passes Amazake Chaya—a working teahouse from centuries past—and reaches Yamanaka Castle Ruins for views across to Mt Fuji. Hakone Hachiri holds Japan Heritage designation. Your guide unpacks the layers of history, culture and ecology woven into these woodland paths.

Nagasaki Top Sites Tour

Walk through Nagasaki's layered history with a guide who knows the city inside out. This 4–8 hour semi-private tour threads together war memorial sites, colonial landmarks, and harbour views. You'll visit Mt. Inasa for city vistas, the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park to understand 1945's impact, then shift to Dejima's Dutch trading post past, Chinatown's bustle, Oura Cathedral, and Glover Garden's Victorian mansions. All entry fees and public transport included; routes adjust for weather.

4 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $192

Uji and Wazuka Matcha Farm Half Day Private Guided Tour

★ 5.0 (53)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Japan

Uji and Wazuka Matcha Farm Half Day Private Guided Tour

Spend four hours in Wazuka, the epicentre of Kyoto's matcha production, on this private guided tour led by a local tea farmer. Walk through terraced tea plantations that have flourished for eight centuries, taste at least three distinct matcha varieties in a traditional house, and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch. Your guide sources directly from community growers, ensuring your visit supports their livelihoods. Transport from central locations available on request.

Samurai Experience Mugai Ryu Iaido in Tokyo

Learn Mugai Ryu iaido, a traditional Japanese sword discipline emphasizing mental focus and precise movement, from Master Takeda Hougyoku in Tokyo. This one-hour session introduces you to the fundamentals of drawing and cutting techniques using a practice katana, hakama, and guidance from an English-speaking instructor. You'll train in the method practised by the International Iaido Organization, building awareness and control rather than raw power.

Sawanobori River Trekking Tour

Trek through Takayama's volcanic mountain streams with certified guides, scrambling over rocks and wading through pristine water channels. This five-hour outing traces geological formations shaped by ancient eruptions while connecting you to local mountain traditions. A barista prepares hand-dripped coffee using fresh spring water collected during the trek, paired with locally made sandwiches and soup. The experience balances physical challenge with cultural insight, best suited for those comfortable getting thoroughly wet and moving over uneven terrain.

Advanced Kyoto Insider Sake Tasting Experience

Venture beyond sake basics in Kyoto's dedicated tasting room, where you'll explore ten carefully selected brews that challenge convention. This two-hour session digs into ancient fermentation methods, innovative techniques, and regional wood influences that shape flavour. Work through real restaurant labels, understand brewing philosophy, and taste how materials and process choices create dramatic differences in character. Guided by an experienced sake expert, you'll discover the creative depth that elevates sake from everyday drink to serious craft.

2 hoursfrom AUD $101

Kyoto Private Photo Shoot & Tour by SnapKyoto

★ 5.0 (52)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Kyoto Private Photo Shoot & Tour by SnapKyoto

A photographer documents your Kyoto exploration across your chosen landmarks and timeframe, delivering 50–200 edited shots within 24 hours. Select from iconic spots like Gion's geisha quarter, Higashiyama's pagoda, Arashiyama's bamboo groves, or Fushimi Inari's vermillion gates—or venture to Osaka, Nara, or beyond. Your guide shares genuine context about the city's history, culture, and people while handling logistics so you can focus on the experience. Kimono rental and private car bookings available on request.

1 hour – 6 hoursfrom AUD $448

★ 5.0 (52)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Kurashiki Rickshaw Tour

Travel through Kurashiki's preserved merchant quarter by hand-pulled rickshaw, exploring the canals, whitewashed storehouses and riverside willow trees that defined this Edo-period trading hub. Your local puller navigates the narrow streets at a human pace, revealing architectural details and neighbourhood stories you'd miss from street level. Choose your own route length—anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours—and customise start and end points to suit your interests.

30 min – 2 hoursfrom AUD $54

Tokyo Private Day Tour with English Speaking Driver

★ 5.0 (50)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Tokyo Private Day Tour with English Speaking Driver

When Charlie from our team booked this Tokyo private day tour, we got the kind of flexibility that actually works for real travel. Nine hours in your own air-conditioned minivan with an English-speaking driver, hotel pickup included, and a route you build yourself — no fixed itinerary, no tour bus crowds. You pick what matters to you: hit Senso-ji Temple in the morning, Shibuya Crossing at lunch, Ginza's department stores, Takeshita Street's vintage shops, or the Imperial Palace gardens. The driver handles traffic, parking, and knows opening hours. It's Tokyo on your terms, not the tour operator's.

Osaka Castle Haunted Walk (Night & Day)

When Tom from our team did this evening walk around Osaka Castle, we got the full blend of samurai history and local ghost folklore. You're roaming the castle grounds—one of the prefecture's supposedly most spiritually charged spots—with a guide who weaves together battlefield tales, cursed stones, and yokai stories across two hours. The castle itself is imposing and atmospheric after dark, and the park draws a quiet mix of locals and visitors curious about Japan's supernatural side. It's history told through the lens of spirits rather than a dry museum approach.

Beautiful Photography Tour in Kyoto

A 90-minute guided photography session through Kyoto's classic geisha district and neighbouring temples. Your photographer knows the back lanes where light falls best and crowds thin out—Hanami-koji, Yasui Konpira Shrine, Ishibekoji, and Maruyama Park are your canvas. You'll get individual and group portraits, directional guidance on poses and framing, plus roughly 50 edited shots delivered by email within a day. Between takes, expect local tips on eating well and moving through the city like someone who belongs here.

Red-Crowned Crane, Eagle & Wildlife Guided Tour at Kushiro marsh

When Alex from our BugBitten team booked this Kushiro Marsh tour, we knew we were after red-crowned cranes — and the guides delivered. Tsurui Village in eastern Hokkaido is genuinely one of Japan's premier spots for these striking birds, designated a Special Natural Monument. The four-hour outing includes a drive through the marshland where sika deer, foxes, white-tailed and Steller's sea eagles also show up if you're lucky. You get private transport from Kushiro City, quality binoculars, and an English-speaking nature guide who actually knows their stuff. It's a proper wildlife-watching experience, not a rushed tick-box.

Go Karting Tokyo Uptown Experience|7 Top Destinations in 120 Mins

Pilot a go-kart through Tokyo's uptown districts past seven landmark sites—Skytree, Sumo Stadium, Tokyo Station, Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, Ginza, and Kabukiza—over 100 minutes guided by locals versed in the city's history. Capture 360-degree footage and stills as you navigate the routes yourself, with all safety gear, fuel, and insurance included. A kinetic way to clock major sights without the usual tourist queues.

Gyoza Making from Scratch- Tokyo Ultimate Cooking Class

Master the art of gyoza-making in central Tokyo with a hands-on 1 hour 50 minute class. You'll craft dumplings from dough through to pan-frying, learning the technique for achieving that signature juicy filling. The instructor walks you through building wrappers, folding methods, and cooking basics, then you taste your work alongside homemade soup and sides with multiple dipping sauces. You'll leave with an English recipe and digital photos.

Shinjuku : Authentic Tea Ceremony with Matcha & Kimono

Step into a Tokyo tea house for 90 minutes of genuine chanoyu practice. You'll don a fitted kimono, have your hair styled, then learn the meditative ritual from a qualified instructor who guides you through whisking and serving ceremonial matcha sourced from Kyoto groves. The session unfolds in a serene traditional room with full English commentary, mixing hands-on technique with insights into Zen philosophy and the discipline behind each deliberate gesture.

Tokyo: Discover the Art of Kintsugi in Ginza

Learn kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with lacquer, in a private studio near Ginza Station. Over 90 minutes, you'll mend your own ceramic piece using traditional methods adapted for the workshop format. Work with lacquer and metallic powder under expert instruction, then walk away with your finished restoration—a tangible object infused with the philosophy of finding beauty in damage.

2 Hour Guided Mt Fuji Scenic Trike Tour in Lake Kawaguchiko

When Tom from our team took this Lake Kawaguchiko trike tour, we got a genuinely different angle on Mt. Fuji — riding a three-wheeled Can-Am instead of craning from a bus window. The 2-hour loop hits scenic spots around the lake and quieter local roads most visitors skip, with multiple photo stops framed by the mountain. It's a small-group affair (max 2 per trike), beginner-friendly, and feels more like a mate's joyride than a packaged experience. The lake town itself is calm, touristy in patches, but the roads are smooth and the vibe is relaxed.

Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Hidden Hike (Private)

A three-hour private walk through the forested slopes of Mount Inari, skirting the main Fushimi Inari shrine to find quieter paths lined with vermillion torii gates. Your local Kyoto guide unpacks Shinto history and practice as you climb, and you'll receive professional photographs from the outing afterwards. Moderate fitness required; best suited to those comfortable with uphill terrain.

3 hoursfrom AUD $134

Nagasaki Highlights Private Half Day Tour by Tram

★ 5.0 (45)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Nagasaki Highlights Private Half Day Tour by Tram

A four-hour guided circuit of Nagasaki's defining landmarks using public tram transport. You'll visit Peace Park and its Hypocenter memorial, the Atomic Bomb Museum, the elegant Meganebashi Bridge, Ōura Cathedral, and Glover Garden—a colonial-era estate perched above the harbour. All entry fees and transport are covered, making this an efficient option for cruise passengers or anyone short on time. The pace is unhurried, with flexibility built in for mobility concerns.

4 hoursfrom AUD $206

Private Tokyo with Exceptional Guide Tailored to Your Needs

★ 5.0 (45)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Private Tokyo with Exceptional Guide Tailored to Your Needs

Shape your own Tokyo experience with a knowledgeable local guide over 4 or 8 hours. Pick your focus—food, history, shopping, neighbourhoods, or something else entirely—and choose whether to navigate via public transport or private car. Your guide handles route planning and insider tips, leaving you free to explore at your tempo. Bring cash; many venues don't take cards.

4 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $215

Travel Tokyo with Your Own Personal Photographer

★ 5.0 (44)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Travel Tokyo with Your Own Personal Photographer

A one-hour walking tour through Tokyo paired with professional photography. You'll visit a mix of iconic landmarks and quieter local spots whilst a photographer captures candid moments of your group. No need to awkwardly ask strangers for photos—you'll have someone documenting your visit properly. The session includes around 300–400 raw shots, with 20 retouched images selected by you to take home.

Kimono photoshoot-100 Digital Photos Provided

Dress in a kimono and spend 90 minutes to three hours being photographed throughout Shinsaibashi, Osaka's atmospheric neighbourhood of old wooden houses and quiet shrines. You'll receive around 100 digital images from a photographer familiar with the area's photogenic corners. The studio also offers year-round cherry blossom backdrops. Same-day bookings accepted. Families, couples, solo travellers and groups all participate.

1h 30m – 3 hoursfrom AUD $134

Hiroshima & Miyajima: UNESCO A-Bomb Dome & Itsukushima with Local

★ 5.0 (43)

🛕 Culture & History

Japan

Hiroshima & Miyajima: UNESCO A-Bomb Dome & Itsukushima with Local

A seven-hour private tour pairing Miyajima's sacred Itsukushima Shrine with Hiroshima's Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum, led by local guides including atomic bomb survivors' descendants. Your guide shares family narratives alongside historical context—accounts of survival, community rebuilding, and personal resilience you won't encounter in standard museum presentations. The itinerary flexes to your pace and emotional needs, moving between the island's spiritual quietness and the city's sites of remembrance.

Exclusive Tokyo: Kichijoji Food & Bar Hopping with a Local Guide

A three-hour guided ramble through Kichijoji's Harmonica Alley with a local who knows every corner. Capped at six people, you'll eat your way through four or five food stalls and neighbourhood bars—the kind that normally don't welcome strangers. Six to seven dishes included, plus insider knowledge on how to behave at a Japanese drinking table and why each meal matters. You'll leave knowing the difference between eating in Japan and dining there.

Kanazawa private half day/Photoshoot by professional photographer

A three-hour private photography tour through Kanazawa's most photogenic spots, guided by a local professional photographer. You'll visit carefully selected locations while a published photographer frames and captures your moments, handling composition and lighting so you can actually experience the city. You'll receive 15 edited digital images from the shoot. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Mt Fuji Area: In-depth Guided Adventure in English or French

This five-hour guided tour explores the Mt Fuji region with a fluent English or French-speaking guide who knows the area intimately. You'll paddle across Lake Kawaguchiko's clear waters, wander through [Aokigahara Forest](/places/aokigahara-forest-sea-of-trees)'s dense woodland, visit a traditional artisan village, and stop at local shrines. Hotel or station pickup and drop-off from Kawaguchiko are included, making logistics straightforward. The itinerary adapts to weather, but the group stays together throughout.

5 hoursfrom AUD $538

★ 5.0 (42)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Guided Tour of Nagoya by Car

Explore Nagoya's key sites by private car with a knowledgeable local driver who'll talk you through it all. This 5–6 hour tour takes in Nagoya Castle and Tokugawa Garden, with flexibility to swap in the Toyota Museum or a bamboo forest walk instead. The air-conditioned car does the legwork between stops, making it ideal for cruise passengers needing a quick return to the terminal, families with prams, or anyone preferring not to navigate public transport.

5 hours – 6 hoursfrom AUD $227

Mount Fuji Private Custom Tour with Local English Speaking Guide

★ 5.0 (42)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Mount Fuji Private Custom Tour with Local English Speaking Guide

Spend a full day exploring [Mount Fuji](/places/mount-fuji) and the Five Lakes region in a private luxury vehicle with a Japanese guide who speaks fluent English. Rather than follow a set itinerary, you choose the stops—whether that's mountain viewpoints, lakeside villages, cultural sites, or retail parks. Your guide, educated abroad with deep local knowledge, tailors the experience to your interests and pace, turning sightseeing into genuine conversation about Japan's geography, spirituality, and everyday culture.

8 hours – 10 hoursfrom AUD $824

★ 5.0 (41)

🛕 Culture & History

Japan

Kyoto Gion Early Morning Walking Tour

Beat the tour buses through Kyoto's most atmospheric quarter on this three-hour early morning walk. Your English-speaking guide leads you past geisha houses and lantern-lit alleys in Gion, takes in the vermillion torii gates at Yasaka Shrine, climbs to Kiyomizu-dera's wooden platform for city views, then descends through the souvenir-laden lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. Streets are quiet, light is golden, and you'll know where the locals actually eat lunch.

Daruma Workshop by Making your Own Japanese Souvenir in Shinjuku

Paint and decorate your own daruma doll at this Shinjuku workshop, choosing from traditional washi paper designs to create a bespoke keepsake. Located minutes from Shinjuku Gyoen, KUROMAMEDO offers a hands-on introduction to Japanese folk crafts in a welcoming space designed for international visitors. The 90-minute session includes green tea, a seasonal snack, and a small gift to take home.

Kanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony with a Local Tea Master

When Tom from our team booked this private tea ceremony in Kanazawa's Nishi Chaya geisha district, he got the real deal: a 70-minute session in a 100-year-old machiya with Yuta, a tea master who's spent 19 years perfecting the Enshu-ryū tradition rooted in samurai culture. No group sessions, no strangers—just your crew in an intimate tatami room with a proper tokonoma alcove. You'll watch the ceremony unfold, whisk your own matcha, nibble traditional sweets, ask anything that comes to mind, and leave with a commemorative photo. Same-day bookings are possible if you're flexible.

Tokyo VIP private nightlife tour with a local insider

A five-hour private nightlife tour through Tokyo guided by a local insider who steers you away from tourist zones into the real nocturnal Tokyo. You'll visit hidden bars, intimate izakayas, upscale lounges, and clubs across neighbourhoods like Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi—all chosen to match your tastes and comfort. Your bilingual guide handles logistics and cultural context, whether you're after a quiet drinks night or full-blown celebration with optional karaoke or hostess club insights.

Miyajima Highlights: Itsukushima Shrine & Island Nature

A private five-hour walking tour of Miyajima Island led by local guides with deep family and historical connections to the region. You'll visit Itsukushima Shrine and its celebrated floating torii gate, explore Daishoin temple, and venture beyond the crowds to discover quieter corners of the island where everyday life unfolds. Your guide contextualises the spiritual significance woven through centuries of Miyajima's history, explaining why locals regard the island as sacred. The itinerary flexes to suit your interests—whether you're chasing light for photographs, diving into history, or seeking a contemplative experience.

5 hoursfrom AUD $193

4/5/6 Hours Private Osaka Tour Designed for Cruise Passengers

★ 5.0 (40)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

4/5/6 Hours Private Osaka Tour Designed for Cruise Passengers

Grab a few hours between ship and departure with a guide who moves at your rhythm through Osaka's neighbourhoods. You'll start from Tempozan Cruise Terminal and explore on foot, steering the route based on what catches your eye—whether that's street-level commerce, temple grounds, or local eating spots. No rigid itinerary means you can linger where it matters and skip what doesn't.

4 hours – 6 hoursfrom AUD $215

Well-balanced BENTO (lunch box) Cooking Class

★ 5.0 (40)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Japan

Well-balanced BENTO (lunch box) Cooking Class

Learn to assemble a balanced Japanese lunch box in this 2.5-hour hands-on class. You'll start by brewing dashi stock from scratch, then prepare seven everyday home-style dishes using wagyu, seafood, eggs and vegetables. Along the way you'll pick up frying, grilling, simmering and marinating techniques, shape rice balls with proper form, and practise thoughtful plating. Finish by tucking everything into your chosen bento box, then sit down to eat what you've made, accompanied by complimentary miso soup.

Private arrival transfer from Osaka Itami International airport to Kyoto City

Skip the airport chaos and head straight to your Kyoto hotel in a private car from Osaka Itami. Your driver meets you at arrivals, handles your bags, and takes you directly to your accommodation in a sanitised, air-conditioned vehicle. The journey typically takes 75–90 minutes depending on traffic, giving you time to settle in and start exploring Japan's cultural heartland without the stress of public transport or navigation.

Back Alleys & Red Lights with BBQ Dinner

A three-hour neighbourhood walk with a local guide who shares unfiltered stories about a working-class Tokyo district—its struggles, resilience, and genuine community spirit. You'll navigate narrow streets and back alleys that don't feature in guidebooks, learning about real life in Japan beyond the polished facade. The tour wraps with a BBQ dinner, a chance to sit down and process what you've seen with someone who actually lives there.

3 hoursfrom AUD $90

Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Site Private Tour with a Premium Van

★ 5.0 (39)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Japan

Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Site Private Tour with a Premium Van

A private nine-hour circuit through Kyoto's major UNESCO sites, led by a local guide who drives and photographs throughout the day. You'll visit Nijo Castle, the Golden Pavilion, select temples (Ryoanji, Ninnaji, Tenryuji), Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Kiyomizu-dera, with hotel pickup and a curated lunch included. The guide tailors the route to your interests and adjusts for weather, handling all entry fees while you navigate at a comfortable pace without public transport hassle.

Mt. Fuji Half-Day Private Cultural Tour: Shinkansen Stopover

When Alex from our team grabbed a stopover between Tokyo and Kyoto on the Shinkansen, we ditched the usual station-lounge routine and hired a local Fuji-native guide instead. This four-hour private tour picks you up at Shin-Fuji Station and threads through quieter cultural spots—a UNESCO shrine, maybe a 200-year-old sake brewery, hidden lake viewpoints—shaped to what you're after: rituals, food, or photography. It's the kind of thing that turns dead travel time into something that sticks with you.

Osaka New EV Kart Tour: Drive Through Osaka's Streets & Landmarks

When Em from our team tried this Osaka EV kart tour, we found ourselves cruising through the city's neon-lit streets in sleek electric go-karts styled after classic Shelby Cobras. You'll weave past famous landmarks—Dotonbori, Osaka Castle views, the works—dressed in costumes, with English-speaking guides leading the charge. It's a 50-minute to 90-minute blast that sits somewhere between sightseeing and a proper driving experience. The karts are smooth and beginner-friendly, so whether you've never gripped a steering wheel or you're a petrolhead, there's something here. The vibe is very Osaka: bright, a bit cheeky, plenty of photo moments.

50 min – 1h 30mfrom AUD $54

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