Tours in Japan

Kyoto Japanese Gold Repair Kintsugi Workshop

When Charlie from our team tried this Kyoto workshop, we learned Kintsugi—the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold—in just an hour. You work with an English-speaking instructor to repair your own ceramic piece using specialist tools and gold powder, then walk out with it the same day thanks to fast-drying materials. It's a hands-on peek into how Japanese culture values repair over waste, wrapped up in a skill you can actually take home. The workshop draws curious travellers keen to make something meaningful, not just snap photos.

Mt. Fuji Private Guided E-Bike Tour : Fuji City

When Em from our team ran this Mt. Fuji e-bike tour out of Fuji City, we ditched the tourist queues at Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone for a quieter spin through local countryside just an hour from Tokyo. The 3-hour ride covers quiet country roads, tea plantations, hidden viewpoints of the mountain, and a stop at a traditional tea shop where you learn to brew the real deal. Your guide's local and English-speaking, the e-bikes do the heavy lifting on hills, and you'll catch a slice of everyday life around Fuji that most visitors miss entirely — weather permitting on the mountain views.

Tokyo Ueno Food & Nature & Localtown Tour: 10Dishes+ Drinks

When Noah from our BugBitten team ran this Tokyo tour, it delivered exactly what it promised: a proper local food crawl through Ueno mixed with park strolls and neighbourhood drinking culture. You'll hit real izakayas tucked away in Ameyoko—the kind of spots travellers usually miss—with a guide who knows the Tokyo food and drink scene inside out. The whole thing runs three hours, and you'll eat enough across multiple stops to warrant the 'come hungry' warning. Small groups (around six per guide) mean it never feels like a cattle-call tour.

Private Ring Craft Experience in Kanazawa

When Mia from our BugBitten team tried this Kanazawa ring-craft workshop, she got hands-on with Tankin, a traditional Japanese metalworking technique. You pick your material, size, and texture, then hammer and shape your own ring under the eye of skilled craftspeople — the whole thing takes about 90 minutes, and you walk out with a finished piece the same day. It's the kind of thing that appeals to solo travellers, couples after a shared activity, and anyone after a tangible souvenir that's actually theirs.

Tokyo: Sushi Making Class in Shibuya Hand Rolled with Master

When Em from our team booked this sushi-making class in Shibuya, we expected a crowded tourist trap—instead found a calm studio tucked away from the neon chaos. You'll spend 90 minutes learning temaki (hand-rolled sushi), the approachable style that's the centrepiece of Japanese home meals rather than formal sushi bars. The class walks you through handling nori, spreading rice without mushing it, and balancing fillings, then you sit down to eat what you've actually made, paired with miso soup and green tea. It's hands-on, unpretentious, and you leave with a skill that works.

Hiroshima Peace Park & A-Bomb Dome Private Walking Tour (4 Hours)

When Charlie from our BugBitten team ran this 4-hour private walking tour, we covered the essential sites — the Peace Memorial Park, A-Bomb Dome, key monuments, and optionally the Peace Memorial Museum and Shukkeien Garden. Our licensed local guide walked us through Hiroshima's history and recovery at a pace that let the weight of each location settle in. It's a solid half-day option for first-timers, families, and cruise passengers short on time. Public transport got us between stops, which kept costs down and felt more connected to how locals move through the city.

Takayama Half Day Tour (Private Guide)

A four-hour private guided tour of Takayama where you work with a certified local guide to build an itinerary that suits your interests. From your hotel pickup, your guide shares knowledge of seasonal festivals, weather patterns, and neighbourhood secrets, adjusting the route as you go. You're in control of the pace and stops—whether that's sake breweries, morning markets, temple grounds, or backstreet cafés.

Half Day Private Guided Walking Tour in Hiroshima City

When Noah from our BugBitten team did this half-day walking tour in Hiroshima, we got a rare window into the city's history led by someone whose family lived through it directly — the guide is the son of an A-bomb survivor. Over four hours, we moved through key landmarks that mark the city's past, hearing firsthand accounts that textbooks can't match. Hiroshima itself is quiet and orderly, with a reflective atmosphere that hits different once you understand the weight beneath the modern streets.

Try Scuba Diving diving at the Blue Cave in Onna Village, Okinawa

When Tom from our BugBitten team tried this intro dive in Okinawa, he got suited up at a spanking new shop and headed for the Blue Cave — a striking underwater feature near Onna Village. The crew's been guiding divers for over a decade, so they know the conditions well: if waves or wind kick up, they pivot to a safer spot rather than cancel outright. Two hours total, though you're looking at a beach entry or boat ride depending on the day. All gear's fresh and included, plus they'll shoot stills and video.

Tea Ceremony Experience in the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka

When Em from our team tried this tea ceremony at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka, we got the full traditional setup: kimono fitting, a guided demonstration from an instructor, and a chance to whisk matcha ourselves. It's a 75-minute pocket of old-school Japan in the heart of a modern hotel, pitched at travellers keen to try something beyond the tourist tick-box. You'll get two rounds of matcha and Japanese sweets, plus time to photograph yourself in the kimono without feeling rushed.

1h 15mfrom AUD $145

Private Fuji Half-day Car Tour with Hotel Pickup and Local Guide

★ 5.0 (34)

Private Fuji Half-day Car Tour with Hotel Pickup and Local Guide

When Mia from our team ran this private Fuji half-day tour, what stood out was the flexibility baked in from the start. You get picked up from your hotel, hop into an air-conditioned car with an English-speaking local guide, and they basically ask what you're after—Fuji photo spots, waterfalls and ice caves, wineries, or a mix—then build the itinerary around that and the weather on the day. In five hours you'll typically hit 3–4 stops around the Fuji area. It's a solid option if you want to see the mountain and its surrounds without the rigid group-tour structure.

Explore Kiso Valley : Magome - Tsumago Mountain Trail Walk

When Charlie from our team tackled the Nakasendo Trail through Kiso Valley, we found ourselves walking the same route that connected post towns for centuries. The 7-hour hike links Magome and Tsumago—two villages that genuinely feel like they've stepped out of the Edo period, with wooden buildings, quiet lanes, and locals who've kept the old ways alive. The trail itself winds through forested hills and rice paddies, dropping you into the kind of rural Japan that's harder to find these days. It's a solid day's walk, not a casual stroll, but the payoff is real: you're not just sightseeing, you're moving through actual landscape that mattered.

Mt. Fuji Private Chartered Tour with Nature and Wasabi Farm

When Tom from our team ran this Mt. Fuji private tour, he got the full monty: certified guide, driver, lunch, and entry fees wrapped up in one 10-hour package. The route threads through sacred waterfalls, a century-old wasabi farm, and viewpoints that tour coaches can't squeeze into—think five-storey pagoda frames and spring-water heritage spots. It's the kind of day that caters to families and mates keen on nature and Japanese culture without the crowds. The outfit handles dietary needs (vegan, gluten-free) and wraps things up with a tasting—sake, wine, or matcha.

10 hoursfrom AUD $905

Make Rice Balls and Enjoy a Japanese Home-Style Lunch in Yanaka

★ 5.0 (32)

Make Rice Balls and Enjoy a Japanese Home-Style Lunch in Yanaka

When Noah from our team tried this at Yanaka House, we shaped our own onigiri (rice balls) with a friendly cooking teacher, then sat down to eat like Tokyo locals. The neighbourhood itself is relaxed and walkable — the kind of spot where you bump into grandmas popping to the shops and locals actually live rather than just pass through. It's 90 minutes total, and works equally well for couples, families with kids, or solo travellers. You make your rice balls, the kitchen puts together a spread of homestyle dishes (teriyaki chicken, egg omelette, Japanese salad), and you plate it all up into a proper lunch. Miso soup comes made from scratch.

Authentic Sapporo: Nijo Market Seafood Lunch & Local History Tour

When Ben from our team ran this Sapporo tour, we got a solid hit of local history paired with lunch at Nijo Market. The 2.5-hour experience threads through Sosei East—a neighbourhood tourists usually skip—with a guide who knows the pioneering-era stories that shaped the city. You'll hit Hokkaido Jingu Tonguu shrine, grab a seafood lunch (sushi or donburi) at the market itself, and tick off Sapporo TV Tower too. It's a small-group setup in a city that rewards wandering off the main drag, and the mix of storytelling and eating feels genuine rather than packaged.

4-Hour Multicultural Kobe Walking Tour with Genuine Kobe Beef

When Sarah from our BugBitten team did this Kobe walking tour, she got a rare glimpse into how a small Japanese port city became genuinely multicultural—then ate steak that actually lived up to the hype. The 4-hour experience kicks off in Kitano, where mosques, synagogues, temples and churches sit quietly alongside each other, serving communities that have coexisted peacefully for 150 years. After exploring that unexpected religious tapestry, you're led to an authentic Kobe beef restaurant where a chef grills your steak tableside. It's part cultural discovery, part culinary event—neither feels rushed or tokenistic.

Bar Hopping Private Tour in Kyoto (Local area1)

When Ben from our BugBitten team ran this private bar-hopping tour in Kyoto, he hit three local spots tucked away from the main tourist drag — the kind of places you won't find by scrolling Google Maps. The guide, Takeshi, steers groups of up to four through quieter neighbourhoods, mixing proper food and drink at each stop with a chance to chat with locals and fellow travellers. It's a solid three-hour primer on where Kyoto's residents actually drink, and a genuine vote of support for independent venues that might otherwise get lost in the crowd.

A Local Japanese Food Experience Just Outside Tokyo

When Lily from our BugBitten team tried this half-day food experience just outside Tokyo, she found something genuinely different from the usual capital tourist circuit. You'll learn to grate wasabi by hand, sit down to a proper unagi meal (grilled eel served two ways—plain and over rice), and hear stories about how Japanese food culture actually works. It's small-group, relaxed, and runs around two-and-a-half hours. The whole thing feels less like a tour and more like spending time with someone who actually knows their craft.

Tokyo: Private dinner with Geisha at a Member's only Ryotei

When Sarah from our team did this Tokyo geisha dinner, we found a genuinely intimate window into a tradition most travellers assume only exists in Kyoto. You're seated in a proper ryotei (high-end restaurant) where a real geisha or maiko performs traditional dance and music while you work through a full kaiseki spread. The guide threads the evening together, explaining the rigour behind geisha training and Tokyo's role in keeping this art alive—it's not theatre, it's a working cultural practice happening in the city's quiet corners. Three hours, start to finish, feels unhurried.

Tokyo: Karate Experience with Former All-Japan Champion

When Alex from our BugBitten team tried this Tokyo karate session, we got a proper look at what training with a serious martial artist actually involves. Ryo, a multiple-time All-Japan champion with two decades of Kyokushin karate behind him, runs 90-minute classes that start gentle—stretching and conditioning to get your body ready—then move into genuine technique work: punches, kicks, blocks, pad drills. It's a sweaty, focused hour and a half in a working dojo, not a tourist gimmick. You'll wear a proper karate gi and finish with a kata demonstration that shows what years of discipline looks like.

KYOTO: Private Tea Ceremony in Hidden Townhouse (Kid-Friendly)

When Alex from our BugBitten team booked this private tea ceremony, we stepped into a working Kyoto machiya — not a polished tourist venue, but an actual home where locals live alongside the ritual. You're alone in the space, which means kids can fidget, ask questions, and genuinely relax without feeling rushed or watched. Over 45 minutes, you'll watch tea fields on film, hand-grind leaves using a stone mill, observe the host perform the ceremony with real focus, then whisk and taste your own matcha. It's intimate, quiet, and feels less like ticking a box and more like a mate inviting you into their living room to share something they care about.

Tokyo Asakusa Food Sample Making Experience Cafe

When Tom from our team tried the food sample-making workshop in Asakusa, we found ourselves in one of Tokyo's quirkiest cultural experiences — and it actually delivered. You're basically crafting fake plastic food (the kind you see in restaurant windows across Japan) under instruction in a bright, welcoming studio wedged between the souvenir shops near Sensoji Temple. The 90-minute session lets you handmake a crepe or jelly parfait that's genuinely impressive, take it home as a souvenir, and grab a soft drink while you work. It's the kind of thing that sounds niche until you're halfway through and realise how satisfying it is to nail the details.

Gifu Samurai Sword Town;Japanese Damascus Knife Making Experience

When Sarah from our team tried this experience in Gifu, she forged her own Damascus kitchen knife from scratch under a craftsman's watch. The town has quietly built a reputation for blade-making — it's less touristy than Kyoto but easy to reach by train, and attracts a mix of keen cooks, outdoor types, and curious travellers keen to walk away with something they've actually made. The whole session runs about two and a half hours, with time to learn sharpening techniques and test your finished blade on fresh veg to see just how keen an edge you've managed.

Nagasaki Street Food Adventure: Private Walking Tour with a Local

When Alex from our BugBitten team did this Nagasaki street food walk, it was a genuinely smart way to eat through the city's best lanes without the tourist-herding vibe. You're paired with a local host based on a pre-tour questionnaire — they pitch an itinerary tailored to what you actually want to eat and explore. Three hours covers central Nagasaki's Chinese-influenced quarters, Chinatown's legendary bowls of Champon, the Maruyama district's hidden foodie corners, and the Hamanomachi Arcade's local gems. Includes 6–8 tastings, two drinks, and a flexible route you can reshape on the day.

3 hoursfrom AUD $315

★ 5.0 (30)

12 min – 20 minfrom AUD $45

Hakodate Rickshaw Tour

When Lily from our BugBitten team hopped into a rickshaw in Hakodate, it felt like stepping back in time without the tourist-trap vibe. You're pulled by a local guide who knows the city's hidden corners — the kind of person who stops to point out a century-old shopfront or a quiet shrine you'd otherwise miss. The whole thing runs 12–20 minutes depending on the route, and it's genuinely more fun than walking the same streets. The elevation gives you a different view of the place, and there's something undeniably pleasant about moving through the old quarter at that gentle pace.

Tokyo Fishing Adventure with Fresh Catch Cuisine

Tokyo Fishing Adventure with Fresh Catch Cuisine

Spend a full day fishing Tokyo Bay with experienced instructors who specialise in newcomers and overseas visitors. You'll be picked up from your accommodation, taken out on a charter boat to productive grounds, then your catch gets transformed into traditional Japanese dishes by the onboard chef. The 12-hour experience combines the physical satisfaction of landing fish with coastal views of [Mount Fuji](/places/mount-fuji) and Enoshima, finishing with a meal made from what you've pulled from the water.

12 hoursfrom AUD $627

Hiroshima Morning Hike Tour with Tea Ceremony & Breakfast

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

Hiroshima Morning Hike Tour with Tea Ceremony & Breakfast

When Sarah from our team tackled this early-morning hike, we wound through the forested slopes of Mt. Futaba, a spiritual pocket just outside Hiroshima city. The route strings together a pair of atmospheric shrines—Toshogu with its grand architecture, and Kinko Inari with its famous tunnel of vermillion torii gates—before cresting the summit with views across the city, Seto Inland Sea, and Miyajima island. The payoff was a sit-down tea ceremony and bento breakfast at the top, with a local guide filling in the castle-town history. It's 3.5 hours of gentle but steady uphill, best tackled in the quieter morning hours.

Iya Valley BROMPTON Slow Cycling Tour

When Charlie from our BugBitten team rode this Iya Valley slow cycle, we found it a genuinely clever way to experience one of Japan's most dramatic inland gorges. You'll fold a BROMPTON bike onto a train from Awa-Ikeda, catch a bus to the famous vine bridge, then pedal a mostly downhill route along the Iya River for around seven hours total. The valley itself is the real star — emerald water, sheer cliffs, and villages tucked into impossibly steep terrain that a car simply zips past. Small groups keep the vibe intimate, and the pace lets you actually absorb the landscape rather than rush through it.

7 hoursfrom AUD $199

Explore Hidden Alleyway with a Local Expert (Afternoon Tour)

Explore Hidden Alleyway with a Local Expert (Afternoon Tour)

When Em from our BugBitten team pedalled through Kyoto's backstreets on this 3-hour guided bike tour, the shift was immediate—quiet alleyways replaced postcard views within minutes. A local expert steers you through narrow residential lanes where the light, sounds, and rhythms tell you more about how Kyoto actually works than any main-street loop. You're cycling in small groups (max 6 per guide), and the outfit equips you with a map, helmet, rain poncho, and accident insurance. It's real-world Kyoto, not the temple-crawl version.

3 hoursfrom AUD $141

Full day Kyoto Walk in Fushimi, Arashiyama, Monkey, and Kinkakuji

Full day Kyoto Walk in Fushimi, Arashiyama, Monkey, and Kinkakuji

When Charlie from our team ran this full-day Kyoto walk, we tackled four major sites — Fushimi's vermillion gates, the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, a monkey park with actual elevation gain, and the gilded Kinkakuji temple — all stitched together via public transport. It's a proper mixed bag: serene temple grounds one moment, climbing a steep forest path the next, then back to crowds at the Golden Temple. The group maxes out at 12 people, so it feels less like a cattle run and more like a gathered tour party. Eight hours is the official span, though it can stretch either side by half an hour depending on trains and the group's pace.

Tokyo Shinjuku Chopsticks Making Class

When Sarah from our BugBitten team tried this chopstick-making class in Shinjuku, she walked in with two plain wooden sticks and left with a pair she'd shaped by hand. You work with a traditional Japanese hand plane (a kanna) to carve and smooth the wood into functional chopsticks, choosing from different timber types — some included, some available as paid upgrades. The whole experience takes about an hour in a relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop space. It's the kind of activity that appeals to travellers wanting to take home something they've actually made, rather than picked off a shelf.

1 hourfrom AUD $14

World Heritage Shirakawa-go and Experience Tours from Kanazawa

★ 5.0 (5,737)

World Heritage Shirakawa-go and Experience Tours from Kanazawa

When Ben from our team ran this full-day tour out of Kanazawa, it packed a genuine lot into nine-and-a-half hours: a morning in the UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go village with its steep-roofed farmhouses tucked into mountain valleys, then a solid afternoon back in Kanazawa hitting the polished gardens and geisha quarter. The group was mixed—families, couples, solo travellers—typical of a well-oiled city tour operation. The standouts weren't the sights alone (which are stunning) but the hands-on bits: rolling Japanese sweets with a craftsman and getting tactile with gold leaf. It's less about wandering at your own pace and more about ticking boxes efficiently, which suits people who want structure.

Sushi Making Tokyo Roll and Authentic Japanese Sushi Class

When Jake from our team did this sushi class in Asakusa, we found ourselves in a pocket of old Tokyo steps from Sensoji Temple, learning to roll proper Japanese sushi alongside travellers and locals. The 1 hour 40 minute session runs you through the fundamentals—rice seasoning, nori handling, fillings—under an English-speaking instructor who doesn't assume you've held chopsticks before. No fancy equipment, no pretence. Just a working kitchen, fresh ingredients, and the chance to eat what you've actually made. Asakusa itself is touristy but the class sits in the quieter corners where the neighbourhood still feels lived-in.

Kyoto : Chopsticks Making Workshop with Engraving Option in Gion

When Sarah from our team tried this Kyoto workshop, we shaped raw wood into working chopsticks using a traditional Japanese hand plane — the kind of quiet, focused craft that fills an hour properly. You pick from nine Japanese woods (two included free), plane and sand your pair smooth, then walk out with something you've actually made. It's set in Gion, Kyoto's atmospheric geisha district, and draws a mix of tourists and locals after something more tactile than a temple run. No woodworking chops needed; the instructor talks you through each step in English.

Kyoto Ring Making Workshop with Japanese Vintage Coin

When Em from our team tried this Kyoto ring-making workshop, we found ourselves hunched over a workbench for an hour, turning a worn vintage coin into a proper ring. The studio sits in Kyoto's craft district, attracting a mix of solo travellers and couples looking for something beyond the temple-hop circuit. You pick a coin from a global collection, then learn to shape, file, and finish it under the instructor's eye. It's tactile, unhurried, and you walk out with something you actually made—not a mass-produced trinket.

Osaka Go Karting Tour with Funny Costume

When Mia from our team tried this Osaka go-karting tour, she strapped into a kart dressed as a cartoon character and spent an hour weaving through the city's most iconic streets—Namba, Dotonbori, and beyond. It's exactly as bonkers as it sounds: you're essentially racing around real traffic in costume, which draws looks from locals and tourists alike. The whole operation feels like organised chaos in the best way, with rentals and insurance wrapped in. Just know the licensing requirements are strict, and you'll need to sort your paperwork before you arrive.

1 hourfrom AUD $95

★ 5.0 (2,161)

1 hour – 1h 30mfrom AUD $63

Hidden Kyoto E-Biking tour

When Sarah from our BugBitten team pedalled this 8-kilometre e-bike route through Kyoto, she found a smarter way to cover ground between the famous temples and the quieter spots tourists often miss. The tour strings together well-known sights like Kinkakuji and Kitanotenmangu with lesser-known temples tucked into the Daitokuji complex—Koto-in and Zuiho-in—plus the local charm of Imamiyajinja. It's a three-hour-45-minute loop that feels less rushed than a bus tour but more purposeful than wandering solo. The pace suits Kyoto's rhythm: pedal, pause, absorb, repeat.

Official Street Go-Kart Tour - Akihabara

When Mia from our BugBitten team tried this, she pulled on a Mario costume, climbed into a kart, and spent 90 minutes tearing through Akihabara's streets alongside a professional guide. It's the viral social-media stunt made real: you're actually driving a character-themed go-kart on Tokyo roads, weaving past pedestrians and traffic lights with other costumed drivers. The vibe is pure theatre meets driving experience — crowds stop to film, and the whole thing feels surreal in the best way. You'll need a valid International Driving Permit and moderate fitness; it's not for the faint-hearted or anyone with serious back or heart concerns.

Osaka: Guided Food Tour with 12 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries

★ 5.0 (1,620)