Things to do in Japan
Day Trips from Tokyo8 optionsDay Trips from Osaka15 optionsMount Fuji Tours17 optionsDay Trips from Kyoto31 optionsGo Kart Tour Tokyo19 optionsShibuya Tour20 optionsTokyo City Tour10 optionsTokyo Imperial Palace Tour56 optionsAkihabara Tour34 optionsBike Tour Kyoto15 optionsHimeji Castle Tours28 optionsTokyo Walking Tour184 options
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Kyoto Tea Ceremony with Kimono near Imamiya Jinjya ShrineA Japanese tea ceremony class in Kyoto where you wear a kimono, learn the etiquette and subtle movements from a live guide, whisk your own bowl of matcha, and savor it with a traditional sweet in a tranquil, refined setting. The guide speaks English, Korean or Japanese and welcomes children from age one. The whole experience runs ninety minutes.Is it for me?Most tea ceremony experiences in Kyoto are demonstrations you watch; this one puts the whisk in your hand and a guide at your side who explains what you're doing and why. The result is that you leave understanding the ritual instead of just having seen it.
Gion Walking Tour by Night in Kyoto: Geisha District with GuideA 2-hour night walking tour of Gion, Kyoto's traditional geisha district, led by a professional English-speaking guide. You walk the backstreets and riverside paths, learn the history and rules of the maiko and geiko world, and have the chance to encounter geisha in their daily movement through the neighborhood. The tour has run since 2007 and draws about 5,000 guests yearly.Is it for me?Choose the small-group option if you want fewer than 12 people so the guide can move at a slower pace and answer more questions; the standard group option works well if you're comfortable in a group of up to 15 and want a lower price. Either way, the evening timing means you walk when geisha are more likely to be moving through the streets, and the guide's knowledge of the backstreets means you see the district's depth rather than just the main tourist paths.
Kanazawa Half Day Tour Private Guide Geisha & SamuraiA 4-hour private guided tour of Kanazawa covering the Higashi Chaya District (the city's famous geisha and tea quarter), the Samurai District with its preserved mud-walled houses, and Kenrokuen Gardens facing Kanazawa Castle. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the itinerary is customizable—you choose which stops matter most to you. An English-speaking guide leads the route; optional activities like gold leaf crafting, tea ceremony and entry to the Nomura Samurai house are available at each stop.Is it for me?Your first morning in Kanazawa: hit the feudal-era highlights—geisha districts, samurai streets, gold leaf workshops—with a guide who handles navigation and pickup, so you go straight from your hotel into the day.
Osaka Sushi Making Class: Make 12 PiecesA 90-minute sushi making class in Osaka's Dotonbori where you learn to roll 12 pieces of nigiri and gunkan-style sushi from a live guide in English, Chinese or Japanese. The class includes all ingredients, a sushi-chef costume, and Japanese sake or beer; vegetarian, vegan and halal menus are available. You leave knowing how to make sushi at home.Is it for me?Book this class if you want to actually roll sushi yourself rather than watch a demonstration—the 90 minutes is enough to learn the technique and leave knowing you can do it again at home. The Dotonbori location puts you in the heart of Osaka's food scene, and the guide's live instruction in your language means nothing gets lost in translation.
Kyoto Morning Tour: Golden Pavilion & Imperial Palace VisitA morning tour of Kyoto's three most significant historical sites—Nijo Castle, the Golden Pavilion, and Kyoto Imperial Palace—led by a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter, with admission and transport included. Departing from either Kyoto or Osaka (with shinkansen transfer from Osaka), the tour runs four to six hours and ends at Kyoto Station, leaving the afternoon free. On days when the Imperial Palace closes, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine or Nishi Hongan-ji Temple substitutes; if Nijo Castle is closed, Ryoan-ji Temple replaces it.Is it for me?Book from Osaka if you're in the Kansai region and want a guide with you during the shinkansen journey; book from Kyoto if you're already staying there and prefer to skip the transfer time.
Kyoto Samurai Armor Experience: Wear, March & PhotographA samurai armor experience in Kyoto where you wear authentic gear, create a personalized calligraphy war fan, taste premium matcha surrounded by 20 suits of armor, then march to the Sanjo Riverbank in full costume for a group photoshoot. The activity runs 90 minutes with an English-speaking guide; children from age 6 are welcome, and you take home the war fan and tabi socks you made.Is it for me?The 90-minute pace means you're on your feet and in armor for most of it—the march and photoshoot are the heart of the day, so this suits travelers who want to move and be photographed rather than sit and observe. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.
Tokyo Tsukiji Market Food Tour & Sushi Cooking ClassYou’ll meet your guide at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple before weaving through Tokyo’s bustling Tsukiji Outer Fish Market—sampling snacks and learning local secrets—then head to Japan’s largest cooking school for a hands-on sushi lesson. Enjoy your homemade lunch with new friends and take home recipes (and maybe some imperfect sushi rolls). It’s lively but never overwhelming—just honest fun.
Fushimi-Inari Night Walking Tour Kyoto: Lantern-Lit GatesThis is an evening walking tour of Fushimi-Inari Shrine in Kyoto, led by an English-speaking guide through the shrine's quieter hours when lantern light transforms the iconic red gates. The tour lasts approximately two hours and covers the lower paths of Mount Inari without climbing the entire mountain. Sunset is around 6:00 PM; a daytime option is available in winter. WhatsApp is required for guide communication before the tour.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Fushimi-Inari's famous gates without the daytime crowds—the evening timing and lantern light are what make the shrine feel different, and a guide who speaks English means you understand what you're walking through instead of just moving past it.
Kyoto: Arashiyama Rickshaw Tour & Bamboo Forest WalkYou’ll roll through Kyoto’s Arashiyama district by rickshaw, slip into hidden corners of the bamboo forest most visitors miss, pause at Nonomiya Shrine for local stories, and walk up into the tallest groves on foot with your guide beside you. Expect laughter, quiet moments under swaying bamboo, and memories that linger longer than any photo.
Tokyo Shinjuku Night Tour: Kabukicho & Golden Gai WalkingYou walk through Memory Lane's tiny bars, navigate Golden Gai's narrow alleys, see the Godzilla Head light show, and pass through Tokyo's LGBTQ district with a guide who knows which doors open to visitors and which don't. The tour includes the guide fee and covers the biggest nightlife area in Shinjuku on foot, so wear comfortable shoes and plan for about two to three hours moving through crowds and neon.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Tokyo's actual nightlife, not a sanitized version—the guide handles the navigation and cultural context so you don't have to figure out which alleys are safe or which bars welcome visitors. Plan for two to three hours on foot in crowded, neon-lit streets, which is exactly what lets you cover the full Shinjuku night in one evening.
Mt. Fuji & Kawaguchiko Private Day Trip from Tokyo with GuideYou’ll leave Tokyo behind for a private Mt. Fuji day trip with your own guide—walking through peaceful shrines, tasting lavender ice cream by Lake Kawaguchiko, exploring mysterious forest caves, and meeting locals along the way. Expect quiet moments mixed with small surprises—and maybe even catch Fuji herself peeking through the clouds.
Osaka: Customized Walking Tour with Licensed Local GuideYou choose 2 to 6 sites from Osaka's main attractions — castle, markets, temples, shopping streets — and a licensed English-speaking guide customizes the route to match your interests and pace. The tour runs 4 to 8 hours depending on how many stops you want, includes the guide's knowledge of where locals actually eat, and you arrange the itinerary by phone after booking.Is it for me?This works best if you want to see Osaka's main landmarks — castle, markets, temples, shrines, shopping streets — without booking a fixed itinerary in advance. The customization means you're not paying for stops that don't interest you, and the guide's local knowledge saves you from tourist traps and long waits.
Tokyo Shibuya: Go Kart Tour with Costumes & Photo StopsYou’ll slip into costume and drive a go kart through Shibuya Crossing with a local guide leading you past neon crowds into Harajuku and Omotesando. Expect laughter, unexpected photo stops, and sensory overload in the best way possible—plus you’ll get printed pictures to remember how surreal it all felt.
Shibuya Ramen Making Class: Master 3 Styles in 90 MinutesYou'll make three ramen styles from scratch—tonkotsu, shoyu, and miso—using professional noodle machines and a blowtorch to sear your own chashu. The ninety-minute class includes all ingredients, an English-speaking guide, and a tasting of your three mini bowls. Groups stay small, under eight people, and the location is three minutes from Shibuya station by train.Is it for me?Right for anyone wanting to learn a real skill in Tokyo without needing prior cooking knowledge. The ninety minutes are paced to teach you three styles and let you taste the differences, which is what makes the time feel full rather than rushed.
Shinjuku: All You Can Drink Party & English Chat NightYou’ll walk into a buzzing Shinjuku bar alone but leave with new friends, maybe some wild Jenga stories, and more than a few laughs over shared drinks. Wristbands make starting conversations easy (even if you forget what your color means). All you can drink is included until 10pm — just bring your curiosity and see where the night goes.
Tokyo Sumo Morning Practice: Real Stable & Wrestler PhotosYou meet a local guide at a Tokyo train station, walk to an active sumo stable, and watch wrestlers train from the ground level. Your guide explains the sport's 1,500-year history and Shinto roots before you observe the morning practice in silence. If timing allows, you'll photograph wrestlers after they finish. The tour includes stable entry, guidance, and the chance for photos—no videos, no flash, no interruptions.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see sumo the way wrestlers actually train, not as a performance—the early start and silence requirement are what keep it real and keep the stable from becoming a tourist circus.
Hiroshima & Miyajima Day Trip: Shinkansen, Shrine & OkonomiyakiA guided day trip from Osaka to Hiroshima and Miyajima combines the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, a ferry crossing to Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, and a traditional okonomiyaki lunch. Round-trip Shinkansen tickets from Shin-Osaka station are included, along with a local English-speaking guide, museum and shrine entry, and ferry passage on the route that brings you closest to the Great Torii Gate from the sea. Multilingual audio guides in 21 languages are available as an add-on for the bus portions of the tour.Is it for me?Choose the Osaka or Kyoto departure if you're based in the Kansai region and want the Shinkansen included; the Fukuoka option works if you're in Kyushu. If you're already in Hiroshima, join directly at the station and skip the train fare. The fixed schedule—museum, ferry, shrine, and return train all timed together—means the day holds without you coordinating each step.
Kyoto: Early Morning Walking Tour Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji & Fushimi InariYou’ll wander Kyoto’s bamboo grove before sunrise crowds arrive, watch morning light on Kinkaku-ji’s golden walls reflected in water, and walk beneath Fushimi Inari’s endless red gates alongside a local guide—pausing for stories and small moments you might otherwise miss.
Tokyo: JDM Car Night Ride, Daikoku PA & Rainbow BridgeYou’ll ride shotgun in real JDM cars through Tokyo’s tunnels with local drivers, stop at Daikoku PA for Japan’s wildest car meet scene, catch Rainbow Bridge glowing over Tokyo Bay, and end your night with hotel drop-off. If you love engines or just want to feel Tokyo’s pulse after dark, this is it.
Shinjuku Sake Tasting Masterclass: 6+ VarietiesA two-hour sake tasting masterclass in Shinjuku, Tokyo, where you learn brewing basics and taste over six varieties from small family breweries while a sommelier walks you through food pairings. The class covers how to read sake labels, select bottles that match your taste, and understand why the same sake tastes different in different cups and at different temperatures. Minimum age is 20; message ahead if you have food restrictions.Is it for me?Book this if you're based in Tokyo without a car—the Shinjuku location is accessible by public transport from anywhere in the city, so you can join straight from your accommodation.
Destinations
- Akita Prefecture›
- Aomori Prefecture›
- Chiba Prefecture›
- Chubu›
- Ehime Prefecture›
- Fukuoka Prefecture›
- Fukushima Prefecture›
- Gunma Prefecture›
- Hiroshima Prefecture›
- Hokkaido›
- Ibaraki Prefecture›
- Iwate Prefecture›
- Kagawa Prefecture›
- Kagoshima Prefecture›
- Kanagawa Prefecture›
- Kansai›
- Kanto›
- Kochi Prefecture›
- Kumamoto Prefecture›
- Kyushu›
- Mie Prefecture›
- Miyagi Prefecture›
- Nagasaki Prefecture›
- Oita Prefecture›
- Okayama Prefecture›
- Okinawa›
- Saga Prefecture›
- Saitama Prefecture›
- Shimane Prefecture›
- Tochigi Prefecture›
- Tokushima Prefecture›
- Tokyo Prefecture›
- Tottori Prefecture›
- Yamagata Prefecture›
- Yamaguchi Prefecture›
