Small-group tours, day trips, cooking classes and multi-day adventures. Every tour vetted for traveller reviews first.
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.
Spend four hours in Kagurazaka, Tokyo's former samurai quarter, learning how bushido merged with Shinto and Buddhist thought. Your certified guide navigates you through neighbourhood temples and shrines before you don a kimono, watch a live sword demonstration, and have a go at basic blade work yourself. Finish with lunch at a tucked-away wooden restaurant serving traditional fare, and pick up advice on sourcing quality ceramics and tea.
Navigate Umeda's backstreets and underground passages on a three-hour evening tour that takes in three working izakayas serving Osaka's best skewered and fried fare. You'll sample takoyaki, kushikatsu, and edamame alongside four drinks—beer, sake, highball, or shochu—guided by a local who knows which spots locals actually frequent rather than those aimed at tour groups. Walk through retro shopping arcades, modern high-rise areas, and hidden alleyways that reveal how the city functions after dark.
Spend five hours in Seki, the Japanese heartland of blade-making, forging your own Damascus kitchen knife under a master smith with over five decades of experience. You'll shape, hone, and personalise the blade, then put it to work slicing fresh vegetables. The day includes a traditional lunch made with local produce, a certificate, and a small knife to take home. Seki sits roughly two hours from Kyoto by train.
A 90-minute guided walk through Shinjuku and Kabukicho with a local who knows the backstreets and stories tourists miss. You'll navigate neon-lit alleys, discover hole-in-the-wall spots, and gain insider perspective on Tokyo's underbelly—the bars, pachinko parlours, and late-night culture that shaped the district. Your guide shares context about what makes this neighbourhood tick, steering clear of the obvious photo stops.
Learn Sogetsu ikebana, a classical Japanese flower-arranging tradition, in a two-hour hands-on class near Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Based in Ota-ku, the studio sits a short walk from Omori or Heiwajima stations. You'll work with fresh flowers, practice essential techniques, and enjoy matcha tea with traditional sweets whilst creating an arrangement to take home. A genuine cultural encounter that slots neatly into airport layovers or Tokyo visits.
Spend two and a half hours navigating Tsukiji Outer Market with a local guide who knows which stalls deliver the real flavour of Tokyo's food culture. You'll taste your way through sushi, sashimi, grilled eel, beef skewers, and sweet treats, stopping at both celebrated counters and neighbourhood favourites that rarely appear in guidebooks. The market itself—a collision of wholesale operations, small retailers, and working kitchens—is where Tokyo's eating trends actually start.
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.
A 3–4 hour guided tour through Tokyo's Ginza neighbourhood led by a local food enthusiast who takes you to three hole-in-the-wall izakayas and neighbourhood eateries. You'll eat 8–10 dishes—fresh seafood, wagyu, and seasonal specials—paired with sake and other drinks. Small groups mean your guide can tailor conversation and pacing to what you actually want to know about Tokyo's eating culture, rather than rushing through scripted stops.
Spend two hours at a standing bar in central Kyoto learning sake from Kenji, a certified sommelier who spent years at a Hyogo brewery. He'll walk you through production methods, tasting techniques, and regional differences while you sample eight carefully chosen sakes paired with traditional snacks. Groups stay private—just you and up to three others.
Spend 6–8 hours skiing or snowboarding on Hokkaido's renowned powder, tailored to your ability. Choose between Sapporo Kokusai or Bankei slopes, both beginner-friendly, then warm up afterwards with a soak in an onsen. Expert instructors guide you through the day, and equipment rental is available if needed. An air-conditioned vehicle handles transport to and from the slopes.
Learn the fundamentals of Japanese tea ceremony in a tatami room at a practitioner's home in suburban Yokohama. A tea master with four decades of experience guides you through guest etiquette, the ritual's history, and hands-on matcha preparation. You'll sample seasonal wagashi—handmade sweets that pair with the tea—and have space to ask questions about the practice itself. Ninety minutes of genuine cultural exchange, not performance.
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.
A three-hour guided tasting tour through Kyoto's back streets and neighbourhood eateries, sampling twelve distinct Japanese dishes paired with three local drinks. Your guide steers you toward family-run shops and hole-in-the-wall spots favoured by residents, moving at a pace that lets conversation happen. You'll eat properly—not graze—and learn why each dish matters in Kyoto's food culture. The route covers mixed terrain but remains accessible to most fitness levels.
Skip Tokyo's labyrinthine train network and explore the capital's contrasts from a private vehicle over eight hours. Based in Yokohama, this customisable tour lets you select three to four sites—mixing old temples with neon-lit neighbourhoods—guided by a local English speaker who navigates the sprawl efficiently. You'll absorb Tokyo's scale without the subway confusion, though the city's sheer size means you'll cover distinct pockets rather than comprehensively.
Learn the centuries-old art of ikebana flower arrangement in a traditional Japanese home near Tokyo. Over 90 minutes, your instructor guides you through the fundamentals of this meditative practice, teaching you how to balance form and negative space. Afterwards, settle into a tatami room with freshly whisked matcha and homemade sweets whilst discussing Tokyo life and Japanese customs with your host.
Shape your own metal bangle in Tokyo using traditional Japanese Tankin hammering techniques. This two-hour private workshop lets you select materials, thickness, and surface finishes, then work with specialist tools under expert instruction to create a custom piece you'll wear home that day. Ideal for solo travellers, couples, or friends wanting a handmade keepsake that tells the story of your time in Japan.
A tailored one-hour photography session in Tokyo with a bilingual photographer who works to your preferred locations and schedule. You'll receive over 100 original image files plus ten professionally retouched photos. Pre-session consultation via chat confirms all details, ensuring the shoot captures exactly what you're after, whether it's a proposal moment, solo portrait, or couple's session against Tokyo's backdrop.
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.
A three-hour guided hike through Arashiyama's forest trails starting before dawn to reach the bamboo groves whilst quieter. Your English-speaking guide leads you past lesser-known temples and forest paths, with chances to spot wild monkeys amongst dense vegetation and mountain vistas. The early start means you'll experience the landscape the way locals do, without the midday crowds that typically choke the famous grove.
A three-hour guided night out through Shinjuku's drinking culture, hitting hole-in-the-wall izakayas and standing bars where locals actually spend their evenings. Your guide takes you beyond the tourist zones to experience how Tokyo unwinds after work—grilled yakitori, sake pours, and the kind of casual camaraderie you find in packed-tight gastropubs. You'll eat five dishes across two venues and drink three rounds, learning the rhythm of Japanese nightlife without the Shibuya crowds.
Walk through Shibuya's ramen lanes with a local guide who knows where the best bowls hide. Over 2–3 hours, you'll stop at three established shops and taste half-sized portions of tonkotsu, shoyu, and other regional styles. Each stop includes talk about broth-making, noodle craft, and how ramen became Japan's go-to comfort food. You'll finish knowing what separates a great bowl from an average one.
Pack Osaka and Nara's highlights into a single day via private car with an English-speaking guide. Start in Nara meeting the bowing deer and confronting the colossal Buddha at Todaiji Temple, then head to Osaka to explore the castle's feudal architecture, hunt for striking angles at Namba Yasaka Shrine, and finish among Dotonbori's neon signage hunting street food. Six to nine hours door-to-door, no train changes required.
Learn to make Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and gyoza from scratch in this hands-on 2.5-hour class set in Japan. You'll master the technique of building layered savoury pancakes with vegetables, pork and noodles, then flip them with proper kitchen tools. The gyoza section reveals how to achieve that prized crispy exterior on these pork and vegetable dumplings. A local supermarket visit beforehand shows you where to source ingredients, and you'll eat what you've cooked.
Spend two hours at a working pottery studio in Osaka learning to hand-throw ceramics with an English-speaking instructor trained in both Japanese and Catalan traditions. You'll choose what to make—a sake set, tea bowl, or sushi dish with chopsticks rest—whilst discussing Japanese food culture and craftsmanship. The studio occupies a century-old timber-and-earth house, a rare surviving example of pre-war Osaka domestic architecture. Take your finished piece home the same day, glazed and fired.
A demanding 7–8 hour circuit around Hakone's volcanic rim, combining a steep 90-minute ascent, a sweeping ridge traverse, and descent into the caldera. You'll clock roughly 8–9 km across bamboo groves and open slopes, finishing with lunch at a local restaurant and a soak in natural hot springs. The route demands genuine fitness but rewards you with sprawling views across the volcanic basin and frequent glimpses of Mt Fuji on clear days.
Sit zazen with an English-speaking monk at a private Kyoto temple closed to casual visitors. Over ninety minutes, you'll learn the fundamentals of seated meditation, practise under guidance, then walk the temple grounds and gardens. The monk shares insights into Zen philosophy and Japanese culture throughout. Few Western travellers get access to spaces this quiet or instruction this direct.
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.
Strap into a wire harness in central Tokyo and perform choreographed aerial stunts under professional guidance. You'll execute flips, lunges and combat moves whilst suspended, with cameras capturing every moment. The crew edits your footage into a finished short film you'll take home—a keepsake that proves you've pulled off moves most people only see on screen. Runs Monday to Friday, one hour total, in Akihabara.
Spend eight hours exploring Kyoto's major temples and districts with a private driver and local guide. This car-based tour covers Kinkakuji Temple, the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, the geisha quarter of Gion, and the thousands of vermillion gates at [Fushimi Inari Taisha](/places/fushimi-inari-shrine) Shrine. Hotel pickup and drop-off included. You can add Nara to visit Todaiji Temple and Nara Park instead of Gion if preferred.
Work alongside a master pewtersmith in Kyoto to craft your own sake cup, learning techniques rooted in Japanese metalwork tradition dating back centuries. Over two and a half hours, you'll shape pewter by hand in an intimate workshop normally closed to visitors, creating a functional piece that enhances the taste of sake. The artisan guides you through each stage, from concept to finishing touches, and your completed cup arrives home in a paulownia wood box—a tangible connection to craft heritage you can use or gift.
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.
Beat the tour buses with this eight-hour walking circuit through Kyoto's five most revered temples and gardens. Starting before dawn, you'll move through major sites—Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji, and others—whilst most visitors are still sleeping. A guide navigates the routes and shares context about each location's history and significance. You'll cover genuine ground here, so come prepared for sustained walking at a steady pace.
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.
Spend four hours in Uji, Kyoto's celebrated tea region, grinding matcha by hand with a stone mill before sipping your creation. Visit Byodo-in Temple, the eleventh-century marvel gracing Japan's 10-yen note, and walk through streets where tea cultivation shaped centuries of craft. A guide leads you through both the temple's architecture and the stories behind why this valley produces some of Japan's most prized green teas.
Sprint through six hours of central Tokyo with a local guide who steers you past the postcards to neighbourhoods that actually feel alive. Asakusa's temple grounds, Ueno's cultural spine, Harajuku's controlled chaos, Shibuya's crossing – you'll walk them all, catching the rhythm of how Tokyo layers ancient and cutting-edge into the same street. Solo travellers and first-timers get the most from this small-group pace, where someone who knows the city explains what you're seeing rather than just ticking boxes.
Step into a taiko drummer's shoes for this inventive one-hour workshop in Osaka. You'll join the fictional percussion group TEMPO DRUMS with a twist: you've mysteriously lost your memory on opening night. Work through a narrative-driven mission learning rhythm patterns and stage presence from seasoned players, then don the traditional costume and perform on theatre boards. Your performance gets professionally recorded, edited and gifted back to you—plus a commemorative photo marks the experience.
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.
Explore Okinawa's celebrated Blue Cave on a private snorkelling trip lasting 1 hour 45 minutes. This fully equipped experience welcomes ages 5–50, from non-swimmers to confident snorkellers. A local guide provides one-on-one support whilst you drift through luminous waters and hand-feed fish. GoPro documentation is captured and delivered to your phone. Insurance and all gear—including child flotation aids—come included.
This four-hour walking tour explores two distinct Tokyo neighbourhoods, revealing how each district maintains its own identity and culture. Your guide draws on years living and working across these areas, sharing insider knowledge that goes beyond standard tourist information. You'll experience the genuine contrasts between neighbourhoods whilst learning how Tokyo's stations function as unique hubs. The tour includes dinner and is fully wheelchair accessible.