Tours & experiences

Tours in Japan

Small-group tours, day trips, cooking classes and multi-day adventures. Every tour vetted for traveller reviews first.

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Duration

Any ⏱ Under 1 hour 🕓 1–4 hours 🌞 4 h – 1 day 🗓 Multi-day

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Any Under $50 $50–$100 $100–$200 $200+

516 tours in Japan · ★ 5.0Clear filters

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Naoshima private tour by national licensed tourguide

🛕 Culture & History

Naoshima private tour by national licensed tourguide

Spend eight to nine hours exploring Naoshima's contemporary art scene with an experienced English-speaking guide who's spent nearly a decade perfecting island knowledge. Visit signature installations like Yayoi Kusama's iconic pumpkins, the underground Chichu Museum, Benesse House, and artist-run galleries across the island. Customise your route to match your interests, whether you're chasing architecture, sculpture, or experimental spaces. Early starts and pickups from Okayama station are available for an extra fee.

8 hours – 9 hoursfrom AUD $242

Badminton in Osaka & Kyoto with Locals!

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Badminton in Osaka & Kyoto with Locals!

Join a mixed-ability badminton session in Osaka where Japanese locals and expat residents gather to play and socialise. You'll spend three hours on court with gear provided, mixing casual rallies with newer players whilst making friends across the community. The sessions welcome solo travellers and groups alike, creating a genuine sporting atmosphere rather than a tourist spectacle.

3 hoursfrom AUD $9

Authentic Japanese Culture Experience near Shibuya, Tokyo

🛕 Culture & History

Authentic Japanese Culture Experience near Shibuya, Tokyo

Learn Japanese calligraphy in a private session near Shibuya, spending 90 minutes transforming brush strokes into art. Your host Maki meets you at the station and guides you through foundational techniques before you inscribe your name or a meaningful word onto traditional paper or fan. The modern studio overlooks the city, and you'll leave with a finished piece and photos capturing the experience.

1h 30mfrom AUD $117

Traditional Home cooking Experience in Osaka, Japan

🍜 Food & Cooking

Traditional Home cooking Experience in Osaka, Japan

Learn to cook two authentic Osaka dishes alongside a local instructor in this hands-on two-hour class. You'll work with seasonal ingredients, including premium Koshihikari rice sourced directly from a Niigata farmer, then sit down to eat what you've made. Choose between Course A (sukiyaki, tempura, rolled omelet) or Course B (wagyu roast beef bowl, chicken nanban, sashimi) when booking. The emphasis is on having fun whilst cooking, not just following recipes.

2 hoursfrom AUD $179

Samurai Guide Sho’s Mt. Takao Hike, Temple & Spa from Shinjuku

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

Samurai Guide Sho’s Mt. Takao Hike, Temple & Spa from Shinjuku

Led by a former JR conductor with 22 years on the Chuo Line, this seven-to-eight-hour journey departs Shinjuku in premium Green Car seating and climbs Mt. Takao via a gentle 90-minute trail. You'll eat mountain fare, visit Yakuoin Temple to settle your thoughts, descend by chairlift (weather permitting), then soak at a tattoo-welcoming onsen with sauna before returning to Shinjuku. No gear required—trainers suffice. On clear days, Mt. Fuji appears on the horizon.

7 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $161

Nara: Half-Day Private Tour of 4 Must-See Spots & Deer Park

🛕 Culture & History

Nara: Half-Day Private Tour of 4 Must-See Spots & Deer Park

This five-hour guided tour covers four major landmarks across Nara, beginning at Kofuku-ji Temple's distinctive five-storey pagoda before moving to Todai-ji Temple to view the monumental Great Buddha. You'll absorb perspectives from Nigetsu-do Temple, then walk through Nara Park to encounter the resident deer—animals held sacred as divine messengers since medieval times—before finishing at Kasuga Taisha Shrine with its iconic lantern displays. The route winds through heritage streetscapes, revealing merchant houses and traditional architecture that shaped the city's character.

5 hoursfrom AUD $305

Tokyo Station and Imperial Palace 1 Hour Guided Tour

🛕 Culture & History

Tokyo Station and Imperial Palace 1 Hour Guided Tour

Sprint through Tokyo's architectural and political heart in 60 minutes with a guide who unpacks the stories behind the red-brick station and the Imperial Palace gates. You'll pick up the feudal context—samurai, shoguns, the transition to modernity—that makes these landmarks click, plus a pocket guide to revisit spots on your own time. Runs regardless of palace closure, so Monday and Friday visits work just fine.

1 hourfrom AUD $14

Samurai experience: art and soul of the sword

🛕 Culture & History

Samurai experience: art and soul of the sword

A 90-minute exploration of samurai philosophy and martial discipline in Japan that prioritises understanding bushido principles over sword combat techniques. You'll learn the ethical framework that shaped samurai decision-making, discovering how restraint and diplomatic skill were valued as highly as combat prowess. The experience challenges the myth of the reckless warrior, revealing instead a code built on courtesy, discipline, and the sword as a last resort. You'll wear traditional attire, handle a sword respectfully, and leave with a completion certificate.

1h 30mfrom AUD $298

Make Your Own HANKO Stamp in Tokyo — A Unique Cultural Souvenir

🛕 Culture & History

Make Your Own HANKO Stamp in Tokyo — A Unique Cultural Souvenir

Carve your own hanko—Japan's personal identity seal—at a Tokyo workshop in 90 minutes. You'll work with a traditional seal craftsperson to choose characters, learn why these stamps matter in Japanese culture and commerce, then hand-chisel your design into stone or wood. Walk away with a functional keepsake that works as an actual signature substitute, complete with a protective case.

1h 30mfrom AUD $227

Kyoto night walk: Gion and Geisha district with local youth

🛕 Culture & History

Kyoto night walk: Gion and Geisha district with local youth

A two-hour evening walk through Kyoto's Gion district led by a local university student who trades rehearsed commentary for genuine conversation. With groups capped at six, you'll navigate lantern-lit temple grounds and geisha quarter alleyways while picking up insider knowledge about the neighbourhood's living culture. Your guide knows where locals actually eat and the angles that make your photos sing.

2 hoursfrom AUD $40

Kyoto Hidden North: Beautiful Shrines, Yokai & Cursed History

🛕 Culture & History

Kyoto Hidden North: Beautiful Shrines, Yokai & Cursed History

Walk through Kyoto's shadowed northern quarters on a late-afternoon tour uncovering the city's supernatural underbelly. Over roughly three hours, explore shrines built to ward off malevolent spirits, trace the influence of Abe no Seimei's mystical practices, and hear accounts of yokai sightings tied to specific locations. This adult-only experience threads together folklore, ritual history, and architectural choices that reveal how Kyoto's residents once battled invisible forces. A reflective moment in a ritual garden—historically used to appease vengeful entities—caps the journey.

2h 30m – 3 hoursfrom AUD $58

Tokyo Zen Meditation, Calligraphy, and Tea Experience

🧖 Wellness & Spa

Tokyo Zen Meditation, Calligraphy, and Tea Experience

Spend 90 minutes in a Tokyo tea house learning Zen meditation from a resident monk, grounded in breathing techniques and mindful observation. You'll practise traditional brush calligraphy with a local guide, then sit with freshly whisked matcha whilst reflecting on what you've absorbed. The session unfolds in a tatami room scented with incense, stripped of distraction. An optional walking tour and visit to Hamarikyu Gardens extend the experience for those wanting to linger in the contemplative mood.

1h 30mfrom AUD $90

Yabusame Adventure with Mt. Fuji Views

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Yabusame Adventure with Mt. Fuji Views

Shoot arrows from horseback in the shadow of Mt. Fuji, learning the samurai art of Yabusame over two hours. You'll dress in period costume, work with native Japanese horses, and train under instructors before attempting targets on the grounds of an ancient Shinto shrine. It's a hands-on blend of horsemanship, archery, and cultural practice—physical enough to feel real, but structured for complete beginners.

2 hoursfrom AUD $197

Hidden Osaka Foodie Tour: Nishinari Backstreets & Local Dining

🍜 Food & Cooking

Hidden Osaka Foodie Tour: Nishinari Backstreets & Local Dining

A three-to-four-hour walking tour through Nishinari's neighbourhood laneways, hitting three local restaurants where you'll eat proper Osaka fare and sample drinks at each stop. You'll trace sections of an old samurai pilgrimage path and spot street art and weathered shopfronts whilst learning about the district's cultural fabric. Small groups (max five) mean you get genuine chat with owners and fellow walkers, and your money lands directly in family kitchens rather than corporate tills.

3 hours – 4 hoursfrom AUD $117

[Private] Shizuoka Shore Excursion: Zen, Matcha & Calligraphy

🛕 Culture & History

[Private] Shizuoka Shore Excursion: Zen, Matcha & Calligraphy

A private cultural tour in Shizuoka designed for cruise passengers with minimal port time. You'll visit Seiganyo-ji Temple, a site connected to the Tokugawa shogunate, where you'll practise seated meditation, prepare and taste premium matcha with traditional sweets, then craft your own calligraphy on a hanging scroll to take home. Your English-speaking guide collects you from the pier and ensures you're back with hours to spare, using efficient taxi transport to maximise your 2.5 hours ashore.

2h 30mfrom AUD $212

Kyoto near Fushimiinari Wagashi making&Small Group Tea Ceremony

🍜 Food & Cooking

Kyoto near Fushimiinari Wagashi making&Small Group Tea Ceremony

Learn to whisk matcha in an authentic Kyoto home near Fushimi Inari, guided by friendly English speakers in groups of up to eight. You'll discover tea ceremony fundamentals, then prepare your own bowl of matcha—a skill to recreate for friends back home. The session blends formal tradition with the warmth of a Japanese invitation, unfolding over 75 minutes in a traditional tatami room with optional seating alternatives.

1h 15mfrom AUD $72

Tokyo Skytree Area: Sumo Morning Practice Stable Visit

🛕 Culture & History

Tokyo Skytree Area: Sumo Morning Practice Stable Visit

Watch sumo wrestlers train at dawn in a working stable near Tokyo Skytree, a privilege most locals never experience. You'll see two hours of genuine morning practice—the grappling, the sweat, the coach's commanding voice—from close enough to catch every grunt and collision. A guide walks you through the ritual, hands you a detailed brochure, and there's time afterward to photograph the rikishi and chat with them one-on-one.

2 hoursfrom AUD $117

Fish Market & Tokyo Skyline Private Walking Tour

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Fish Market & Tokyo Skyline Private Walking Tour

A 4–5 hour guided walk through Tokyo's contrasting neighbourhoods, starting at a working fish market before heading to Ginza's high-end shopping strips and Odaiba's waterfront. You'll take the Yurikamome monorail between zones, soak in skyline views from replica landmarks, and pause for traditional green tea. Your guide navigates the crowds and explains what you're seeing; what you buy or eat is your call.

4 hours – 5 hoursfrom AUD $246

Hiroshima Highlights Custom Private Walking Tour with local guide

🛕 Culture & History

Hiroshima Highlights Custom Private Walking Tour with local guide

Walk through Hiroshima with a knowledgeable local guide over 2–3 hours, building your own itinerary from the city's key sites. Choose between two sample routes: one covering Hiroshima Castle, Gokoku Shrine and Shukkeien Garden; the other focused on atomic bomb legacy sites including the Dome, peace museums, and historic buildings. Mix and match locations to suit your interests, whether that's architecture, wartime history, or gardens. Your guide handles logistics on foot and provides context throughout.

2 hours – 3 hoursfrom AUD $110

Let's enjoy Scuba diving in Izu Peninsula for certificate Diver

🐠 Water Activities

Let's enjoy Scuba diving in Izu Peninsula for certificate Diver

Get certified or refresh your skills with a guided scuba dive in Japan's Izu Peninsula. This six-hour course pairs you with an experienced dive guide for two tank dives, letting you explore underwater life at a relaxed pace. You'll need to bring your certification card and log book, or arrange rental gear in advance—the operator can sort full equipment based on your measurements. Lunch is included.

6 hoursfrom AUD $157

Tokyo Go-Kart City Tour (90 Minutes) | Extended Guided Experience

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Tokyo Go-Kart City Tour (90 Minutes) | Extended Guided Experience

Drive a go-kart through Tokyo's streets on this 90-minute guided tour, hitting neighbourhoods and landmarks at a measured pace with built-in photo stops. You'll wear costumes for shots, have a bilingual guide narrate the route, and see the city from behind the wheel rather than a tour bus window. Insurance and safety gear included. Requires a valid International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva Convention format), Japanese licence, or US Forces Japan SOFA licence.

1h 20m – 1h 30mfrom AUD $161

Mt.Fuji Trekking 1 Day Tour up to the summit by Private Vehicle

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Mt.Fuji Trekking 1 Day Tour up to the summit by Private Vehicle

Scale Japan's highest peak on a 12–16 hour private trek to Mt. Fuji's summit or 7th station. Your guide drives you to the 5th station trailhead, then leads you upward through alpine terrain where views expand with every metre gained. The mountain has shaped Japanese culture for centuries and earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2013. This is a serious physical challenge—expect thin air, steep switchbacks, and the quiet satisfaction of reaching 3,776 metres on foot.

12 hours – 16 hoursfrom AUD $4033

Private Daikoku Parking Area, Hakone turn Pike, Umihotaru Tours

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Private Daikoku Parking Area, Hakone turn Pike, Umihotaru Tours

Explore Tokyo's expressway culture with a guided tour centred on Daikoku parking area, a beloved hub where car enthusiasts gather. Choose from three route options lasting 2–6 hours, with stops at iconic locations including the Hakone turnpike and Umihotaru service area. The flat-rate private booking suits groups of up to four, making it straightforward for friends or families wanting to experience Japan's motorway scene without the logistics of driving yourself.

2 hours – 6 hoursfrom AUD $179

Private Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Gion(Geisha) & Higashiyama

🛕 Culture & History

Private Kyoto Early Bird English Tour: Gion(Geisha) & Higashiyama

Beat the crowds on this three-hour walking tour through Kyoto's most atmospheric neighbourhoods. Your local guide navigates Gion's geisha quarter and Higashiyama's temple-lined streets before sunrise foot traffic builds. You'll reach Kiyomizu-dera, the UNESCO-listed temple, in the quiet hours when light filters through wooden eaves and cobblestones are yours alone. A photographer documents the experience, capturing moments most visitors miss.

3 hoursfrom AUD $134

Tokyo Private Customizable Half Day Tour

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Tokyo Private Customizable Half Day Tour

Build your own four-hour Tokyo experience with a dedicated English-speaking guide who handles all logistics and bookings. You'll pick two to three spots that genuinely interest you—whether that's a neighbourhood you've heard about, a specific museum, or local shops—and explore at a sensible pace. Your guide collects your preferences beforehand, avoiding anywhere you've already seen. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you're staying centrally, plus all in-city transport.

4 hoursfrom AUD $241

3.5hours Primeval Forest Snowshoe hike and Wildlife Watching Tour

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

3.5hours Primeval Forest Snowshoe hike and Wildlife Watching Tour

Trek through Japan's untouched forest on routes carved by wildlife, following animal trails through snow-covered terrain. This 3.5-hour snowshoe expedition puts you in genuine wilderness with strong chances of spotting deer, foxes, and other fauna. Winter conditions mean you'll walk across pristine snow where animal tracks tell their own stories. Gear rental covers boots, snowshoes, and winter clothing, so arrive with just your curiosity.

3h 30mfrom AUD $76

Shibuya Bar Hopping Adventure Unique and Drank Experience

Shibuya Bar Hopping Adventure Unique and Drank Experience

Spend an evening bar-hopping through Shibuya with a local guide, sampling Japanese drinking culture across two venues. Start with all-you-can-drink sake and shochu paired with beef hot pot at a traditional izakaya, then head to a unique fishing restaurant where you catch and cook your own meal. Between stops, your guide reveals Shibuya's hidden corners and street-level history before finishing near Miyashita Park, the district's newest hangout. Three and a half hours total.

3h 30mfrom AUD $170

Otsu-e Folk Art Workshop & Local Culture Walk Near Kyoto

🛕 Culture & History

Otsu-e Folk Art Workshop & Local Culture Walk Near Kyoto

Spend three and a half hours in Otsu learning traditional folk art directly from Misato Takahashi, whose family has practised Otsu-e painting for generations. This lakeside town, just ten minutes by train from Kyoto, opens its artistic doors through a guided walk past cultural landmarks and a hands-on painting workshop where you'll create your own lucky charm or wisdom artwork. Tea, local snacks, and a finished piece to take home round out an afternoon that connects you to four centuries of regional creative tradition.

3h 30mfrom AUD $143

Snap Photo in New Tokyo

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Snap Photo in New Tokyo

Walk through Tokyo's streets with Kei, a commercial photographer who's shot campaigns for Google, Samsung and major Japanese brands. This one-hour session pairs you with a dedicated lens to capture candid moments at both iconic spots and tucked-away corners only locals frequent. You'll leave with professionally edited photos that feel like snapshots from a trip with a friend, not a staged photoshoot.

1 hourfrom AUD $143

Tokyo Soba Making Experience – Easy & Fun! Make Your Own Soba

🍜 Food & Cooking

Tokyo Soba Making Experience – Easy & Fun! Make Your Own Soba

Roll up your sleeves and learn to hand-pull soba noodles in Tokyo using traditional techniques and equipment. Over two hours, you'll work through the full process under patient guidance, from dough to finished noodles. The small-group setting means you get proper instruction tailored to your pace, whether you've cooked before or not. You'll taste your own soba immediately after—a revelation compared to dried supermarket versions—and walk away with genuine insight into how Japanese cooks have crafted this dish for centuries.

2 hoursfrom AUD $68

Tokyo City Adventures Private English Tour With Hotel Pickup

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Tokyo City Adventures Private English Tour With Hotel Pickup

A private six to eight-hour Tokyo tour with hotel collection and drop-off, covering major neighbourhoods like Shibuya, Asakusa, and Meiji Shrine. Your driver knows the city well and can tailor the route to your interests, whether you want a structured itinerary or a broad introduction. Travelling by private vehicle means you skip queuing for trains and can move at your own pace between stops.

6 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $623

Home made Ramen you made from scratch!! (Vegans friendly)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Home made Ramen you made from scratch!! (Vegans friendly)

Learn to build ramen from the ground up in this three-hour hands-on class led by Hideki, a former ramen restaurant chef with a decade of experience. You'll craft noodles, broth, and toppings yourself, then sit down to eat what you've made. The studio sits within easy reach of central Tokyo's major hubs—Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Shinagawa—and Haneda airport. Vegan and vegetarian versions available.

3 hoursfrom AUD $163

From Nagoya: Hida Takayama & Shirakawago Tour (Small Group)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

From Nagoya: Hida Takayama & Shirakawago Tour (Small Group)

A 9.5-hour mountain escape from Nagoya into two beautifully preserved towns separated by centuries of tradition. You'll explore Hida-Takayama's merchant-era streetscape and Shirakawa-go's distinctive gassho farmhouses, guided by an experienced local in your choice of language. The small group format keeps things intimate, and you can elect to finish in Takayama, Kanazawa, or Shirakawa-go depending on your next move.

9h 30mfrom AUD $286

Kyoto : Okada Tea Ceremony & Kimono

🛕 Culture & History

Kyoto : Okada Tea Ceremony & Kimono

Spend two-and-a-half hours in Kyoto dressed in authentic silk kimono while learning the fundamentals of Japanese tea ceremony. After selecting your garment and receiving basic styling, you'll participate in a guided tea session where a practitioner demonstrates matcha preparation and serves traditional sweets. You'll then have the afternoon free to wander the local streets in full dress until early evening, experiencing how locals moved through their day in traditional wear.

2h 30mfrom AUD $117

Matcha Making Experience and Matcha Comparison in Tokyo

🍜 Food & Cooking

Matcha Making Experience and Matcha Comparison in Tokyo

Spend 90 minutes in Tokyo learning to distinguish authentic matcha from counterfeit blends. You'll sample ten varieties sourced from five Japanese growing regions, then prepare your own bowl under guidance from a former Kyoto tea farmer with agricultural expertise and a practising pharmacist. Finish with three matcha and roasted tea lattes, plus homemade biscuits. A rare chance to understand what real matcha actually tastes like.

1h 30mfrom AUD $79

Privately visit local home for tea ceremony &music, Tokyo

🛕 Culture & History

Privately visit local home for tea ceremony &music, Tokyo

Step into a Tokyo home for an intimate two-hour encounter with Japanese tradition. Your host will guide you through matcha preparation—watching first, then whisking your own bowl—whilst a live koto performance fills the room. You'll try your hand at the thirteen-stringed instrument, sample three varieties of traditional sweets, and ask questions freely. Located just twenty minutes from Tokyo Station, this private experience runs flexibly between 10am and 7pm.

2 hoursfrom AUD $81

Japanese Sweets Making and Great Buddha in Kamakura

🍜 Food & Cooking

Japanese Sweets Making and Great Buddha in Kamakura

Craft seasonal wagashi (traditional Japanese confections) at a renowned Kamakura shop, then explore the iconic Great Buddha statue—both in a single 3-hour outing. A bilingual guide walks you through each step of sweet-making, explaining the monthly design rotations, before leading you to Kotoku-in where you'll step inside the Buddha's hollow bronze form. You'll pocket your creations or savour them with matcha, browse local food stalls, and catch coastal views along the way.

3 hoursfrom AUD $94

Kamakura & Yokohama Private and Custom Tour with English Driver

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Kamakura & Yokohama Private and Custom Tour with English Driver

A nine-hour private day trip from Tokyo that lets you set the pace across three coastal destinations. Your English-speaking driver collects you from your hotel and handles navigation while you decide whether to linger at Kamakura's temples and the iconic Great Buddha, explore Enoshima Island's clifftop shrines and seafront promenades, or venture into Yokohama's waterfront districts, gardens, and quirky museums. The vehicle stays yours throughout—no group constraints, no fixed stops.

9 hoursfrom AUD $602

Kyoto Photography Masterclass - Private Photography Lesson

🛕 Culture & History

Kyoto Photography Masterclass - Private Photography Lesson

Learn photography fundamentals from a practising Kyoto-based photographer during this three-hour private lesson. Your guide shares insider knowledge of the city's most photogenic locations—both obvious and overlooked—whilst teaching you how to read light, compose frames, and navigate your camera's settings. You'll work at your own pace, with instruction pitched to your current ability, and leave with both stronger technical skills and a personal map of where to return.

3 hoursfrom AUD $242

Nara private tour (Shore excursion available from Osaka or Kobe port)

🛕 Culture & History

Nara private tour (Shore excursion available from Osaka or Kobe port)

This eight-hour private tour whisks you from Osaka or Kobe port to Nara, Japan's ancient capital (710–784), where you'll encounter free-roaming deer, UNESCO-listed temples, and traditional gardens. Your guide navigates the quieter corners most first-timers miss, threading past the famous Great Buddha Hall and through Isuien's meticulously landscaped grounds. Lunch and hotel pickups are included, giving cruise passengers a seamless window into Japan's classical heritage without the port-area hassle.

8 hoursfrom AUD $323

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