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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511 tours in Japan · ★ 4.0 and upClear filters

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Asakusa's Historic Treasures

🛕 Culture & History

Asakusa's Historic Treasures

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.

4 hoursfrom AUD $224

【 100% PRIVATE 】Okinawa Blue Cave Adventure

🐠 Water Activities

【 100% PRIVATE 】Okinawa Blue Cave Adventure

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.

1h 45mfrom AUD $39

Koyasan Full-Day Private Tour

🛕 Culture & History

Koyasan Full-Day Private Tour

Explore Koyasan's spiritual heart with a local guide fluent in its Buddhist traditions. This six-hour private tour covers the two most sacred zones: Garan monastic complex and Okunoin, where Kobo Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism, is venerated. You'll also visit Kongobuji, the sect's administrative temple. A three-kilometre walk through Okunoin—lined by ancient cedars and tens of thousands of gravestones—reveals the meditative atmosphere that defines this mountain sanctuary. Your guide shares insights only long-time residents possess.

6 hoursfrom AUD $179

4 Hours Shibuya - Shinjuku Night Tour

4 Hours Shibuya - Shinjuku Night Tour

Spend four hours navigating Tokyo's neon-soaked heart through Shibuya and Shinjuku after dark. You'll cross the world's busiest pedestrian intersection, hunt through packed shopping strips, wander the narrow lantern-lit alleys of Memory Lane, and tuck into the tiny standing bars of Golden Gai. This isn't sightseeing from a coach—you'll be on foot, moving at street level through crowds and chaos, with a local guide reading the rhythm of each neighbourhood.

4 hoursfrom AUD $121

Minoh Waterfall and nature walk through the Minoh Park

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

Minoh Waterfall and nature walk through the Minoh Park

Escape Osaka's urban sprawl on a guided walk through Minoh Park, where a 4–5 hour loop takes you past an ancient Buddhist temple and down to a dramatic waterfall nested in forested valleys. A licensed local guide leads the way, sharing stories of the mountain's spiritual heritage and its resident macaque population. Lunch is included. This oasis sits just outside the city, making it a genuine retreat rather than a packaged excursion.

4 hours – 5 hoursfrom AUD $188

2-Hour Tokyo Night Bike Tour: Shibuya, City Lights & Tokyo Tower

🏔 Adventure & Sports

2-Hour Tokyo Night Bike Tour: Shibuya, City Lights & Tokyo Tower

Cycle through Tokyo's neon-lit streets on this 2-hour night ride, launching from near Shinjuku Station. You'll navigate quieter routes—Jingu Gaien, Aoyama Cemetery—toward Tokyo Tower's glow, discovering pockets of the city unreachable by train. The pace is steady at 15 km/h through lit neighbourhoods, balancing urban buzz with unexpected calm. Bike and helmet provided.

2 hoursfrom AUD $76

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

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

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'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

Mochi and Nerikiri Wagashi Combination Cooking Class

🍜 Food & Cooking

Mochi and Nerikiri Wagashi Combination Cooking Class

Master the craft of mochi and nerikiri wagashi—delicate Japanese confections—in a hands-on 2.5-hour private session held in a quiet Tokyo residential home, 15 minutes from central by train. You'll work through accessible recipes at your own rhythm, taking home finished sweets and photos from the class. All materials and tools are supplied, making this suitable for solo travellers and families alike. Plant-based ingredients mean the techniques work equally well back home.

2h 30mfrom AUD $117

Experience Tokyo Through the Lens of a Local Artist

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Experience Tokyo Through the Lens of a Local Artist

A one-hour photo walk through Tokyo's neighbourhoods—from bustling Shibuya to quiet corners of Asakusa—guided by a local artist who captures candid, cinematic portraits. You'll explore streets that matter to you whilst a photographer documents your presence there, delivering 40–50 edited images within a week. This isn't a standard tourist shoot; it's a visual record of how you move through the city.

1 hourfrom AUD $179

Stunning Private Tea Ceremony: Camellia Garden Teahouse

🛕 Culture & History

Stunning Private Tea Ceremony: Camellia Garden Teahouse

Step into a century-old wooden house nestled among camellia gardens to learn tea ceremony the proper way. This private session in Kyoto puts you in charge—you'll whisk and prepare your own matcha in a serene setting that feels worlds away from the tourist crowds at nearby Golden Pavilion and other UNESCO sites. The teahouse itself is worth the visit: a preserved slice of old Kyoto that opens its doors specifically to keep its traditions alive.

1 hourfrom AUD $161

Daruma Workshop by Making your Own Japanese Souvenir in Shinjuku

🛕 Culture & History

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.

1h 30mfrom AUD $36

Kyoto: Nishiki Market Food Tour - 7 Tastings

🍜 Food & Cooking

Kyoto: Nishiki Market Food Tour - 7 Tastings

Spend three hours navigating Nishiki Market, Kyoto's centuries-old food quarter, with a local guide leading you through narrow alleys stacked with over a hundred vendors. You'll start at Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, then taste seven samples sourced directly from the stalls—expect yuba, seasonal Kyoto vegetables, pickled items, and matcha sweets. The guide unpacks how these ingredients built the city's distinctive cooking style and the market's evolution as Kyoto's culinary backbone.

3 hoursfrom AUD $72

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

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

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

Tokyo Ultimate Daikoku & JDM Experience (R35 GTR Private Tour)

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Tokyo Ultimate Daikoku & JDM Experience (R35 GTR Private Tour)

Tour Tokyo's JDM heartland in a modified R35 GTR with a knowledgeable local guide who speaks fluent English. Spend 4.5 hours exploring the Wangan expressway, Bayshore, and the legendary Daikoku Parking lot where Japan's car enthusiasts gather nightly. You'll learn the stories and significance behind each location from someone who knows the scene intimately—not a generic sightseeing run.

4h 30mfrom AUD $1389

Private Dinner with Maiko and Geiko in Kyoto

🛕 Culture & History

Private Dinner with Maiko and Geiko in Kyoto

Step inside a private ochaya tea house in Kyoto for an exclusive two-hour evening with working maiko and geiko. You'll sit down to a full Japanese multi-course dinner, watch a traditional mai dance, play period games, and chat directly with your entertainers via a translator. These tea houses rarely open their doors to outsiders, making this a genuine glimpse into Kyoto's geisha quarter culture rather than a tourist performance.

2 hoursfrom AUD $2132

Miyajima Highlights: Itsukushima Shrine & Island Nature

🛕 Culture & History

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

Okinawa Hidden Gems: Private Morning Food & Culture Tour

🍜 Food & Cooking

Okinawa Hidden Gems: Private Morning Food & Culture Tour

A two-hour private morning exploration of Naha's back-street food culture. Your guide steers you past tourist traps to hole-in-the-wall vendors serving genuine Okinawan snacks and regional alcohol. You'll taste three local dishes, sample three distinct awamori varieties with proper drinking technique, and sip fresh-pressed juice whilst picking up stories about the island's distinct heritage. Best done early in your stay, before habits set in.

2 hoursfrom AUD $104

Osaka Day Tour: Secret Spots & Local Treasures

🛕 Culture & History

Osaka Day Tour: Secret Spots & Local Treasures

Walk Osaka like someone who actually lives here. This four-hour ramble threads together castle ramparts, vintage fashion districts, and neon-soaked alleyways with a guide who reads the city like a book. You'll pick up stories about samurai, street culture, and what locals genuinely find funny about their own town. Small groups mean no queuing behind selfie sticks and enough breathing room for proper chat.

4 hoursfrom AUD $58

Kyoto Gion Early Morning Walking Tour

🛕 Culture & History

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.

3 hoursfrom AUD $67

Experience the Taste of Old Tokyo in Backstreet Yanesen

🍜 Food & Cooking

Experience the Taste of Old Tokyo in Backstreet Yanesen

Wander through Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi—three interlocking neighbourhoods where Tokyo's older character persists in narrow lanes, temple grounds, and family-run shops. Over six hours, you'll taste your way through the district: grilled eel, hand-rolled rice balls, retro coffee in a former public bath, sweet treats, and sake paired with stories from shopkeepers and artisans who've anchored themselves to this corner of the city. A living history lesson told through food and conversation rather than guidebook.

6 hoursfrom AUD $277

Tokyo - Shinjuku's Most Underrated Eats (3 stops, 3 drinks)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Tokyo - Shinjuku's Most Underrated Eats (3 stops, 3 drinks)

Navigate Shinjuku's backstreet food scene with a witty local guide across three neighbourhood gems, sampling dishes most visitors miss. This 3-hour ramble through Tokyo's most frenetic district includes proper meals and three drinks, revealing why locals eat where they do rather than where guidebooks point. Spanish-language tours run Wednesdays.

3 hoursfrom AUD $99

Private Sushi Experience with Master Chef near Osaka Kyoto & Kobe

🍜 Food & Cooking

Private Sushi Experience with Master Chef near Osaka Kyoto & Kobe

Learn to craft nigiri and hand rolls from a sushi master in a private three-hour session near Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. You'll work one-on-one (or with your group alone) to select fish, master knife technique, and prepare over 20 pieces to eat straightaway. Choose a morning slot around 11:00 AM for lunch or evening around 5:00 PM for dinner, starting anytime between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. All equipment provided; Japanese tea and water included.

3 hoursfrom AUD $163

Discover Kyoto by Bike Full Day Tour

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Discover Kyoto by Bike Full Day Tour

Pedal through Kyoto's mix of celebrated temples and hidden neighbourhoods on this seven-to-eight-hour guided cycle. You'll visit the Silver Pavilion and Gion alongside quieter spots like HonenIn Garden and Miyagawacho's narrow lanes—places coach tours never reach. A small group rides at an unhurried pace with a local guide who knows where the real city hides. E-bike provided, water included, lunch left to you.

7 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $175

Snow Monkeys, Hokusai & Sake: A Perfect Day in Nagano

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Snow Monkeys, Hokusai & Sake: A Perfect Day in Nagano

A seven-to-eight-hour circuit through Nagano combining macaques in their natural hot springs, a sake brewery in the artist's town of Obuse, and optional temple visits. Depart Nagano Station in a small group of six to eight travellers with a local English-speaking guide. You'll walk forest trails, taste regional cuisine made from local ingredients, and sample premium sake—all designed to move smoothly between highlights without feeling rushed.

7 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $222

3 Day Japan Highlights Tour: Tokyo, Mt.Fuji, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

3 Day Japan Highlights Tour: Tokyo, Mt.Fuji, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka

A three-day small-group journey connecting Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Nara and Kyoto with an English-speaking guide. You'll travel between five historic Japanese capitals by comfortable coach, stopping to sample regional food, experience tea ceremony, and explore World Heritage sites. The itinerary balances major attractions—deer-filled Nara, vermillion torii gates at Fushimi, the Great Buddha—with quieter villages and mountain scenery including Mt. Fuji views. Route tailors to your pace and interests, whether you're keen on temples, countryside drives or Osaka's neon-soaked nightlife.

3 daysfrom AUD $1788

Tokyo Ikebana Wellness Art Experience near Shinjuku

🧖 Wellness & Spa

Tokyo Ikebana Wellness Art Experience near Shinjuku

Learn ikebana flower arrangement in a traditional tatami room near Shinjuku with a qualified instructor guiding you through the fundamentals. This 90-minute workshop welcomes complete beginners and requires no prior experience. You'll work with seasonal blooms, master the basic tools, and leave with a handmade mini vase and event photos. Accessible by public transport and suitable for all fitness levels, it's a straightforward way to understand Japanese floral aesthetics.

1h 30mfrom AUD $134

3 Hours Kyoto Insider Sake Experience | Tasting Konteki

🍜 Food & Cooking

3 Hours Kyoto Insider Sake Experience | Tasting Konteki

Spend three hours in Fushimi learning sake from a certified sommelier at Higashiyama Brewery. You'll taste over ten varieties, pair them with traditional Japanese appetisers, and tour the Kizakura Museum to understand how sake is made. By the end, you'll recognise flavour profiles and navigate Japanese menus with confidence—no longer guessing at unfamiliar labels.

3 hoursfrom AUD $119

Osaka Umeda: PICCADILLY DINNER SHOW&NIGHTCLUB with Tasting

Osaka Umeda: PICCADILLY DINNER SHOW&NIGHTCLUB with Tasting

Dine at this Umeda nightclub where Italian and Japanese set menus pair with live entertainment until dawn. Choose between a relaxed six-dish Italian spread, a premium beef-focused eight-course, or a seasonal Japanese progression. The venue pulls in an after-work crowd for table-side views of the stage, running nightly from 8 PM. Courses range from ¥5,000–¥8,000; add ¥2,000 for unlimited drinks and secure a VIP spot.

2 hoursfrom AUD $45

Japanese Calligraphy Experience in Osaka

🛕 Culture & History

Japanese Calligraphy Experience in Osaka

Learn traditional brush technique from a master instructor with nearly three decades of experience in this 90-minute session at a Shinsaibashi hotel. You'll master the fundamentals of Japanese calligraphy, select from 16 popular kanji characters, and create a framed artwork to take home. The class wraps with matcha tea and traditional sweets in a location just a minute's walk from the subway.

1h 30mfrom AUD $70

Snow Monkey Park, Soba Lunch and Shibu Onsen Tour

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

Snow Monkey Park, Soba Lunch and Shibu Onsen Tour

Spend six to seven hours in Nagano's mountain hot spring country, starting at Snow Monkey Park to observe wild macaques bathing in steaming pools. Travel to the historic Shibu Onsen village for a lunch of hand-pulled soba noodles and local dishes, then soak in the mineral-rich public baths yourself. A straightforward mix of wildlife watching, regional food, and thermal bathing that captures what draws people to Japan's onsen culture without the tourist hustle.

6 hours – 7 hoursfrom AUD $179

Bamboo Lantern Workshop

🛕 Culture & History

Bamboo Lantern Workshop

Shape your own lantern from locally sourced bamboo in this hands-on hour-long session in Japan. You'll work with materials harvested nearby and finish your piece with decorative touches that reflect your taste. All tools are provided, making it straightforward whether you've crafted before or not. You'll walk away with a functional keepsake that's genuinely yours.

1 hourfrom AUD $36

Exclusive Private Imperial Palace=Emperor&(SHOGUN)WI TOKYO NATIVE

🛕 Culture & History

Exclusive Private Imperial Palace=Emperor&(SHOGUN)WI TOKYO NATIVE

Walk through four centuries of Japanese imperial history with a Tokyo-born guide who brings the Shogunate era to life. This two-hour private tour covers the Imperial Palace East Gardens, once the grounds of Edo Castle—the world's largest fortress—exploring the legacy of Japan's emperors and samurai culture. You'll discover hidden corners, rare botanical specimens, and the story of how Tokyo transformed from a military stronghold into modern Japan's capital, guided by someone who knows every detail and best vantage point.

2 hoursfrom AUD $85

Mochi Matcha Gluten Free Japanese Sweets Class near Shibuya area

🍜 Food & Cooking

Mochi Matcha Gluten Free Japanese Sweets Class near Shibuya area

Make four beloved Japanese sweets in a traditional home near Shibuya over two hours. You'll craft strawberry daifuku, mochi ice cream, matcha pancakes and dango under Sakura's guidance—a certified confectionery instructor who covers the cultural roots of rice cake traditions. Each recipe gets written down so you can recreate them at home. These treats are naturally low-fat and gluten-free, and the intimate setting in an authentic wooden house feels like visiting a Japanese grandmother's kitchen rather than attending a class.

2 hoursfrom AUD $117

Shamisen Discovery in Kyoto 【Group】

🛕 Culture & History

Shamisen Discovery in Kyoto 【Group】

Pick up a shamisen for the first time in this relaxed Kyoto session. Rather than getting bogged down in classical technique, you'll spend an hour learning to coax actual sounds from the three-stringed instrument under a professional player's watch. No prior music experience needed, no formal dress code—just show up ready to have a go. Tea and a photo with your instrument wrap things up.

1 hourfrom AUD $90

Traditional Japanese Music show & Experience Tour in Osaka

🛕 Culture & History

Traditional Japanese Music show & Experience Tour in Osaka

Watch skilled musicians perform traditional Japanese hogaku, then pick up an instrument yourself in this hands-on hour in Osaka. You'll handle shamisen, koto, wadaiko and others, learn the basics, and play alongside the group. The experience sits halfway between concert and workshop — enough time to feel what these instruments demand without pretending you're suddenly proficient.

1 hourfrom AUD $63

Christmas Magic in Tokyo! Private & Family-Friendly Walking Tour

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Christmas Magic in Tokyo! Private & Family-Friendly Walking Tour

Craft your ideal Tokyo day with a local guide who knows the city's quieter corners. Over 4–8 hours, you'll navigate neighbourhoods, eat at spots tourists miss, and ask the questions that matter to you. Whether you're chasing architecture, food stalls, or family-friendly temples, the route bends to your interests. Your guide handles reservations and logistics; you focus on what actually happens when you turn a corner.

4 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $639

Buddha, Bamboo & Zen - Bespoke Kamakura Private Walking Tours

🛕 Culture & History

Buddha, Bamboo & Zen - Bespoke Kamakura Private Walking Tours

A six-hour private walking tour through Kamakura that bends to your preferences. Visit the Great Buddha, wander the Bamboo Temple's green grove, explore samurai heritage at historic shrines, and discover the yagura cave tunnels. Your Australian guide steers you through this coastal town's temples and history at a pace that suits your group—stop early if you've had your fill, or add spots you want to see. An escape from Tokyo's sprawl into genuine quiet.

6 hoursfrom AUD $484

Private Tour of Shirakawago from Kanazawa (Half Day)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Private Tour of Shirakawago from Kanazawa (Half Day)

A 4-hour private drive from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO-listed mountain village famed for its steep-roofed farmhouses. Your English-speaking driver collects you from your hotel and takes you deep into the Japan Alps to explore this remote settlement on your own schedule. Choose morning or afternoon timing to suit your pace. Perfect for those who want flexibility without the constraints of group tours or public transport logistics in mountain terrain.

4 hoursfrom AUD $305

Highlights of Japan Tour: 10-day Small Group

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Highlights of Japan Tour: 10-day Small Group

Spend ten days moving through Japan's everyday rhythms—crowded platforms, neon-lit neighbourhoods, regional train carriages—with a small group that shapes the itinerary together. You'll eat what locals eat, navigate cities on foot and by rail, and sidestep the velvet-rope attractions. Breakfasts and dinners are included; you chart the rest.

10 daysfrom AUD $10014

Private Tour: Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and Riverside Walk

🍜 Food & Cooking

Private Tour: Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and Riverside Walk

Head west from central Tokyo to visit the city's oldest sake brewery in the Tama river valley. This eight-hour private tour pairs brewery education and tastings with a traditional riverside lunch and forest temple visit. Your guide walks you through fermentation techniques, rice varieties and the drink's cultural place in Japan, while you sample several brews throughout the day. All food and drink included.

8 hoursfrom AUD $336

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