FOOD TOURS
Japan is a treasure trove of delicious food, and some of your most memorable experiences here will no doubt go via your tastebuds. Get a great start to your foodie adventures with a passionate guide and head out to experience the bustling izakayas in downtown Tokyo where people wind down after a long day of work with a chat over drinks and yakitori skewers grilled to perfection, or visit one of the city’s few remaining old town districts where local specialty shops still line the quaint streets.
The crystal clear water of the Japan Alps is one of the secrets behind the region’s cuisine, and in Takayama you can get an introduction to the local miso and other delicacies of this mountainous area after a visit to the town’s morning market.
Get an insider’s tips to the numerous stalls at Kyoto’s impressive maze-like Nishiki Market or try your hand at making your own bento, the ubiquitous Japanese lunch box. Crazy about tea? Get an introduction to the fascinating history of matcha as you stroll through one of the most important towns for green tea-making and savour all the tea-flavoured snacks and drinks you didn’t know existed.
Visit the unique retro neighbourhoods of Osaka and get to know why this city is rightly called “the stomach of Japan”, or head out on an evening tour in Hiroshima to sample the city’s beloved okonomiyaki and learn why it’s different from its namesake Osaka version.
Headed north? Try your hand at grilling leaf-shaped kamaboko, one of the unique specialties of Tohoku capital Sendai, or visit a hidden gem of a coastal town for sweets-sampling at century-old tea houses and the freshest seafood breakfast you’ve ever had.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Japan is home to a fascinating array of ancient arts, and if you’re interested in the country’s traditional crafts and maybe even curious about trying them out for yourself, we will be happy to arrange the right tour for you.
Feel the samurai spirit as you learn how to bow and to handle a Japanese sword with classic kenbu techniques, or watch a kenbu master perform ritual singing and fan dancing.
In a land famous for its beautiful ceramics, what is more fitting that trying your hand at creating your own unique piece at a pottery class during your stay in Japan? Or if you rather know how to mend a broken piece, learn the fundamentals of kintsugi - an art carried out for centuries in Japan, where chipped or broken ceramics are given new life using gold and other precious metals.
Sake is the preferred drink of many Japanese, and the craftsmanship going into brewing this much-loved beverage is an art form in itself. Visit one of Japan’s famous sake areas and gain an understanding of the process as you tour the breweries and sample some of the goods to wash the experience down.
Not all art is ancient, and Japan is home to a vast selection of amazing art museums and exhibits - we can help you arrange tickets to some of the most popular venues, like TeamLab Borderless and its mesmerising displays of light installations.
LOCAL CULTURE
If you want to dive deep into Japan’s local culture and traditions, we have got you covered. Experience the country’s love for tea at a peaceful tea ceremony in a tatami-decked room or try whisking up some frothy matcha yourself with guidance from the tea master.
Through centuries geisha and maiko have been considered some of the most talented entertainers in Japan, obtaining their skills through years of vigorous training, and you can enjoy a unique performance and encounter with them over dinner and parlour games.
Enchanted by the colourful kimono and yukata worn by women and men of all ages throughout Japan? Pick out your own and get dressed before strolling the narrow alleyways of the historic districts.
For a glimpse into the rural life of countryside Japan, experience the terraced rice fields and visit a local farmer for some mochi-making and a chat over lunch at their home.
Buddhism and spirituality play a big part in the everyday life of most Japanese to this day - visit a temple to be introduced to traditional zazen meditation or head into the magical forested cemetery at sacred Koyasan at night where monks will explain about their daily lives and tell you the legends of Kobo Daishi.