Top Japan Cultural & Theme Tours

This guided tour helps you discover lots of Kyoto’s dispersed temples, shrines, and cultural attractions in one day. You’ll save time researching and planning your trip, by having the itinerary organized for you. You’ll travel in an air-conditioned coach, and it’ll be a hassle-free day with a guarantee to skip the lines. Highlights include Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, the Inari Shrines, Sagano Bamboo Forest, and Kyoto Cultural Forest.

Discover the stunning Zen gardens, colorful temples and ancient shrines of Kyoto on this 3.5-hour, small-group walking tour that’s limited to just 12 participants. Experience the elegant architecture and sublime religious monuments of this historic Japanese city, once the imperial capital, as you join a guide on visits to the Gion Geisha district, Tofukuji Temple and more. This small-group Kyoto experience also includes snacks and all entrance fees.

See the highlights of Kyoto on a full-day tour from Tokyo. Learn about the history of the region from your guide as you visit top attractions including Mt Fuji, Heian Shrine, Sanjusangen-do Hall, and Kioyomizu-dera Temple. Enjoy a delicious lunch in Kyoto, and take a round-trip ride on the super-speed bullet train.

Experience the magic of Studio Ghibli during an enchanting tour to the Ghibli Museum and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, gain insight into the history of the magical movies during the comfortable journey to Mitaka, and then set out to explore the Ghibli Museum independently. Convenient transportation from Tokyo is included on this tour, as well as entrance fees. On Mondays, your visit to Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum will be substituted by a visit to Jindaiji Temple or Takahata Fudoson Temple.

Discover Nagano’s many highlights on this private two day tour. Save time planning transport, as a driver and private vehicle is included. You’ll have a guide to show you around on the first day, and then free time to explore on the second day. Overnight stay in a Japanese Ryokan, entrance fees to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, and a private onsen experience is included, making it the ultimate hassle-free tour.

Visit a sumo training center in Tokyo to observe the morning practice. Spend approximately two hours watching the sumo wrestlers train and observe the rules and regulations of sumo. It’s a rare chance for visitors to glimpse this exclusive world, and a fascinating window into a Japanese tradition.

The worldwide popularity of the Studio Ghibli Museum means that admission tickets, which can only be bought in advance, often sell out. Guarantee your entry to the museum, which imitates animated film sets from classic films such as Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, by booking your tickets in advance. This convenient package includes the delivery of the tickets to your accommodation, allowing you to skip the stress of finding a meeting point.

Eat, train and fight like a real Japanese sumo wrestler during this 2-hour sumo demonstration and authentic ‘Chanko Nabe’ (hotpot) lunch. Discover the history, training and rules behind the typical sumo match as you watch three real clashes. You can even try it yourself during a skirmish with a retired wrestler. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, dig into a tasty Chanko Nabe lunch, a filling meal of hotpot, rice, miso, salad, French fries and more, used by these hulking fighters to gain weight. Admission to the demonstration and lunch are both covered.

Discover the Peace Memorial City Hiroshima and visit the magnificent landmarks in a day!  Travel on an air-conditioned coach in Hiroshima and get the chance to visit The Peace Memorial Park, The Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima Itsukushima Shrine. This tour is operated with English speaking tour guide and Multilingual Audio Guide in the bus.

Step back in time to ancient Tokyo during this 3.5-hour exploration of the city’s historic Yanaka district. Discover a different side of the sprawling Japanese capital that dates back to its Edo period of the 16th through 19th centuries, admiring the area’s charming mix of temples, springtime cherry blossoms and timeless ‘reien’ (cemetery). A included guide will accompany you on your visit, providing additional details about Japanese history and local culture.

Get acquainted with a real-life geisha during a 1.5-hour cultural experience in Tokyo. An intimate encounter designed for travelers interested in Japanese culture, this tour includes a geisha performance, traditionally featuring songs, dances, and games, and refreshments such as tea and sweets. Learn about the history of the geisha and upgrade to include lunch and unlimited drinks.

Explore Akihabara in a unique and fun way—traveling in a go-kart dressed as a character of your choice—from comics, to games, or anime. No need to worry about getting lost, as you’ll have a guide to lead the way. It’s the perfect way to spend time in the fresh air, and see multiple sites in a short space of time, such as Rainbow Bridge, Asakusa, Tokyo Dome, Imperial Palace, Sky Tree, and much more. 

Experience the traditions of Japan with a 1- or 1.5-hour tea ceremony in Kyoto and learn the origins of this ancient practice. Choose from one of two different tea ceremony options, including a 1-hour session hosted in a machiya (typical wooden house) and a 1.5-hour ceremony complete with kimono dress. Your ceremony includes a guide, who will provide translation.

Immerse yourself in Samurai history and culture during this 2-hour Samurai experience at a traditional Kyoto Samurai House. Under the guidance of an expert Samurai instructor, learn the philosophies of Bushido, the ‘Way of the Warrior; handle a real katana sword; and take part in a Zen meditation session.

Wander the neon-lit alleys of Tokyo’s Shinjuku and Kabuchiko areas after dark on this 2-hour nocturnal adventure with a guide. Your visit to these two intriguing Tokyo neighborhoods, among Tokyo’s busiest for food and nightlife, will allow you the chance to sample hole-in-the-wall restaurants, enjoy the quirky bars of the Golden Gai and explore Kabuchiko’s infamous red-light district.

Immerse yourself in the beguiling beauty of the ‘maiko’ (apprentice geisha) scene during an exquisite evening of culture and cuisine at Gion Hatanaka. Gain fascinating insight into ancient Japanese customs as you chat with maikos and capture photographs to immortalize your memorable evening. Sip on a selection of unlimited drinks and pleasure your palate with delicacies inspired by ‘kaiseki’ cuisine, a traditional Japanese cooking style. Enhance your cultural experience of Japan on this enriching evening tour.

See all of Kyoto and Nara’s spectacular sights on a full-day sightseeing tour of the cities from Osaka. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, gain fascinating insight into the rich historical heritage of the region’s legendary landmarks. Begin your cultural excursion with a guided tour of the ancient Nijo Castle, and then absorb the aesthetic majesty of both Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kinkaku-ji Temple. Revitalize with a traditional Japanese lunch then explore nearby Nara, home to majestic monuments like the Great Buddha of Tadoi-ji Temple and Kasuga Shrine.

This tour will take you to see the famous 1000 vermilion gates at Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine, Arashiyama, UNESCO world heritage site Kinkaku-ji temple and Todaiji & Nara park. Enjoy an easy and relaxing bus ride, see famous sites in 2 cities in 1 day without the hassle of changing trains and getting lost. The best time to see the Autumn colors in Arashiyama starts from Nov 20th.

Immerse yourself in the captivating history and rich culture of Nikko on a partially guided full-day tour from Tokyo. Delve into the eventful Tokugawa era during a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nikko Toshogu Shrine, and then venture to the extravagant Edo Wonderland, a colorful enclave in which geishas, samurais and ninjas roam amid period villages. Watch an entertaining theatrical show to catch a glimpse of Japanese culture and enjoy convenient round-trip transportation from Tokyo.

Get acquainted with one of Japan’s most famous traditions during a tea ceremony and kimono-wearing experience in Osaka. Alongside a Japanese tea master, you’ll witness the ritual of making green tea while wearing a Japanese kimono, which are suitable for both men and women. Plus, you’ll sample Japanese sweets and enjoy premium green tea while learning about local culture.

Enjoy a memorable rickshaw ride through the streets of Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s most picturesque and historic neighborhoods, on this easily-customizable 30-min, 45-min, 1-hour, 2-hour, or 3-hour tour offering several different ride lengths. Sit back and relax as your knowledgeable driver peddles you past some of the city’s iconic sites, lovely gardens, towering skyscrapers and historic shops, passing cherry and maple trees as you go. It’s a great way to take a relaxed, informative, ride through this atmospheric area of Tokyo.

Discover the historic environs of Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as you explore its temples, shrines and famous deer park on this 6.5-hour excursion from Osaka. Visit Todaji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, before seeing Kasuga Shrine, which features over 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. Then stop by Nara Park, a 1,250-acre reserve that’s home to more than 1,000 free-roaming deer. Your Nara excursion also includes pickup from select Osaka hotels, rail tickets between Osaka and Nara, a guide and all entrance fees.

Discover two of Japan’s most spectacular sights on a captivating tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, explore the impressive monuments of Miyajima Island, famed for its sacred Itsukushima Jinja Shrine, whose red tori gate appears to be protruding from the sea during high tide. Continue onto the Hiroshima Peace memorial Park, a moving expanse dedicated to promoting peace around the globe. Enjoy a tranquil ferry ride and absorb the natural splendor of the region’s scenery on this enriching excursion.

Travel round-trip from Kyoto by high-speed bullet train to take in Hiroshima's historic sites, including exhibits about the 1945 atomic bomb that devastated the city. Start your visit on a lighter note, traveling by boat to Miyajima, a famously beautiful island that is home to the revered Itsukushima Shrine. Have lunch there, then return to the city to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Your expert guide shares important details about Hiroshima's heartbreaking history and remarkable recovery throughout this unforgettable 12-hour tour.