Top Chubu Culture - page 11

This half-day tour takes you through Kanazawa’s most iconic sights, starting at Oyama Shrine, known for its unique gate combining Japanese, Chinese, and Western architectural styles. Your guide will explain the shrine’s history and its connection to the Maeda family. Next, explore Kanazawa Castle, where you'll learn about samurai life, defensive design, and the craftsmanship behind its restored walls and wooden structures. You will then visit Kenroku-en Garden, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, admired for its ponds, lanterns, seasonal scenery, and traditional garden design. The tour ends in Higashi Chaya District, a beautifully preserved geisha teahouse area with charming wooden streets, perfect for photos and browsing local shops.

Embark on a captivating journey through Kanazawa, a city where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly. Explore the iconic Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan's three most beautiful landscape gardens, offering stunning seasonal views year-round. Step back in time as you stroll through the historic Higashi Chaya District, with its well-preserved geisha houses and traditional tea shops. Discover the artistic wonders of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, showcasing cutting-edge exhibitions in a strikingly modern setting. Visit Kanazawa Castle and its adjacent park, where you can learn about the city's samurai heritage. Listen to intriguing stories and insights from your guide, providing a deeper understanding of Kanazawa's cultural and historical significance. Enjoy a delectable lunch featuring Kanazawa's renowned seafood at a local market or restaurant (not included). If desired, venture off the beaten path to uncover hidden gems and local secrets.

Uenohara is rich in natural beauty and still retains its original Japanese landscape. This is a valuable tour to share the secrets of healthy longevity in Japan, held by a dietitian who is an expert in food and nutrition. You will eat a healthy longevity diet rich in fresh, pesticide-free vegetables from traditional fields in an old private home, and we will talk about traditional food and nutrition. Guided tour. The ko-minka are made using traditional Japanese building techniques. We will meet at 11:00 a.m. and return to the meeting place around 4:30 p.m. We will take you on a 10-minute walk to a spot with lovely river and mountain scenery. After that, we will walk about 10 minutes and guide you to a souvenir store, take a cab to the mountain scenery, and take you to a food store. This is a healing spot with a beautiful river and birdsong. After that, please take a cab to arrive at an old house and enjoy listening to a story about healthy longevity food, diet and nutrition.

Discover the story behind Kanazawa's iconic Tsuzumi Gate through a unique journey into Japan's taiko culture. Offered only once a month, this exclusive experience takes you to Asano Taiko, a world-renowned drum maker with more than 400 years of history. Enjoy special access to workshop areas normally closed to visitors, learn from skilled artisans, watch a live performance by a professional taiko artist, and experience the power of taiko drumming for yourself. The tour concludes at a beautifully restored sake brewery restaurant, where you will enjoy a 10-course French-style kaiseki dinner paired with locally brewed sake. Transportation, English-speaking guidance, workshop access, taiko performance, drumming experience, dinner, and sake tasting are all included. Return transportation to Kanazawa Station or selected hotels is provided.

An experience where you can learn the process of making Echizen lacquerware by visiting two workshops, Hacoa and Shitsurindo and making your very own original lacquer spoon. Guests will get to see the process of making authentic Echizen lacquerware. Hacoa is a woodworking workshop that makes the base for many of the lacquerware craftsman in the area. Here you will get to see craftsman transform wooden blocks into commercial products. After viewing the workshop you will polish your own spoon and head over to Shitsurindo. Shitsurindo is a Echizen lacquerware workshop where craftsman paint lacquer. You will get to also see their workshop which is usually off limits. Here you will paint your spoon with lacquer.

Explore popular sightseeing spots in Kanazawa such as the Kenrokuen Garden, Nagamachi Samurai District, and Higashi Chaya-gai together with an interpreter-guide who knows all there is to know about Kanazawa. Recommended for first time travelers to Japan and those arriving at Kanazawa in the afternoon. At sightseeing spots, learn from the guide about the culture and townscapes that Kanazawa continues to carefully preserve as well as initiatives for SDGs. ©金沢市

This private tour lets you enjoy Noto’s local food scene without worrying about where to go or how to order. Choose from Nanao Station, Wakura Onsen, or Hakui Station areas, then visit two local restaurants or izakaya with your guide. Your guide will help with Japanese menus, ordering, and local food explanations. This is a relaxed food-hopping experience for travelers who want to enjoy Noto’s everyday dining culture like a local.

Echizen ware, which was born in the Heian period, is one of the six ancient kilns in Japan that still continues to produce pottery. Soil that contains a lot of iron has a distinctive red-black color on its surface. This time we will take you to a workshop where Echizen ware is made. You can also view artworks by Taro Okamoto and others at the Echizen Ceramics Village, and learn about the history of Echizen ware at the Echizen Ancient Kiln Museum. Echizen Old Kiln Museum Echizen Ancient Kiln Museum is a museum that opened in 2017. In addition to the Echizen ware museum, there is also the ``Old Mizuno Family Residence,'' an old folk house from Fukui that was relocated, and a full-fledged tea room. Echizen Pottery Village A hands-on museum of Echizen ware. There are many works of art in the facility. Sometimes it's simple pottery for everyday use, sometimes it's a surprising work of art. Why not enjoy Echizen ware, which has many different faces, with all five senses?

Embark on a tranquil journey with our Kanazawa Garden Tour, where we'll meander through the town's most enchanting green havens as nature's beauty unfolds around every corner. Kanazawa is a beautiful city, well situated between the Japanese Alps and the sea of Japan. There is much to discover in Kanazawa but especially the gardens are just wonderful. Because it was one of the 5 most important cities during feudal times, Kanazawa had a real "Arts and crafts blossom" during the Edo-period. This rich heritage remained preserved until today. This tour goes off the beaten path to show you some of the most gorgeous traditional gardens in Kanazawa.

Discover the vibrant life of Kanazawa on a fully private walking tour tailored to your interests and schedule. This immersive experience allows you to explore not just famous attractions but also hidden neighborhoods that reveal the true essence of the city. With a flexible pace, engage in meaningful conversations about local customs and modern culture as you wander through the streets. A traditional tea or modern coffee break enhances your experience, providing time to reflect and inquire about your surroundings. Choose between half-day or full-day options to fit your travel plans perfectly. - Private walking tour tailored to your interests and pace - Explore both iconic sites and local neighborhoods often overlooked - Enjoy a coffee or tea break to discuss local life in-depth - Available in half-day or full-day options for flexibility

Embark on an exclusive journey through four of Kanazawa’s most distinguished heritage sites, guided by a knowledgeable private guide who will provide clear and insightful explanations of the city’s history and culture. Discover the essence of Kanazawa, allowing you to enjoy the remainder of your day at your leisure. Appreciate the refined beauty of Kenrokuen Garden and the majestic Kanazawa Castle, experience the elegant atmosphere of the Higashi Chaya District, and gain a deeper understanding of samurai traditions at the renowned Nomura Samurai Residence in the Nagamachi Samurai District

This is not a fixed itinerary ramen tour—it’s a flexible, locally driven experience designed around you. Instead of taking you to predetermined shops, your guide selects two ramen spots in real time based on your preferences, appetite, & the atmosphere of the day. Whether you’re into rich & hearty broths or lighter, more delicate flavors, you’ll experience Kanazawa ramen culture that matches your taste. What makes this tour unique is its focus on everyday food culture. You won’t just eat ramen—you’ll explore how locals actually enjoy it, moving between neighborhoods like Kanazawa Station or Katamachi, where students, workers, and regulars shape the dining scene. Each stop reveals a different style, from quick, casual bowls to more distinctive regional expressions influenced by the Hokuriku climate. With a small, private group setting, this experience feels less like a tour and more like being shown around by a local friend—one who knows exactly where to go for a great bowl of ramen.

Living in Kanazawa for many years, you'll discover the history of the town, but also the life of its inhabitants today, and of Japanese people in general. You'll meet craftsmen and locals, and spend a day immersed in a city of gastronomy, art, craftsmanship and traditional culture.

This experience is designed for travelers who want clarity, flexibility, and genuine local expertise—not a rushed. You can choose between a half-day or full-day option, depending on your travel style and schedule. ️ Half-Day Tour: Shirakawa-go Only: The half-day tour focuses exclusively on Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage village. You’ll travel by bus and explore the village with a local guide, learning how families lived in the iconic gassho-zukuri houses and why this unique culture developed in a remote mountain region. Full-Day Tour: Shirakawa-go + Kanazawa The full-day tour adds a cultural deep dive into Kanazawa after returning from Shirakawa-go. You’ll explore the city’s history, local life, and traditions, turning a single destination visit into a well-balanced regional journey. Why Book This Experience? Local guides with proven experience — our guides have guided over 1,000 guests, and they can offer clear, easy-to-follow explanations, not scripted lectures.

This tour is designed as an immersive cultural experience rather than a standard sightseeing walk. Instead of simply listing historical facts, we focus on storytelling, context, and human drama to help you understand how samurai culture shaped Kanazawa’s identity. The guides are selected not only for their knowledge but for their ability to engage, adapt, and create memorable moments tailored to each group.

This tour connects three of Kanazawa’s most refined cultural traditions in one clear story: traditional crafts, Kaga Yuzen dyeing, and Noh theater. Rather than simply visiting museums on your own, you will explore how the wealth of the Kaga domain and the cultural patronage of the Maeda family helped shape Kanazawa’s distinctive sense of beauty. With a guide, each stop becomes easier to understand. At the craft museum, you will see how daily life, samurai rituals, tea ceremony, festivals, and faith supported many kinds of traditional craftsmanship. At the Kaga Yuzen Kimono Center, you will learn how kimono became a wearable art form, then try a handkerchief dyeing experience yourself. At the Kanazawa Noh Museum, you will discover the quiet expression of Noh masks and costumes. This is not just a museum tour. It is a compact cultural experience that helps you understand Kanazawa’s refined arts through seeing, learning, and creating.

Nigata is known for the best sake producing area - Myoko isn't the exception with 3 sake breweries of unique history and product line-up. They are all small-sized truly local breweries. You can see more and communicate with the business owner and/or workers with a guide. After the brewery tour, we'll check and try local food at a local farmer's market or authentic local restaurant of your choice/guide's recommendation.

This tour is designed for travelers who have reached Gokayama and want to experience it as more than a photo spot. With a private guide, you will walk through one of its quiet World Heritage villages and learn how gassho-zukuri houses, deep snow, mountain life, faith, traditional industries, and food culture are connected. Unlike larger tours that combine Gokayama with other destinations, this experience focuses on either Ainokura or Suganuma. In Ainokura, explore traditional industries, a local shrine and temple, and enjoy a hands-on washi paper-making experience. In Suganuma, view the village from the observatory, visit a gassho-style folk museum, and learn about historic saltpeter production. The tour also includes time for a café stop, where your guide can introduce local foods such as red turnips, mountain vegetables, and firm Gokayama tofu. It is a compact but meaningful experience for independent travelers who want to understand the living culture behind Gokayama’s scenery.

Enjoy the beautiful scenery in Hamamatsu Castle, Kanzan Temple Onsen area, and Lake Hamana. Experience moving experience by flower in Hamamatsu flower park. ・Visit Hamamatsu castle, Kanzan Temple Onsen area, Flower Park, Orgel Museum with one day bus ticket and admission to the park and museum at a discount! ・Enjoy a lot of flower and technology at flower park. ・Ride the ropeway and cross over the lake. ・Enjoy the beautiful scenery and the sounds of ancient musical instruments. ・The theme of the Lake Hamana Flower Festa 2026 is "Flowers and Hot Springs." ・Enjoy a meal and a bath in addition to cherry blossom viewing ・Free gift of hand towel and tea (As the free gift is limited, it will end as soon as it is out of stock.)

Embark on a journey to Kanazawa, a city that retains its rich history and important tourist attractions, and experience the facets of the Edo period as they were in those days. Please select from the options if you would like to purchase a ticket with Shinkansen from Tokyo. On this tour, you will first visit Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of the most scenic spots in Japan, where you can see the seasonal faces of the Kaga feudal lords who ruled this area, and then experience the deep connection between Kanazawa and gold. Afterwards, we will dine at Omimachi Market, known as Kanazawa's kitchen, and local eateries, and stroll through well-preserved Edo streetscapes, including samurai residences and the flower district. The tour also includes an optional gold leaf-applying experience, which is the largest production in Japan. Why not slip back in time to the Edo period, experiencing colorful flowers and scenery, as well as Japan's ancient history and culture?

Begin your tour at the Kehi Jingu Shrine, one of Japan’s three great torii gates. Walk under the massive wooden structure and explore a serene forested shrine complex. Continue to the Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse, a beautifully preserved site that now hosts cafés, local art shops, and maritime exhibits. Enjoy a relaxing stroll along the waterfront with sea breezes and a view of passing ships. Next, learn about Tsuruga's unique role as a humanitarian gateway at the Port of Humanity Tsuruga Museum. Hear the inspiring story of Jewish refugees who arrived here during WWII thanks to Chiune Sugihara’s transit visas. Finish with a visit to the Tsuruga Fish Market or a local seafood restaurant to enjoy specialties like grilled mackerel (saba) or seasonal crab, caught fresh from the Sea of Japan.

Embark on a scenic cycling tour through the charming streets of Tajimi, where you'll experience the perfect blend of local culture and history！ Visit the renowned Suigetsugama Kiln, established by Arakawa Toyozo, a leading figure in the world of pottery. Witness the traditional process of pottery-making, including clay preparation, shaping, and firing, all done by hand. The tour also includes a stop at Eihōji Temple, a National Treasure with two treasured buildings, and THE GROUND MINO, where you can enjoy works by contemporary ceramic artists. For lunch, choose between Tajimi’s specialty eel or a traditional Japanese meal served on Mino ware.

Kanazawa has long been known as the city of traditional crafts to the Japanese people. During the samurai era, the local art scene experienced tremendous growth, as many artists from all over the nation moved and settled here to continue to pursue their arts. This continues to this day, as you can see the city’s strong artistic roots in spots like its timeless historic districts, elegantly curated contemporary museums, and small, off-the-beaten-path spots around every corner. In this tour, our guide will show you the city via its art and famous crafts, while sharing fascinating stories and local insights that will help you not only see, but feel Kanazawa. It is perfect for art lovers, culture enthusiasts, or anyone who wants to explore the city more deeply and at their own pace. You will discover how the city’s creative spirit connects its part, present, and future.

Nanto city has a lot of historical sites like Gokayama district and Inami district. Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village was designated as UNESCO World Heritage. You will enjoy traditional Gassho houses in Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village. You can see wonderful scenery of Inami district and directly see a skillful wood sculptor's workshop. My car is a hybrid compact car, Aqua. So, this car cannot load large baggage. You will find genuine historical sites in local city. I will contact you beforehand. The Itinerary is an example. I can customize this tour for you like a car tour. For example, I pick you up at Fushiki Port or Toyama Shinko Port.