Top Japan Art & Culture - page 3

Spend half a day exploring beautiful Miyajima Island while learning all about its cultural and historic significance from your private guide. Reach the island on the ferry and enjoy the views of red-gated Itsukushima Shrine as you approach land. Visit the beloved shrine, and you can choose to visit other attractions on the island according to your interests.

Explore many of Nara's top landmarks in just one day on this deluxe, full-day coach tour. Heading out from Kyoto, pass by Fushimi Castle and Heijo Palace, before arriving in Nara. Visit Todai-ji Temple—one of the world’s largest wooden buildings—then meet the 1,400 deer that inhabit Nara Park. A stop at Kasuga Taisha Shrine is followed by a Japanese-style lunch (if selected). Finally, visit the Uji area of Kyoto, where you'll make and sample traditional matcha tea.

Take a deep dive into the world of Japanese seafood during this tour of the outer Tsukiji Fish Market. See where Michelin-starred chefs shop for ingredients at this iconic market for all things aquatic. Investigate stalls selling fish, shellfish, and everything in between, and feast on top-quality food including high-grade Wagyu beef skewers, fish cakes, sushi or seafood bowl, and seasonal fruit. Plus, enjoy other samples along the way.

Whether you’re an anime and gaming fan, or you just want to learn more about this exciting part of Japanese popular culture, this is the tour for you. Get explanations about Japanese culture that you wouldn’t get if exploring the area alone, and experience all the “must do” activities in Akihabara, such as visiting a retro video game store, a maid cafe, a photo booth, and much more.

Discover both modern and traditional sides of history-rich Kyoto during this full-day private tour. Travel like a local by public transportation as you tick off the city’s most celebrated sights, from UNESCO-listed Nijo Castle to the well-preserved neighborhood of Higashiyama and streets of Gion, otherwise known as Kyoto’s Geisha district.

Enjoy a private, full-day walking tour of Shizuoka/Shimizu with a government-licensed and multilingual guide. From the striking views of Mt. Fuji, to the history of the Old Tokaido Road, Shizuoka offers abundant nature and unique cultural experiences. Visit the castle of Japan's most famous shogun, take a ride on a steam locomotive, and/or enjoy the views of Mt. Fuji. Share your interests and your guide will customize a tour specifically for you.

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 Tokyo Station, Ginza and Akihabara.

Instead of spending time crafting a travel itinerary and logistics, leave the planning to the professionals on this group tour to Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi from Tokyo. Spend the day traveling around the Mount Fuji area's most scenic spots, as well as Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, Oishi Park, and more.

The ideal introduction for first-time visitors, this half-day, small-group walking tour of Nara covers a mix of must-see and under-the-radar sights. Enter a historic merchant’s house, discover a hidden Japanese pyramid, and visit the iconic shrines of the temple complex—with plenty of time to interact with Nara’s resident deer. A tasty lunch and admission tickets to all shrines are included.

Get ‘big in Japan’ during this insider’s experience at a sumo wrestler morning practice session. Enjoy exclusive access to a sumo stable, watching as these massive athletes put themselves through their daily training regimen and go head-to-head. Who knows: you might even get to witness a future tournament champion. A guide is also included to help you gain access and follow the proceedings.

Sumo tournaments only happen a few times a year in Tokyo, so it can be disappointing if your vacation doesn’t align with match dates. This extra-special sumo experience lets you go behind the scenes and see wrestlers at their morning practice, for the inside scoop on a real training session. There's ample opportunity to take photos with the wrestlers afterward, too.

Bicycle around Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and beyond with a guide born and raised in Hiroshima to lead the way. In addition to the Atomic Bomb Dome, you’ll ride to the Cenotaph, Children's Peace Monument, and the Peace Bell at the UNESCO World Heritage site. Numbers are limited to 10 for a small-group experience and you’ll discover things you wouldn’t know only by visiting the Peace Museum.

With this Tokyo Bay cruise, you can enjoy the combination of a night of great entertainment, sightseeing, and delicious food at the same time. After boarding your vessel, enjoy a traditional Japanese performance, followed by a hot pot "sukiyaki" meal with soft drinks. Then, have a chance to soak up the views on the open-air viewing deck, while passing notable sights, such as the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower.

Experience Tokyo at its most atmospheric and create amazing "Blade Runner"-esque photographs on this small-group nighttime photography tour. Wander down hidden alleyways where neon spills across the ground, dip into the most obscure corners of frenetic nightlife districts, and cross the world-famous Shibuya Crossing. Your photographer guide will shoot you along the way and later send 20 edited photographs.

This day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima is the easy way to see many sights in a single day, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Travel by comfortable air-conditioned coach to important World War II-era places in Hiroshima, and the iconic red gates of Miyajima’s Itsukushima Shrine, which appear to float on water. Learn all about the history and culture of these attractions from your English-speaking guide and through an audio-guide on board your bus.

This half-day tour is an ideal choice for time-tight travelers visiting Tokyo. Avoid the hassle of navigating by having a private guide to show you around the city. A perk of the tour is that you won’t waste time going to sights that don’t interest you, as the route can be customized. A sample itinerary may include Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Shibuya Crossing, Takeshita Street in Harajuku, Imperial Palace, and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Explore the best that Tokyo has to offer on a full-day private sightseeing tour. Choose from a set itinerary or customize your own with your English-speaking driver to see the locations of the most interest to you. Visit key landmarks like Sensoji Temple, the Skytree building, the Shibuya crossing and more as you listen to commentary about the history and culture of the city.

Take control of your Kyoto sightseeing and visit only the sights you wish to see on this private walking tour. Ideal for first-time visitors, this tour lets you customize a half-day or full-day itinerary. Opt to visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Nijo Castle, or to stray from the beaten path to see an alternative side of Kyoto. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Explore the highlights of Hiroshima and Miyajima the easy way on a private full-day tour with a guide. You’ll learn all about Hiroshima’s dark history and prosperous present at sites like the Peace Park and A-Bomb Dome. Travel around Hiroshima on foot and by public transport to nearby Miyajima Island, a naturally and culturally beautiful spot. The tour can be customized to suit your needs.

Explore Hiroshima by bicycle, which is a great way to get from site to site, and get a little gentle exercise, too. Your guide will conveniently meet you at the Hiroshima Peace Park Rest House, where you can get acquainted with your small group, your bike, and get on your way. Stop at several places today, enjoying a gentle cycle ride in between.

This bike tour is an excellent choice for first-time visitors to Hiroshima. Get your bearings in the city, learn about its history, and discover backstreet areas that only locals know about. The tour helps you cover more ground than a walking tour and see many top sights in a day, such as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Castle, and Shukkei-en Garden.

Experience the natural beauty of Japan’s tallest peak without having to navigate public transportation on this all-day excursion. After a convenient pickup in central Tokyo, catch amazing views of Mt. Fuji from Arakurayama Sengen Park and admire local crafts at Kawaguchiko Craft Park. Stroll among Oishi Park’s flowers and catch more mountain views before finishing at a traditional village beside Lake Saiko.

Get an inside look into Japan’s ancient, traditional national sport: sumo wrestling. Travelers can find it hard to gain access to the wrestlers’ stables without local help. On this morning training tour you’ll see the athletes practicing, close up. Enjoy this exclusive insight into Japanese culture and history through this fascinating sport.

This tour from Tokyo lets you experience Mount Fuji and several activities in the Hakone region in a single day. In addition to sightseeing, enjoy a cruise on Lake Ashi and a ride on the Hakone Ropeway for views of Mount Fuji. See volcanic landscapes at Owakudani Valley, where you can also sample local specialties like black eggs.