Top Japan Classes & Workshops

This is more than a photo session. It's a personalized Tokyo experience designed around you. I will guide you to the best photo spots based on your style, atmosphere, and travel goals while helping you feel comfortable and natural in front of the camera. As a local Japanese photographer, I focus on capturing authentic moments, cinematic city scenes, and genuine emotions to create unforgettable memories of your time in Japan. Whether you are traveling solo, with friends, or as a couple, the experience is relaxed, fun, and fully customized for you.

Make two seasonal nerikiri wagashi inside Kujokan, a historic wooden building in the Tokyo National Museum garden that is normally closed to visitors. Learn from Miyuki Suyari, Director of Wagashi Promotion Association Japan, in English with a Japanese-speaking assistant, then enjoy your own creations with genmaicha tea.

This experience is designed for guests who want to take part in more than just making nigiri and sushi rolls. Guests experience several steps that contribute to the sushi they will later make and enjoy, including receiving the seafood ingredients used in the class from local wholesale vendors in Tsukiji Market, mixing sushi rice in a traditional wooden tub, and trying basic fish-slicing techniques. The class is limited to a maximum of six guests, allowing everyone to take an active part in the experience while receiving close attention and guidance from the host. It is led by a licensed guide with experience from more than 200 sushi-making sessions as a host and interpreter. Guests also learn practical tips for making better sushi, gain insights into sushi and Japanese seafood culture, and receive additional information that can be useful during their stay in Japan.

Experience how to enjoy the tea ceremony as a guest in a mindful, authentic Japanese Garden in Kumagaya City (Only a 24-min bullet train ride from Tokyo Station)!! Escape the crowds of Tokyo and experience the tea ceremony in a peaceful traditional garden! In this unique session, you will enjoy experiencing thin tea (Usucha) and sweets, as well as the deep art of utensil viewing (Haiken). Enjoy the tea ceremony mindfully with using five senses. Perfect for beginners looking to relax and connect with Japanese culture!

Would you like to enjoy a bowl of matcha in a historic Japanese town just outside Tokyo? In Kawagoe, you can experience authentic Chado in English while discovering a different side of Japan. Unlike the busy atmosphere of central Tokyo, Kawagoe offers a slower and more peaceful atmosphere, with traditional streets, historic buildings, and a unique sense of old Japan. This experience is not simply about learning how to drink matcha. I would like you to slow down, enjoy the season through the tea utensils and shikishi artwork, and experience a small moment of Japanese culture during your journey.

Train in a real Japanese dojo with a Kodokan 5th Dan instructor. Beginner-friendly, private, and authentic.

Join hands-on Udon making experience from scratch at a cozy Kyoto home! The noodles are crafted with care using 100% domestic Japanese flour to ensure an authentic taste and texture. You will also get to taste flavorful Japanese Dashi stock and cook a delicious sweet and savory beef topping to complete your bowl. Enjoy a relaxed, friendly atmosphere that feels just like visiting a local friend—perfect for families and travelers looking for a warm, authentic cultural connection.

Experience Japanese culture in a creative way by designing your own traditional folding fan with alcohol inks. Unlike typical souvenir shopping, you'll create a one-of-a-kind artwork to take home. With small group sizes and step-by-step guidance in English, this workshop is perfect for beginners and travelers looking for an authentic, hands-on experience in Tokyo.

Learn not only how to write beautiful characters, but also how to become more aware of yourself through the art of writing. In a world full of distractions, this experience offers a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and enjoy a mindful moment through traditional Japanese calligraphy.

Enjoy an authentic Zen experience. You can practice Zazen (seated meditation) under careful guidance at a temple situated on a hill with a beautiful view. For those unable to sit in the traditional cross-legged posture, we recommend "chair Zazen." We host this session in the hope of enriching your journey—offering a deeper spiritual experience through meditation—before you tackle the climactic sections of the Kumano Kodo World Heritage route 15:30 – Check-in begins Served: Matcha green tea and Japanese sweets, followed by a choice of Japanese tea, water, coffee, or black tea. Around 16:00 Talk on the Kumano Kodo, Zen meditation, and a Dharma message. 16:30 – 17:20 – Zen meditation experience. Afterwards – Q&A session (time permitting). While the guiding monk is not fluent in English, he will provide attentive and thorough guidance using a translation device. We hope you will take this opportunity to experience it for yourself.

In this workshop, we use authentic paints, tools, and materials that are nonetheless easy for beginners to handle. You will have the opportunity to create paints using traditional methods and then use them to paint, as well as experience adding brilliant decorative touches using gold leaf techniques. Additionally, our introduction to the history and concepts of *Nihonga* (Japanese-style painting) will satisfy your intellectual curiosity with surprising facts and fascinating anecdotes.

Deepen your appreciation for Japanese cuisine in Hiroshima with an intimate sushi-making class led by a professional chef. This hands-on experience begins with tasting freshly made Dashi, a savory broth that forms the foundation of Japanese cooking. Learn how to craft 4 to 5 pieces of premium sushi, mastering the delicate techniques of sushi shaping. Complete your culinary journey with a serving of chawanmushi or clear soup, showcasing the rich flavors of the Dashi you created. Ideal for food enthusiasts and families alike, this class offers an authentic taste of Japan’s culinary heritage.

The instructors at "Sogu," a center for experiencing traditional Japanese culture, are all top-tier professionals. We offer unique experiences that set us apart from other activities in Kyoto. Our Japanese sword instructor is not only a master of swordsmanship but also skilled in Chinese martial arts and dance; notably, he is an actor who appeared in the film "The Last Samurai". Look forward to a truly authentic martial arts experience accompanied by a compelling, dramatic performance. Go beyond a superficial encounter to discover the true allure of Japan here in Kyoto, and gain insight into the samurai's secret of uniting mind, technique, and body.

Create a one-of-a-kind bath bomb as a special memory of your trip to Beppu! At Yuasobi Lab, you can choose your favorite colors, scents, and decorations to make your own original bath bomb. You can also place a small toy inside, making it a fun experience for children as well. Your finished bath bomb can be taken home on the same day. Gift boxes and message cards are also available, making it perfect as a souvenir or a thoughtful present for someone special. This indoor activity is great for rainy days and is recommended for couples, friends, families, and travelers with children.

Experience everyday life with a real Japanese family in a private home rather than a tourist attraction or cooking studio. Your family has welcomed more than 30 international guests through cultural exchange and homestay experiences, creating meaningful connections with visitors from around the world. Activities change with the seasons and may include harvesting vegetables from your family garden, preparing home-style dishes, learning about Japanese food culture, and sharing time around the family table. Each experience is personalized according to guests’ interests, offering an authentic opportunity to discover a side of Japan that most travelers never see. Small groups, a welcoming atmosphere, and genuine interaction make this a memorable cultural experience beyond traditional sightseeing.

What makes this class special is the chef's live performances: a sea bream filleting demonstration performed right in front of you, and a wagyu beef nigiri show where the beef is seared tableside with a torch. You'll also make the restaurant founder's original California roll recipe, something you won't find anywhere else. The venue features a live fish tank, so you can see the fish before it becomes your sushi — a genuine, hands-on experience led by a skilled itamae in the heart of Kabukicho.

Immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture Hosted by a tea farming family, sharing matcha from field to bowl. Use ceremonial organic matcha and learn to prepare it yourself with care. Experience Zen, stillness, and mindfulness through a simple ritual.

Unlike a typical jewelry workshop, you’ll transform a real Japanese spoon into a wearable ring using professional tools. Each spoon has its own shape, pattern, and history, making every ring completely unique. Our friendly instructors guide you through every step, so even beginners can confidently create a meaningful souvenir to take home the same day.

Experience everyday life in Tokyo with a local family — something most travelers never get to see. Meet your host at a nearby station and visit a neighborhood supermarket together, exploring Japanese ingredients, snacks and seasonings. Then head to your host's home to cook a home-style Japanese meal side by side. No cooking experience needed. Sit down together for lunch or dinner and chat about Japanese culture, family life and daily customs. Every host has their own family recipes, so each experience is one of a kind. Finish the day like a true local at a neighborhood sento (public bath). Towels and entry are included, and tattoos are welcome. This is a private experience — only your group will join.

Walk through the beautiful grounds of a historic Buddhist temple in Japan. Then enter a traditional tatami room and enjoy a live dance show featuring a Samurai and an Oiran. After the show, guests take on the roles of Sukeroku and Oiran. The performers teach simple movements from the Oiran procession and a classic scene using a traditional Japanese pipe. Guests then act out the scene to music while following the performers. The experience ends with a commemorative photo in the final Sukeroku and Oiran pose. Each guest also receives an original English-language guidebook.

Create your own custom Japanese artwork with a professional calligrapher! In this experience, you will paint your own lucky Daruma on premium traditional paper and receive a beautiful calligraphy finish. Beyond just painting, you will discover the deep history of the Daruma doll and learn profound Japanese cultural concepts like "Ichigo Ichie" (once-in-a-lifetime encounter) and "En" (fate and spiritual connection). Here is the step-by-step timeline of our session: - Welcome & Deep Cultural Concepts (15 mins) - Daruma Sketch & Brush Warm-up (15 mins) - Paint Your Original Daruma Art (15 mins) - The Sensei's Calligraphy Finish (15 mins) - A Truly Personalized Gift For You (15 mins) - Photo Time & Farewell (15 mins) Take home a truly unique, meaningful souvenir and a memory that connects you deeply to Japan's spiritual heritage!

A miso sommelier with 15 years of experience will tell you. An experiential program to learn about miso, a traditional Japanese food. Misomaru is a hot topic on TV and in the media!

Set against the stunning backdrop of Odaiba, this unique workshop combines the art of Rakugo storytelling with the craft of herbal medicine. Begin your experience by enjoying a captivating Rakugo performance that narrates the tale of Yakusyu, focusing on the benefits of medicinal herbal sake. After the show, dive into the world of wellness with a personal assessment, followed by the chance to create a custom herbal blend. Complete your experience by folding an origami envelope with traditional patterns to carry your herbal mix home.

A premium, once-in-a-lifetime experience inside a traditional Shinto shrine pavilion. Train in a sacred atmosphere usually closed to the public.