Top Japan Unique Experiences - page 4

If you are a first-time visitor to Kobe, this private and personalized tour will help you find your feet. In the company of a carefully chosen guide who shares your interests, you'll get a local's perspective as you explore the city on foot. You'll see top attractions, such as the Maiko Marine Promenade and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, as well as a few hidden spots that only locals know about.

Enjoy a cooking class in an atmospheric setting—a beautiful wooden house in Kyoto. The cooking experience introduces you to local recipes that you wouldn’t be able to find in restaurants, and techniques that have been passed down through many generations of the host’s family. Dishes prepared vary depending on the time of year, but sample menu items could be chikuzenni (braised chicken and vegetables), braised burdock root, and miso soup.

Savor authentic Tokyo food on this "izakaya" tour of Sangenjaya, a vibrant neighborhood that’s away from the city tourist trail. You’ll tour the Japanese pubs, known as izakaya, where after-work drinkers and friends go to socialize over local snacks and beer. Giving you an insight into Tokyo culture, the experience is perfect for those looking for a taste of local life with delicious and traditional Japanese food and drinks.

Wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets, are delicious, but even more satisfying than eating them is learning how to make them yourself. This wagashi-making class is held at a private home in Tokyo and teaches you how to make the sweets from scratch, from making the dough to decorating them.

Move over Disney World, there's a new kid on the block. Okay, maybe not new but definitely underrated when it comes to family-friendly fun. We are talking about Nagoya of course. Follow one of our friendly hosts on an adventure through the city that is guaranteed to thrill young and old alike. Visit the Nagashima Spa Land and its massive amusement park, water park and spa. There are so many interactive museums, colorful shopping centers, shrines and palaces to see it is impossible to get bored. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

Foodie travelers won’t want to miss this tasty tour of Yokohama with a local guide. After answering a short questionnaire, you’ll be matched with a guide that best matches your interests. The itinerary is flexible and can be catered to your needs, but wherever you go you’ll get a personalized insight into the port city’s culinary culture. Sample famous local specialties and dishes you might not know about without your guide’s insider knowledge. See many of Yokohama’s sights while eating your fill.

Skip the standard sightseeing tour and discover Kanazawa through the eyes of a local. With Lokafy, every tour is private, unscripted, and personalized to you. Your Lokafyer is a passionate local who shares stories, hidden gems, and authentic tips you won’t find in a guidebook. They aren’t professional guides with memorized scripts, they're locals who love their city and want you to experience it like a friend would. Whether you’re interested in food, art, history, or simply exploring the neighborhoods beyond the tourist spots, your Lokafyer will adapt the walk to your interests. By the end, you’ll feel at home in the city, with insights to keep exploring on your own.

Orient yourself on your first day in Tokyo, and see the city through the eyes of a local. During this customized tour with your personal host, learn how to navigate and use Tokyo’s transport system. Choose from the city’s most famous attractions, or explore up-and-coming neighborhoods. Understand cultural practices, find the best places to eat, and get advice on Tokyo’s nightlife scene.

Learn to make artistic sushi rolls during your own private ‘kazarimaki’ class in Kyoto. Kazarimaki is the art of making designs within a sushi roll, using edible pigments extracted from plants to create colorful patterns in the sushi. Your instructor also provides a kimono (for women) or other traditional garments (for men and children) to wear during the experience.

Master the basic techniques of one of Japan’s most famous dishes during this hands-on sushi-making class in Tokyo. In a small group, you can learn how to prepare different types of sushi, such as California rolls, “nigiri” sushi, and “tekka” rolls using a variety of different ingredients. Then, best of all, reward your efforts by feasting on your sushi creations at the end.

Meet a Hiroshima local to discover the city through their eyes rather than a sightseeing itinerary. After hearing your wishes via phone or app, your Hiroshima local will craft a private walking tour around your interests or their favorite areas. Cue a walk that brings Hiroshima to life through a local’s perspective: with cultural insight, pointers on sights, transport, and food; and conversations that help immerse you in the city.

Learn ninja and samurai moves at a popular Tokyo dojo (training area) during this workshop. Dressed up in traditional samurai or ninja clothing, you'll practice traditional samurai sword skills using a wooden sword and learn about the popular shuriken (ninja star). It’s a fun way to get active and learn about ancient Japanese culture.

Explore Japan’s vibrant capital city with a local host for a hassle-free family travel experience. Craft an itinerary that suits your family’s needs and make the most of your time in Tokyo. Visit famous landmarks and parks, anime stores and cat cafes. Find restaurants where everyone will love the food and discover the spots that’ll make for a perfect family day out in Tokyo.

One of the best souvenirs any traveler can bring back from Japan is the ability to make and appreciate authentic Japanese sushi. Get up to speed with the art of making sushi, Japanese soup and pickled ginger during this small group cooking class. Capped at eight people, this class offers a relaxed environment that other, larger sushi classes often don’t – and a hands on experience that you can’t get from cooking channels on the internet or TV.

This is the ultimate fish and sushi experience. Get access to Yanagibashi fish market in Nagoya, where you’ll see fish and seafood being prepared and sold. You won’t have to worry about navigating, as you’ll have a guide with you to lead the way, translate, teach you about sushi, and answer questions.

Making sushi is a skill that is difficult to master alone. Get a hands-on experience under the guidance of an expert in this class at an Osaka restaurant. In a small group of no more than 14 participants, learn how to make sushi, as well as other typical Japanese dishes including miso soup and yakitori chicken.

Join a Tokyo native for a tour of a local supermarket and fish and vegetable shops to learn about Japanese ingredients that are typically used in daily cooking. Then, head to the host’s home in a neighborhood near Komazawa Olympic Park for a hands-on cooking lesson where you’ll learn how to make traditional Japanese dishes.

Experience the joy of “hanami,” or cherry blossom viewing, like the locals do. A private host helps you enjoy the cherry blossom season in Osaka on this customizable tour. Share a traditional Japanese picnic under the blossoms as the petals drift down, while your host accompanies you to typical spots as well as places off the tourist trail.

Travelers who love Japanese food and want to learn how to make it at home will enjoy this cooking lesson experience. Tour a local market and learn about Japanese ingredients, as well as how to select the best ones. Take a cooking lesson in your instructor’s home, and also see how the locals live and dine. Enjoy eating what you produce afterwards.

Even the most dedicated shoppers can feel overwhelmed in Osaka, with its huge variety to suit all tastes. Remove the hassle from your shopping trip by going with a personal guide. You'll answer a brief questionnaire and be matched with the best host for your interests, who will design a customizable itinerary just for you. Save time and have fun with invaluable insider tips.

Pair up with a Nagano local for a private walking tour that’s a new concept in travel. Unlike traditional, pre-packaged tours, it’s like exploring the city alongside a local friend, complete with tips, advice, and insider recommendations. From a pre-tour chat with your Lokafyer guide to the walking tour itself, the experience is completely tailored to your preferences.

It is the only place in Japan where you can experience manga. There are tools for drawing manga in analog and digital, so anyone can freely draw manga. If you draw here too, you will feel like a professional cartoonist. It is fun!

Whether you have ideas of what you’d like to see in Yokohama or want help building an itinerary, this private tour is fully customizable to your preferences. Explore the city with a local and at your own pace. Choose how long you’d like the tour to last and your preferred start time.

Go beyond the guidebooks and discover Sapporo like a local on this private tour. This experience is exclusively for you and your chosen travel companions, so you can customize the itinerary to your interests. Explore the capital of Hokkaido, from its landmarks to its hidden gems, and learn about the people who live there.