Top Tokyo Unique Experiences - page 4

A really interesting and fun class with Yazawa-sensei! She is very knowledgeable and explained a lot of cool things about how and why manga is drawn using particular techniques. There are some basic foundational lessons + applications of body mechanics that make even a complex artwork seem easy! At the end of the lesson, I left with a fantastic drawing souvenir - which turned out far better than I expected - a testament to the excellent teachings of Yazawa-sensei! For me, this was probably my favourite activity in Tokyo! If you are a fan of anime and manga, I'm confident you will feel the same way after a manga drawing lesson!

I enjoyed the Samurai and Ninja Musiem. We received a summary of the samurai during the Edo and Meiji periods when shoguns ruled Japan. There were exhibits featuring Samurai equipment and weaponry and Ninja accessories. The museum had an interactive star throwing segment which was safe and so much fun for all of the participants. We enjoyed this tour.

We are a family of four including two teenagers, and we had two rickshaws, one operated by Itaru and the other operated by Sho. This was so much fun and I would highly recommend it! Even though it was raining, we were pretty well-protected under the rickshaws’ hoods and rain covers, and there were also warm blankets. We saw a lot of sights in Asakusa and got a lot of interesting info along by the way, as well as many great pictures. I am glad we did this.

This activity definitely punched above its weight! Initially, we looked into attending a live Sumo match, but unfortunately none of the tournaments were happening while we were in town so booked this as a best alternative after reading the reviews - REALLY glad we did! For those of us who are not really knowledgeable about Sumo, this was a perfect introduction to the sport and its history. We enjoyed hearing directly from the wrestlers about their experiences in and out of the ring, the food they prepared was delicious, and the opportunity to "wrestle" them in the ring was a memory we (and our teenage nephews) never forget!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We absolutely loved YUCa’s cooking class and it may well end up being our favourite experience from our entire Japan trip. Yuca’s studio kitchen is beautifully set up — intimate, welcoming and clearly designed with love. Our class of six felt just the right size, and Yuca and her husband were both incredibly warm, hospitable and knowledgeable. The ramen and gyoza we made were genuinely delicious, and we left feeling confident enough to recreate them at home. We were travelling with our nine month old son and Yuca was wonderfully welcoming of him from the moment we arrived. She was happy for us to bring his pram up the stairs so he could sit comfortably during the class, and she even made him his own little onigiri for lunch — such a sweet and thoughtful gesture that completely melted our hearts. It’s about an hour from Shinjuku but don’t let that put you off — it is absolutely worth every minute of the commute. And when you arrive, Yuca provides a sheet of local recommendations for sightseeing, cultural experiences and food nearby, which is such a thoughtful touch. We followed her suggestions and spent the afternoon at Yanaka Ginza and Ueno Park — a perfect way to round out the day and explore a part of Tokyo most tourists never see. Don’t hesitate, just book it. The experience, the food, the hospitality and the local knowledge Yuca shares make it exceptional value and a truly memorable way to connect with Japanese culture. Highly, highly recommended! 🍜🥟

I had such a great experience with this cooking class in Tokyo. The instructors were incredibly informative and explained everything in a way that felt approachable and easy to follow, even for someone who doesn’t regularly cook Japanese food. What I appreciated most was how accessible the recipes were — nothing felt intimidating or overly complicated, and each step was clearly explained. I left the class feeling genuinely confident and excited to try making Japanese dishes again once I got home. It was both educational and empowering, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a hands-on, thoughtful introduction to Japanese cooking.

I had an excellent experience with Emi's cooking lesson. From the first moment, her communication was excellent, her instructions to find the studio were spot-on, and her poise, personality and knowledge were amazing. I learnt how to cook three recipes, some tricks and alternative ingredients available in my country and we chatted over a shot of sake. Time flew, because her personality is magnetic. Do not skip this activity! It will be the highlight of your time in Tokyo!

Yukka gave a short presentation of the different kinds of mochi for the different seasons of the year as well as a little background which gave us an understanding of the mochi we were making. She gave such great instructions and was quite organized. She was also very patient since we all have never made mochi before.. We were all quite surprised how beautiful our mochi pieces turned out. Attention to the details made us more appreciative of this art and it was so delicious! We had so much fun!