Top Japan Arts & Design in 2026

Learn all about Japanese anime art and even learn how to draw it yourself on this informative and fun tour of an anime studio in Suginami, Tokyo. Go behind-the-scenes of Japan’s anime and manga industry, first visiting an anime museum to learn about the history and production process. Then, visit a functioning studio and participate in an anime workshop to learn about the drawing style and try it yourself.

First-time visitors to Tokyo who want a comprehensive overview of the city will love this handy private walking tour that utilizes the public transport system. Experience both modern and ancient Tokyo at attractions like the Tokyo Tower, Meiji Shrine, and more. Foodies will be kept satisfied with lunch at the Tsukiji Fish Market, and shopaholics will love Asakusa. Select the "customizable tour" option and contact your guide two weeks in advance to create a fully personalized itinerary.

Experience Japan like a local, far from the crowded and usually frequented places. Focus on relaxation and well-being without neglecting scenery and culture. We will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Hakone, one of Japan's most beautiful hot-spring towns. From there we will take scenic roads only, bringing you to magnificent panoramas of Mt Fuji, Hakone, the Sea of Japan, lakes, and temples. Once the hunger settles in, we will reach a special place where you will be able to experience delicious authentic Japanese cuisine (no bento box on a plastic table, except if you want to, of course) and indulge in some of the region's best onsen. After this relaxing time, we will once again take the road and finish our day at an incredible nearby museum, open air with a beautiful garden if the weather permits, or mesmerizing architecture if it rains. As this is a private tour (with a private guide), you can tailor every step and detail to your preferences, or leave it up to us.

Fushimi Inari Taisha has welcomed worshippers since 711 AD, founded by the Hata clan after a poor rice harvest. It's now the head shrine of roughly 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan, dedicated to the god of rice, sake and business success. Join me on this self-guided audio tour to learn why merchants have donated its vermilion gates since the Edo period — each one a thank-you for a wish granted — and stroll at your own pace through the famed Senbon Torii ("thousand gates") corridor and beyond, into forest most day-trippers never reach. The landmarks include: • The fox statues guarding the shrine — Inari's messengers, not the god itself • The Senbon Torii, an unbroken corridor of vermilion gates donated by grateful businesses • The Omokaru ("Heavy-Light") Stone, where a wish's fate is judged by its weight Take the walk fewer visitors finish, and discover what 1,300 years of gratitude looks like. Beat crowded tour groups & enjoy the tour on your own at your own pace.

Get an intimate look at Tokyo during this bike tour. Discover the city’s hidden paths and top landmarks, cycling beneath the skyscrapers of Shinjuku to a local shrine and exploring neighborhoods like Ginza and Roppongi Hills. Pass landmarks like Meiji Jingu Shrine, Yoyogi Park, and the Imperial Palace before ending at the top of the 48-story Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. A guide, bike, and helmet are included.

Steep yourself in the arts of kasamaki and nuishime shibori during this 60- to 90-minute cloth-wrapping class in Kyoto. Try your hand at this intriguing Japanese art, with the help of an expert local craftsman. Learn tricks to do these techniques at home and bring a memento home with you. You’ll also get to see many prime samples of classic kasamaki and nuishime shibori dyeing displayed and in the museum shop.

Learn about Japanese cuisine in an immersive fashion when you combine a walking tour of Tsukiji Outer Fish Market and a Japanese cooking class on this small-group half-day tour. Shop for the freshest ingredients in the labyrinthine aisles of Tsukiji Outer Fish Market. Then head to a cooking class, where you’ll learn how to prepare—and get the chance to eat—a range of traditional Japanese dishes.

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.

In this tour, your knowledgeable licensed local guide will accompany you on your journey through these local art and craft spots while offering fascinating insights into the origins, history and production techniques of the skilled Hida craftsmanship you will encounter. Takayama is the best place to experience the fruits of this rich heritage. A myriad of local workshops and retail outlets remain and these establishments sell both folk crafts, such as Sashiko patchwork and Hanga wood block prints, and also traditional crafts borne from ‘high’ culture, including intricate wooden carving and Shunkeinuri lacquerware. Note*1: You will not be able to see all the sights on this tour. You must choose at most 3 and inform your guide. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

Visit Mount Fuji and its surrounding areas with this day tour from Tokyo. You'll start with Mount Fuji, continuing on to the stunning Lake Kawaguchikp before stopping for lunch. You'll then head on to Oshion Hakkai, with its eight natural springs before stopping to go shopping at the Gotemba Premium Outlets.

Our tour is fully organized and operated by local Japanese experts. As one of the pioneers in offering private tours around Mt. Fuji, we combine extensive experience and local insight to deliver a refined, fully customized one-day tour that stands above the rest. Begin at Arakurayama Sengen Shrine, where the five-story pagoda frames Japan’s iconic peak, then take in the serene reflections of Mt. Fuji on the waters of Lake Kawaguchiko. Wander through a charming traditional village, and explore the mysterious Aokigahara Forest, home to hidden lava caves and the stories of the mountain. Experience Japan’s spiritual heritage as you visit ancient shrines and scenic spots, each revealing a different perspective of Mt. Fuji’s timeless beauty. Our qualified guide and driver will provide tailored recommendations, ensuring you see the best seasonal sights. We offer 2 options in this tour: Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko (list from 1-19), or Mt. Fuji and Hakone (lists No.20-)

This walking tour of Shinjuku’s buzzing areas of Golden Gai and Kabukicho is the perfect way to discover great bars, restaurants, and food stalls, without having to do any research. Discover new haunts, and feast on local specialties, such as ramen and “yakitori” (skewers). Learn about local history from your guide, and best of all, enjoy the perk of having tastings included.

This private tour takes you to many important places in Tokyo to experience incredible art, learn about Tokyo’s history, and appreciate scenic nature spots too. Save time planning your own itinerary and benefit from a guide’s expertise and local knowledge. The tour goes to the Imperial Palace, Wadakura Fountain Park, the National Museum of Modern Art Crafts Gallery, Kitanomaru Park, and much more.

Save time by taking part in three traditional Japanese activities in just a few hours on this cultural experience. Put on a kimono and spend roughly half an hour each on Japanese calligraphy lessons, a tea ceremony, and an amulet-making class. The lessons take place in a centuries’-old temple with lovely gardens.

This Marvelous Matcha Kyoto Green Tea Tour is the perfect way to discover the different varieties of matcha, see how to craft the perfect cup, and best of all—taste it. Visit the world-renowned district of Uji, which is known for producing outstanding quality green tea. The tour helps you discover hidden local tea shops that would be hard to find alone, and you have a guide to help translate. When you’ve worked up an appetite, a delicious set lunch is provided.

Enjoy sightseeing near Japan’s iconic Mt. Fuji, including a Lake Ashi cruise and a visit to Mt. Komagatake, during this full-day trip by coach from Tokyo. See the celebrated Mt. Fuji during a stop at its famous 5th Station, then take a laid-back boat cruise on beautiful Lake Ashi before touring Mt. Komagatake’s ropeway and summit, offering amazing views of nearby Hakone National Park. Opt to include a Japanese lunch.

Get a taste of Japanese food and culture during this walking tour of Tokyo’s Shibuya district. Escape the tourist hordes as you eat like a Japanese local, sampling traditional bites at off-the-beaten-path eateries and hangouts that you’d likely miss otherwise. You can also toast your adventure, and new friends, with one included drink too.

Get pumped for the Olympics with this insider’s walking tour of Harajuku and Omotesando, covering landmarks like Yoyogi Stadium. Tours are fully customizable, offering a mix of top attractions and under-the-radar sites, overlooked by most tourists. Browse the boutiques along Tokyo’s own “Rodeo Drive,” stop for a coffee along atmospheric backstreets, and listen to an enriching primer on the city’s vibrant architectural history from your own private guide.

Step back in time to ancient Tokyo during this exploration of the city’s historic Yanaka district. Discover a different side of the sprawling Japanese capital that dates back to its Edo period of the 16th through 19th centuries, admiring the area’s charming mix of temples, springtime cherry blossoms, and timeless ‘reien’ (cemetery). A guide accompanies you on your visit, providing additional details about Japanese history and local culture.

Get to know the cultural-filled neighborhood of Ueno in Tokyo on a private walking tour. Orient yourself around Ueno Park, passing serene temples such as Kiyomizu Kannondo and hearing the history behind the Toshogu Shrine. Then, visit Tokyo National Museum for a walkthrough of Japan’s history and culture.

Ueno Park is well-known for its springtime cherry blossoms and its important museums. But many visitors miss the fact that it is also filled with great works of architecture by the likes of Tadao Ando, Le Corbusier, and Kunio Maekawa. Enjoy the opportunity to appreciate these works on this private guided tour, which takes you to each site, provides context, and includes entrance to the National Museum of Western Art and Tokyo National Museum.

Take part in a shibori tie-dye workshop in Arimatsu and learn all about this ancient Japanese art from a local guide. The experience starts with a walking tour around the old city, so you can admire its original Edo-era buildings, shop for souvenir shibori art, and visit the Tie-Dyeing Museum. Afterward, you'll head to your workshop to create your very own shibori tie-dye masterpiece. Choose from two options when you book online.

Discover Tokyo at your own pace on this half- or full-day customizable private tour. Design a tour that suits your interests, whether that includes the Tsukiji Fish Market, temples, shrines, shopping, or food and sake experiences. Your private tour includes hotel transfers, lunch (full-day only), and travel by private vehicle or public transport to suit your needs, with convenient hotel drop-off after the tour.

The capital of Japan can be overwhelming on your first visit but this customized tour takes the guesswork out of sightseeing. Choose how long you want your tour to last and the sights that interest you most, then let your private tour guide create the perfect itinerary. Using Tokyo's public transport system, your guide takes you to each location for guided tours.