Japan

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Unique experiences, authentically created, tailored by you
See the best places to visit in Japan with private tours in its most exciting cities
See the best places to visit in Japan with private tours in its most exciting cities
City Unscripted Private Tours In Japan City Unscripted Private Tours In Japan

Explore our cities in Japan

Find experiences and hosts to match your travel style so you get to see the Japan you’ll love

Top experiences in Kyoto

Magical Kyoto after dark
Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Kyoto Magical Kyoto after dark

Explore Kyoto at night with a local. Explore mystical Gion and the winding streets in Pontocho or mingle with the locals at a bar; it's up to you!

$161 per person

4 hours

(111)

Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Kyoto Kyoto trip planning video call

Video chat or email with a local to plan your perfect trip or get answers to all your questions

$25 for 30 min

30-90 minutes

(47)

Kyoto’s Izakaya Experience: A Taste of Japanese Social Dining
Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Kyoto Kyoto’s Izakaya Experience: A Taste of Japanese Social Dining

Discover Kyoto’s izakaya culture, where locals gather over shared plates, drinks, and conversation, with a tailored experience crafted to your tastes.

$164.5 per person

3 hours

(65)

Half day in Magical Kyoto
Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Kyoto Kyoto, Your Way: A Personalized 4-Hour Exploration

Shape your half-day in Kyoto with iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and serene paths—crafted by your local host to match what excites you most!

$130 per person

4 hours

(673)

SEE ALL EXPERIENCES IN Kyoto

Top experiences in Tokyo

Eat Like a Tokyoite: Your 3-Hour Izakaya Crawl in Nakano
Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Tokyo Eat Like a Tokyoite: Your 3-Hour Izakaya Crawl in Nakano

Explore Nakano's lively backstreets and hidden izakayas on a tailored food adventure that reveals Tokyo's authentic culinary soul.

$157.5 per person

3 hours

(213)

Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Tokyo Tokyo trip planning video call

Video chat or email with a local to plan your perfect trip or get answers to all your questions

$25 for 30 min

30-90 minutes

(90)

Your Perfect First Day in Tokyo: Icons, Hidden Gems & Local Tips
Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Tokyo Your Perfect First Day in Tokyo: Icons, Hidden Gems & Local Tips

Begin your Tokyo journey with iconic sights, hidden gems, and expert tips from your host, making the city feel familiar from day one.

$102.5 per person

3 hours

(553)

Essential Tokyo: Famous Sights & Local Secrets
Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Tokyo Essential Tokyo: Famous Sights & Local Secrets

See Tokyo’s must-sees—Shibuya, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine—but with smart local detours to experience them beyond the tourist crowds.

$240 per person

8 hours

(167)

SEE ALL EXPERIENCES IN Tokyo

Top experiences in Osaka

A Full Day in Osaka, Your Way: Discover, Taste & Explore
Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Osaka A Full Day in Osaka, Your Way: Discover, Taste & Explore

Spend a full day in Osaka, shaped around you. With a local host, explore history, food, culture, or hidden gems—your journey is completely flexible.

$237.5 per person

8 hours

(260)

Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Osaka Osaka trip planning video call

Video chat or email with a local to plan your perfect trip or get answers to all your questions

$25 for 30 min

30-90 minutes

(66)

Day trip to Nara, where past meets present
Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Osaka Day trip to Nara, where past meets present

See some of Japan's most spectacular temples and gardens and snap a few shots with the deer roaming around in ancient Nara on a day trip from Osaka

$331 per person

9 hours

(52)

Osaka’s Best-Kept Food Secrets: Local Flavors in Ura Namba
Experience owner City Unscripted Original

Osaka Osaka’s Best-Kept Food Secrets: Local Flavors in Ura Namba

Step off the beaten path and into the heart of Osaka’s food culture in Ura Namba, a hidden dining district brimming with local favorites.

$153 per person

3 hours

(38)

SEE ALL EXPERIENCES IN Osaka

Latest reviews from our guests

    Really great, balance between nature and culture. Kaku was a great guide, very friendly. It felt like we were visiting a friend and he was showing us around his city. we let him know it’s my birthday trip and he dedicated a song for me! really thoughtful and patient with us. thanks Kaku for a great day trip in Hiroshima.

    Jun 2025

    Magdalena V

    We really enjoyed our experience for the Gion tour. It was refreshing to receive emails about our preferences for our tour guide and things to help make our experience more enjoyable for our tour and our selected tour guide. Our tour guide Cici for friendly and informative. Cici understood the history and culture of Kyoto. My kids really enjoyed talking to Cici about everything related to Kyoto. Our whole family enjoyed our interactions and Gion walk with Cici. I would highly recommend this tour to others to try.

    Jun 2025

    Sarah T

    Eiko was a wonderful guide and I recommend her without reservation.

    Jun 2025

    Anthony M

    Our experience with Fumiko in Osaka was great. From the moment we met, she made us feel welcomed and completely at ease. Her energy, and knowledge of the city brought every place we visited to life in a personal and meaningful way. Fumiko didn’t just take us to the usual tourist spots—she introduced us to hidden gems, local eateries, and cultural insights we might have not discovered on our own. We explored historic temples, the longest market in Japan, and even some quiet backstreet eateriesand coffee houses. She always had fascinating stories and local tips to share. Fumiko customized the tour to our interests. She paid close attention to what we said we liked and adjusted the pace and activities perfectly. It felt more like exploring the city with a friend than being on a tour. If you're visiting Osaka and want a truly authentic and engaging experience, I recommend Fumiko vety highly. She made our time in the city unforgettable, and my family and I would definitely be reaching out to her again on our next trip!

    Jun 2025

    Michael R

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The best things to do in Japan

Japan is a land of contrasts, its drastically different cities each with a reputation that precedes it and a list of things to do that would take years to tick-off. Take Hiroshima, whose tragic past to this day remains a dark cloud that often overshadows its true character: a thriving cosmopolitan community of trendy coffee shops, crowded stores, and friendly locals. Kyoto’s wood-built streets, traditional dining, and lantern-lit geishas, on the other hand, are perfectly preserved pictures of old Japan – but its late-night karaoke bars and 100-yen sushi restaurants are equally exhilarating. Then there’s Tokyo and Osaka, both ultra-modern metropolises of neon-lit skyscrapers and high-octane entertainment. Even here, countless opportunities to connect with Japan’s traditional culture abound, from ancient shrines and temples to sumo stadiums. The common thread that runs through the country is the magical marriage of traditional and high-tech, centuries-old and contemporary, old and new.

City Unscripted best things to do in Get one to access major highlights, lots of museums and public transport!

What to see in Japan: articles & travel tips from our local insiders

Lots of tips, inspiration and information written by our local hosts with the help of our editor.

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Private tours in Japan

Whether you have a full day, half a day, or just three hours, our personalized city tours of Japan are the perfect way to appreciate the country’s spirit and soul. Japan is famous for neon-lit urban jungles and high-octane entertainment, but even in its most modern cities, opportunities to connect with traditional culture abound. Led by a local guide who’s already uncovered every inch of their city, private tours in Japan let you discover the hidden gems your guidebook doesn’t even know about. On tours of Japan, experience this land of contrasts where incredible places congregate, and the traditional and high-tech are effortlessly married. From crowded sidewalks and flashing signs in futuristic Osaka to the lantern-lit streets of magical Kyoto, a private walking tour will paint a nuanced picture of Japan’s diverse cities and their personalities. The country is brimming with world-famous attractions, but some of the best experiences and things to do in Japan are the simple pastimes of the people who call it home. On a private tour with City Unscripted, you won’t get caught in a tourist trap – simply tell us what your dream local tour of Japan looks like, and we’ll make it happen.

See the best places to visit in Japan with private tours in its most exciting cities