Top Things To Do In Japan

Tailoring each experience to your wishes by locals who love their city

Group of tourists posing with their local guide at a popular temple in Japan

Top things to do in Japan

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

Shopping in Osaka
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Osaka Shopping in Osaka

Discover the unique shopping scene in Osaka from gadget emporiums, buzzing markets, and cutting-edge fashion in an experience tailored to your style

$138 per person

4 hours

  • (83)

Neon nightlife in Japan’s quirky capital
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Tokyo Neon nightlife in Japan’s quirky capital

Explore Tokyo after dark, guided by your host! From exploring neon-lit Shinjuku and Shibuya to mingling with the locals at a bar, it's up to you!

$176.5 per person

4 hours

  • (70)

Arashiyama: Japan’s Garden of Eden
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Kyoto Arashiyama: Japan’s Garden of Eden

Explore Arashiyama's instagrammable bamboo forest, historic temples and gardens, and one of Japan's most famous and iconic bridge

$255 per person

6 hours

  • (146)

Mystical Gion: explore the iconic geisha district
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Kyoto Mystical Gion: explore the iconic geisha district

Explore Kyoto's most mesmerizing district, see stunning temples, traditional shops, and maybe even the odd geisha hurrying to her next appointment

$120.5 per person

3 hours

  • (230)

Explore Susukino: Sapporo's entertainment district
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Sapporo Explore Susukino: Sapporo's entertainment district

Buzzing underground streets, gyoza and Sapporo TV Observation Deck.

$107 per person

3 hours

  • (68)

Personalized Kobe Half-Day Experience with Local Host
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Kobe Kobe Your Way: A Personalized 4-Hour Exploration

A four-hour private walk tailored to your pace and interests, blending hillside neighborhoods, waterfront spaces, and everyday Kobe life.

$124 per person

4 hours

  • (63)

Eat like a local in Yokohama
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Yokohama Eat like a local in Yokohama

From sakura ice cream from Japan's first ice cream parlor to fluffy "nikuman" from Chinatown, eat like a local on an experience tailored to you

$159.5 per person

3 hours

  • (51)

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Group of tourists posing with their local guide at a popular temple in Japan

Wondering what 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 you could spend a year trying to tick off and still not scratch the surface. In Japan, the ancient and modern are so intimately connected that it seems the one could not exist without the other. Japan’s cities may at first glance appear to be ultra-modern metropolises filled with high-octane entertainment, but peer behind the futuristic facade and you’ll uncover a thousand ways to experience Japanese tradition. Between the centuries-old and contemporary halves of this beautiful country, the things to do in Japan are anything but ordinary.

Meet some of our Japan local hosts

Tourists visiting a popular temple in Japan

Traditional roots

Throughout Japan’s modern cities, countless opportunities to connect with history and heritage abound. The things to do in Japan that celebrate the country’s culture are some of the most memorable travel experiences in the world. From ancient shrines to sumo stadiums, centuries-old dining traditions to tea ceremonies, Japan’s culture is waiting to be discovered. Whether you don a kimono and explore an atmospheric temple, watch a spellbinding geisha performance, or spend a night in a wooden bathhouse, it’s the traditional things to do in Japan that make the country even more magical.

Local women dressed in traditional clothing in an alleyway in Japan

Cities that tell stories

As a country, Japan has several attractions shared by its major cities: fantastic food, cherry blossoms, ancient temples, and dimly-lit izakaya bars. But even with these similarities, each city brings its own unique things to do in Japan. There’s Hiroshima, a city that, beyond its tragic past, is a thriving cosmopolitan community of trendy coffee shops and crowded stores. Kyoto, on the other hand, is a storybook scene of wood-built streets and lantern-lit geishas, while Tokyo and Osaka are modern hubs of high-octane entertainment featuring some of the most futuristic things to in Japan.

Tourists experiencing a traditional Japanese meal on a food tour in Japan with a local

Spectacular cuisine

Ask any culinary expert, and they’ll tell you Japan is one of the best food destinations in the world. With an emphasis on tradition, fresh ingredients, and flavors that range from subtle to super-bold, Japanese cuisine is tremendously varied. No matter where in the country you happen to explore, phenomenal food will be found. Whether you try traditional Kaiseki in Kyoto, Okonomiyaki in Osaka, Fukuoka’s Tonkotsu ramen, and perfectly marbled Kobe beef (not to mention the lesser-known Sapporo “soup curry”), the foodie things to do in Japan will have you planning your second trip.

Japan travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find essential city info, travel tips and the best things to do in Japan and around the world recommended by our local hosts

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Latest reviews from our guests

    Bruce did a great job to tailor the tour to suit our interests & did well to show us the highlights in the time that we had. He also arranged the tour to suit the weather as it was raining at the time. Bruce had a great knowledge of the places that we visited and we shared stories about travel and adventures. We can highly recommend Bruce to everyone visiting Fukuoka that wants a personal guide to show them around. Jane & Wayne

    27 May 2026

    Wayne G

    Shino was our guide at Fukuoka. She was very pleasant and made sure that our day in port was packed with fun filled activities and history of the city. She met us promptly as our ship came to port and made sure that we had ample amount of time to embark.

    25 May 2026

    Tracey P

    We would rate Hiro 5 out of 5. We were very happy with her excellent service and personal touch to make our tour an event to remember! We would highly recommend her to anyone interested in an entertaining and meaningful tour to experience the sights and culture of the Fukuoka area. Origato, Hiro! From Dennis and Annie (Canada)

    21 May 2026

    Dennis L

    Hiro was a fantastic tour guide! Her personal touch and attention to our preferences was excellent. We would highly recommend her to anyone wishing to see the interesting sights in the Fukuoka area, and to learn about the cultural and historical significance. Origato and thanks so much, Hiro! Dennis and Annie (Canada)

    22 May 2026

    Dennis L

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Explore top cities in Japan

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Experiences for all types of travelers

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Experiences
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Tourists enjoying a busy local restaurant in Tokyo with a local

Food Tours In Tokyo

Tourists enjoying a meal with a local guide at a busy restaurant in Japan

Food Tours In Japan

Group of tourists posing with their local guide at a popular temple in Kyoto

Top Things To Do In Kyoto

Group of tourists standing in front of the Godzilla statue in Osaka with a local guide

Top Things To Do In Osaka

Tourists exploring the best things to do in Tokyo with a local guide

Top Things To Do In Tokyo

Tourist posing with a local while on a night tour of Tokyo

Best Tokyo Night Tours

Local guide showing tourists around the city on a night tour of Kyoto

Best Kyoto Night Tours

Tourists posing in front of a torii gate at Meiji Jingu Shrine in Shibuya Tokyo

Best Private Tours In Tokyo

Tourist posing in front of luminous signs at night on a busy street in Osaka

Best Osaka Night Tours

Tourists exploring the alleyways of Japan with a local guide

Best Private Tours In Japan

Tourists crouching down next to the fox statues in Ohori park Fukuoka

Private Tour Guides In Fukuoka

Tourist standing in front of Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate while on a tour of with a private guide in Hiroshima

Private Tour Guides In Hiroshima

Private Tour Guides In Kanazawa

Private Tour Guides In Kanazawa

Private Tour Guides In Kobe

Private Tour Guides In Kobe

Private Tour Guides In Kyoto

Private Tour Guides In Kyoto

Private Tour Guides In Nagasaki

Private Tour Guides In Nagasaki

Private Tour Guides In Nagoya

Private Tour Guides In Nagoya

Private Tour Guides In Osaka

Private Tour Guides In Osaka

Private Tour Guides In Tokyo

Private Tour Guides In Tokyo

Private Tour Guides In Sapporo

Private Tour Guides In Sapporo

Private Tour Guides In Yokoham

Private Tour Guides In Yokoham

Private tour guides Japan

Private tour guides Japan

Walking Tours In Japan

Walking Tours In Japan

Walking Tours In Hiroshima

Walking Tours In Hiroshima

Walking Tours In Kanazawa

Walking Tours In Kanazawa

Walking Tours In Kyoto

Walking Tours In Kyoto

Walking Tours In Fukuoka

Walking Tours In Fukuoka

Walking Tours In Kobe

Walking Tours In Kobe

Walking Tours In Osaka

Walking Tours In Osaka

Walking Tours In Nagasaki

Walking Tours In Nagasaki

Walking Tours In Nagoya

Walking Tours In Nagoya

Walking Tours In Tokyo

Walking Tours In Tokyo

Walking Tours In Yokohama

Walking Tours In Yokohama

Walking Tours In Sapporo

Walking Tours In Sapporo

Fukuoka Private Tours

Fukuoka private tours

Hiroshima private tours

Hiroshima private tours

Kobe private tours

Kobe private tours

Kanazawa private tours

Kanazawa private tours

Kyoto private tours

Kyoto private tours

Nagasaki Private Tours

Nagasaki Private Tours

Nagoya Private Tours

Nagoya Private Tours

Osaka Private Tours

Osaka Private Tours

Sapporo Private Tours

Sapporo Private Tours

Yokohama Private Tours

Yokohama Private Tours

Fukuoka Food Tours

Fukuoka Food Tours

Hiroshima Food Tour

Hiroshima Food Tour

Yokohama Food Tours

Yokohama Food Tours

Nagasaki Food Tours

Nagasaki Food Tours

Nagoya Food Tours

Nagoya Food Tours

Sapporo Food Tours

Sapporo Food Tours

Kanazawa Food Tours

Kanazawa Food Tours

Kobe Food Tours

Kobe Food Tours

Osaka Food Tours

Osaka Food Tours

Kyoto Food Tours

Kyoto Food Tours

Japan Layover Tours

Japan Layover Tours

Tokyo Layover Tours

Tokyo Layover Tours

Tours With Locals In Fukuoka

Tours With Locals In Fukuoka

Personalized Cherry Blossom Experiences in Japan

City Unscripted Destinations