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

  • (62)

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

  • (143)

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

  • (220)

Day trip to Nara: Japan's old capital
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Kyoto Day trip to Nara: Japan's old capital

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 Kyoto

$360.5 per person

9 hours

  • (57)

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)

Stranger than fiction; Tokyo's weirdest places
New
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Tokyo Stranger than fiction; Tokyo's weirdest places

From unconventional themed cafes to bizarre shops, discover some of the weird, wacky, and wonderful places in Tokyo you never knew existed

$169 per person

4 hours

  • (61)

Take a Day Trip to Fuji's Nearest Neighbor: Kawaguchiko
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Tokyo Take a Day Trip to Fuji's Nearest Neighbor: Kawaguchiko

Discover jaw-dropping views of Mt Fuji, explore the ancient art of fabric dying, unwind in a hot spring and try the delicious local "Houtou" noodles

$382 per person

10 hours

  • (34)

Half day in Kobe with a local
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Kobe Half day in Kobe with a local

A 3rd-century Shinto shrine, exquisitely marbled Kobe beef and unusually themed pet cafes.

$124 per person

4 hours

  • (61)

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

    We took a 4 hour tour with Jocelyn and we had a lovely time. There was lots of walking, but we saw many interesting things from shrines, a water show at the downtown shopping area and lovely gardens. Jocelyn was in contact with me a few times in advance of our trip to plan according to our interests. This tour was among the best we have had. Having it taylored to us makes all the difference. Jocelyn was always concerned about our well-being. She spoke English perfectly and helped us travel on the bus and get us safely into a cab at the end of the tour. We had lunch at a local Ramen restaurant that was a Fukuoaka specialty and it was delicious! We could not have asked for a better guide and tour. Thank you Jocelyn!

    18 April 2026

    Diane T

    Great tour to uncover hidden gems of Fuokoka starting with a rooftop city view at Hankyu Dept Store with a garden and zen atmosphere . City shrines , Full Full mentai baguette where ppl que in . A definite must try experience and best ramen for dinner I’ve had . Jocelyn was a great guide . Not your run of the mill city tour showing highlights of the city you would not normally see . Perfect for us becoz that was the kind of experience we were looking for . Got to see a red light district, trendy vintage shops in Tenjin aside from the malls at Hakata . If you are into hidden gems, this a a must try experience. Ask for a younger guide like Jocelyn .

    10 April 2026

    Leah M

    Private touring with a local is the best. Shino was patient, delightful. And very knowledgeable. Woooonderful experience!

    8 April 2026

    Valerie S

    Shino was very patient and personable. Her English was excellent, and she seems to enjoy herself.

    5 April 2026

    Valerie S

See more reviews

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Experiences for all types of travelers

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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