JAPAN
Japan's classics.
The 15 most popular lunch experiences in Japan. What each one is really like, who runs it, and what you will pay.
Cycle North Kyoto by bike with temple entry, a Japanese lunch, and premium Cannondales on a small guided ride.
“Great bike tour with a super knowledgeable guide. Got to see the highlights of Kyoto all in one day. About 13 miles long and 6 hours.”
A guided 1-day trip from Shinjuku to Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko with Chureito Pagoda views, craft stops, optional lunch, and return.
“That VIA Tour is advertisement is true from start to end. Staff was prompt in picking everyone in our tour group. Our Tour guide (Omar) was professional and humorous. Explained everything we are expected to see, times on departure and Best places to take Pix. Very enjoyable. Thanks VIA Tour. Till next time.”
Kyoto and Nara icons in one day: Arashiyama bamboo, Nara deer and Todai-ji, Fushimi Inari torii gates, plus a Kobe lunch.
“we woke up late and our guide instructed us what to do. overall a great experience for someone that wants to do a flash tour of the places. the Kobe beef was amazing and also the place was quite traditional. highly recommended for the activities and Veggie our guide”
A calm Kyoto Zen temple visit with zazen meditation, guided temple and dry garden stops, plus a traditional Buddhist lunch.
“Yutaka was a wonderfully knowledgeable guide and a great person. His enthusiasm for Zen Buddhism and for Kyoto comes through in every site we visited. We enjoyed thoroughly his company, and we very much appreciate his inner kindness. The Zen meditation experience with a monk was priceless. 🙏”
Osaka highlights in 7 hours: five top sights, subway-and-walk routing, and a ramen lunch with an English local guide.
“Taka was an amazing local guide. We had only 4 in our group so very personalised tour. We visited 5 great sites, got the true local perspective & had a delicious Ramen lunch. He also gave us recommendations of places to eat while in Osaka. Highly recommend.”
See the A-Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Museum, then ferry to Miyajima’s Itsukushima Shrine, with okonomiyaki lunch.
“The starting time was ideal at 10am and not too early. The guide was really informative and organised. We got to see a lot and after a tour of the shrine, we could enjoy free time on Miyajima Island which was really enjoyable and sunny although cold so recommend packing gloves and thick coat/wearing layers…”
Spend 9 hours snorkeling Kerama Islands from Naha with wetsuit gear, guided reef time, boxed lunch, hot showers, and pickup.
“It was really possible to see corral reefs, fosh and turtles. Transportation was excellent, lunch nice, no delays anywhere”
Tokyo to Nagano for snow monkeys in steamy hot springs, beef sukiyaki lunch, and winter snow huts with an English guide.
“It was fantastic. Shin and Shin ( Bus driver and Guide ) were a lot of fun as well very attentive.”
Learn sumo from former pros and fuel up with wrestler-made chanko nabe in a small 6-person workshop in Asakusa or Ryogoku.
“We had such a great time at the sumo experience! It was my partners birthday and I surprised him with this as a gift! The food was delicious and the sumo demonstration was funny, entertaining and we learnt a lot about sumo as a sport! My partner was able to wrestle with the professionals and…”
A smooth Nagoya day trip to Takayama and UNESCO Shirakawa-go, with Edo-style streets and optional Hida beef lunch by VIP bus.
“We had a wonderful trip - everything was very well organised. Our guide Bara-san was very kind and knowledgeable and shared insightful information about the places we visited and Japanese customs. We were also given sufficient time to explore the places by ourselves. We highly recommend this tour to others who want to visit Takayama…”
Boat cruise over Amanohashidate, cable-car mountain views, Chion-ji temple, Miyama thatched village, plus a filling set lunch.
“This was a very enjoyable day trip from Kyoto. I highly recommend. It is difficult to get to these northern places without a car, and certainly difficult to visit more than one such place in a day without a car. By signing up with the tour, it allowed for access to more sites, a very…”
Three-hour Tsukiji tour with a temple visit, 5+ seafood tastings, donburi lunch, and Tokyo views from Shiodome Media Tower.
“Ken was delightful and full of great information and insights. Tour was a good length and lunch was a treat. Live every minute of it.”
Small-group Osaka highlights on foot with ramen lunch, market snacks, and photo help across Osaka Castle, temples, Shinsekai, and Dotonbori.
“Nice tour of Osaka. We were able to go see all the major stopping points including a great ramen spot. Our guide Takanobu was funny and knew all the best photo spots.”
Yellow Hato Bus packs Meiji-Jingu, Odaiba, lunch, Asakusa and Skytree into one smooth day with an English guide and included tickets.
“We appreciated the fact that the tour guide Mina is fluent in English, she is full of useful information about the history Japan and past emperors, she gave us tips on how to get around , what to do and what not to do in Tokyo, and most of all she is very witty and…”
Osaka on a bike in 5 hours: shrines, Edo-era streets, Kagurazaka food, lunch, matcha, and breezy Osaka Castle Park views from Tenmabashi.
“The tour was just the right length. Mike was a great guide who engaged in conversation with everyone in the group. He explained the shrine, guided us through the riverbank bicycle pathway, stopped at a small local restaurant for a cabbage pancake lunch, and also showed us the museum that explains everyday life in Osaka…”
