Cultural Activities

Cultural Activities

Cultural activities take you into Japanese culture and allow you to do things that you cannot do at home. We work with only a select group of the very best cultural experience providers as your trip to Japan is important and only the best will do. Here you will find some of the possible cultural activities we can offer you; these are just for your inspiration as there are many more. In addition we also offer a number of general cycling or walking tours. Please let your Japan Tour Expert know if any of these activities are of interest to you.
See all our activities here.

Japanese Food

Talking about Japanese cuisine (和食, washoku) could be an endless story since it offers so many delicious dishes. Japanese food is both regional & seasonal. Countless dishes will appear in front of your mouth; from tasty street food to the most sophisticated treats. Like with the Japanese architecture, the Japanese cuisine is a perfect combination of tradition and modern styles. Our Japan Travel Expert will guide you to best select the activities that will make you discover the Japanese Cuisine.

Best ways to enjoy Japanese food during your journey:

-Take a tour around Tokyo Tsukiji Outer Market Japan’s Food Town
-Join the Tokyo Back Alley Walking Food Tour for one evening we invite you to go out and see how locals enjoy their time after work.
-Follow a Japanese Cooking Class in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka to learn how to prepare a number of Japanese foods and then you will then get to eat what you prepared.
-Take the local Osaka Street Food & Alleyway Bars. Explore Osaka city with an evening tour for a very local experience!
-Restaurant Reservations: we can reserve a restaurant for you anywhere in Japan. From a Kobe Beef dinner, to a Michelin Starred restaurant in Tokyo or a Kaiseki dinner in Kyoto.

Traditional Japan

Japan is well-known for its contrasts between incredibly modern, almost futuristic society and centuries old traditions. For those looking for a traditional experiences during their tour around Japan here are our best picks.

Best ways to enjoy Japanese food during your journey:

-Join a Tea Ceremony in Kyoto. The Japanese tea ceremony is a Japanese tradition steeped in history. Prepare and drink green tea in a ceremonial way prepared in front of you.
-Practice Japanese Calligraphy in Kyoto. Learn the art of Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) in a traditional Japanese house.
-Try Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) in Kyoto. This traditional and formal art may seem esoteric, but this is not the case. Anyone is capable of creating a fantastic work of art.
-Try our Maiko Makeover & Photo Shoot in Kyoto. Your Maiko expert will dress you in a kimono and accessories that you pick out. They will then take your pictures.

-Enjoy a Kabuki Lecture and Play in Tokyo. Discover the traditional Japanese dance-drama.
-Eat like a king with the Geisha show at Akasaka Asada in Tokyo. A private geisha show during dinner at Akasaka Asada.
-Sumie Charcoal Drawing Class in Tokyo.
-Take a Japanese Sword Tour with Paul Martin in Tokyo.

-Join a Samurai Kembu Class in Kyoto. Kenbu is a traditional Japanese stage performance art that utilizes a Katana and a Japanese fan.
-Discover Japanese Pottery in Kyoto. Planning to buy one-of-a-kind ceramics, or simply interested in learning about the styles and traditions of Japanese pottery, from longtime Japan resident, pottery journalist, and ceramic specialist Robert Yellin will be your host.
-Taiko Drum Class in Tokyo or Kyoto
-Experience a Home Stay in Rural Kyoto. Your host will provide you with a variety of experiences that only she can give.
-Stay at a Buddhist Temple in Koyasan.

Modern Japan & Anime

Jump in the world of Anime and Japanese modern culture !

Best ideas to discover modern Japan:

-Enjoy the Robot Show in Tokyo. The Robot Show is a unique entertainment experience! Japanese culture meets robots and brings you to a whole new world of entertainment!
-Take a Manga/Anime Drawing Class in Tokyo.
-Join the Tokyo Anime Tour of Akihabara, Cat Cafe, Pokemon Cafe…
-Test video games at the Virtual Reality Park in Tokyo. Feel the ultra-modern, high-tech world of Tokyo with Virtual Reality games.

Fun for kids

It’s clear that young children will not appreciate a tea ceremony or meditation class. To enjoy your tour around Japan with your family we have selected the below activities.

Best ways to make your kids happy in Japan:

-Japan has plenty of fun attraction parks. Some like Tokyo Disneyland & Disney Sea or Universal Studio Japan in Osaka are well known but there are many others more Japanese themed parks to discover:
*The Hello KittyLand in Tokyo
*Enjoy a variety of amusement facilities with Mt. Fuji as a background at Fuji-Q Highland.
-The Ninja Trick House in Tokyo
-The Toei Kyoto Samura Studio Park
-The Godzilla Interception Operation in Awaji
-Visit a Pokemon Center
-Go skiing at one the best ski resort in the world: Niseko or Hakuba

Discover Rural Japan

If you were to ride the Shinkansen bullet train from Hiroshima to Tokyo you would soon realize that Japan is very densely populated. On the other hand most large cities are on the Honshu island and Japan still offers some very remote areas.

Best Experiences to enjoy the rural side of Japan:

-Find the origin of Matcha Green Tea in Obubu Tea Farm, Southern Kyoto
-Join a small-group Rural Cycling Tour around Lake Biwa or Hida Furukawa
-Stay at a Japanese Home with our Kameoka Rural Experience – near Kyoto
-Visit Off-The-Beaten Path sites like:
Ine, Ainokura, Amami Oshima…

Japanese Spirits

Japanese like Beer, Sake, Shōchū, Whiskey,…Though beer and whiskey were firstly imported nowadays the local production is the most popular. Learn how Japanese made whiskey their own.

Best for a drink:

-The Sapporo Beer Museum
-The Suntory Yamazaki Distillery between Kyoto and Osaka
-Join a Japanese Sake Tour in Kyoto, Kobe or Takayama
-Visit the Miyagikyo Distillery in Sendai
-Reserve a table at some of the best bars in Tokyo

Outdoor

For those in need of a break away from the city, Japan offers plenty of outdoor activities and sights to discover.

Best Outdoor Activities in Japan:

-Take an Ice Flow Cruises in Abashiri, Hokkaido
-Visit the Kushiro Marsh Observatory for some fantastic bird watching.
-Enjoy Walking and Hiking across Japan.
-Explore Yakushima
-Meet the Japanese Snow Monkeys in Nagano
-Ski in Niseko or Hakuba
-Join a cycling tour in Osaka or Kyoto
-Get closer to the Torii gate in Miyajima with our paddle tour.
-Okinawa: Snorkeling & Scuba Diving.

Please let your Japan Expert at Rediscover Tours know if you are interested in any of the above Cultural Experiences. If you do not see the activity you are interested then just ask your Japan Expert and they will do all they can to find a way for you to do it. These can only be arranged with the purchase of a tour.