Explore the Gion district of Kyoto with an expert guide and gain exclusive insight into maiko (apprentice geiko) and geiko culture. Visit a private tea house, see a traditional maiko performance, chat with your host, and enjoy a dinner with unlimited beer and sake. Meet your guide in the heart of Gion and learn about the history of maiko and geiko. Stop at the Yasaka-jinja Shrine and learn about the restaurant where the maiko tradition originated. Bask in the ambiance of Old Japan and stroll through streets lined by machiya townhouses and swaying paper lanterns. After taking in some of the ambiance of the area, step behind the noren curtains of a traditional tea house that hosts private maiko performances. Tuck into a delicious dinner of typical Japanese fare, and help yourself to unlimited beer, sake, or soft drinks before your host arrives. Greet your maiko and then experience an authentic performance, usually reserved for guests with a private invitation. Following the performance, learn a bit more about the art of hosting up close as you listen to some local music and play some fun drinking games. You will also enjoy the rare opportunity to learn firsthand about maiko and geiko history and traditions with a Q&A session with your host. Feel free to ask questions about your hosts' profession, and gain a rare insight into a hidden and oft-misunderstood world.

Visit the serene Jōju-ji temple in Kyoto with an expert guide and gain first-hand insight into Buddhism and meditation. In this off-the-beaten-track location, take part in an authentic Zen meditation session with the resident monk, and enjoy a light lunch of typical Buddhist Shojin cuisine. Meet your expert guide at the entrance to the Jōju-ji temple. Take a short tour of a tranquil temple away from the crowds of the main tourist area. Learn about Buddhism using all 5 senses, and find out about the importance of meditation for its adherents.  Then, meet the resident monk, who will guide you through a Zen meditation session incorporating meditative chanting. Practice essential Zen techniques and feel your tension and stress melt away in the tranquil surroundings. Afterward, enjoy exclusive access to the living quarters of the temple for a Q&A-style chat with the monk. Learn about the core concepts and beliefs of Buddhism with your guide acting as your interpreter, and get a rare opportunity to gain a first-hand insight into the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk.  Your experience will conclude with a light lunch of traditional Buddhist lunch of Shojin food and tea. In accordance with religious custom, the lunch is free from meat or fish, primarily consisting of seasonal vegetables and mountain plants.  After your experience, you can incorporate your newly-learned meditation techniques into your lifestyle. Rest assured in the knowledge that this experience serves to support the temple so that it may serve the surrounding community for generations to come.

Discover the ancient art of noh on a once-in-a-lifetime tour just outside Kyoto. Stroll through the mountain village of Ohara, experience noh chant and dance, and sip tea with a local delicacy in the noh Master's garden. Meet your guide, Julia, at the bus stop in the picturesque mountain village of Ohara. Embark on a short guided walk through the Ohara countryside to learn about the history of noh while you marvel at the lush mountain scenery, sloping landscapes, and traditional wooden architecture. Arrive at the private home of a noh master and step into his studio. Slip on a pair of "tabi" socks and take a seat on the floor. Then, witness a private performance of this traditional art, complete with authentic clothing and masks dating back hundreds of years. Learn more about this precious art from the master and discover how it has evolved and adapted over the centuries. Admire the workmanship of the masks and costumes up close before trying out some of the methodical and rhythmic movements of noh with the master. Then, make your way into the garden and refresh your senses with some tea and Japanese sweets ("wagashi"). Unwind in the stillness and fresh air before bidding farewell to your guide. At the end of your experience, be sure to explore the picturesque town of Ohara before returning to the station. Noh is a classical theatrical-dance art that was first performed in the 14th century and is recognized on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. On this exclusive experience curated by GetYourGuide, immerse yourself in the world of traditional arts and Japanese heritage.

You will take you place on the tatami, the traditional Japanese floor mat and be met by your English-speaking host, who is a licensed tea master from Urasenke, the biggest school of tea ceremony in Japan. Watch as the host carries out the ceremonial preparation of matcha, powdered green tea. Then, you will have the chance to make tea yourself, while the host informs you about the history and spiritual role of the tea ceremony and the effects each tea-making method has on its flavor. Afterwards, savor some traditional Japanese sweets Once the ceremony has come to a close, you will have the chance to take photos and see examples of kimonos and beautiful woven textiles made in the Nishijin district of Kyoto. If you'd like to wear a kimono during the experience, you can select it as an add-on during booking and take photos to remember the experience.

Explore the Gion district by night with an experienced English, German, French, or Spanish-speaking tour guide who knows everything there is to know about the area. The tour starts near Kamo river, where you’ll learn about how the tradition of Geishas came to be. After a short stroll along a busy commercial street, you’ll slip into a calm, quiet area to visit the Yasaka Jinja shrine. After that touch of education, it’s off to the Gion.   The Gion has secrets and history scattered across its narrow streets, but this is also a modern entertainment district—so it’s time for a deep dive into what goes on here. Your guide will keep it light and fun, and explain some of the more interesting cultural mores of these parts. Step into a restaurant and graze from a multitude of small plates at a sort of Japanese-style tapas experience. Enjoy a drink as well before continuing on.   Between restaurant stops, there will be an exploration of Kiyamachi, Ponto-cho, and some other commercial and nightlife streets. Your guide will show you both modern and historical Kyoto, painting a well-rounded picture that gives you a real sense of the place. This tour keeps the groups small and includes your food and drinks, so that you can have a carefree night like you’re simply hanging out with someone who knows the neighborhood. A delicious Kobe (or nearby sourced) Beef option is available on top of the usual food and drink. This option is for bookings at least 10 hours in advance.

Insider Sake Brewery Tour + Sake Tasting and food pairing with an expert/ If you love Sake but don't know what to select or want to enjoy it with Japanese food, join us and let's dive deep into the world of sake! Meet your guide and set off on your three hour tour exploring the Fushimi Sake District of Kyoto, one of Japan’s most famous sake producing areas, and home to about 30 breweries. ・Insider Sake Brewery Tour Visit Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum the largest sake brewery in Fushimi with a sake expert, where you’ll deepen your knowledge of sake and witness traditional brewing processes which have been passed down from generation to generation. At the end of your brewery tour you’ll have the chance to taste a few of the flavours produced there, and friendly staff from the brewery will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. After finishing up with your first sampling, you’ll move on to the full tasting session. ・Sake Tasting with an Expert Enjoy tasting flavours of sake you may never have experienced before – as we’ll introduce you to bottles which have never been exported. Your expert guide will explain the differences in taste – dry, fruity, sweet – and how each of these are produced. ・Food Pairing Experience the food pairing with sake - you’ll also be served various otsumami – Japanese snacks which traditionally accompany alcohol – so you can see which types of food and flavour best accompany the different sake types. This is a fun and educational sake tasting in Kyoto. Recommended to join this experience at the beginning of your trip in Japan!

Explore the city with a friendly local who is passionate about his/her city and eager to share all the tips and tricks that will help you make the most of your trip. Meet where you're staying to get familiar with the neighbourhood, find out about the best places to eat and buy groceries, the easiest ways to get around, and the hidden gems you might have missed. By the end of the tour, you'll feel more comfortable in navigating the city and confident that you have all the information you need to make the most of your stay. Once the supplier has received your booking, they’ll get in touch with you to confirm all the details for the tour: meeting place and time, language and your contact information, and also ask you some questions to get to know you better. The right loca is hand-pickedl for you based on your interests. Each tour is completely customized so you can choose the meeting location, start time and length that you prefer (minimum: 2 hours).  During the walking tour you will have the option of taking public transportation or taxi to get around the city (at your expense). The local guides that we work with (Lokafyers) are locals who are passionate about their city and love to meet travellers and share what they love about their city.  They are not professional tour guides and do these tours occasionally, which provides an authentic and personal experience that is like having a friend show you around their home city.  Through conversations with your Lokafyer, you’ll learn what it’s like to live in Kanazawa, learn about cultural differences, local events and politics and also get to know each other on a personal level. With this experience, you won’t be just passing through the city, you’ll be part of it.

Explore the hidden gem of Shinsekai with your guides and discover the real Osaka. Osaka’s Shinsekai district is a vibrant place combining modern and traditional cuisine. Fill your belly with some of the best food you will have in Japan. Discover hidden, original establishments which have been chosen by two local expert guides. Wander in and around the markets that serve traditional Osakan food for an authentic local experience.  Make your way to the first eatery, a takoyaki, or battered octopus balls, stall. Then visit an Izakaya restaurant and sample some authentic Osakan kitsune Udon along with japanese style chicken wings. Also taste the locally invented kushikatsu, which are lightly deep-fried vegetables, meats and seafood on skewers. Head off the beaten path and visit a cosy, traditional Japanese restaurant you will get dishes of mouthwatering nikudoufu or beef and tofu stew, original yakitori or skewered beef assortments, plus an alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverage. Then visit specialized delicious gyoza dumpling establishment. The last dishes of the night will be at a unique Japanese eatery. Enjoy a tonpeiyaki, or pork omelette plus an abundance of edamame and karaage, Japanese fried chicken with spices. Another drink of your choice here is included. Finish off the night at a market eating Japanese castella cake shaped as the local mascot of Shinsekai.

Meet your knowledgeable guide at the meeting point and begin your cultural half-day walking tour of Japan's first historical capital. As you walk by the shopping arcade, explore a Japanese old town extremely different from a metropolis like Tokyo. Walk between the historical buildings, and go inside a traditional merchant's house to see how people around here live in the past. Next, take a break from walking to observe the mysterious pyramid-shaped structure in the middle of the quiet town. Admire the view of the city of Nara from the hill, then visit Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Learn about the distinct Japanese religious culture as you see a huge temple with a great Buddha statue, then explore a beautiful shrine housing hundreds of lanterns. In this area, meet and feed the wild deer living in Nara Park. For over 1,200 years, locals have believed that deer are sacred divine messengers. Interact with them and see how polite they are. At the end of the tour, savor a delicious Japanese lunch dish made only using local Nara vegetables and fresh meat.

Start your tea ceremony experience by entering through the main gates of the Jotoku-ji Temple. You will pass the entrance to the Grand Tearoom on your left and a shop next to it and meet at the nearby red benches where your guide awaits. Whilst walking through the temple you are free to admire the architecture and stand by the purification fountain. Weather permitting, you are free to sit at the red benches and for a break. In the event of rain you can stand outside under the gable of the shop or wait in the Grand Tearoom. Once you have finished perusing the temple or sitting on the red benches taking in the atmosphere you are able to enter the Grand Tearoom where your instructor waits for you.  Start your tour of the Temple with a traditional purification ritual, a completely unique and insightful experience for Western visitors. Afterwards you will remove your shoes at the entrance of the Grand Tearoom and in your group, proceed inside to take your seat. Get the chance to sample matcha tea at its best. The Tea Master will guide you throughout, showing and explaining every step of the way. Throughout the ceremony you will be taught the fine art of drinking matcha tea and learn about the importance of the ceremony.