Top Japan Coffee & Tea Tours

Experience the rare opportunity to step inside a traditional Kyoto machiya, a wooden Japanese townhouse, and immerse yourself in the uniquely Japanese culture of the tea ceremony. In a small group of no more than six people, learn the basic concepts and ideas of tea ceremony, as well as the required etiquette. Watch a demonstration of the way of tea, then make your own. Your instructor guides you in how to drink it and also serve you a traditional Japanese cake.

Learn more about Japanese culture through its cuisine on a small-group tour of the Tsukiji Outer Fish Market. Your guide will lead you through the busy market so you don’t get lost, and will tell you things you wouldn’t learn if traveling independently. Sample a range of tasty seafood, including sushi, oysters, and other things that appeal to you. This convenient short tour can easily fit into busy schedules.

The tour is by Sayumi, the Official Kanagawa Tour Guide. Starting from Motomachi-Chukagai station, we will go up to Harbor View Park (by escalator) for the best photoshoot of the port for your Yokohama memory. Visit Yamate Bluff, where the foreign residents stayed after the opening of the port 150 years ago, which keeps its historical view, architectural style, and friendly atmosphere until today. Studio Ghibli's movie "From Up on Poppy Hill" is located here, too, so we will be able to visit some familiar spots from the movie. After having a relaxing teatime at the popular authentic Japanese tea salon, we will explore Motomachi, the original high street built back around the time of the opening of the port, full of unique and fashionable shops best for gifts and souvenirs. The final destination is Sankeien, 20 minutes from Motomachi by bus. You can enjoy the beauty of the traditional Japanese architecture and garden collection that provides every 'chic' from all over Japan.

Kyoto is known for its abundance of temples, but choosing which ones to visit can be a challenge. With this tour, visit one of Kyoto’s most well-known temples—Kiyomizu-dera. Exploring the temple grounds with a guide allows you to ask plenty of questions about its history, and learn fun facts along the way. The trip also includes a visit to Otowa waterfall, a traditional tea ceremony, and delicious snacks.

Gain a better understanding of sake during this tour that explores the Fushimi Sake District of Kyoto. Visit Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, one of the largest sake breweries in Fushimi, and end your visit with a sake-tasting session. Not only will your guide be able to explain the basics of sake and introduce you to new kinds you may have never tried, but your tastings will also be paired with Japanese snacks that enhance the tasting experience. 

Sake—traditional rice wine—is Japan’s most famous drink and Kyoto’s Fushimi District is renowned for its sake production, home to over 30 breweries. On this tour, find out how sake is made, discover the many varieties, and learn which sake suits each occasion. Sample seven different sakes, accompanied by tasty Japanese snacks, and leave with a cheat sheet to help you order your favorite sakes while in Japan.

Prepare for battle as you learn the skills of the samurai during this interactive class studying the basic techniques of these ancient Japanese warriors. Pick from multiple durations—with longer classes including more complex movements using a sword and folding fan. When your class ends, enjoy a photo session with your samurai costume and receive a certificate of completion as well as a souvenir Japanese towel.

Learn all about the history and techniques of sake production—and taste a range of different sake styles—on this small-group Kyoto tour. Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum for an immersive introduction to sake. Then, follow your guide to an atmospheric local bar where you can sample a range of different sake varieties. Learn all about sake—from its history and brewing processes to distinguishing its different tastes.

Savor authentic Tokyo food on this "izakaya" tour of Sangenjaya, a vibrant neighborhood that’s away from the city tourist trail. You’ll tour the Japanese pubs, known as izakaya, where after-work drinkers and friends go to socialize over local snacks and beer. Giving you an insight into Tokyo culture, the experience is perfect for those looking for a taste of local life with delicious and traditional Japanese food and drinks.

Get to know the wide variety of sake during your stay in Japan. Visit some of your guide’s favorite breweries in Kobe’s Nada district, Japan’s top sake-producing region. Learn to taste the differences between sake as your sake connoisseur guide introduces you to both traditional and innovative brews.

Get a local's perspective on Hiroshima's surprisingly lively nightlife on this bar-hopping tour. Stroll through the streets with a guide and dip in and out of local "izakayas" and other bars and enjoy drinks and conversation.

Turn something old into something new during this lesson in the Japanese art of "Kintsugi," the practice of repairing broken pottery. Stemming from a Japanese belief that breakage and repair are part of the history of an object, rather than a reason to throw them away, your class involves repairing damaged items with lacquer mixed with gold. Don a "samue" as you refinish one traditional pottery item, leaving with a newfound appreciation for Japanese aesthetics and a unique souvenir.

Master the basic techniques of one of Japan’s most famous dishes during this hands-on sushi-making class in Tokyo. In a small group, you can learn how to prepare different types of sushi, such as California rolls, “nigiri” sushi, and “tekka” rolls using a variety of different ingredients. Then, best of all, reward your efforts by feasting on your sushi creations at the end.

Get an excellent introduction to the cuisine of Kyoto on this small-group guided tour of the city's best food spots. Start at the deliciously vast 400-year-old Nishiki Market, nicknamed 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' where over 130 food shops and stalls beckon your taste buds. Stroll through the market with the guide, learning about the history of food in the city and taste many dishes unique to Kyoto, including pickled vegetables, fried fish cakes, Japanese pike conger eel, mochi and Japanese omelet. After the market, visit a shrine dedicated to the god of education.

Learn about the history and culture of Japanese spirituality and discover the nuances of Japanese tea traditions on this private guided tour in Kyoto. Visit a 12th-century teahouse to begin your journey before stopping to enjoy a tea drinking experience. Continue on to visit two UNESCO world heritage sites: the Ujigami Shrine and the Byodoin Temple, along with other spots including Uji Park, Koshoji Temple, and Byodoin Omotesando, a historic street lined with tea shops.

Embark on a spiritual journey through the hidden gems of Kyoto's countrysides and taste the best green tea in the green tea fields on a private tour like no other! Starting with a gorgeous ancient temple drawn on Japanese 10-yen coins, Byodo-in Phoenix Hall, you will take a step back in time and visit the beautiful countryside of Japan, where you'll be surrounded by rich nature and cultural heritage without distractions! Admire the breathtaking views of the green tea plantations of Kyoto as you leisurely drive and walk through the countryside. Try the most authentic Maccha (powdered green tea), or unique fruit matcha lattes at a cute cafe run by local farmers around there. You'll be guided by a local guide with deep knowledge of Buddhism and the cultures of Japan in an air-conditioned vehicle. Dive into the green tea fields to the sky!

Discover Kyoto's impressive ramen scene on our Insider Kyoto Ramen Tour! Explore both classic and modern ramen and get a better understanding about the wonderful world of ramen with our expert guide. You'll visit two ramen shops for two wildly different bowls of ramen. One bowl will represent classic Kyoto ramen and the other, more modern ramen. Each bowl is smaller than normal (about 1/2 the size of a full bowl). At the beginning of the tour, you'll sit down with the guide to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. Alongside this, you'll discuss Kyoto ramen origins and the ramen route on the tour - the shops you'll be visiting!

Absorb the elegant simplicity and rich traditions of a Japanese tea ceremony (including wearing an optional kimono) during this private 4-hour experience hosted in a beautiful garden. Take a break from the fast pace of modern Japan as you don the traditional kimono garment and take a stroll among the peaceful grounds of this beautiful green space, sitting down to observe the intricate preparation of this ritual Japanese beverage. All entrance fees and a translator are included.

Fans of matcha will appreciate this hands-on workshop on Japanese tea, which combines instructive lessons in traditional matcha preparation with a bonafide tea ceremony experience. Listen to enriching background on the little-known history behind the sacred ritual, once favored by monks and samurais. Learn how to brew top-quality matcha from an organic farm, and enjoy your tea with cakes from a famous Kyoto confectionary—all in a traditional townhouse.

Get a crash course in Japanese cuisine during this culinary walking tour of Tokyo. Included tastings and beverages help you learn about the different regional foods of Japan, how they are made, and why Japanese food is popular all over the world.

A guide to the famous Sapporo market, Sapporo Nijo Market. And after buying fresh seafood, you make hand-rolled sushi by yourself. We will welcome you at a Japanese style home party. If you want to enjoy fresh Hokkaido ingredients and Japanese style meals, please join us.

• Experience “ryurei,” a traditional style of Japanese tea ceremony • Discover all the details of a formal tea ceremony • Learn about matcha snacks and tea • Study the etiquette of an ancient Japanese custom

Enjoy a relaxing morning exploring Kiyosumi Shirakawa, one of Tokyo’s hippest neighborhoods filled with old-school Japanese charm. The neighborhood of Kiyosumi Shirakawa is a blend of modernity and tradition located off the beaten path from central Tokyo. Here, visitors will find coffee shops and galleries nestled between family run bars and small warehouses. As a local guide, I will introduce you to all the best hidden spots as we spend a relaxing morning together. We will visit Kiyosumi Shirakawa’s famous Japanese gardens, unwind with an expertly crafted latte, and end our tour learning how to make traditional Japanese sweets with a local artisan. This tour is the perfect choice for those looking to experience both the old and new sides of Japanese culture, get off the tourist path, try making Japanese traditional sweets, and visit a side of Tokyo most tourists don't get to see. I'm looking forward to meeting you and showing you Kiyosumi Shirakawa!