Top Kansai Unique Experiences - page 2

Enjoy a quintessential traditional Japanese experience in the heart of Kyoto. This tea ceremony experience takes place in an historic wooden townhouse ("machiya") where you can soak up traditional Japanese culture. You'll have the opportunity to wear a kimono while experiencing the tea ceremony and learn all about its artful rituals.

Discover the ways of a true Japanese warrior during this 90-minute lesson covering sword skills, poses and Shuriken (star) throwing. Gain some inspiration for your training as you watch a performance by three Samurai and a ninja. Then suit up in a traditional kimono, ninja costume or samurai armor as you learn the sword cutting technique of ‘tate,’ combining a balance of posture and mental focus. Finish your day by performing a ninja scene and try throwing a rubber version of the Shuriken (ninja star). An instructor and costume are included.

Learn about the uniqueness of Japanese sweets, which are made from natural ingredients like beans and rice, during this small-group experience in Osaka. Prepare nerikiri (from sweetened white bean paste and glutinous rice) and color and customize your sweets to your liking. Then make matcha using special tools. Enjoy your sweets with a cup of matcha at the end of class.

Visit the enchanting district of Arashiyama, renowned for its thick bamboo groves, resident monkeys, and well-preserved sacred shrines. On this personalized excursion, you’ll join a local guide to explore the stunning region, which lies at the foothills of the Arashiyama Mountains. Tours include admission tickets to four local temples as well as Okochi Sanso Villa, a traditional Japanese home and garden inscribed as national cultural properties.

This personalized full-day Kyoto tour with a local is ideal for first-time visitors to the "City of Temples". You won’t waste a moment visiting places that don’t interest you as this tour is fully customizable based on your interests. Choose the neighborhoods you’d like to visit, and see many of Kyoto’s top sites. Exploring the city with a guide means you won’t get lost, and you'll learn lots of local tips that you wouldn’t discover otherwise.

Explore Osaka through the eyes of a local, on a customized tour with your personal host. Choose from some of Osaka’s most famous attractions, or explore the up-and-coming neighborhoods where Osakans hang out. Immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of this vibrant city as you understand why Osaka has earned the nickname, “The Nation’s Kitchen.”

Learn to make artistic sushi rolls during your own private ‘kazarimaki’ class in Kyoto. Kazarimaki is the art of making designs within a sushi roll, using edible pigments extracted from plants to create colorful patterns in the sushi. Your instructor also provides a kimono (for women) or other traditional garments (for men and children) to wear during the experience.

Learn how to cook five different quintessential Japanese dishes during this hands-on gastronomy lesson, in the private home of an Osaka local. Discover the role of key ingredients like seaweed and dried fish and watch a live demonstration before rolling up your sleeves and tackling recipes on your own. Then, enjoy your freshly prepared meal together, topped off with a bowl of green tea ice cream.

It can be daunting as a first-time visitor to Japan to cope with language barriers and navigate around a new place. On this Kyoto half-day tour, take the stress out of travel planning by having a local host plan your day. Explore one or two neighborhoods of your choice, walking past multiple top attractions and learning about Japanese culture from your guide. By traveling with a local, you learn about hidden secrets off the beaten track that tourists wouldn’t usually visit.

Make the most of a short time on land with this private shore excursion to Kobe. Instead of rushing around with a large group, slow down and appreciate the quieter side of Kobe. Visit the Herb Gardens, the Nunobiki Ropeway, and more. Sake lovers will enjoy checking out a sake brewery, to learn more about this Japanese drink. Foodies can also opt to dine at a restaurant serving Kobe beef.

When visiting the historic city of Kyoto, you see many women walking around in authentic kimono. If you want to try wearing kimono yourself, this experience is for you. Dress in a furisode (formal, long-sleeved kimono), traditionally worn by unmarried young women. Experienced staff help you dress. You can then wear your kimono to appreciate Kyoto’s historical sights and take photographs.

プ ラ イ ベ ー ト Private lessons! The instructor will support you carefully! ! 資格 Qualified instructors will support you at your own pace according to your needs. 場合 If you bring your own kimono, no troublesome return work is required! 〇Because all things related to dressing will be rented free of charge, don't you feel at ease and feel free to start the first step of the kimono? ○ On the second floor of the Kyomachiya, you can experience dressing up slowly な が ら You can enjoy the leisurely dressing experience while feeling the local life of Kyoto which is different from the sightseeing spot. * You can access Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, Gion, etc. with a single train, so please consult with the staff of more than 30 years in Kyoto planning your trip!

Sip sake near the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto during this afternoon tasting tour. You’ll learn about the different grades of sake, visit breweries and liquor stores, and discover why the area around the shrine is known for its production of high quality, sweet-tasting sake. More more than 30 types of sake are available for you to try, so you’ll be sure to leave the tour with a favorite in mind.

Learn to roll sushi like a pro during this sushi-making class in Osaka that includes dinner. Get a hands-on introduction to the art of sushi from a professional instructor, then sit down to enjoy your creations, along with other Japanese snacks. This personalized sushi course, limited to just eight participants, offers upgrade options to sample Japanese sake and beer.

Making sushi or nigiri can be a daunting prospect for beginners; this hands-on class teaches you the basics. Follow along with your chef guide while they move through the steps of creating a sushi meal, from miso soup to traditional sweets. With a small group of just eight people or fewer, you’ll get plenty of personalized attention and enjoy an intimate meal when you finally sit down to eat your creations.

Swap the rigid structure and impersonal feeling of typical group tours for a private and personalized experience of Osaka. This private tour is exclusively for your family and is tailored to your interests, whether you want to see cosplayers in Dontonbori or enjoy a picnic on the island of Nakanoshima.

Flytographer Private Vacation Photo Shoot Connect with a local hand-picked professional photographer in Kyoto and capture your most memorable moments during this private photo shoot. Get insider tips on the best things to do in Kyoto, including where to eat & what to see from your vacation photographer. Return from your trip with beautiful, high-quality vacation photos — the best souvenir ever. We specialize in: - honeymoons - family trips - engagements - anniversaries - romantic getaways - multi-generational trips - babymoons - solo travellers - and just because! With over 10,000 5-star reviews, Flytographer is the global leader in vacation photography and has captured over 3 million memories for travellers across six continents. We’ve been featured across A-list media, including Conde Nast Traveler, Oprah, Forbes, Travel + Leisure, New York Times, BRIDES, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle Magazine, Elle, Buzzfeed, Refinery29, Huffington Post, & many more.

For those new to the Japanese rice wine, sake can be something of a mystery. Unravel those mysteries on this tour to Kyoto's Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, which has been making sake since 1637. See how producers have made sake throughout the past few hundred years, and understand the techniques they use. Enjoy sampling some of the sake and then have lunch (included) in the restaurant.

Tea ceremony, temple spotting and transport by train: do all three on this tour of historic Uji from Kyoto. After traveling to the city by train, walk to iconic Ujibashi Bridge with a guide, passing through Nakanoshima Park, and stop at a Taihoan teahouse to enjoy the important business of taking tea. Before your return to Kyoto, visit Byōdō-in, Uji’s striking Buddhist temple, which dates to the Heian period, and hear about its history from your guide.

You'll discover Japanese style bars in hidden alleys of Kyoto where usually only locals enjoy food and drinks. Expert guide will have a brief consulting before you start the program. Then, the guide will lead you to appropriate bars according to your taste. Discover small streets flooded with small bars and shops like Japanese confectionery stand, small bars and local food-markets in Kawaramachi area, Kyoto. For those who are interested, there are chances to try local food while walking. At the bar, guide is willing to help you to find out good paring of Sake and local-side-dishes. There're several types of bars and each bar has unique home-made Kyoto-style food. We also offer opportunities to taste local Kyoto food which are not normally on tourist menu. You also get a chance to visit a small shrine in a hidden area, you'll hear interesting history behind it. Walking around Kyoto alone is joyful, but we assure you'll see different sides of Kyoto.

Wander through a busy supermarket in Kyoto with your host who will explain the local products such as fresh fruits and vegetables and Japanese spices. Following that, head to a tofu shop for a cooking lesson. During the hands-on class, learn how tofu is made from soybeans and the variety of items that can be made from it. The freshly prepared meal may include dishes such as chirashi sushi (a popular way to serve sushi at home), miso soup, teriyaki of fatty buri (yellowtail) fish, and tofu dishes.

It can be overwhelming to figure out what to eat on your first time in Osaka, so let an English-speaking guide take you and your personal group on this exciting private and personalized food tasting adventure. Discover new foods and flavors, and let your guide personalize the tour to your tastes. Along the way, enjoy around 6–8 different tastings while learning fascinating insights about local food culture.

This is a great choice for first-time visitors to Osaka. Kickstart your trip by going on an action-packed tour with a local guide. It’s a great way to get your bearings and to learn about the local transport system without worrying about getting lost. As it’s a private tour, the itinerary is personalized based on your requirements. Your guide will be happy to answer questions and give top tips about where to find the best food. Learn about Osaka’s cultural practices, its culinary scene, and its most loved attractions.