Unique Local Experiences

Japan reveals itself in quiet, unexpected ways. It’s found in the stillness of misty mountains, in the careful hands of those who shape its timeless crafts, and in the unspoken understanding between generations. Each experience is a doorway into the spirit of a country where history, nature, and culture are intertwined.

We work with artisans and suppliers all over Japan in order to offer our guests authentic experiences and a chance to interact with local people.

Here is a small selection of authentic local experiences
that can be customized and offered to your guests.

CULTURE

Meet sumo wrestlers training at a sumo stable in Tokyo

Watch professional sumo wrestlers train in a sumo stable not usually open to the public

Knife making in West Tokyo

Guests can try their hand at forging a Japanese style knife at one of only three swordsmiths in Japan capable of make iron and steel on their own and forging it into knives and swords.

Feel the thrill of the Iwami Kagura in Shimane

Guests can experience traditional entertainment with a real “local feel”, where dragons roar and are conquered by warriors and the audience is entranced!

GASTRONOMY

Luxury sake tasting in Kyoto by the Sea

Visit a 200-year-old sake brewery in Kyotango, Kyoto and sample their high class sake. Guests will learn all about the sake production process and what makes sake from this region so good.

Kosher friendly soba making in Kanuma

Join local experts in Kanuma to learn the art of handcrafting soba noodles inside a historic building.

Go behind the scenes at Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo with an acclaimed sushi chef

Guests can watch the fresh tuna being cut and gather the finest ingredients from across Japan to make sushi together with the chef in a private cooking lunch session.

NATURE & ADVENTURE

Walk the sacred Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage trail

Follow in the footsteps of emperors along moss-covered mountain paths, where centuries-old shrines, misty forests, and the quiet rhythm of nature offer a journey of spiritual reflection- complete with the thrill of traditional log rafting through pristine river gorges.

Delve into the heart of samurai tradition

Experience Iaido, Yabusame (horseback archery), and traditional Japanese martial arts at a dojo near Tokyo

Train with the mystical Yamabushi in Yamagata

Have your guests step into the world of Japan’s ancient mountain monks and immerse themselves in nature-based spiritual practices known as Shugendo, from waterfall meditation to sacred trekking.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Tea Whisk Making with a 20th-Generation Master in Historic Nara

o Your guests can step into a 500-year-old artisan workshop in Nara, where the revered Tanimura family has preserved the refined craft of tea whisk (chasen) making for generations. They’ll enjoy a private demonstration by 20th-generation master Tanimura Tango, followed by the rare opportunity

to thread their own whisk-an elegant, hands-on encounter with the timeless artistry of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Pottery making with a living national treasure in Arita

Shape porcelain alongside a true master at the Manji Inoue Kiln in Arita, where guests meet and learn from a Living National Treasure in the birthplace of Japanese ceramics.

Washi paper making in Echizen

Producing paper since the 4th century, Echizen is home to Japan’s finest traditional washi paper. Guests can craft their own washi using age-old techniques passed down through generations, while discovering the sustainable beauty of paper made from mulberry bark and pure mountain water.