The most memorable part of this Tokyo cooking class is turning an ordinary lunchbox into a tiny edible character scene. You will shape cute foods, prepare a rolled omelet, and arrange several side dishes in the Japanese bento style. It is part cooking lesson, part creative play. I like the private group format, which gives…
Mount Fuji takes the starring role here, but the KABA amphibious bus supplies the best story to tell afterward. It rolls along the shore of Lake Yamanaka, then slips into the water, giving you a 360-degree Fuji view from the middle of the lake. It is part bus ride, part boat trip, and pleasantly silly…
Akihabara’s appeal is easy to spot but harder to understand. Neon signs, game shops, figure displays, and rows of Gacha Gacha machines can feel like a colorful maze. This two-hour walking tour gives you a guide to the maze, then adds a maid cafe visit with food, drinks, and a drawing made by the maid….
Narita Airport is far from Tokyo Disney, and after immigration, customs, and a long flight, a driver waiting at arrivals can be worth every yen. Cherry Tomato provides a private ride straight to your Disney hotel or the park, with luggage help and flight tracking built in. I especially like the door-to-door service and the…
Mount Fuji is the star here, but the best part of this private day trip is the range of places around it. In one long day, you can see Chureito Pagoda, clear spring-fed ponds, a cedar-shaded shrine, and Lake Kawaguchi without figuring out Japan’s complex regional transport. I like the private vehicle and the freedom…
Harajuku’s cute side is more than cartoon clothes and sweet snacks. This private walk takes you through Takeshita Street, colorful Japanese school-uniform shops, kawaii clothing stores, animal cafes, themed cafes, and Purikura photo booths where you can decorate photos and print them within minutes. Edo, an English-speaking guide, leads the experience with help from a…
Narita Airport is far from central Tokyo, so this service trades the train station shuffle for a driver, an air-conditioned car, and a direct ride to your address. I like the flight tracking and the choice of a private vehicle, especially after a long flight. I also like that the cars use licensed green number…
Shinjuku after dark is best understood one small bar at a time, and this three-hour evening with local guide Kazuki takes you straight into that world. You’ll eat and drink in Omoide Yokocho, walk beneath Kabukicho’s neon signs, and finish with Japanese beer, gyoza, karaage, and stew. I like the small six-person limit, which should…
The most appealing part of this private tour is the chance to see Mt Fuji, Takayama, and Nagano with Kye, a Japan-born, half-Australian photographer who grew up in Takayama. I like the personal angle here, and I like the private vehicle, onboard WiFi, and freedom to travel with only your own group. There is one…
Mount Fuji is the star, but this private full-day drive gives you much more than a quick photo stop. You can circle the Fuji Five Lakes area, see Chureito Pagoda, walk through Oshino Hakkai, visit old Shinto shrines, and choose how to use your time. I like the hotel pickup and the fact that the…
Reporting and features on Tokyo and Japan: the politics, the neighbourhoods, the culture, and how to get around it.