Time with the people who keep Japan's crafts alive
Small, personal experiences hosted by craftspeople, tea masters and chefs. Add one to a journey or a day tour, or enjoy it on its own — Haven arranges the host, the timing and the interpreter.
Maiko Dance and Tea in Kamishichiken
A private teahouse visit in Kamishichiken, Kyoto's oldest geisha district: watch a maiko dance, share matcha and sweets, and play a banquet game.
From ¥340,200 for up to 2 guests
Sakai Knife Making
Make your own Sakai knife in Osaka (deba, sashimi or santoku), have it branded and engraved with your name, and learn how to look after it.
From ¥105,200 per person
Matured Sushi and Sake Pairing
A fully private dining session at a two-Michelin-star sushi restaurant in Futako-tamagawa: matured sushi made in front of you, paired with four sakes.
From ¥221,800 for up to 4 guests
Calligraphy in a Century-Old Kamakura Villa
A beginner-friendly calligraphy lesson with a master, in the tea room of a century-old villa in the hills of Kamakura.
From ¥98,300 for up to 3 guests
Kintsugi in Minami-Aoyama
Practise kintsugi in a Minami-Aoyama gallery space: mend a vessel with lacquer and gold or silver powder and take it home the same day.
From ¥80,600 for up to 2 guests
Private Tea Ceremony with an Urasenke Master
A private tea ceremony in Tokyo hosted by an Urasenke tea master: taste koicha and usucha with sweets and learn the thinking behind the ceremony.
From ¥70,600 for up to 2 guests
Noh Masks and a Private Stage Session
On a Noh family's private stage in Tokyo, meet the head of the family, see his collection of masks and costumes, and watch two shimai dances.
From ¥110,900 for up to 2 guests
Shamisen Lesson and Lunch in Akasaka
A shamisen master performs and guides you in playing, in a private tatami room at a long-established Akasaka restaurant, followed by a seasonal lunch.
From ¥325,100 for up to 2 guests
Ikebana Lesson in Akasaka
A private ikebana lesson with a master-rank instructor in an Akasaka school headquarters designed by Kenzo Tange: make two arrangements.
From ¥169,200 for up to 3 guests
Incense Blending in Ginza
Blend your own incense pouch from over a dozen fragrance ingredients at a 440-year-old incense shop in Ginza, and take seasonal incense home.
From ¥70,600 for up to 2 guests
Sumi-e Ink Painting in Minami-Aoyama
Learn classical Edo Rimpa ink-painting in a private Minami-Aoyama atelier, reproduce a masterpiece by hand and take your painting home as decor.
From ¥36,500 per person
Private Zazen at an Asakusa Temple
Sit zazen at an Asakusa Zen temple founded in 1611, guided by a monk and the head priest, then take matcha and sweets.
From ¥68,000 for up to 2 guests
Chopstick Making in Kuramae
Make your own chopsticks in a Kuramae workshop with a century of Edo woodworking history: choose a fine wood, shave it and finish it with oil.
From ¥75,600 for up to 2 guests
Toyosu Market Tour and Sushi Making
Walk Toyosu Market with a master sushi chef, visit the wholesaler he buys from, then learn to make Edomae nigiri at his restaurant.
From ¥355,300 for up to 2 guests
Yukata and Mizuhiki Accessory Making
In a 100-year-old Japanese residence in Ueno-Sakuragi, learn to wear a yukata, make a matching mizuhiki accessory and keep both.
From ¥147,600 for up to 2 guests
Zen Meditation at a Kamakura Temple
A private tour of a historic Zen temple north of Kamakura with two National Treasures, then talk Zen with the head priest and meditate with him.
From ¥156,000 for up to 2 guests
Whetstone Making and Knife Sharpening in Kameoka
In Kameoka, process a natural whetstone, sharpen a Japanese knife, then tour a whetstone museum privately. Take home the stone and an engraved knife.
From ¥83,200 for up to 2 guests
Washi Papermaking and Journal Craft
Make washi paper by hand with fourteen-century-old techniques, beginners coached, then use it for the cover of a temple-stamp journal.
From ¥37,100 for up to 2 guests
Matcha Milling and Tea Ceremony in Uji
In Uji, home of matcha, grind tencha on a millstone in a rarely opened tea room and taste thin tea made with your own matcha.
From ¥35,300 for up to 2 guests
Ikebana and Tea in a Kyoto Machiya
Learn the basics of ikebana in a 130-year-old Kyoto machiya near Shijo Karasuma, hear about its household customs, then take tea and sweets.
From ¥93,200 for up to 2 guests
Incense Appreciation Overlooking a Temple Garden
Learn kodo, the art of incense, in the Mishina Oheryu tradition, seated at a counter in a temple-owned space overlooking a Kyoto garden.
From ¥80,600 for up to 2 guests
Private Zazen at a Kodaiji Subtemple
Sit zazen in Gesshin-in, a Kodaiji subtemple usually closed to the public, then stroll its garden beside Nene-no-michi.
From ¥73,100 for up to 2 guests
Private Toji Temple Tour with a Monk
A monk guides you round Toji Temple and a subtemple, including areas usually closed to the public, then you copy sutras and receive a temple stamp.
From ¥78,100 for up to 2 guests
Pottery Wheel Class in Higashiyama
Throw two pieces on the wheel in a family pottery studio with a folk kiln, in the Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki traditions; they are fired and delivered to you.
From ¥128,500 for up to 2 guests
Wagashi and Warabi-mochi Making
Shape seasonal wagashi and warabi-mochi with a 300-year-old confectioner, then taste them.
From ¥75,600 for up to 2 guests
Private Kendo Training in Kyoto
A private kendo introduction at a Kyoto dojo: hear the history from an instructor of a long martial lineage, learn the basics, then try a bout in armour.
From ¥252,000 for up to 3 guests
Rock Garden Tour and Meditation in Iwakura
A private after-hours tour of Jissoin, an 800-year-old temple in northern Kyoto: meditate in a usually closed room, take matcha and see the rock garden.
From ¥264,700 for up to 4 guests
Introductory Bonsai in Hyogo
Private bonsai masterclass in Hyogo: tour a professional artist's garden, then prune and wire a ten-year-old bonsai yourself.
From ¥126,000 for up to 2 guests
Osaka Box Sushi with Champagne
Learn Osaka's box sushi, hako-zushi, from a chef in a champagne-themed hotel, then sit down to nigiri, soup and dessert with champagne.
From ¥118,400 for up to 2 guests
Academic-Led Tour of Peace Memorial Park
A walk through Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park led by a professor emeritus of peace studies: the memorials, the history and the city's recovery.
From ¥113,600 for up to 2 guests
Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting in Hida Furukawa
Tour a 150-year-old sake brewery in Hida Furukawa, then taste about four sakes in a private annex with local side dishes and a sake cup to keep.
From ¥54,600 per person
Ukiyo-e Stencil Dyeing Workshop
Colour a Hokusai Mount Fuji motif with a brush in a Nihonbashi gallery, guided by a kataezome artist.
From ¥118,300 for up to 2 guests
Pure Silver Bangle Making in Asakusa
Spend a day as an apprentice in Asakusa: shape your own bangle from 99.9% pure silver with a silversmith whose family has worked silver for twelve generations.
From ¥85,700 for up to 2 guests
Small Katana Forging in Ome
Forge a small katana from tamahagane steel with a husband-and-wife team of bladesmiths on the edge of Tokyo.
From ¥236,400 per person
Soba Noodle Making Workshop
Roll and cut soba by hand the way it was made four centuries ago, taught by a leading soba master.
From ¥301,100 for up to 4 guests
Shojin Ryori Cooking with a Monk
Learn Buddhist vegetarian cooking from a temple monk in Akasaka, then eat your meal in the temple's main hall.
From ¥115,200 for up to 2 guests
Kabuki Workshop with a Professional Actor
Learn kabuki acting and training techniques from a professional actor, at a prestigious traditional restaurant with a kaiseki meal.
From ¥309,600 for up to 2 guests
Sake Brewery Tour in Ome
Tour a brewery with over 300 years of history in the hills of western Tokyo and taste five sakes with paired snacks.
From ¥83,200 for up to 2 guests
Mount Mitake Shrine Hike
A guided day hike up Mount Mitake in western Tokyo to the 'Shrine in the Sky', with lunch at a temple lodging.
From ¥128,500 per person
Nihon-ga Painting in Minami-Aoyama
Paint in the classical Rimpa tradition with a nihon-ga artist, using brush and, if you wish, gold and silver leaf.
From ¥50,200 per person
Kumihimo Silk Braiding in Ueno
A private tour, limited to six guests a day, of a 360-year-old kumihimo silk-braiding workshop in Ueno, then make a braided accessory with master artisans.
From ¥73,100 for up to 2 guests
Kannon Painting & Temple Walk in Kita-Kamakura
Walk to two temples in Kita-Kamakura with a Kannon painter, then paint a small lotus Kannon in the artist's studio.
From ¥40,300 for up to 2 guests
Water Mandala Painting in a Restored Kura
Paint a water-themed Buddhist mandala in a calm restored storehouse in Kamakura and take it home.
From ¥60,500 for up to 2 guests
Old Tokaido Road Hike to Hakone Pass
Walk a well-preserved stretch of the old road between Kyoto and Edo up to Hakone Pass, with Lake Ashinoko and Mount Fuji ahead.
From ¥186,500 for up to 2 guests
Wagasa Parasol Making
Make a traditional Japanese parasol from bamboo and coloured paper at Kyoto's last remaining wagasa shop.
From ¥136,100 per person
Kana Calligraphy on a Fan
Learn Japan's own kana script from a Kyoto family of calligraphers and write your choice of words on a traditional fan.
From ¥69,600 for up to 2 guests
Urushi Lacquer Pen Workshop
Tour a lacquer workshop that has traded since 1909 and decorate a fountain pen with urushi.
From ¥90,400 for up to 2 guests
Dashi Tasting & Cooking Class
Learn how dashi, the base of Japanese cooking, is made at a Kyoto dashi store founded in 1903.
From ¥75,600 for up to 2 guests
Koji Making & Sake Pairing in Umekoji
Make koji in a traditional koji room a short walk from Kyoto Station, then taste fermented snacks with seasonal sake.
From ¥75,600 for up to 2 guests
Antique Gallery Tour & Tea in Gion
Handle Edo-period art with an expert in tea-ceremony art, then drink tea and sake from antique vessels.
From ¥95,800 for up to 2 guests
Curator-Led Museum Tour in Arashiyama
A private curator-led tour of an Arashiyama art museum on TIME's 2023 list, with works by Ito Jakuchu and Hokusai, before opening or after hours.
From ¥61,000 for up to 2 guests
Cooking with Koji in Sakai
Cook a classic one-soup-three-dishes meal with koji seasonings at a shop in Sakai that dates from 1689.
From ¥93,600 for up to 2 guests
Hida Takayama Hike & Cycle
A full day on foot and by bicycle around Hida Takayama, with a hoba-zushi lunch at a castle ruin and a visit to the Hida Folk Village.
From ¥189,000 for up to 2 guests
Forest Pilgrimage at Senkoji Temple
Meditate at a mountain temple above Hida Takayama and walk part of the 88-temple pilgrimage route through the forest.
From ¥189,000 for up to 2 guests
Seto Inland Sea Cruise & Cycling
Cruise privately through the Seto Inland Sea, then cycle around Yuge Island with a local guide.
From ¥306,200 for up to 5 guests
Edo Woodblock Printing Workshop
Print ukiyo-e patterns on washi paper at a woodblock workshop with 160 years of history, and turn them into a bamboo-handled fan.
From ¥127,700 for up to 2 guests
Edo Glass Cutting Workshop
Cut a pattern into an 8-ounce cup of two-colour Edo overlay glass with a seasoned glassmaker.
From ¥110,900 for up to 2 guests
Edo Paper Lantern Making
Paint your own Edo paper lantern at a shop that has been in business for over a hundred years, and take it home.
From ¥93,200 for up to 2 guests
Edo Komon Tenugui Dyeing
Stencil-dye a tenugui hand towel at a studio that has kept the Edo komon tradition alive for over a century.
From ¥85,900 for up to 2 guests
Maki-e Lacquerware Decoration
Decorate a piece of lacquerware with maki-e metallic powder at the main store of a century-old lacquerware shop in Nihonbashi.
From ¥80,600 for up to 2 guests
Mizuhiki Knots & Washi Wrapping
In a Yoyogi studio, learn basic mizuhiki knots with an artist and practise wrapping with handmade tesuki-washi paper, including gift envelopes.
From ¥65,500 for up to 2 guests
Japanese Scent Making in Kudan
Blend your own natural fragrance from Japanese plants with a scenting designer at a historic house in Kudan.
From ¥156,200 for up to 2 guests
Bonsai & Tea at a Bonsai Museum
Tour a garden of over a thousand bonsai, shape a tree yourself, and finish with tea ceremony.
From ¥91,200 for up to 2 guests
Katana Polishing Workshop
Polish a real katana on a whetstone with one of Japan's professional katana polishers in Setagaya.
From ¥83,200 for up to 2 guests
Beer Museum Tour & Tasting in Ebisu
Go behind the story of one of Japan's best-loved beers at a brewery museum in Ebisu, with a tasting and food pairings.
From ¥69,600 for up to 2 guests
Omotesando Architecture Walk
Walk Omotesando and Harajuku with an architecture expert and see how western Tokyo went from rice fields to skyscrapers.
From ¥42,800 per person
Geisha Entertainment in Asakusa
Dine at a ryotei in Asakusa's old entertainment district with geisha and rare male hokan entertainers.
From ¥560,600 for up to 2 guests
Japanese Dance at a Ryotei in Akasaka
Watch a private nihon-buyo performance and learn its movements from a master instructor, followed by kaiseki.
From ¥113,400 per person
Kanji Calligraphy with a Master
Learn kanji calligraphy at a ceramics shop in Yanaka from a calligrapher who draws on a background in psychology.
From ¥80,600 for up to 2 guests
Bean Paste Flower Wagashi Class
Make modern wagashi flowers from sweet bean paste, free of dairy and gluten, and enjoy them with tea.
From ¥95,800 for up to 2 guests
Dyed Flower Making in a Couture Atelier
Cut, dye and layer silk and lace into a flower in the atelier of a renowned couture flower artist.
From ¥147,400 per person
Mount Takao Hike & Shojin Lunch
Hike sacred Mount Takao with a certified guide, then eat shojin cuisine made from local vegetables.
From ¥245,500 for up to 2 guests
Samurai Archery in Nikko
Learn the etiquette of Ogasawara-style kyudo or try mounted yabusame in Nikko, with a tour of Toshogu Shrine.
From ¥184,800 for up to 2 guests
Kamakura-bori Lacquerware Lesson
Meet an award-winning Kamakura-bori master in his quiet Kamakura workshop for a talk and demonstration on the craft of lacquered tableware.
From ¥91,200 for up to 2 guests
Kamakura-bori Wood Carving
Carve a small plate in the 800-year-old Kamakura-bori style in the studio of a descendant of Unkei.
From ¥147,600 for up to 2 guests
Zen & Shakuhachi at Hokokuji
Experience suizen, 'blowing Zen', with the shakuhachi bamboo flute with private evening access to Hokokuji's bamboo garden.
From ¥493,200 for up to 2 guests
Nerikiri Wagashi in a Hase Teahouse
Make two nerikiri sweets in the shapes of Mount Fuji and cherry blossom at a teahouse in Hase.
From ¥95,800 for up to 2 guests
Landscape Ikebana in Kita-Kamakura
Make a 'windswept landscape' of flowers in a quiet atelier in Kita-Kamakura, guided by a flower artist.
From ¥73,100 for up to 2 guests
Zen & Karate at Engakuji
Explore the link between Zen and the martial arts with a temple tour, meditation and a karate workshop at Engakuji.
From ¥283,200 for up to 2 guests
Zazen & Shakuhachi in Hakone
Practise zazen and flute meditation with a shakuhachi master at a historic retreat near Ashinoyu hot spring.
From ¥39,600 per person
A Day at a 300-Year-Old Villa
Relax by a traditional hearth at a villa built three centuries ago for the ruling Seto family.
Price on request
Forest Zazen & Tea Below Mount Fuji
Meditate in a forest clearing at the foot of Mount Fuji and drink tea made from plants that grow there.
From ¥87,600 for up to 2 guests
Mount Fuji Foothills Tasting Tour
Tour the foothills of Mount Fuji in a private car that doubles as a mobile tasting room, with a guide who is also a sommelier.
From ¥436,900 for up to 5 guests
Winery Tour in Katsunuma
Tour the cellars of the birthplace of Japanese wine, with a private tasting served only to Wabunka guests.
From ¥63,000 for up to 2 guests
Wabi Fireworks Making & Launch
Make your own skyrocket and sparklers with a master of traditional wabi fireworks, and set them off.
From ¥264,000 for up to 2 guests
Organic Tea Plantation Tour in Ujitawara
Tour a pesticide-free tea plantation in the birthplace of Japanese green tea with its 21st-generation head.
From ¥67,200 for up to 2 guests
Kyo-Yuzen Silk Painting
Visit the Nakagyo workshop of a Kyo-Yuzen kimono dyer who trained under a Living National Treasure, see demonstrations and try silk painting yourself.
From ¥94,800 per person
Kyoto Roof Tile Kiln Tour
See how the roof tiles of Kyoto's temples and teahouses are made at a long-running kiln, and take a tile home.
From ¥75,600 for up to 2 guests
Arashiyama Houseboat & Bamboo Flute
Drift along the Oi River on a houseboat to the sound of the shinobue bamboo flute, as aristocrats did a thousand years ago.
From ¥370,400 for up to 4 guests
Folding Fan Painting in a Machiya
Paint your own Kyoto-made folding fan in a historic machiya townhouse, with a tour of the house, tea and wagashi.
From ¥72,000 for up to 2 guests
Shamisen Lesson at a Kyoto Temple
Learn a traditional melody on the shamisen in a private room at a Buddhist temple, then hear your teacher play.
From ¥70,600 for up to 2 guests
Temple-Stamp Journal with Kyo-Karakami
Make a goshuin temple-stamp journal using Kyo-karakami, Kyoto's decorative paper printed with old woodblocks.
From ¥47,500 for up to 2 guests
Make Your Own Miso in Kyoto
Tour a century-old Kyoto miso brewery with its fourth-generation owner, then make 1 kg of miso by hand to take home and taste miso with cooking tips.
From ¥100,800 for up to 2 guests
Noh at Kamigamo Shrine
Explore Kamigamo Shrine through the Noh play it inspired, followed by a private performance.
From ¥290,400 for up to 2 guests
Kabuki Lecture & Premium Seats at Minamiza
Take a private lecture from a kabuki actor, then watch him perform from premium seats at Minamiza Theatre.
From ¥632,400 for 1 guest
Kinsai Gold Leaf Gilding Workshop
Gild a fabric panel with a kinsai artisan after touring the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design.
From ¥126,000 for up to 2 guests
Pilgrimage to Kasagidera
Walk the ascetic Shugendo trail of Kasagidera, a mountain temple in southern Kyoto famous for its huge rocks, led privately by its vice head priest.
From ¥88,800 for up to 2 guests
Kogin-zashi Embroidery in a Machiya
Make a kogin-zashi embroidered accessory in a historic Kyoto townhouse with a kogin-zashi artist.
From ¥141,100 for up to 3 guests
Buddhist Statuette Carving in Yase
Spend a day in verdant Yase carving your own palm-sized Warabe Jizo with a Buddhist sculptor.
From ¥115,900 for up to 2 guests
Suiboku-ga Ink Painting in Higashiyama
Learn suiboku-ga ink painting from a ninth-generation Maruyama-Shijo school artist in a restaurant reserved just for you.
From ¥78,100 for up to 2 guests
Shimabara Walk & Kyoto Lunch
Stroll through Shimabara, one of Kyoto's three historic entertainment districts, with a local restaurateur, and have lunch.
From ¥78,100 for up to 2 guests
Seasonal Wagashi in an Osaka Villa
Learn to make three seasonal nerikiri sweets with an Osaka wagashi master, in a wooden private villa rented for your group.
From ¥110,900 for up to 3 guests
Cedar Bento Box & Chopstick Making
Make a 'breathing' bento box and chopsticks from rare akamasa cedar with the fifth-generation couple behind a 150-year-old workshop.
From ¥90,700 for up to 2 guests
Tatami Heritage Tour in Sakai
Tour historic buildings in Sakai with a tatami craftsman and try stitching a tatami mat by hand.
From ¥98,300 for up to 2 guests
Tea Whisk Making in Ikoma
Watch a 20th-generation master make a tea whisk and weave the threads yourself, in a 500-year-old workshop.
From ¥98,300 for up to 2 guests
Plant-Dyed Silk Scarf in Nara
Extract colour from seasonal plants and dye your own silk scarf with the master dyer of a Nara workshop.
Price on request
Sake Brewing Experience in Yamato Koriyama
Take part in the main steps of sake brewing at a 170-year-old microbrewery, four minutes by train from Nara Station.
Price on request
Sutra Copying & Buddhist Painting at Taima-dera
Visit one of Japan's oldest temples, try sutra copying and painting, and have matcha in a famous tea room.
From ¥141,100 for up to 4 guests
Shigaraki Pottery with Ancient Lake Clay
Shape your own piece from 4-million-year-old lake clay and have it wood-fired in a traditional kiln.
From ¥129,600 for up to 2 guests
Thatched-Roof Architecture Tour in Kobe
Explore Hyogo's thatched-roof architecture with a professional thatcher, including the Ogo Honjin ruins.
From ¥146,200 for up to 4 guests
Sumadera Temple Tour in Kobe
Tour a temple of over 1,100 years linked to the Genpei War and the Tale of the Heike, step into its inner sanctuary and hear a sumagoto played.
From ¥75,600 for up to 3 guests
Sake Brewery & Distillery Tour on Lake Biwa
Tour a 150-year-old brewery on the western shore of Lake Biwa and sample its sake, whisky and local foods.
From ¥45,400 for up to 2 guests
Rock Garden Zazen at Seigan-ji
Practise zazen in front of a nationally recognised rock garden near Lake Biwa, then have coffee.
From ¥58,200 for up to 2 guests
Incense Making at a Koyasan Temple
Make incense powder with the temple's traditional fragrance at a Koyasan head temple, with a tofu lunch.
From ¥113,600 for up to 2 guests
Kutani Ware Matcha Bowl Throwing
Throw Kutani ware matcha bowls on a pottery wheel in the private atelier of an internationally active ceramist.
From ¥93,200 for up to 2 guests
Natural Lacquer Kintsugi in Kanazawa
Do the final step of kintsugi with natural urushi at a four-generation lacquerware workshop in the city of crafts.
From ¥58,000 per person
Sake Tasting at Kanazawa's Oldest Brewery
Taste the finest sake of Kanazawa's oldest brewery, founded in 1625, with snacks that pair with it.
From ¥47,900 for up to 2 guests
Kaga Yuzen Atelier Tour & Silk Painting
Tour a Kaga Yuzen atelier with its founder, who has made pieces for the Imperial Family, and paint on silk.
From ¥80,600 for up to 2 guests
Maki-e Decoration in Kanazawa
At a four-generation lacquerware workshop in Kanazawa, see how natural urushi is used, then decorate a piece with maki-e and take it home.
From ¥133,600 for up to 2 guests
Sowa Style Tea Ceremony in Kanazawa
Take part in a Sowa-style tea ceremony in a former samurai-era residence, tied to the history of the Kaga domain.
From ¥123,500 for up to 2 guests
Ohi Ware Museum Tour & Matcha
Tour a museum of Ohi ware, part of Kanazawa's tea culture since the Edo period, led by the 11th-generation master.
From ¥42,800 for up to 2 guests
Edomae Sushi Omakase in Kanazawa
Have a private lunchtime sushi omakase in the Kazuemachi teahouse district and make your own nigiri.
From ¥143,600 for up to 2 guests
Samurai Tea Ceremony near Miyajima
Take part in the samurai tea ceremony of the Ueda Soko school in Hatsukaichi, across the bay from Miyajima, with a ceremonial exchange of cups.
From ¥120,000 for up to 2 guests
Brush Making & Shodo in Kure
Try making a Kawajiri brush with a master artisan and then use it for basic shodo calligraphy.
From ¥175,200 for up to 2 guests
Private Tour of Daisho-in on Miyajima
Tour a temple of over 1,200 years at the foot of Mount Misen with views of the Seto Inland Sea.
From ¥175,200 for up to 2 guests
Sake Brewery & Fugu Lunch in Iwakuni
Spend a day in Iwakuni with a fugu lunch and a tour of the Dassai sake brewery, with chauffeured transport from Hiroshima.
From ¥441,600 for up to 2 guests
Inujima Art Island Half-Day Tour
Cross to tiny Inujima by sea and explore its art installations and museums with a translator-guide.
From ¥326,400 for up to 2 guests
Teshima Island Farm Experience
Travel to Teshima by chartered boat and harvest seasonal produce at a farm that works in step with the island.
From ¥466,800 for up to 2 guests
Olive Harvest & Lunch on Shodoshima
Harvest olives at an award-winning olive farm on Japan's largest olive-growing island and see the oil made.
From ¥128,400 for up to 2 guests
Soy Sauce Breweries of Shodoshima
Visit two soy sauce breweries in Shodoshima's Hishio-no-Sato district with a soy sauce sommelier or local chef.
From ¥194,400 for up to 2 guests
Bizen Ware Pottery with a Kaneshige Master
Tour the studio and kiln of a Bizen ware master from a centuries-old lineage, then make pottery yourself.
From ¥140,400 for up to 2 guests
Tray Carving at a Lacquerware Workshop
Tour the Okayama workshop of a respected lacquerware maker and craft your own original tray, learning the process directly from him.
From ¥188,400 for up to 2 guests
After-Hours Sword Viewing in Okayama
View National Treasure swords at an Okayama art museum after it closes, with a curator, then have matcha and sweets.
From ¥98,300 for up to 2 guests
Make Original Jeans in Kojima
Work with the craftspeople of Kojima, the birthplace of Japan's first domestically made jeans, to create a one-of-a-kind pair.
From ¥439,200 for up to 2 guests
Soy Sauce Brewery Tour on Osakikamijima
Tour the only soy sauce brewery on a remote Seto Inland Sea island and taste soy sauce aged in century-old barrels.
From ¥63,000 for up to 2 guests
Onomichi Tea Tasting & History Walk
Taste Sera tea grown without pesticides or fertiliser and walk through Onomichi's tea history with its grower.
From ¥96,000 for up to 2 guests
Evening Tea Ceremony in Nagoya
Take part in an Omotesenke-style tea ceremony at night in a tearoom in Nagoya, beginner-friendly, with optional kimono.
From ¥37,800 for up to 2 guests
Kodo Incense Ceremony in Nagoya
Experience the kodo incense ceremony, a Nagoya tradition, in a tearoom normally closed to the public.
From ¥201,600 for up to 2 guests
Nagoya Folding Fan Making
See how folding fans are made at a fan shop near Nagoya Castle, founded in 1912, then finish your own fan with a Nagoya Castle or painting design.
From ¥60,500 for up to 2 guests
Hammered Copperware in Tsubame
Hammer your own copper plate in the tsuiki tradition at a historic workshop in Tsubame-Sanjo.
From ¥111,600 for up to 2 guests
Oirase Gorge & Lake Towada Trek
Trek Oirase Gorge, Lake Towada and Mount Hakkoda on a fully private, seasonally tailored day with an expert local guide.
From ¥184,800 for 1 guest
Oirase Winter Icefall Tour
See frozen waterfalls and ice formations along Oirase Gorge by private car, by day or by night, with local sake.
From ¥124,800 for up to 4 guests
Nebuta Museum & Festival Backstage
Visit the Nebuta museum after hours, with a seasonal look behind the scenes at the festival's huge illuminated floats.
From ¥162,000 for 1 guest
Katana Signature Engraving in Nagano
Try meikiri, the engraving of a swordsmith's signature on a katana tang, with a master swordsmith.
From ¥909,600 for up to 2 guests
Forge a Knife in Gifu
Spend a day making a roughly 20 cm utility knife from start to finish at a forge in a traditional farmhouse.
From ¥78,000 per person
Japan Blue Indigo Dyeing in Gifu
Dye with fermented indigo in a workshop in the foothills of Gifu, run by a husband-and-wife team.
From ¥108,200 for up to 2 guests
Cormorant Fishing with Geisha Entertainment
Watch 1,300-year-old cormorant fishing from a private boat on the Nagara River, with geisha performances and dinner.
From ¥508,800 for up to 2 guests
Kiso-Hirasawa Lacquerware Workshop Walk
Walk through a 400-year-old lacquerware town and meet the artisans, including a restoration workshop closed to the public.
From ¥196,800 for up to 2 guests
Magome to Tsumago Nakasendo Trek
Walk the Magome-Tsumago stretch of the Nakasendo, the old mountain road between Edo and Kyoto, with vehicle support.
From ¥218,400 for up to 4 guests
Hida Tea & Woodcraft Experience
Watch a master woodcarver at work in a Hida tearoom and experience Hida's Sowa-style tea ceremony.
From ¥138,600 for up to 2 guests
Hida Urushi Forest & Tea
Visit a lacquer-tree forest normally closed to the public, from April to November, then take tea in Hida's Sowa style.
From ¥103,300 for up to 2 guestsNo experiences match these filters yet — try removing an interest or choosing another city.
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