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Kanto Region, Japan Culture & history

Our most recommended Kanto Region, Japan Culture & history

From Tokyo to Mount Fuji: Full-Day Tour and Hakone Cruise

1. From Tokyo to Mount Fuji: Full-Day Tour and Hakone Cruise

Discover the Japanese natural miracles of Mt. Fuji and Hakone in 1 day on a guided tour. Step away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and surround yourself with nature as you visit the highest mountain in Japan. Ride the thrilling Hakone Ropeway and enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Ashi. We start the tour from the center of Tokyo, Shinjuku (Love statue) at 8am. A comfortable air-conditioned coach will first take you to all the way up to the 5th station of Mt. Fuji, 2,000 meters above ground. Take a deep breath at the wonderful nature in Mt.Fuji while seeing magnificent scenery. Also feel the sacred atmosphere at Japanese shinto Shrine there! *If we cannot go up there, we will attend the highest available point on the day and if it is only the first station or the driveway is closed, we will visit Oshino Hakkai or alternative place Then the bus will take you to “Oshino Shinobi no Sato”, a Ninja Village for buffet lunch! Enjoy a Japanese Lunch buffet with local fresh ingredients as much as you like! Walk through a traditional Japanese garden with a Japanese landscape of Mt fuji. Maybe you can take photos with Ninjas!!! *Vegetarian meal, Muslim Friendly is available. Please request when you make a booking. After recharging some energies, the bus head to Hakone area! Starting with “Owakudani” a valley once was called “Valley of Hell.” It is still an active volcano that you can still see the steam coming from the ground. Experience the smell of sulfur and try eating “Kuro Tamago” Black Egg which is said to prolong your life! We will take a Hakone Ropeway, an exhilarating experience with an amazing view of Mt. Hakone. You can see the rich nature of the mountain and you can even see Mt. Fuji in a clear sky! This ropeway will take you to Lake Ashi, a caldera lake. Enjoy the refreshing cruise of Lake Ashi and see the beautiful natural landscape and Mt. Fuji. Don’t miss out to see Torii Gate which is floating on the water! It’s not over yet! We are finishing at Hakone Shrine, one of the most famous shrines in the area because of its photogenic red torii gate floating on the water called “Torii of Peace.” Yes, this is the gate we will see from the cruise! Go ask your friendly tour guide to take pictures that can go on your Facebook picture! And don’t forget to bring your empty bottle! Go up to the main Shrine, pray for your health and get some spring water that is said to purify your bad spirits. After having a peaceful time at the shrine, the bus will have a quick stop at Odawara Station and head back to Shinjuku Station getting there around 6:50pm. *People who has JR pass can use their own tickets and use bullet train from Odawara Station.

Mt Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Scenic 1-Day Bus Tour

2. Mt Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Scenic 1-Day Bus Tour

Discover the scenery and historic landmarks around Lake Kawaguchi on a guided tour from Tokyo. Admire the views of Mt. Fuji as you see traditional houses, stunning pagodas, and the colorful flowers and plants of Oishi Park. Climb aboard the shuttle bus or join the tour at the Shinjuku departure point, and set off towards the Mt. Fuji area. On clear days, you will already be able to see Mt. Fuji from afar during the bus ride. Make the first stop at one of Japan's most iconic spots: Arakurayama Sengen Park. Admire the picture-perfect view of the 5 symbolic pagodas with Mt. Fuji in the background. Continue on from Mt. Arakurayama and proceed to the Kawaguchiko craft park right next to Kawaguchi Lake. If you prefer, take time to enjoy your lunch and walk around the lake as you take in the scenic view of Mt. Fuji's reflection on the water. After this, head to Oishi park which offers seasonal scenery with various types of flowers. Finally, stop by Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba which is located on the banks of Lake Saiko. Take a stroll through the village and marvel at the houses with thatched roofs which will give you a glimpse into life in Japan in the olden days. Conclude the tour at 6:15 PM when you will be dropped off in Shinjuku.

Nikko: Private Walking Tour with Local Guide

3. Nikko: Private Walking Tour with Local Guide

Discover Nikko on a fully customizable private tour. Choose what you would like to experience, what time you would like to start your tour, and the local partner will arrange a tour to suit you. Start your day by meeting your guide and then choose the sites you wish to visit depending on your interests. Example 6-hour Itinerary: Meet your guide at Tobu Nikko Station and get the bus to Nikko Tosho-gu shrine. Discover the impressive carvings of the shrine which showcase the techniques of Edo period craftsmen. See carvings of animals, such as the three monkeys said to be admonishing mankind, the sleeping cat, as well as ornate buildings and a five-storied pagoda. Hop on the next bus to Lake Chuzenji via Iroha Zaka. Enjoy the views throughout the journey on this famous winding road. Enjoy lunch by Lake Chuzenji with the brilliant colors of the leaves contrasting with the lake's pristine waters. Take a short walk along the shore of the lake to better experience the beautiful scenery. Continue to Kegon Falls, one of the three most famous waterfalls in Japan. See the water flowing from Lake Chuzenji as it falls from a height of 97 meters. To experience the full power of the waterfall, take the elevator to the viewing platform at the base of the falls where you can view them up close.

From Tokyo: UNESCO Shrine and Nikko Scenic Spots Bus Tour

4. From Tokyo: UNESCO Shrine and Nikko Scenic Spots Bus Tour

See the Shinto shrines of Nikko on a guided tour from Tokyo. Admire the architecture and spiritual significance of these UNESCO Heritage Sites as well as the scenic views of Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji, with a lunch also included. Start the tour from either Shinjuku or Shinagawa in downtown Tokyo. Relax on an air-conditioned bus and first to have about an hour for a delicious lunch in Nikko. After lunch, move on to the holy sites of the city, the UNESCO heritage Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Futara-san Shrine. Toshogu Shrine is the final resting place of General Tokugawa Ieyasu. Be amazed by the masterpiece mixture of Japanese spirits with ancient Oriental building designs.  Learn the history of Futarasan Shrine which is dedicated to the deities of Nikko's 3 most sacred mountains, Mount Nantai, Mount Nyoho, and Mount Taro. Admire the golden details of the main hall in the shrine, while being surrounded by stunning autumn colors. Climb up the thrilling 48 turns of the Irohazaka slope. Head to your first tour destination, the breathtaking Kegon Falls, at around 100 meters high. Follow the stream to the scenic Lake Chuzenji. During autumn, you can take pictures of the seasonal colors with the lake in the background. At the end of the tour return to Shinjuku.

Tokyo: Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Kegon Waterfall Tour

5. Tokyo: Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Kegon Waterfall Tour

After meeting at 7:50AM, your tour leader will greet you at the ground floor of the Shinjuku Subaru Building next to the Shinjuku JR Station west exit. At 8:00AM, you will depart from Shinjuku to Tochigi prefecture, where Nikko City is located. At around 10:30AM, you will travel to the first stop on your tour, the Nikko Toshogu Shrine. This shrine is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868, known as the Edo Period. You can appreciate the beauty of this shrine complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, whilst learning the interesting stories and legends of the buildings from your guide. After visiting the Nikko Toshogo Shrine, you will pass through the Iroha Slope. It is famous for its 48 sharp turns along its route, and is portrayed in the animation ”Initial D”. The road is very popular for its autumn leaves in the fall. At 12:30PM, you will arrive at the Kegon Waterfall. This almost 100-meter-tall waterfall is the most famous of Nikko's many beautiful waterfalls. It is even ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful falls, along with the Nachi Waterfall in the Wakayama Prefecture and the Fukuroda Waterfall in the Ibaraki Prefecture. At 2:00PM, your tour will be separated into two groups, you can choose according to your preference to either walk along Lake Chuzenji, or to experience the Nikko hot spring. Before finishing your tour, you will stop by the Onihei Edo service area, which is the most interesting service area with edo style design and traditional souvenirs. At 6:00PM, you will be dropped back at the Shinjuku Subaru Building, where your tour will end.

Tokyo: Samurai Entertainment Night

6. Tokyo: Samurai Entertainment Night

After your arrival to the premises, you will be invited to see Kanda Myojin, which is a famous shrine of both the area and Japan. The shrine has a reputation for being prosperous to both business and marriage. Following that, you will be invited to enter the restaurant, which is located on the same site. Following your arrival, enjoy a drink, dinner, or snack (if option chosen) until the show begins. From 8:00PM, you will enjoy a samurai show that can only be seen in Japan. At the show's conclusion, the samurai will come out to the audience, at which point you will be invited to take a picture together free of charge.

Edo Wonderland Samurai and Ninja Cultural Theme Park Ticket

7. Edo Wonderland Samurai and Ninja Cultural Theme Park Ticket

Enter the renowned Edo Wonderland in the beautiful city of Nikko to learn about one of the most defining eras of Japan. After entering, feel like you have traveled back into the Edo period as you navigate the town constructed with traditional Edo architecture. Choose to wear a traditional kimono from a selection of various ranks and take the opportunity to become an Edo citizen for the day. Become a lord, samurai, princess, farmer or a different kind of citizen, making for great photo opportunities. Be immersed in the culture and experience the complex beauty of being dressed in kimono.  Enjoy a variety of live performances including the popular ninja performances, oiran cultural shows, water magic shows, and a variety of other traditional plays. Try authentic cultural experiences. Learn the basics of how to handle a samurai sword or traditional archery. Take a lesson on how to play the musical instrument Shamisen, how to apply traditional handmade beni lipstick, how to do ukiyo-e woodblock printing or aizome indigo dying.  Learn unique facets about Edo culture through various exhibits including the Edo firefighters exhibition and swordsmith exhibit. Discover fun unique amusements including a mechanical maze, a ninja house filled with secrets, and the mysterious ninja training house, where the laws of physics seem to not apply. Taste authentic seasonal Edo cuisine at various restaurants in the park. 

Tokyo: Authentic Samurai Experience and Lesson at a Dojo

8. Tokyo: Authentic Samurai Experience and Lesson at a Dojo

Discover authentic Samurai training with this experience that is not entertainment arranged for foreigners. Take part in a samurai experience at a real dojo. Gain an insight into the art of swordsmanship through a class that's made up of three parts: lai, kendo (gekken), and test cutting. Learn about the culture of the samurai, work on your techniques, and use a real samurai sword to slice two poles. Once you arrive at the dojo, attend a short lecture and change into your training clothes. In the Iai lesson, learn how to handle a katana. Find out when to attack and defend in the gekken lesson and, in the test-cutting lesson, use an authentic katana to cut two poles. After learning basic sword handling techniques, spar with a practice sword. Each person will get two poles for cutting. On the first pole, you may cut as you like. You'll be offered advice from your instructor to improve your techniques before you have a go at trying to cut the second pole cleanly.

From Tokyo: Kamakura Temples Private Guided Tour

9. From Tokyo: Kamakura Temples Private Guided Tour

The tour begins with pickup from your hotel in Tokyo and travels to Kamakura by train. After a 1-hour train journey arrives in Kamakura and head to the first stop of the day, Hase Temple, also known as the Temple of Flowers. At the temple admire the incredible architecture of Hase Kannon, which houses the Buddhist statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. Learn about this eleven-faced Goddess and she represents the different phases in search of enlightenment. Outside, you can wander through the pretty gardens and see the Jizo-do Hall which boasts hundreds of small Jizo Bodhisattva statues. Continue the tour to the Kotokuin Temple next where you will find Japan’s famous Great Buddha. Marvel at the imposing 13-meter-high Great Buddha statue while you learn about its significance and history, which dates back to 1292. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, replenish your energy and enjoy lunch at one of Kamakura’s finest Japanese restaurants. After lunch, head to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, which was built in 1063 and dedicated to Emperor Ojin, also known as the God of War. The shrine is the most important Shinto Shrine in the city and sits at the geographical center of Kamakura. As you explore the complex, soak up the tranquil atmosphere and listen to your guide’s fascinating insight into the shrine’s history. At the end of an unforgettable day in Kamakura, travel back to Tokyo by train, arriving at around 4 or 5 pm.

From Tokyo: Day Trip to Coastal Kamakura

10. From Tokyo: Day Trip to Coastal Kamakura

Important: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed, and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences/requests. Meet your guide in Tokyo and take the train to the laid-back beach town of Kamakura. Just an hour south of Tokyo, this beach-side town offers ample opportunity to learn more about Japan’s heritage and feudal history. Be paired with a local host who are passionate about the place they call home and who choose to spend their free-time sharing it with like-minded travelers. Follow your host as you navigate through the intricate architecture of the area, past flame-colored torii gates marking entrances to shrines, and magnificent Buddhist temples. See the most notable attractions, including the spectacular Great Buddha and Hokokuji Bamboo Forest. Kamakura was the ancient feudal capital of Japan and had a vital role in spreading Buddhism across the country. The crown jewel of the town is the Amida Buddha at Kotoku-in, forged from bronze. See the modern side of the town by heading over to the local surf shacks and eyeing up the waves. Finish your day with a hike up to the peaceful local forest.

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What people are saying about Kanto Region, Japan

Overall rating

4.0 / 5

based on 309 reviews

The start to our family's visit to Tokyo was made perfect by the time we spent with our guide, Suzuki-san. He gave us a thorough introduction to the old (e.g., Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu) and the new (e.g., Tsukiji Market, Harajuku) of the great city of Tokyo. He was, of course, very knowledgeable about his city; but beyond this, he was organized, friendly, and efficient - we definitely got the most "bang for our buck" as possible. In addition, he helped us learn the world class, but potentially overwhelming, Tokyo subway/train system, and helped us learn about the value of the ever-useful Pasmo card (possibly the most important thing to get when visiting Tokyo - seemingly accepted everywhere as payment, not just the public transportation). We toured ourselves around this magnificent city for the next few days - but our experience would not have been nearly as excellent without meeting Suzuki-san, who is a perfect ambassador for this great city.

Excellent communication with company and driver from the start of the booking process which was easy to navigate. Our driver, Bilal was flexible in accommodating our requests/changes etc suggesting options which suited us and providing us with general information about the places we visited - we felt a guide was unnecessary. The tour was the perfect way to see numerous sites which would have been difficult to get to if trying to organise it yourself via public transport.

Our guide A was beyond exceptional! We just loved her. She is kind, generous, helped us to navigate a complex ticket purchase that had stumped us (which was not easy), and took us all over Tokyo in a day. An also took us to the most delicious sushi lunch I’ve ever had. This was a ten-star tour thanks to a top-notch and friendly guide. Thank you so much for everything An!! From Zoila, Tyler, and Luke

Started at 8:30 and takes a couple of hours to get there, with a break stop. Make sure you book for a clear skies sunny day, it’s beautiful and we ended up stopping 4 times! At different viewing areas and a lovely village at the end. The guide was amazing and he gave us some good insight and then you go and explore the area yourself. Great day out! Highly recommend.

The bus depart on time, we visited exactly the places they told us at the description of the tour. The places visited were amazing the only thing we could see Mt. Fuji because of the cloudy day.