Day Trips & Excursions in Japan

This is a private tour with a taxi and guide. With a local driver and a licensed tour guide, your travel experience in the Nikko area will be an easy task.

Tofu came from China during the Nara Period (710 - 794) and was used in vegetarian dishes served at the temple. It became a common food for the general public during the Muromachi Period (1336 - 1573), and a writing from that time shows that yudofu had become a Nanzenji specialty by Edo Period (1603 - 1868) to a point where all travelers would try yudofu.Junsei serves tofu that has rich flavors which come from being made using soybeans produced in Japan with a special sauce. Please savor the natural sweetness of the tofu itself and the hint of bitterness of soybeans in its aftertaste.

Hop the train from Tokyo to Kamakura on this private full-day tour of the historical city. Your experienced private guide takes you to Shinto and Buddhist temples including highlights like the Great Buddha (Kotokuin Temple), Hase Temple and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. You'll have time to explore the shops along Komachi-Dori. Kamakura is also known for its fine cherry blossom displays in April.

Escape the city in favor of Mt. Fuji and retail therapy on a private full-day tour of Gotemba Outlet and Mt. Fuji from Tokyo. With just your guide and private party, you'll ascend to Mt. Fuji 5th Station, replete with red torii gates and shinto shrines, to enjoy spectacular views. Plus, you'll enjoy a hearty Japanese lunch and shop for souvenirs at more than 225 stores in Gotemba Outlet. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

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.

Check off three of the far-flung Yaeyama islands during a day-long trip from Ishigaki. Visiting the remote outpost of Iriomote plus Yubu and Kohama islands, the experience includes different activities on each isle. Cruise through Iriomote's mangroves; ride on a water buffalo cart through Yubu, with local 'sanshin' music ringing in your ears; and enjoy lunch and a quick island tour of Kohama. Want to see even more? Upgrade to visit nearby Taketomi, where Ryūkyū houses and coral beaches beckon.

Depart Kyoto to see UNESCO World Heritage Sites or other top attractions in either Kyoto, Nara, or Osaka during this private tour with the flexibility to customize your itinerary to your own preferences. Depending on your group size, you'll ride comfortably in a climate-controlled mid-sized passenger car or a mini-van equipped with convenient Wi-Fi.

Avoid the hassle of driving or public transportation, and skip the crowded group tours, on this private tour to Mount Fuji. Travel directly from your hotel to Mount Fuji 5th Station where you ascend the mountain via the Fuji Subaru Line. Later, visit the sparkling lakes at the base, soak in a hot spring, ride the Kachi Kachi ropeway, and explore a vibrant flower park.

Experience Okinawa-style beach bliss with this independent day trip to Taketomi, a tiny isle in the Yaeyama island chain. Festooned with Ryūkyū relics and culture, Taketomi also boasts some of the most seductive beaches in Japan, making it an ideal spot for a day trip. Use your time on the island to kick back on Kondoi Beach, or scout out Taketomi's artisan shops and eateries by bike - motor vehicles are rare on this idyllic atoll. Round-trip ferry transport from Ishigaki is included.

Find the best Mt. Fuji viewpoints on this private tour from Tokyo via minivan. Your guide navigates twisting mountain roads with ease en route to Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Ashi, Arakurasengen Park, and more, stopping at local cultural attractions such as Oshino Hakkai village along the way. Tour also includes Komagatake ropeway (a famous viewpoint), optional hot springs, and the possibility to curate your trip to suit your interests - a privilege only allowed by a private tour.

Design the perfect multi-city day trip to visit Osaka, Kyoto, or Nara thanks to this customizable, 8-hour or 10-hour private tour. Enjoy access to a private vehicle and English-speaking driver as you create the ultimate day-long excursion, picking among top-tier highlights like Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji Temple and Nara's Great Buddha statue.

See snow monkeys and temples on a small-group day trip by bullet train from Tokyo. In an intimately sized group of just six people, you'll travel to the Nagano Prefecture in just two hours. Visit the history-steeped Zenkoji Temple, then head to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park to see the monkeys bathing in a beautiful hot spring.

Take a day away from the business of the city and spend a day with a local who has the same interests on this day trip to Hakone from Tokyo. Hakone is a small town in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which is known for its hot springs and excellent views of Mount Fuji over Lake Ashinoko. As your host shares insights into local life, stroll though the national park, see the red Hakone Shrine, and soak up the rejuvenating waters of a traditional onsen (hot spring bath, at own expense).

Find an oasis of peace amid the hustle and bustle of Osaka. Escape the busy crowds on an intimate small group tour of Osaka's oldest and most famous shrines and temples. After making your offerings, enjoy sake and appetizers with your new friends. Then see Osaka from above at the Tsutenkakku tower. This all inclusive tour lets you relax while your guide does the navigating.

Discover the wonders of Osaka during a full-day walking tour with an experienced guide. Travel from Kyoto on the JR train, then visit top sights including Osaka Castle and the Floating Garden Observatory - located 40 stories high in the Umeda Sky Building. After taking in the sweeping views, have lunch then join a 1-hour river cruise on the Okawa River that glides by the Twin Towers and City Hall of Nakanoshima lsle. Your tour includes lunch, entrance fees and round-trip transportation by train.

Visit one of Japan's most recognizable Buddhist monuments with ease on a full-day tour of Kamakura from Tokyo. In a small group limited to five, you'll tick off the colorful Shrine of Tsuragoaka Hachimangu; marvel at the 47-foot (14-meter) tall bronze Buddha statue of Kotokuin (Great Buddha of Kamakura); and Hokokuji Temple, home to a bamboo garden. Lunch (additional cost), and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Spend a day in Nikko, a town nestled by the mountains and lakes of Nikko National Park. With a guide, you'll visit the elaborate Toshogu Shrine, which sits on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, having been a center of Shinto and Buddhist worship for centuries. Stop for a typical yuba gozen lunch complete with tempura and udon noodles, then travel on to Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji. The day-long tour includes all public transport and round-trip train transport from Asakusa in Tokyo. Numbers are also limited to just 10 for a small-group experience.

Tick off all the sights of Nikko - without the fuss of arranging your own travel plans - during this full-day, all-inclusive private excursion. Tours include chauffeured pickup from your hotel or airport, so you can settle back and focus on enjoying the attractions. Spot rare bird species at a marshland, visit a 400-year-old Edo shrine, and marvel at live ninja shows at Edo Wonderland.

Skip the hassles of navigating public transportation and travel in a private taxi to Hakone for a full-day guided tour of the Japanese countryside, topped off by a shopping trip. Glide along the crater lake of Ashinoko on a replica pirate ship for postcard-perfect views of Mt. Fuji and enjoy a ropeway ride to a remote hilltop shrine. Tours include private hotel or airport pickup for a relaxing, all-inclusive excursion.

If you've got limited time in Hiroshima, ensure you tick off all of the city's top attractions on a private 8-hour tour, which includes hotel pickup and drop-off. In a small group limited to six people, you'll visit the UNESCO-listed Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, and Kintaikyo Bridge. Opt to take a ropeway to Miyajima's highest mountain (own expense) and spend time reflecting at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.