Activities in Japan for your itinerary

Filter by city, type of experience and price range to find what fits your trip.

From free temples and legendary neighbourhoods to food tours, viewpoints and day experiences. We bring together the things to see and do in the main cities of Japan — Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and more — with their city, type and indicative price, so you can build your trip without getting lost among a thousand tabs.

Spa World – hot-spring baths in Shinsekai
Osaka · Onsen · A large spa complex with different themed bath zones inspired by countries of the world.
2.500 - 4.999 JPY
Sukiya Shinjuku Gyudon
Tokyo · Gastronomy · A budget gyudon restaurant in Shinjuku; a regular beef bowl for around 400-500 ¥.
1 - 1.499 JPY
Sunshine Aquarium Ikebukuro
Tokyo · Animals · An aquarium on the rooftop of Sunshine City; general admission 2.600-3.200 ¥ depending on the day.
2.600 ¥
Sushi Zanmai Tsukiji Outer Market
Tokyo · Gastronomy · A famous sushi branch in Tsukiji; trays and counter nigiri are usually around 3.000-4.000 ¥ per person.
2.500 - 4.999 JPY
Calligraphy workshop or tea ceremony
Osaka · Tradition, Workshops · A cultural experience to learn Japanese calligraphy or the steps of the tea ceremony.
2.500 - 4.999 JPY
Calligraphy and seal workshop in Naramachi
Nara · Tradition, Workshops · Learn Japanese calligraphy and to carve your own hanko seal at a craft workshop in the historic district; from ~3.000 ¥.
2.500 - 4.999 JPY
Kiyomizuyaki ceramics workshop
Kyoto · Tradition, Workshops · Learn to shape or paint ceramics in the traditional Kyoto style at a workshop near Kiyomizudera; from ~3.000 ¥.
2.500 - 4.999 JPY
Tea ceremony workshop with garden views
Nara · Tradition, Workshops · Tea ceremony in a traditional hall with a garden in the Nara Park area; plans from ~2.500-3.500 ¥.
2.500 - 4.999 JPY
Gold leaf (kinpaku) workshop in Kanazawa
Kanazawa · Tradition, Workshops · Kanazawa produces 99% of Japan's gold leaf; workshops to apply it to ceramics, lacquer and cosmetics from ~1.500 ¥.
1.500 - 2.499 JPY

How to choose your activities in Japan

Do not try to see everything. A typical two-week trip allows you to combine the essentials of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with one or two day trips (Nara, Hakone, Miyajima). Mix registers: a morning of temples, an afternoon of neighbourhood and food, and leave gaps to improvise. Filter by city to see what fits each stop and by price if you want to balance free and paid.

Many of the best experiences — strolling Fushimi Inari at dawn, getting lost in Shinjuku at night, Nishiki market — cost nothing. Save the budget for what really deserves it: a teamLab, a food tour or a timed-entry ticket. Once you are clear on your favourites, put them into a route with real costs from the planner.

Ready to turn your list into a route? The planner distributes the nights by city and calculates the costs of your trip.
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Frequently asked questions

How much do activities in Japan cost?

There is everything. Many of the great must-dos are free: temples and shrines such as Fushimi Inari, parks, neighbourhoods such as Akihabara or the Arashiyama bamboo grove. Paid activities usually run between 500 and 3,000 ¥ (a museum, a viewpoint, a ticket), and premium experiences (teamLab, theme parks, guided tours) exceed 5,000 ¥. On each card you will see the price when we have it confirmed.

Do I need to book activities in advance?

Most do not: you enter temples, parks and neighbourhoods directly. It is worth booking days or weeks ahead for the ones with limited capacity — teamLab, the Ghibli Museum, some tours and workshops — especially in high season (sakura in spring and momiji in autumn). When an activity allows online booking, you will find the Book button on its card.

Do I need the JR Pass to reach the activities?

It depends on your route. The JR Pass is worth it if you are going to make several long journeys between cities (Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima); for getting around within a single city, almost never. You can check it with our JR Pass calculator or read the JR Pass guide.

Can I add these activities to an itinerary?

Yes. Our trip planner distributes the nights between cities according to your budget and pace, and suggests activities per day with their estimated costs. It is the fastest way to go from "I want to see this" to a complete route with real numbers.