Learn how to make authentic Japanese sweets, known as wagashi, with our expert friends at Gallery Okubo. Their lessons are fun and the staff are very friendly.

This 1.5-hour class is available to people booking a Private Customised Tour with us. We will schedule your class to start immediately after your tour finishes and your guide will drop you off at the wagashi studio and provide you with information about how to get back to your hotel after the class.

Photo Credit: Yuka An Facebook

Overview: This 1.5-hour hands on class will teach you how to make traditional wagashi (Japanese sweets). The sweets will differ depending on the time of the year as they will be seasonal.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Group Size: Maximum of 6 (5 during COVID) people in a class. This class requires a minimum of 1 booking to run. If your group size is larger than 6 people we can run one classes back to back.

Price: 4300 JPY per person

Time: Anytime from 11:30am - to 4:00 pm (last class at 4.00). Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Location: Yanaka district

 

Every country has their own alcohol that they're known for - Italy for their wine, Russia for their Vodka and Scotland for their whiskey. In Japan, sake is the go to traditional alcoholic drink. Sake is made from fermented rice, water, yeast and koji (a type of mold). It boasts a history of over a thousand years and hundreds of different types of sake.

Over the course of this sake class you’ll dive deep into all things sake. You’ll learn the proper ways to select and drink sake with food. Sake and pairing food is very important as some sakes compliment various foods differently. Our sake experts will present to you 6 different sakes - all from small family owned businesses. Some may be cold, some warm or some room temperature served in different cups. These are a huge factor in sake as well!

*Note: The drinking age in Japan is 20. All participants MUST be over 20 years old to join.

Duration: 2 hours

Participants: Up to 20 people (Depending on size, a rental room may need to be adjusted. Please contact us for more information).

Price: 6200Yen+ 10% sales tax/person

Drinks: 6 different types of craft Japanese sake

Snacks: Light snacks paired with sake

Food restrictions: Please inform us of allergies beforehand so we can arrange possible replacements.

 

There are tons of info on the Fuji Five Lakes and the Yamanashi region online, but a lot of locations that are worth visiting are only easily accessible by car. By taking a campervan and a tent, this is an amazing area to explore as each of the Fuji Five Lakes have places to park for the evening. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to wake up with Mount Fuji views. The Yamanashi region is a nice place to explore and camp especially during the summer as temperatures are typically nicer. Yamanashi is only two hours away by car - a convenient place especially for families trying to avoid long trips. This trip it quite fast paced so if you are more of the type to take your time or aren’t short on time, you may want to add an additional day or choose from some of the places listed in our itinerary

Day 1  

Nishizawa Keikoku (Valley)

Near Kofu, inside the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, there is a beautiful valley hiiden away called the Nishizawa Keikoku (西沢渓谷).

A hiking trail leads up to Nishizawa Valley with several waterfalls, a picturesque mountain and dark green stream of crystal clear water.

The round trip hike from the parking lot is roughly 3-4 hours, but if you want to take your time ad take photos, it might be closer to a 4-5 hour hike for the full loop.

Fuefukigawa Fruit Park

Fuefukigawa Fruit Park is great place for families. It’s located on the mountainside near Yamanashi City Station. At this park you can enjoy a nice scenery of Yamanashi city as well as Mt. Fuji.

The park’s gardens grow eight unique fruits of: grapes, peaches, apples, pears, persimmons, gingko fruits, pomegranates and chestnuts. Entry to the park is free and there is plenty of green grass and space for families and kids to enjoy. For children above the age of 3, there’s a free outdoor water park. They also have glass buildings where you can find a tropical greenhouse, children’s indoor play place, as well as resting places such as restaurants and refreshments. Once you have had enough for the day, drive a few minutes up the mountain where you can soak in an outdoor onsen with a superb view of Yamanashi City and Mt. Fuji.

Hotarakashi Onsen is open from one hour before sunrise to 22:00 in the evening . It features an indoor and outdoor hot springs. For morning bathers, there is a restaurant attached to the onsen that sells a simple breakfast for ￥600 of rice, pickled side dishes, raw eggs, miso soup. Google Map

Photo Credit: Hotaraki Onsen Website

Photo Credit: Zekkei

Parking for the night

To park and sleep for the night there are various campsites nearby - the closest being just just 20-30 second drive from Hotarakashi Onsen. You’ll need to book and reserve a spot. Note: they can be very booked on weekends, especially during the summer.

To park for free, there’s a a stop called Michi-no-eki about 15 minutes drive away (Address: 2120 室伏 牧丘町 Yamanashi, 404-0012)

Down the mountain you can find a 7-11 convenience store Google Map

Yamanashi Prefecture is known for its flat style udon noodle. The noodles are chewy, and gluttonous,  served in a thick broth. The broth is rich in ingredients which includes things such as pumpkin. We recommend you try the noodles at Funari as it’s just a 5-minute drive away from The Fuefukigawa Fruit Park. Google Map＞  

Day 2

Day 2 concentrates on Mt. Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes.

Oishi Park

Oishi park sits on the north shore of Kawaguchi Lake and provides a breathtaking view of the lake and Mt.Fuji. The park features a 350m walking path accompanied by various flowers along the way. Near the parking lot, you can find many shops such as the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center where you can make your own jam. The most popular souvenir purchases are blueberry jam and blueberry soft ice cream.

Kawaguchi Asama Shrine

In 864, Mt. Fuji erupted which resulted with a festival of fire in the following year dedicated to the goddess of Mt. Fuji to suppress further eruptions.  Asama Shrines are a sub-set of Shinto shrines devoted to the deity of volcanoes. In the shrine, there are seven huge trees, said to be over 1200 years old, each with their own name and meaning.  In 2013, a number of Asama Shrines, including this one, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site listings for Mount Fuji.

Photo Credit: Yamanashi Website

Hahano Shirataki Shrine

Hahano Shirataki Shrine or Mother Shirataki Shrine  – meaning “Mother’s white waterfall” is a 30-40minute walk from Kawaguchi Asama Shrine. The most prominent feature being the Torii gate beside the waterfall. I It’s recommend to go by car, as trekking the road on foot could take longer.

Photo Credit: Fujisan website

Saiko Iyashino-Sato Nenba

The Iyashi village was once destroyed by a typhoon in 1966, but was rebuilt and is now made up of more than twenty thatch roofed homes. These homes have been converted into shops, restaurants, museums and galleries. Iyashi in Japanese means healing. Wandering through this village could put you back into ancient times. If the weather permits, you can see Fuji in the distance, making it a popular spot for photographers. 

Photo Credit: My Stays

Nakanokura Pass Observation Point

The Nakanokura Toge Mountain Pass Observatory is located on the northern side of Lake Motosuko. With clear weather, you’ll be able to see Mount Fuji reflected onto the surface of the lake. In fact, the 1,000 yen bill is modeled after this view. It’s about a 30 minute walk from the parking lot to the Observatory. Connected to the main road and around the lake, there are various spots designated for parking and photo spots. Motosuko lake itself is a beautiful crystal clear lake. There are numerous campsites near or attached to the lake where you can pay to camp by tent or campervan.

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

Minobusan Kuonji

Minobusan Kuonji is home to the “Nichiren-shu” Buddhist religious sect and generally doesn’t seem to be a very well known location. It is a 30-40 minute drive from the west side of Lake Motosuko, and is most commonly visited by tourists during cherryblossom season looking to see the beautiful 400-year-old weeping cherry tree in front of the main temple. At first, I was hesitant to even travel here as I was enjoying the sights and nature around Motosuko, but the temple was definitely worth the journey. 

Parking for the night

Finding parking places around the Fuji Five Lakes is quite easy. Each lake has more than one parking area making it easy to drive around the lake and find the most suitable location to stop for the night.

Oishi Park Parking Lot (Wake up to flowers and view of Mt. Fuji) Google Maps

Shoji Lake Canoe Parking Lot (Right next to lake) Google Maps

Lake Motosuko Parking Google Maps

For bathing there is the  Izumi hot spring hot spring. There are both indoor and outdoor pools. There is also a cafeteria, where you can dine after taking a bath. Cost of entry is￥900 for adults and ￥500 for children.

Day 3

On the way back to Tokyo, you can stop by several places.

Aokigahara Forest

Aokighara forest is found near Mt.fuji, located at an altitude of about 900-1300m above sea level. You’ll find moss, vegetation, forest trees, and caves atop the lava flows from Mt Fuji. This forest is also known as suicide forest due to it being a place where it’s dense and easy to get lost if you’re not careful.  Around this area are several caves to explore including an “ice cave,” “wind cave,” “bat cave,” etc. There is a parking lots where you can stop by and peek into the forest for about 5-10 minutes.

Photo Credit: Mental Floss

Arakurayama Sengen Park

Arakurayama Sengen Park is located halfway up Mount Arakura in Yamanashi and home to Fuji Asama Shrine.  This park provides a panoramic view of the city with Mount Fuji in the background. This is an iconic region in Japan and is well known for its cherry blossoms. You can stop by here and on the way back and then make your journey back home.

Photo Credit: Matcha JP

Complete with places to sleep at, great food, relaxing and cheap hot springs, beautiful locations and many places to see and do, this 3 day trip is a one of a kind experience out of Tokyo. There are three spots to spend three nights - you can customize these spots to go at your own pace and needs or even drop some out of the itinerary completely - it’s all under your control. We will introduce to you three spots that you can visit and stay at night to park your car.

Hakone

At Hakone, one of the highlights of the area is Hakone Ropeway. The ropeway brings you up Mt. Hakone where you can visit the hellish valleys of Owakudani - an active volcano where sulfurous fumes are being expelled. On the way up, if the weather permits, you can catch a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji. Nearby at Hakone Yumoto, relax and soak in hot springs fueled by volcanic activity. Yuryo Hot Springs is a great place to soak in.

Bathe/ Eat: Hakone Yuryo Hot Springs

Sleep: Roadside Station Hakone Togo is a good spot to rest if tired before continuing on into Izu

Heda, Izu

This is a very small town that is one of our favorite places on the road trip. The deep-sea bay that the town overlooks is home to spider crabs which make for an excellent lunch. The harbour also features an excellent fish market on the ground floor. For Dinner check out Tagore Hostel. There is also an option to rent fishing rods and bikes to explore the town. There is a hot-spring too at the back of the town to refresh and renew.

Eat: Marusan – Seafood / Crab Restaurant on the Harbor 10am – 6pm

Cafe: Tagore Hostel, Excellent coffee and a great place to chill. 

Bathe: Road Station at the back of the town, Hot Springs closes at 8pm

Sleep: Heda Road Station or the lookout point overlooking the bay

Unique stop: The Old Bus is an old bus converted into a bar that has a stunning view of Mt. Fuji.

Mt. Fuji, Lake Saiko

A very popular spot for visitors, you can drive the van on to the bank of the lake in a few designated spaces. It’s possible to sleep there in your vans and it’s worth having a drive around to look for your perfect spot to settle down for a nice evening by the lake. If you want to set up camp properly - such as making a fire and grilling out – there are several paid campsites around the lake which you can book. Some Japanese may be required, but let our team know and we’ll get a reservation sorted out for you!

There are a few interesting spots to visit in the area such as an ancient village, a bat cave and an ice cave in winter. Open google maps in the area and you will see the spots.  

Eat/ Bathe/ Sleep: Fuji Yurari Hot Spring is a wonderful Hot Spring nearby with great hot springs, good food and a car-park to park your van to sleep for the night.

Sleep: Near the lake, (wild camp) or  Roadside Station Katsuyama Rest Area. Food also available until 5pm – located at the next lake over.

Experience a traditional green tea ceremony with us on a private tour in Tokyo. Partnering with our local green tea experts over at Gallery Okubo, you’ll have the chance to enjoy freshly whipped-up green tea with their house-made traditional Japanese sweets. The green tea is prepared right in front of you in a traditional Japanese tatami matted room.

*You will not need to sit on the floor (tatami mats) - chairs are provided around the mat so you can sit comfortably in a uniquely styled room

Photo Credit: Gallery Okubo

Availability: Wednesday to Sunday between 11 am and 5 pm (closed on Monday and Tuesday).

Overview: This 30-45 minute traditional Green Tea Ceremony is an opportunity to engage in Japanese culture. You will choose your own antique tea cup and learn about its history, then witness fresh green tea being whipped up in a traditional manner.

Group Size: Maximum of 7 people in a class. Minimum of 1.

Duration: 30-45 minutes

Price: Groups of 1 or 2 people US$55. Groups of 3 or more people US$25 per person.

Inclusions: Traditional tea ceremony, Matcha (green tea) and Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets).

Location: This experience is in the Yanka district of Tokyo. If you include this experience in your tour we will also show you around Yanka - it is one of our favorite areas of Tokyo! More information on Yanaka can be found here.

This can be booked as an add-on (extra) to a private customized tour. Please select this ‘extra’ during the check-out when booking your tour.

Visiting Kamakura is a full day trip out of Tokyo that’s worth every second of it. It’s often dubbed as the Kyoto of eastern Japan because of its history, cultures and concentration of historical sites, temples and shrines. If you’re looking for a guide to Kamakura, we have a full day itinerary ready for you. This is not the perfect itinerary and you can easily switch out certain spots for places that you wish to visit on your own. The places we list in our recommended route are also separate blog posts with more detailed info under the same Kamakura Section. There are many other places not listed in our itinerary that we believe are great places to visit as well!

Before going to Kamakura

Kamakura is an hour away from Tokyo by train. To spend a full day at Kamakura comfortably, we recommend arriving early in the morning around 8 or 9am. Around the area, transportation is limited compared to Tokyo. After arriving your main modes of transportation will be by walking, bus or the Enoden train. There will be a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes!

Getting to Kamakura

To get to Kamakura Station there is a direct one way ticket from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station (roughly 1 hr) on the JR Yokosuka Line for 920 Yen. If you are on the west side of Tokyo, you can go from Shinjuku Station to Kamakura Station on the Shonan-Shinjuku Line for 920 Yen as well (1 hr as well). Just make sure to catch the direct train to Kamakura or you will have to transfer once at Ofuna Station (additional 10 minutes).

The trip

• After arriving at Kamakura Station, you can grab some breakfast on Komachi Dori Street. There are some cafes and bakeries open in the morning for breakfast. Make sure to eat and drink to get energized for the long day ahead!

• After getting some food, head on over to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine or the Hokokuji Temple. This part of the itinerary you can choose the order of which to visit first. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is the most important shrine in Kamakura and is directly connected to Komachi Dori. It takes about 10-15 minutes from Kamakura Station by walking through Komachi Dori. Or from Kamakura Station, after eating on Komachi dori, you can take a bus bound for Jomyoji, where it will take you directly to Hokokuji Temple - the temple famous for its beautiful bamboo forest.

• After visiting the beautiful temples and shrines, head back to Komachi Dori for lunch. You will notice there will be a lot of places that sell shirasu dishes. Shirasu is a small white juvenile fish that is eaten boiled, dried or raw. Shirasu-donburi is a famous dish from Kamakura that is worth trying! It’s shirasu over white rice.

• After re-energizing for lunch, head back to Kamakura Station. You can now head over to the Hase area for the second half of your day. At Kamakura Station get on the Enoden Train. The Enoden train is a famous train that runs a long the coastline. Get off at Hase Station.

• Around the Hase area you can visit Hasedera Temple and Kamakuras main attraction - Kotoku-in and the Great Buddha. At Kotoku-in you will find a giant Great Buddha Statue that has been there since the 13th century.

• From here you have two options. If you’re tired, head back to Kamakura Station and explore the areas shops and souvenir stores. You can also go to the beaches nearby as the beaches in Kamakura are quite popular - particularly Yuigahama beach.

• Or if you have some extra time and energy left, we recommend visiting Enoshima Island. Enoshima Island can be accessed on the Enoden train as well. It’s the opposite way from Kamakura, towards Fujisawa. Get off at Enoshima Station and from the station you can walk 20 minutes to the island (it’s connected by a bridge) or catch a bus. Enoshima is a beautiful island with a shrine over looking the island, a park, an observation tower and beautiful caves to explore. You can relax by the rocky shores of the island and on a nice day even see Mt. Fuji. It’s definitely worth checking out if you have time and energy left!

  Getting Back to Tokyo

  If you went to Enoshima Island, get back on the Enoden train and head for Fujisawa station. From Fujisawa Station, you can take the train back to Tokyo Station on the Tokaido Line (45 minutes). If you didnt go to Enoshima Island and stopped at Hase Station, then head back to Kamakura station on the Enoden train and go back exactly the way you came from.

  Places not mentioned but recommended

• Hiking trails around the area

• Engakuji Temple

• Kenchoji Temple and their beautiful garden

• Inamuragasaki Beaches

• Zeniarai Benten Shrine to wash your money

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

 

Kamakura Komachi-dori Street is a peculiar strip of modernity in the center of an ancient city, where trendy boutiques, gourmet cuisine, and a timeless ambiance rub shoulders.

With humble beginnings as a modest street market centuries ago, the area has transformed into a symphony of shopping and commerce.

You can find everything from boutique fashion stores to souvenir gift shops along Komachi-dori, and when the bags get heavy and your feet tired, there are countless cafes, restaurants, cake shops, and bakeries.

Many of the restaurants serve whitebait, a local delicacy known as shirasu. Every conceivable method of preparation and presentation has been considered and tried, so whether you want to try it raw, with noodles, on a pizza, or on top of a rice bowl, there will be a place that caters to your appetite. Sweets and snacks are a big draw, particularly candied bean sweets and cookies.

Upon arriving to Kamakura Station, grab breakfast here or grab lunch before heading over to the Hase region for your other half of the day.

Partial Summary Credit: Japan Travel

Notable shops to visit:

• Iwata Coffee: Opened in 1948 it was a favorite cafe for famous Japanese Nobel Laureate winner Yasunari Kawabata and even John Lennon.

• Kamakura Chacha: a famous green tea sweets store that’s popular among locals

• Goro Kamakura: a famous Japanese confectionery store

Photo Credit: Kamakura City Website

Address: 8, 小町 Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0006

Hours: Depends on stores. Some open for breakfast, most open for lunch and dinner.

Website: https://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/visitkamakura/en/index.html

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Kamakura Station East Exit.

 

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (鶴岡八幡宮, Tsurugaoka Hachimangū) is Kamakura's most important shrine. It was founded by Minamoto Yoriyoshi in 1063, and enlarged and moved to its current site in 1180 by Minamoto Yoritomo, the founder and first shogun of the Kamakura government.

The shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, the patron god of the Minamoto family and of the samurai in general. The deified spirits of the ancient Emperor Ojin who has been identified with Hachiman, Hime-gami and Empress Jingu are enshrined at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

The shrine is reached via a long, wide approach that leads from Kamakura's waterfront through the entire city center, with multiple torii gates along the way. The main hall (Hongu or Jogu) stands on a terrace at the top of a wide stairway. The main hall includes a small shrine museum, which displays various treasures owned by the shrine, such as swords, masks and documents.

To the left of the stairway stood until 2010 a large ginkgo tree, which predated the shrine, and was once used as a hideout in an ambush attack on a shogun. Every autumn, the tree turned beautifully golden, but it did not survive a winter storm in March 2010. At the base of the stairway stands the Maiden, a stage for dance and music performances. Other structures on the shrine grounds include the Wakamiya Shrine, a secondary shrine to the right of the stairway and various auxiliary buildings.

Summary Credit: Japan Guide

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

Address: 2 Chome-1-31 Yukinoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-8588

Hours: 8am - 8:30pm

Website: http://www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp/

How to get there: A 10 minute walk from Kamakura Station via Dankazura Street or through the main shopping street of Komachi Dori.

 

This small temple hidden away in the hills of Kamakura, is a part of the Rinzai Sect of Zen Buddhism. Upon arrival, it may seem rather unassuming at first. There is a small garden and a gate that leads a path to the main hall of the temple where a historic statue of Buddha sits - the main object of worship. However, the temple is best known for its bamboo grove tucked away in the back of the main hall. Over 2000 bamboo stalks tower over the temple - a truly mesmerizing sight. A narrow path in the grove leads to small tea house, and for a fee, you can enjoy a cup of matcha while looking out to the bamboos.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Address: 2 Chome-7-4 Jomyoji, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0003

Hours: 9am - 4pm

Website: https://houkokuji.or.jp/?page_id=215

How to get there: A 10 minute bus ride from Kamakura Station (or 20 minute walk). Take bus headed for Jomyoji Bus stop.

 

Enoden Line [江ノ電] is the most useful transportation that links Fujisawa [藤沢] and historical city Kamakura [鎌倉] via Enoshima. Most of major tourist spots in the area are located along the line.
It is known for variegated landscape and keeping atmosphere of nostalgic railway, among 15 stations on 10km, 30minutes trip.

This tiny railway in Japan is also known for appearing on many TV drama, movie, anime and manga works very often.
It is sure that riding on the train will become one of highlight for trip to the area.

You will take this train from Kamakura to get to the Great Buddha, Hasedera and Enoshima.

Partial Summary Credit: Travel Enoshima Website

Photo credit: Enoden Website

Address: N/A

Hours: 5am - 12am

Website: https://www.enoden.co.jp/en/train/

How to get there: The Enoden train runs from Kamakura to Fujisawa.