Skip to navigation Skip to main content

5 Unusual Experiences for Your Trip to Tokyo See the city from a new perspective on one of these terrific tours

Mizuha boat tour sumida river at sunset

Tokyo is the most amazing place in the world. Food, culture, fashion, natural and urban landscapes — Tokyo has it all. No wonder the city boasts around 4.81 million foreign visitors and 420 million Japanese visitors every year. Tourism is a major industry in Tokyo and the metropolis seems to have countless offers on what to do, eat, and see. However, despite all this variety, most people seem to end up doing the same things. If you’re here for a golf trip and also to visit Tokyo and don’t want to end up with the same vacation photos as everybody else, we have you covered! Or perhaps you are a Tokyo veteran ready for some new adventures? Either way, here are 5 unusual experiences to try in Tokyo.

1. Mizuha Boat Tour

waterways and amazing views
Captain and First Mate of the Mizuha cruising boat

Enjoy an exciting boat tour around Tokyo's Nihonbashi and Tokyo Bay areas with Riverboat Mizuha. Named after the Japanese goddess of water, Mizuhanome, the modern Edo-style riverboat accommodates up to 12 people. The enjoyable river cruise will take you past some of the most famous landmarks of Tokyo, including Nihonbashi, Tokyo Skytree, the Rainbow Bridge, and Tokyo Tower.

Book your tour here: http://www.funaasobi-mizuha.jp/english/reserve/

2. Tokyo West-Side Cycling & Food Jaunt

biking and great japanese cusine a total win!
bikes and street food in Koenji Tokyo

Join your host Andy on his Cycling & Food Jaunt through the neighborhoods of Nakano, Koenji, and Asagaya. Andy is a Japanese chromoly bicycle enthusiast who will take you on an intimate cycling, walking and food adventure through West Tokyo. During the 4-hour tour you will be able to taste various popular local snacks, cycle along the picturesque Zenpukuji River and have lunch at a typical Japanese cafeteria.

Book your tour here: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/59777?source=pdpother

Photo: by Danny Choo cc from Flickr

3. Arigato Food Tours

Taste your way through all the great flavors of Japan
back street food tour

Are you a foodie? Then Arigato Japan is your new best friend! Offering a variety of food tours through Tokyo, (also Kyoto and Osaka) this service will make your food dreams come true. The All Star Food Tour takes you from Yurakucho and Ginza to Shimbashi and will show you all the flavors Tokyo has to offer. More into pop culture? Try the Crazy Kawaii Food Tour through Harajuku - cuteness and craziness guaranteed. Other Arigato Japan highlights include a tour through Shinjuku's Golden Gai, a Tsukiji breakfast experience, and the Shibuya Street Food tour.

Pick your tour here: https://arigatojapan.co.jp/tokyo/

4. Kintsugi Experience

Broken can be beautiful
a tradition of golden repair for Japanese pottery

If you're interested in the traditional side of Japan, this experience is for you. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using a lacquer substitute mixed with gold. This family-friendly workshop in Tokyo invites you to use the technique to experience this Japanese traditional craft. During the 60-minute lesson you'll get to wear the traditional craftsman's garb and later take home your Kintsugi art piece as a unique souvenir.

Book your experience here: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan/tokyo/activities/kintsugi-experience-in-tokyo/a/pa-act/v-13441P60/356817

5. Lolita Fashion Experience

Cute Japanese pop-culture day!

If you or someone in your family is a fan of Japan's "kawaii culture", Harajuku is a must-see. You won’t have to look for long to find a Decora, Gyaru, Lolita or other Harajuku fashionista. But did you know you could actually become one of those cute Lolitas yourself? At the Lolita Experience in Harajuku guests get to pick an outfit, have their hair and makeup done by a professional artist, and have a professional photographer capture the kawaii transformation in a fairy-tale-themed studio.

Intrigued? Book your experience here: http://www.hisgo.com/us/Contents/OptionalTour/DetailOptionalTour.aspx?lang=en&TourCd=TYO0420

Try something off the beaten path!

Whether you want to see Tokyo's famous attractions from a new angle, experience local neighborhoods on the saddle of a 'mamachari' bicycle, eat your way through the city, learn a new-old craft, or transform into one of Tokyo's most iconic pop culture icons, the city has it all on offer. Get ready -- and have an unusual experience in Tokyo!

Share

More on Air

What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway (updated June 14th, 2023) If your ball strikes a fellow player's ball on the fairway by accident, The 9.6 rule comes into affect, meaning If my ball...

What happens if I ground my club in a bunker? The new rules of golf explained

In 2020, the US Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) made several changes to the rules of golf.

One major change was to the "drop procedure" when a ball is lost or out of bounds. Players are now allowed to drop the ball from shoulder height, rather than knee height, making the process more consistent and less prone to mistakes. Another change was to the rule regarding penalty strokes. Players will no longer be penalized for accidentally moving a ball on the green, such as when marking or lifting it.

Additionally, players are now allowed to repair almost any damage to the course, such as spike marks on the green. The changes also include simplifying the rules for bunkers, allowing players to touch or move loose impediments...

DP World Tour ISPS Handa Championship Comes to Japan This Weekend Mount Fuji Provides Backdrop to New Venue on the DP World Tour

Mount Fuji Provides Backdrop to New Venue on the DP World Tour

Shizuoka, Japan -- Japanese and European golf stars will battle for the tour’s penultimate event in its Asian swing this weekend (April 25th-28th). Now in its second year, the DP World Tour ISPS Handa Championship will be played at the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course in Shizuoka. The star-studded event will be hotly contested, with a $2.25 million prize pool up for grabs as well as 'Race to Dubai' ranking points. Among the European players are top-ranked Matthieu Pavon, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Matteo Manassero, and Jordan Gumberg.

Japanese Stars on the Rise

The event is co-sanctioned by the Japan Tour, and as a result, 46 of the 156 players in the field...