Japan is known for its rich cultural heritage, where centuries-old traditions coexist with modern life. For travelers looking to go beyond sightseeing and experience Japan from the inside, Wabunka offers rare and meaningful cultural encounters.

This platform focuses on high-end, private, and deeply authentic experiences, designed for travelers who value quality, depth, and human connection

Wabunka is a curated platform offering private cultural experiences across Japan. It connects travelers with masters, artisans, and local experts, giving access to places and practices that are usually closed to the public.

Experiences range from UNESCO World Heritage sites to intimate workshops with skilled craftsmen. Every activity is carefully selected to ensure authenticity, cultural respect, and exclusivity.

• Tokyo : Experience Private Sushi Making with a Professional Chef
  Hiroya Tokyomae offers innovative cuisine that both honors and reinvents tradition. With this Wabunka-exclusive plan, you will make Edomae hand-pressed nigiri sushi under the eye of a master chef in the privacy of a rented-out, chic restaurant.

• Tokyo : Observe Sumo Training at a Sumo Stable in Ryogoku
  Visit the Nakamura Sumo Stable, helmed by former sekiwake (third rank from the top) Masatsugu Nakamura, to observe a sumo training session up close with commentary from an expert interpreter. Take in the sport’s awesome intensity after paying a visit to another facility showcasing its culture and history.

• Kyoto : Guided Architectural Tour of a Former Imperial Family Property in Kyoto – Japanese Sweets Included

  Located in Kyoto City’s Sakyo Ward, Yoshida Sanso is a nationally listed tangible cultural property originally built as a villa for the brother-in-law of Emperor Hirohito. In the wake of WWII, the villa was converted to a luxury inn, hosting numerous distinguished guests.

• Kyoto : Tea Plantation Tour and Organic Green Tea Tasting in the Birthplace of Japanese Green Tea, Kyoto

  Founded in 1658 in the Kyoto town of Ujitawara – the birthplace of Japanese green tea – the Kaki-i plantation grows tea completely without the use of pesticides. In this experience, visitors can join the 21st generation head of the plantation to tour its fields and see historical sites associated with Soen Nagatani, who first developed the Japanese green tea enjoyed around the world today.

• Kyoto : Boating to the Sound of the Bamboo Flute in Arashiyama, Kyoto, 
  About a thousand years ago, Arashiyama in Kyoto was a retreat for aristocrats. The scenic Rankyo valley, known for its natural beauty, was a popular spot for boating and music. This experience brings that tradition to life: drift along the Oi River on a houseboat, accompanied by the graceful sound of the shinobue played by Kazuya Sato. Enjoy an otherworldly moment where the sounds of nature and flute blend, letting you feel as if you've stepped back in time

• Kyoto : Experience calligraphy

  Experience calligraphy with world-renowned master Shin-Rei, who has performed in Europe, America, and Asia. Shin-Rei will guide you in expressing your emotions through calligraphy with personalized instruction. Your finished work can be taken home as a hanging scroll for display. Sharpen your sensibilities and enhance your expressiveness through calligraphy in the traditional Kyoto townhouse, Gensouan.

• Kyoto : Wear luxurious pure silk kimono 

  In this experience, you’ll wear a luxurious pure silk kimono at a machiya (traditional townhouse) gallery in Kitaoji, Kyoto. Learn about Nishijin-ori, a traditional craft, and experience Japanese culture and aesthetics. Choose your favorite kimono and obi sash from the selection of original designs, take photos in the gallery, then stroll around Kyoto in style. Spend a special day enjoying the traditional Japanese ambiance.

• Kyoto : Experiencing Ancient Aristocratic Culture

  About a thousand years ago, Arashiyama in Kyoto was a retreat for aristocrats. The scenic Rankyo valley, known for its natural beauty, was a popular spot for boating and music. This experience brings that tradition to life: drift along the Oi River on a houseboat, accompanied by the graceful sound of the shinobue played by Kazuya Sato. Enjoy an otherworldly moment where the sounds of nature and flute blend, letting you feel as if you've stepped back in time.

• Artisan workshops or craft districts (ceramics, lacquerware, textiles) : Kinsugi in Kanazawa
  At Kanazawa, the city of crafts, visit Urushitoki Sadaike, a lacquerware workshop that uses natural urushi, Japanese lacquer. It is involved in all stages of the production process, from managing fields of urushi trees to crafting wooden bases. After an up-close look at the workshop's tools and owner Takashi Sadaike at work, try the traditional Japanese repair technique of kintsugi with natural lacquer. You can take home your finished creation on the same day.

•  or Ceramic
  Masayoshi Yoshioka is a globally active ceramics artist based in Kanazawa. In this Wabunka exclusive plan, you can experience throwing Kutani ware matcha drinking bowls on a pottery wheel under his direct instruction. Yoshioka brings his ideas to life in a private atelier embodying his worldview, and this is a rare opportunity to step into that space. After throwing the clay, enjoy a chat with Yoshioka over tea and traditional confections while waiting for your creation to dry.

• Learn to Make Edomae Sushi from a Master Chef in a Private Restaurant Experience in Kanazawa

  Kanazawa city’s charming historic Kazuemachi Chaya-gai area is packed with excellent sushi restaurants, in part thanks to the bounties of the broader Hokuriku coastal region. Take in the delights of this atmosphere and its wonderful food in the traditional dining room Sushi Kibatani for a private chef-selection omakase course　meticulously selected from the fish market that very morning.

• Dine at an Auberge in Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District and Enjoy an Elegant Evening With Geisha
  Enjoy innovative Japanese cuisine prepared by a talented chef at Higashiyama Wakon, located within the auberge Maki No Oto Kanazawa in Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District. After your dinner, you’ll visit a teahouse that's typically hard to access, guided by the owner of Maki No Oto Kanazawa, who has strong connections to the district. Immerse yourself in refined Japanese culture through traditional parlor games with geisha.

  
  
  

Stays experiences : 

• [Short Stay] Stay at an Inn in Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District and Enjoy an Elegant Evening With Geisha
  Spend a night at Maki no Oto Kanazawa, an intimate four-room inn in Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District, offering the charm of a traditional machiya townhouse. Savor innovative Japanese cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant, Higashiyama Wakon, or let the inn recommend a partner restaurant based on your preferred cuisine.

• [Short Stay] Relax at a Stylish Ryokan in Yamanaka Onsen and Experience Woodcarving with a Local Lacquerware Artisan
  Yamanaka Onsen in Ishikawa may be located just a 20-minute drive from a shinkansen station, but this small town in the mountains of Ishikawa is still home to artisans practicing timeless Japanese traditional arts. To experience this unique culture, you will visit a workshop run by Yuka Mabune, a local lacquerware artisan, for a woodworking experience where she will craft a small wooden container with you.

• [Short Stay] An Exclusive Stay in a Traditional Japanese Residence and a Serene Exploration of the Shirakawa-go World Heritage Site

  Located at the foot of Hida Takayama, Villa Mitoreya is an exclusive, single-group accommodation embodying world-class Hida craftsmanship. This one-story structure built in the Sukiya-zukuri style offers an authentic residential experience with a view of the pristine landscape of Japan. On the second day of your stay, enjoy a guided tour of Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site celebrated for its stunning scenery and traditional folk architecture. Optional add-on experiences unique to Hida are also available, making for an even more enriching and fulfilling stay.

• Short Stay] Amanohashidate Seaside Stay with Spectacular Views and a Private Cruise Touring Ine Fishing Village
  This special plan pairs a stay at the luxury resort Amanohashidate Rikyu Hoshino Oto, set overlooking one of Japan’s Three Scenic Views, with an optional private cruise arranged exclusively for Wabunka guests. Settle into a spacious ocean-view suite with natural hot springs and unhurried comfort.

Because all experiences are private and prepared specifically for each guest, Wabunka applies strict cancellation rules. Arriving more than 15 minutes late results in automatic cancellation without refund or rescheduling.

Each experience clearly displays its cancellation conditions, making it essential to plan carefully and arrive on time.

Wabunka stands out for the authenticity, quality, and depth of its experiences. Rather than mass tourism, it offers meaningful encounters guided by passionate professionals who share their knowledge with care.

For travelers seeking a refined, cultural, and deeply human journey through Japan, Wabunka is an exceptional choice.