All Reviews for Cultural Experiences

I got lost coming from the station, but I received a phone call and was given directions. The experience was very thorough, and my 6th-grade daughter, despite being a bit clumsy, was able to finish and said she wants to do it again. I was satisfied with the results. Now that I remember the location, I want to do it again! (≧∇≦)b

駅から迷ってしまいましたが
電話を頂き、場所を教えてもらいました。
体験は、とても丁寧に教えてもらい
小学６年生の娘も不器用ながら
仕上がり、またやりたいと言ってました。
私は満足な出来上がりでした。
今度は場所も覚えたのでまた
やりたいです(≧∇≦)b

During my short stay in Kyoto, I looked for experiences that would allow me to savor Japan. International guests prefer tours that are not solely for overseas visitors; they enjoy tours that Japanese customers can also appreciate.

The riverside setting wasn't cool, but it was a very lovely location where I could enjoy watching the maiko, making it a truly valuable experience. It became a wonderful memory for my family.

京都での短い滞在期間で、日本を味わえるものを探しました。
海外からのゲストは、海外のゲストばかりのツアーは好みません
日本のお客様が楽しめるツアーを好みます。

川床は涼しくはなかったですが、とても素敵なロケーションで
舞妓さんの鑑賞もでき、とても価値のある体験ができ嬉しかったです。
家族のいい思い出になりました。

We had a really wonderful time creating a very unique keepsake that will always remind us of our time in Japan. Our instructor, Hiro, was excellent in explaining everything in English and he helped my sons each learn techniques to create the glass cuts they wanted for each of their designs. After we were done, we were able to photograph our completed glasses in a way that made them look so professional. We highly recommend this activity - especially for those in high school and above.

We had a lovely time with the staff. They were patient, helpful and very kind.

The quality of the product was very good.

Since I arrived early to the appointment, the instructor started the lesson earlier with little preparation needed which was very much appreciated.

The lesson itself was great. Even though English was harder for her, she still communicated well how to play the instrument by demonstrating and giving verbal explanation, which helped me learn quickly. Since I had learned the song she had prepared for the lesson, she was flexible and had two other songs that I could play and I had a great time learning and playing the instrument.

She also gave me small sweets and took the time to talk to me after the lesson. She took the time to accommodate beyond what I had expected from the lesson, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to learn.

The luxury of the cuisine and the service exceeded my expectations by 200%. The detailed explanations from the female staff and their impeccable service were wonderful. The freshly fried tempura was also exquisite. I would like to use this service again.

お料理の豪華さ、サービスすべてにおいて予想の200%超えでした。
女性スタッフのきめ細やかな説明、抜かりないサービス、素晴らしかったです。揚げたての天ぷらも絶品でした。
また利用したいです。

The detailed explanations from the bus guide were great during the intense heat. There were no students on the school trip, so it was quite empty, making it recommended for those who can handle the heat.

猛暑の中、バスガイドさんの丁寧な説明が良かった、修学旅行の学生さんも皆無ですいており、暑さに強い人にはおすすめです

I will keep the name private, but the maiko was very cute and I had a great time. Thank you for the dance and the Q&A session. I was healed by your smile! ♪

お名前は伏せますが舞妓さんがとても可愛い方でとても楽しかったです。踊りも、質問タイムもありがとうございます。笑顔に癒されました♪

I boarded with customers from overseas. The food was diverse, and the service was good. After finishing the meal, we could relax and enjoy the beautiful night views from the second-floor observation area at various scenic points. The timing was well managed, allowing us to visit the night view spots without wasting time, which was great. I was somewhat worried about seasickness, but there was hardly any rocking, so it wasn't a problem.

海外からのお客様と乗船。食事も多様で、サービスも良かったです。食事を終えたら、ポイントポイントで夜景の綺麗なところで2階の観覧エリアでゆっくり景色も見れます。
時間配分もよく夜景スポットに寄れるので無駄なく楽しめて良かったです。
船酔いを多少心配しましたが、殆ど揺れず問題なかったです。

It was a very hot day, but the visiting time was well balanced, allowing us to efficiently explore. I was very satisfied to enjoy the coolness of the trees at Jiko-in, which I had not known about before, while listening to the priest's talk and having matcha.

とても暑い日でしたが、見学時間もちょうど良い配分で、効率よく回れて、今まで存じ上げなかった慈光院で木々の涼しさに癒されながら住職のお話を伺ってお抹茶をいただいたり大変満足でした。

I had wanted to experience glass cutting for a long time, so I participated in this workshop. The instructor was very kind, and since there were few participants, they were accommodating with my design requests, resulting in a very satisfying finish! I would love to go back and create more. Thank you very much! 😊

ずっと切子体験したくて参加させてもらいました。
先生も優しく、参加者が少ないのもあってデザインのわがままを聞いてくださり、とても満足いく仕上がりでした！また作りに行きたいです♪
ありがとうございました(^^)

Everything was perfect. The beautiful, elegant ambiance, the service, the food and the Geiko performance. We spent a marvelous time. Thank you all.

I just made my own bowl of ramen this weekend and I was helped by one of the workers, Ryou. He was so sweet!! He was able to communicate effectively in English, showed me every step with patience, rooted me on, and even offered to take photos/videos of me throughout the process. After I was finished making my bowl, it took only about 5 minutes for it to dry and I was ready to go!

They also have an area where they sell fake food goodies, and I bought myself some gyoza earrings. It was an easy, quick walk from the station. If you’re into fake food, definitely recommend!!

Our family really enjoyed this fun activity. They even wrap up your creations so you can transport them home! We definitely recommend this.

A fun experience, good instruction and the location was easy to find. Nice to have something unique to take home afterwards! Would definitely recommend if you're looking for an activity that allows you to be a bit creative.

We signed up to make sample tarts. All the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. They spoke English very well and helped us every step of the way. Would definitely recommend who wants a fun experience making food samples.

It had been over 20 years since I last visited Hōryū-ji, Yakushi-ji, and Tōshōdai-ji. It was the school trip season, but perhaps due to the timing, I was able to visit all of them comfortably and was very satisfied.

20余年ぶりの法隆寺、薬師寺、唐招提寺でした。修学旅行シ-ズンでしたが時間帯が良かったのかいずれもゆったりと見学する事ができ大満足でした。

A really memorable and amazing experience with this Maiko Dance and dinner tour. We were escorted to a beautiful and spacious dining hall at Shozan Resort Kyoto. It is an incredibly lovely resort with a beautiful Japanese garden. A traditional and a delicious Japanese dinner was served. (Menu: Saki dzuke “appetizer”, Ha sun “ha-sun assortment”, Otsukuri “sliced raw fish”, Ipoin “a dish”, Konami “small saucepan”, Agemono “fried food”, Gohan “rice”, Kounomono “pickle” , Mizumono “dessert”, While we were enjoying our dinner, a stunningly beautiful Maiko (her name is Kimisora, the meaning of her name is dream) came out onto the stage and performed a brief dance. Kimosora san talked about some geisha history and her own stories of how and why she becomes a Maiko. Kimosora san was fascinated about geisha and their stories when she was a kid and determined to become a geisha one day. She is a friendly and sweet and elegant lady. Her English is excellent. She also showed us her extraordinary beautiful kimono and her special makeup and hairdo. Surprisingly we were given an extra long Q and A time (at least 30 mins or so) with her and we could ask any questions. She answered every question attentively and precisely. At the end we could all take several photos with her. (A reminder to myself : never touch the geisha hands or their clothes and this is an absolute respect to a geisha). During the whole meeting I could also take many photos freely. Kimisora san gave us her name card at the end of the dinner. It was a really really wonderful and memorable evening. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who would like to meet a maiko in an extremely relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. If I ever visit Tokyo in the future I would join this tour again. A great and joyful life experience. My best wishes to Kimisora san and thank you Veltra for making my dream come true.

Thank you to our host for personal and friendly service, we love our ramen bowls!

This was my first experience on a yakatabune (houseboat), and I made a reservation for two with my daughter. The food, especially the freshly fried tempura, was all very delicious. We enjoyed various flavors with the dipping sauce and salt (there was also matcha available)! The dessert was something I had never tried before, and it was delightful. The clam rice was tasty, and the warm miso soup was delicious as well.

Additionally, all the staff members were very kind and friendly, engaging in conversation and even taking photos for us. We had a wonderful time. Thank you very much! If I have the chance again, I would love to come back. Everyone, please take care of yourselves and keep up the good work!

今回初めての屋形船…娘と二人で予約しました。
食事も揚げたての天ぷらがどれもとても美味しく…
天つゆ&塩(抹茶もあり)で、色々と楽しめる！
デザートは、はじめて食べた物で美味しく頂きました
あさりご飯も、良いお味…暖かい味噌汁…美味しかった
そして、スタッフの方達がどの方もとても親切で、フレンドリーな感じで話しかけて下さったり、写メ️撮って下さったり、とても楽しい時間を過ごせました
ありがとうございました！
また、機会があれば、お願いしたいと思ってます。
皆さんもお体には気をつけて頑張って下さいねっ

I thought two and a half hours might be long, but we stopped twice along the way, which gave us time to take photos on the deck, making it just the right amount of time. I liked that the freshly fried tempura was served one piece at a time. The final rice dish was also delicious. The female staff were friendly, and I had a great time.

2時間半長いかなと思ったけど、途中２回停泊してくれてデッキで写真とる時間あったりでちょうどいい時間だった　揚げたての天ぷらが一品ずつ出てくるのがよかった　最後のご飯も美味しかった　スタッフの女性がフレンドリーで楽しい時間を過ごせました

I visited Nara with my wife for the first time since our elementary school field trip. Back then, we had a whirlwind trip over two days, visiting Nara, Kyoto, and Osaka, so my memories of Nara were limited to seeing Kofuku-ji reflected in Sarusawa Pond and feeding the deer in Nara Park.

When we decided to go to Nara this time, I initially thought about renting a car to visit the main shrines and temples. However, considering that I was unfamiliar with the area, the challenge of securing parking, the high individual entrance fees, and lacking knowledge about the shrines and temples, I felt that even if we went, it wouldn't be enjoyable. So, I searched online for a good tour plan. I happened to come across a one-day tour organized by Nara Kotsu that included Horyu-ji, Yakushi-ji, and Toshodai-ji, and I made a reservation, albeit with some skepticism about its cost-effectiveness.

Once the tour began, it turned out to be a delightful bus trip, with our skilled driver, Mr. K, ensuring safe driving, and our bus guide, Ms. Y, providing a humorous commentary filled with information about the temples we visited. The tour progressed on time and was more enjoyable than I had expected. After the trip, we stopped by an izakaya and enjoyed local Yamato vegetables and tofu dishes while sharing impressions from the tour over some local sake, creating new memories together.

　小学校の修学旅行以来の奈良見物を妻としました。当時は、一泊二日で奈良、京都、大阪を巡る強行旅行だったためか奈良の思い出と言えば、猿沢池に映る興福寺と奈良公園内で鹿にせんべいをやったことしかありませんでした。
　今回奈良に行くと決めた当初はレンタカーを借りて、主要な神社仏閣を見て回ることを考えましたが、やはり土地勘もない上、駐車場の確保、割高な個人拝観料、見学する神社仏閣に関する知識・情報がない状況では、行った事実になっても、何も面白味がないと思い、ネットでお得なツアープランを探しました。たまたま奈良交通主催「法隆寺、薬師寺、唐招提寺」等を巡る一日ツアーが目に止まり、コスパ・タイパになるツアーか半信半疑のまま早速予約を入れました。
　実際ツアーが始まると安全運転で熟練のドライバーＫさんと見学先の仏閣の表・裏の情報を交えたコミカルな話しぶりのバスガイドＹさんの息の合ったツアー劇場が時間通り進行して、予想以上に楽しいバス旅行となりました。旅行終了後は、居酒屋に飛び込み、妻と地の大和野菜や豆腐を使った料理、ツアーでお互い印象に残ったことなど肴に地酒など呑みながら、新たな思い出を作りました。

We were able to efficiently visit five locations, and the guide's explanations were thorough and easy to understand. The guide was also an interesting person, which added to the enjoyment.
Nara can be challenging to explore on your own, so I recommend this for first-timers or those who want to see everything efficiently.
However, unfortunately, the meal was terrible.
If possible, I would like to see a course option that allows for a choice between including meals or having free time for meals.

五カ所を効率良く周れ、ガイドさんの説明も丁寧で分かりやすかったです。ガイドさん自身が面白い方だったのでプラスαで楽しめました。
奈良は個人で廻るのは大変なので初めての方や、効率よく周りたい方にお勧めです。
ただ…残念ながら食事は酷かったです。
可能なら食事付き、食事なし（各自自由）を選べるコースを作って頂きたいです。

well organised

intimate, friendly, welcoming

thorough

excellent accompanying documentation - just need to work out how I can acquire/source cashew tree lacquer back home :-)

attention to detail re: packaging for travel home

Update Feb 2026

Hello, lucky enough to have another trip to Japan and was able to purchase small tin of Cashew Lacquer!
Please remind me what the (paint) powder was that we mixed with the lacquer to form the 'paint'. And is this the same powder that was dusted on at the end. (I have bought a small pot of gold coloured paint powder, will this do?) Thank-you

We went into it without prior knowledge of the venue, the actual setup or the details of the experience, and i was at awe of the arrangement and the experience, truly a once of a life-time experience you cannot miss if you plan to visit Kyoto!

The venue was superb, the restaurant being reserved solely for us, a genuinely private experience. However, I have to note that the initially, it wasn't a pleasant start due to a misunderstanding by the host restaurant staff. As the lead of the group I approached the front door of the venue, only to be shouted at by an elderly male saying that this is private and i have to leave. I tried to approach him to show him my reservation as i was trying to explain that we are the ones who booked the venue but his attitude got more aggressive and did not want to hear anything i had to say. I was not going to start the experience with conflict so i left and got in touch with the emergency number on the voucher, who immediately resolved the issue and the man later apologized for his behavior. I understand that tourist have been a bit of a hassle lately for Kyoto and hence do not take it personally, however for future reservations, please note of this and don't let it ruin your day.

As for the main experience, there are no words to summarize how magical, pleasant and lovely the rest of the evening was. The translator, an expert in Geisha Tradition was superb, providing us with a detailed history of the tradition and guiding us on how to enjoy the experience as it plays out. The shimasen, Gecko, Geisha and Maikos made us feel like honorary guests and provided us with the most authentic and personal experience we have ever enjoyed, a lovely mix of dance, song, food, entertainment and conversation. Although i say it is a once in a life-time experience, i will definitely book when i visit the country again!

I never imagined that I could actually make Edo Kiriko, which I've wanted for so long! Moreover, thank you for teaching me kindly and patiently, and for helping me fix my mistakes. Thanks to you, I was able to create a piece that is uniquely mine!

ずっと欲しかった江戸切子をまさか自分で作れるなんて思ってもみませんでした！
しかも優しく丁寧に教えてくれて失敗した所も直してもらえてありがとうございました。
お陰で自分だけの作品を作ることが出来ました〜

The Noh theater located in the basement of the hotel was very impressive and beautiful. The pre-performance speakers were also interesting, filled with laughter and educational. The kyogen performance was excellent as well.

ホテルの地下にある能楽堂ですがとても立派で綺麗でした
前説の方々も面白く笑いありで勉強になりました
狂言もとても良かったです

It was great that I could visit Kofuku-ji before the tour started, even though the boarding and alighting stations were different. After getting off at Nara Station, I strolled along Sanjo Street to buy souvenirs, making for a very fulfilling day. Since I participated in consecutive tours from the day before, I used a 500 yen refund and a 10% discount coupon per person, which made the upgraded souvenirs very well received. We walked a lot during the tour, and when including the time before and after, I exceeded 19,000 steps. I was able to see the Buddha statues and temples I wanted to see, enjoy delicious meals, and even have a tea experience at Jiko-in, making it a wonderful trip. Thank you for the recommended photo spots from the guide.

乗車駅と下車駅が違っても良かったので、ツアー出発前に興福寺を見学してからツアーに参加、奈良駅で下車後に三条通りを散策しながらお土産購入と、とても濃い1日でした。前日から連続ツアー参加でしたので、1人に付き500円戻しと10パーセント割引券を使い、少しグレードアップしたお土産が喜ばれています。ツアーもたくさん歩きましたが、前後も入れると19000歩超えでしたが、見たかった仏像や仏閣が見られ、美味しい食事と慈光院でのお茶体験までできて、良い旅になりました。ガイドさんお薦めの写真ポイントもありがとうこざいます。

It was a full day of sightseeing. I was definitely tired, but it's something I couldn't have done on my own, so the sightseeing bus was really appreciated. I especially enjoyed having matcha and sweets during tea time. I once again felt that the sightseeing bus offers great value for both time and cost.

丸一日使っての観光でした。さすがに疲れましたが個人ではこれだけまわることは出来ないので観光バスはありがたいですね。特にお茶タイムでお抹茶とお菓子をいただいたのが良かったですね。観光バスはタイパもコスパもとても良いと改めて感じました。

大好き!!! I had so much fun making the lil food sample parfait, our helper was so perfect and sweet !!! he spoke English and would tell you what the word was in japanese, it was so so cute. I loved the whole experience so much and everything they make is so cute!!! im so happy to have a lil cutie parfait to sit on my desk at home