All Reviews for Cultural Experiences

It was a one-day course with detailed explanations from the guide, and since there were fewer people, everything went smoothly, which made me very satisfied.

ガイドさんの詳しい説明を聞きながらの1日コースですが、たまたま人数も少なめでスムーズだった事もありとても満足です。

It was a really interesting experience and evening. The Maiko performed a wonderful danse and the garden was really pretty. thank you

I told her a silly story about the cruise, i made it up that if she rides on it she could never say no what ever i will aks ger..indeed it worked,i got her yes while on stopover straightly looking at the magical view of the skytree!thanks for the magical night!

The experience was so great. Wearing kimono while roaming around Nagoya castle under the beautiful Sakura is one of the unforgettable moments in Japan.

The careful kimono dressing and beautiful obi made for a wonderful cherry blossom viewing experience! The location is fantastic, just a 5-minute walk from Nagoya Castle! I would love to come back again, even outside of cherry blossom season! (*^^*)

丁寧な着付けと素敵な飾り帯で
幸せなお花見になりました！
名古屋城から徒歩5分、立地がすごくいいですね！
桜以外の時にもまたお願いします(*^^*)

The ladies at the studio were lovely, they made us feel really welcome and our time at the studio had a great atmosphere. The kimonos were stunning and there was a large variety of high-quality kimono to choose from. Thank you ladies for a lovely experience, we will most definitely be back again :)

did this class with my mum for her 70th birthday and it was brilliant. the teacher was so lovely and knowledgeable about Ikebana, we learnt a lot and had a great time. they were even so gracious in organising the space nicely so we could have photos taken with our arrangements. would recommend to anyone who is interested in this beautiful Japanese art.

Very original, fun, creative!
Kids and adults loved it!!

I could not have asked for a better way to spend my vacation day in Asakusa than being able to roam around with a Kimono. The moment I entered their office, I was greeted immediately by the ladies there, and I can attest that they are all professionals. There's an array of kimonos and hakamas to choose from, and it only took less than 30 minutes for them to dress me. For women, they even fix your hair for you. When I posted up my pictures, all of my friends who visited Japan before were jealous that I got to experience this. This is definitely another way to immerse yourself in the culture, and a great way to spend your visit in Japan.

Thank you to the ladies for being so dandy! You will be pleased to know that I recommended you to all of my friends and family.

A great experience if you are traveling in the area. The dinner cruise was fun and great sights! I will definitely do this again when in Tokyo.

Located on a side street will need directions or map. Helpful ladies at Sakura Photo Studio quickly dress you. Selection of different colors. Memorable experience to walk around in kimono attire!

It was very good time for my children.Thank you so much.

The kimono experience was awesome!
The whole outfit and hair do made me feel a bit Japanese, all the ladies who took care of it were lovely.
The photographer was great too, and an amazing guide too!in on of the best locations in Tokyo.
Truly recommended.

We had an awesome experience! There were plenty of beautiful kimono choices and the staff were very friendly, efficient and professional! My daughter who is 4 yo totally enjoyed the experience too!

NICE AND FUNNY TIME AT JAPANESE PLASTIC FOOD SAMPLE ART EXPERIENCE.

My first experience with Edo Kiriko was quite nerve-wracking, but while receiving a lecture, I was able to practice with samples at the beginning, so in the end, I was able to create a satisfying piece!

It took about 90 minutes to complete, and I think even those who are not very skilled can enjoy it. It was a fascinating time that made me want to try creating this pattern... I feel like I could really get into it. This experience sparked my interest in Japanese culture, and I'm really glad I participated.

初めての江戸切子、たいへん緊張しましたが、レクチャーを受けつつ、最初はサンプルで練習もできるので、最終的には満足いく作品が出来上がります！

時間も90分ほどで出来上がり、不器用な方でも十分楽しめると思います。この模様を作ってみたい・・・と思うほど、のめりこみそうな不思議な時間でした。これをきっかけに日本文化に興味持てそうで、参加してとても良かったです。

We're three girls from Taiwan. The clerk is so nice to give us suggestions. Always smiling and patient. It's amazing that she can speak Mandarin. It's my first time wearing a komon, and it's totally different from the normal komon style. I highly recommend this shop.

We're three girls from Taiwan. The clerk is so nice to give us suggestion. Always smile and be patient. It's amazing that she can speak mandarin. It's my first time to wear komon and it's totally different the normal komon style. Deeply recommend this shop.

It was a great experience to wear kimono in Japan.

We love sakura studio as their provide fast and efficient service from the kimono choosing process and hair do. Some how just a minor irritation when its get too crowded in the shop. There is no personal room/separate room for gents or ladies as well as locker to put your valuable stuff. Its kinda bit of discomfort when other guy looking at you dressing up. Make sure to wear not see through clothing for your inner because you need to wear your kimono in-front of others. Overall, it can be improve in future and the host is great in many languages!

I wanted to visit Otaru while going to Hokkaido for the Sapporo Snow Festival, so I searched for Beltora and found kimono rental, which I jumped at (laughs).
The result was a big success (^o^)/
I think the combination with the Otaru Canal was perfect, and the photos with the canal and snow turned out better than usual (≧◡≦).
Also, I was often approached and stood out—especially for men, it seems to be rare, so I was photographed quite a bit, feeling a bit like a minor celebrity (laughs). I heard that many foreigners rent kimonos, but since I'm Japanese, it was definitely a good experience (≧◡≦).
The staff were friendly and gave us precise advice while we were deciding among the many kimonos, making the dressing process enjoyable!
Kimono, obi, hairstyle, and hair accessories.
Since it was winter, they also lent us coats for free, and both the men's and women's coats were stylish and cute! I felt like I had time-traveled!
I would love to wear it again if I have the chance! Maybe next time I'll go for the three-hour course to take it slow.
Thank you very much (^o^)/

札幌雪まつり時期に北海道に行くため、小樽にも寄りたい！と思い立ち、ベルトラさんを検索していたら、着物レンタルがあり、飛び付きました(笑)
結果は大正解(^o^)/
小樽運河との相性バッチリで、運河と雪と写真写りはいつもより良かったと勝手に思っています(≧◡≦)
あと、良く話し掛けられるし目立ちますねぇ～特に男性は珍しいのか、写真を撮られる確率が高く、ちょっとした有名人気取りでした(笑)着物レンタルは外人さんが多いとのことでしたが、日本人ですからね、やっぱ良いものでしたよ(≧◡≦)
お店の方も気さくで、たくさんある着物の中で悩んでいる私達に的確なアドバイスをして頂き、楽しく着付けて頂きました！
着物に帯、髪型、髪飾り。
冬なので、コートも無料で貸していただけるのですが、男性用も女性用もカッコイイし可愛い！タイムスリップした気分でした！
機会があればまた着たいです！今度は3時間コースでゆっくりですかねぇ～
ありがとうございました(^o^)/

The staff was very friendly and helped with the difficult parts. They also explained in general about the tecniques of making food samples, which was very interesting.

I had a great time! I found the stories about the kitchen god and the unique incense very interesting, as they were all new to me. I also enjoyed the sataa andagi I received as a souvenir at home. The soba and the juicy dishes were very delicious as well. Thank you! 😊

大変楽しく過ごすことができました！。お台所の神様のお話、特徴的なお線香のことなど初めて聞くことばかりで、興味深く聞きました。お土産にもらったサーダアンダギーも、家でおいしく食べました。おそばもジューシーもとてもおいしかったです。ありがとうございました(^^)。

I always thought that riding a yakatabune (traditional Japanese boat) was something to do in the summer, but I heard that in December there are Christmas illuminations and fireworks, so I decided to take a ride on a winter yakatabune!

We gathered at the boat dock, about a 5-minute walk from Kachidoki Station. Since it was the year-end party season, there were more people than I expected. After waiting for a while, we boarded the boat, and drinks were served right away as we set off. On Saturdays in December, there are fireworks in Odaiba, so we took a reverse route from usual. We headed towards the Christmas illuminations in Odaiba and stopped for a while to wait for the fireworks. During that time, freshly made, crispy tempura was served, and I was very satisfied with the food! Before the fireworks, not many people went out onto the deck, and the illuminations along with other yakatabune created an indescribably beautiful scene.

When the fireworks started at 7 PM, I went up to the second floor and was greeted by the Rainbow Bridge and a spectacular display of fireworks right in front of me! It was the best spot! Although it was a short 10 minutes, it was amazing. After the fireworks, we enjoyed the remaining food while heading towards Asakusa. We also got to see the Skytree lit up in green for Christmas, and it reminded me of the wonderful aspects of Tokyo. The lady who was serving and guiding us was fluent in English, so I definitely plan to use this service again when friends from abroad visit!

屋形船に乗るなら絶対夏だなーとなんとなく思っていましたが、12月はクリスマスイルミネーションと花火があると聞いて真冬の屋形船に乗ってきました！
勝どき駅から徒歩5分くらいの船着場に集合。忘年会シーズンということもあり、思った以上に人が集まってました。暫く待って乗船し、すぐに飲み物が配られ、出発。12月の土曜は花火がお台場で花火があるため普段とは逆ルートで回るとのこと。クリスマスイルミネーションのお台場に向かって進んで行き、暫らく止まって花火待ち。その間にも揚げたてサクサクの天ぷらが配られ、料理にも大満足！花火前は甲板に出る人も少なく、イルミネーションと他の屋形船が光を放ってなんとも言えない綺麗さでした。19時に花火が始まって2階に上がってみると目の前にはレインボーブリッジと大輪の花火！ベスポジでした！！10分程度と短い時間でしたが最高でした。花火が終わって残りの料理を食べつつ、浅草方面へ。クリスマス仕様で緑色に光るスカイツリーも見れて、改めて東京の良い所が見れました。運びとガイドをしていたお姉さんは英語も堪能で、海外から友人が来たら是非また利用しようと思います♪

Before the performance started, the waiting area felt like a lounge, with drinks, light snacks from Kanedaka, and a kimono DJ that really lifted the mood. The opening skit was also entertaining, and it was great to have a direct explanation of the kyogen from the performer right before the show. The content was easy to understand, and even though it was my first time experiencing kyogen, I enjoyed it very much! The backstage tour was also wonderful, as I got to see areas like the dressing rooms and behind the scenes that are usually off-limits.

演目が始まるまでは前室がラウンジのようになっていてドリンクや金田中さんの軽食、着物DJなどで気分が上がります。
前座のコント？も面白かったですし、演目前に狂言師さん直々に狂言の説明をしていただけたのが良かったです。内容もわかりやすかったですし、初めての狂言でしたがとても楽しめました！
バックヤードツアーも普段入ることのできない楽屋や舞台裏を見ることができて良かったです。

This is my second time participating, following my first visit about three years ago. I looked at other options, but since I wanted to invite my mother-in-law and my parents, I decided to go with this place again, where I was satisfied last time.

On the day of the event, I strolled around Hamarikyu until the meeting point, passing through Tsukiji, enjoying a walk in Tokyo. It was beautiful as the lights began to illuminate. At the boarding area, which is visible right from Reimei Bridge, two boats were already docked, and many participants had gathered.

One boat was reserved by a company, and the other was for our group. From the moment we boarded, the staff member Kaoruko provided guidance in both English and Japanese, which was reassuring for my mother-in-law, who doesn't understand Japanese. I think this service wasn't available last time, but perhaps it was tailored to the clientele.

I was delighted with the seasonal appetizers, but it seemed that my two-year-old child and my parents particularly enjoyed the Edo-style tempura served one dish at a time! The all-you-can-drink option was also great, and they encouraged us to try a lot, which was fun.

My mother-in-law was pleased with the fan-shaped menu that also served as a guide to Tokyo. Taking photos on the deck at various points was essential, and these little touches were perfect for the hospitality.

This time, my child was the only small one, but with Kaoruko's care and the understanding of those around us, we were able to relax comfortably. Towards the end, my father discovered that someone from the neighboring group was from the same hometown, which created a sense of camaraderie and made us feel the joy of being part of a shared experience.

I look forward to participating again!

約3年前に続き2回目の参加です。
他も見ましたが義理の母、私の両親を招待するので、自分が前回満足できたこちらに再度お願いすることにしました。
当日は集合まで浜離宮をぷらぷら、築地を通って集合場所まで東京散歩。ライトアップされ始める時間で綺麗でした。
黎明橋からすぐ見える乗り場にはすでに二艘停泊していて、参加者の方も多く集まっていました。
一艘はどこか会社の貸切で、もう一艘が私達の乗合でした。
乗り込む際からスタッフの薫子さんが英語と半々で案内してくださったので、日本語が分からない義母にも安心でした。前回は無かったサービスだと思いますが、客層に合わせた器量でのおもてなしだったのかもしれません。
季節の前菜から嬉しかったですが、2歳の子供、両親にはやはり一品一品出てくる江戸前天ぷらがお気に入りのようでした！飲み放題も嬉しいですよね。たくさん勧めていただけます笑
義母は扇子状のメニュー兼東京案内に喜んでいました。ポイントポイントでデッキでの写真撮影も欠かせないですが、細かなところがおもてなしにピッタリなんですね。
今回小さな子供はうちの子だけでしたが、薫子さんのケアを始め周りの方のご理解があり、居心地よく過ごさせていただきました。
終盤では隣のグループの方と父が同郷ということが分かって一気に一体感が高まり、乗合の醍醐味みたいなものを感じられる時間でした。
また参加させていただきますね！

I have an interest in traditional performing arts, and I learned about this tour through a friend's recommendation. I had experienced Bunraku before, but it was my first time seeing Noh and Kyogen. I felt a bit nervous entering the venue, as it seemed somewhat highbrow. The atmosphere was reminiscent of a Japanese-style club. The attendees appeared to be quite affluent, but there were also various people, including someone pulling a carry-on bag from afar and a young child who seemed to be in elementary school (later revealed to be the son of one of the performers). There was also a merchandise booth, and as someone wearing a kimono, I was very intrigued by the reasonably priced hanhaba obi and obi-dome. Before the performance, the performers provided a rather rough synopsis, and a comedian explained the etiquette for watching Kyogen, which made me feel at ease even without prior preparation. I never expected to laugh so much while enjoying traditional performing arts, which I thought would be highbrow. I believe it was a very approachable atmosphere for beginners in traditional arts. This was my first time using a tour, so I have no comparisons, but I was very satisfied!

伝統芸能に興味があり、知人の紹介でこのツアーを知り申し込みました。文楽鑑賞はしたことがありましたが、能・狂言は初めてでした。なんとなく敷居が高い気がして少し緊張して会場に入りました。会場は和風のクラブかと思わせるような雰囲気。来ている人達はなんとなくリッチにみえるような方々が多かった気がしますが、キャリーバックを引いた遠方からと思われる方、小学生低学年と思われるちびっ子（のちにこのちびっ子は演者さんの息子さんと判明）もいるなど様々な方が来ていました。また物販のブースもあり、着物を着る私にとっては半幅帯や帯留めがかなりのリーズナブルさだったことに興味津々でした。本番前には演者さんたちによる、かなり大荒なあらすじ解説、芸人さんによる前せつで狂言の鑑賞マナーを知ることができ、予習をしていなくとも安心して観ることができました。敷居が高いと思っていた伝統芸能でこんなにケラケラと笑うとは思ってもみないほど楽しく鑑賞できました。伝統芸能初心者にとっては、とてもとっつきやすい雰囲気だったと思います。初めてのツアー利用で比較対象がありませんが、大満足でした！

I was invited by my friend to try this Kimono dressing experience for the first time ever in my life. It was a wonderful experience and we have had a great time. When we went into the shop from the very cold environment of about -2 degree Celsius, the shop was extremely warm to us and the staff was very nice to gave us welcome greeting as well as a bit of chat which made me feel very comfortable. I was very excited to see all the beautiful Kimono and things in the shop. The setting is wonderful and it was like a local japanese house. We set the hair by ourselves and the staff therefore gave us recommendations acoording to the colour of our head ornament. That was really kind and sweet of her. I have to admit that it was really hard to choose one as many of them are just so beautiful and you can never decide. I really appreciate her patient on me as it did took a bit of time to choose one indeed. I took her recommendations and picked a red Kimono to put on myself while my friend chose a white one with some pink flowers on it. The staff helped us to dress in the Kimono in a long series of step. I don't think I can do all the steps by myself and thanks to this skillful nice staff, we wore the Kimono like a local japanese in the end. This nice staff even allowed us to record and take pictures during the time when she helped us to dress in the Kimono. We both look very pretty and beautiful in the Kimono. We were very happy with our look and tried to go out from the shop. There was a bit of rain when we were going out from the shop to outside in order to take some photos. The sweet staff therefore rented us two pretty umbrellas in the japanese style for us to protect us from the rain as well as taking more beautiful pictures with the pretty Japanese umbrellas. In the end, we had lots of great memories built and recorded, in the glorious white winter with a bit of rain and snow. Thank you very much for offering us the memorable experience to make our trip more perfect.

This time, I was invited by a friend to my first Kyogen Lounge! I hadn't seen Kyogen since my elementary school field trip... I was a bit nervous, not knowing there was a Kyogen stage right in the heart of Shibuya, but when I arrived, I saw stylish people enjoying drinks in front of the stage with a glass of wine in hand. There was an older gentleman in a kimono DJing, and the fusion of traditional and modern created a really fun atmosphere.

In front of the stage, the performers humorously explained Kyogen. They were so approachable, almost like comedians. In the opening act, someone from a theater troupe performed, and it was really entertaining! It felt well-crafted and thought out.

As for the Kyogen itself, they explained the story beforehand, so I had a good understanding of what was happening. Even though it uses old language, it's still Japanese, so if you listen closely, you can grasp almost all of the story, which is reassuring.

I signed up for the backstage tour through Veltra because I heard it was exclusive to Veltra after the performance. The staff kindly guided us through in order. The details are a secret, haha. It seems they have different performances each time, so I’d love to bring my foreign friends and come again!

今回は友人に誘われ初の狂言ラウンジへ！狂言は小学校の社会科見学以来・・・
渋谷のど真ん中に狂言の舞台があったなんて知らず、ちょっと緊張していきましたが、
会場についてみるとワインを片手に持ったオシャレな人たちが、舞台前のドリンクを楽しんでいました。着物を着たおじさんがＤＪを回していたり、和と洋が融合してとても楽しい雰囲気でした。

舞台前には出演者がおもしろおかしく狂言を説明してくれました。まるでお笑い芸人のようで
本当に親しみやすかったです。前座では、どこかの劇団の方がでてらっしゃってそれがまたおもしろい！よく練って作られているな～という感じでした。
狂言そのものも、事前にストーリーを説明してくれるのでだいたいわかります。昔の言葉とはいっても日本語。よーく聞いていればほぼお話の内容はわかるので安心ですよ。

今回ベルトラで申し込んだのは、公演後のバックヤードツアーはベルトラ限定だと聞いたからです。お付きの方が順番に中を丁寧に案内してくれました。詳細は内緒です笑
毎回違う演目をやっているようなので、外国人の友人も連れてもう一度来たいなと思いました。

私は友人に初めての着物体験に誘われました。それは素晴らしい経験で、私たちはとても楽しい時間を過ごしました。外の氷点下2度の寒い環境から店に入ると、店内は非常に暖かく、スタッフの方々が歓迎の挨拶をしてくれ、少しおしゃべりもしてくれたので、とてもリラックスできました。店内には美しい着物やさまざまなものがたくさんあり、とても興奮しました。設定も素晴らしく、まるで地元の日本家屋のようでした。私たちは自分たちで髪をセットし、スタッフが私たちの頭飾りの色に合わせておすすめをしてくれました。それは本当に親切で素敵なことでした。多くの着物が美しすぎて、選ぶのが本当に難しかったことを認めざるを得ません。選ぶのに少し時間がかかってしまった私に、彼女の忍耐に感謝しています。彼女のおすすめを受けて、私は赤い着物を選び、友人はピンクの花があしらわれた白い着物を選びました。スタッフは、着物を着るための一連の手順を手伝ってくれました。すべてのステップを自分でできるとは思えませんでしたが、技術のある親切なスタッフのおかげで、最終的には地元の日本人のように着物を着ることができました。この素敵なスタッフは、着物を着せている間に私たちが録画や写真を撮ることも許可してくれました。私たちは着物を着てとても美しく見えました。自分たちの姿にとても満足し、店から出ようとしました。外に出ると少し雨が降っていました。そこで、可愛い日本風の傘を2本貸してくれ、雨から守ってくれるだけでなく、美しい日本の傘でより素敵な写真を撮ることができました。最終的に、少しの雨と雪の中で、素晴らしい白い冬の思い出をたくさん作り、記録しました。この素晴らしい体験を提供してくださり、私たちの旅行をより完璧にしてくださったことに心から感謝します。

I was invited by my friend to try this Kimono dressing experience for the first time ever in my life. It was a wonderful experience and we have had a great time. When we went into the shop from the very cold environment of about -2 degree Celsius, the shop was extremely warm to us and the staff was very nice to gave us welcome greeting as well as a bit of chat which made me feel very comfortable. I was very excited to see all the beautiful Kimono and things in the shop. The setting is wonderful and it was like a local japanese house. We set the hair by ourselves and the staff therefore gave us recommendations acoording to the colour of our head ornament. That was really kind and sweet of her. I have to admit that it was really hard to choose one as many of them are just so beautiful and you can never decide. I really appreciate her patient on me as it did took a bit of time to choose one indeed. I took her recommendations and picked a red Kimono to put on myself while my friend chose a white one with some pink flowers on it. The staff helped us to dress in the Kimono in a long series of step. I don't think I can do all the steps by myself and thanks to this skillful nice staff, we wore the Kimono like a local japanese in the end. This nice staff even allowed us to record and take pictures during the time when she helped us to dress in the Kimono. We both look very pretty and beautiful in the Kimono. We were very happy with our look and tried to go out from the shop. There was a bit of rain when we were going out from the shop to outside in order to take some photos. The sweet staff therefore rented us two pretty umbrellas in the japanese style for us to protect us from the rain as well as taking more beautiful pictures with the pretty Japanese umbrellas. In the end, we had lots of great memories built and recorded, in the glorious white winter with a bit of rain and snow. Thank you very much for offering us the memorable experience to make our trip more perfect.

The guides on the boat only spoke Japanese, so we had no idea what we were looking at or what they were saying. They did a lot of speaking. Even ordering plum wine was a challenge. I feel that they should have had some narration for non-Japanese speaking people. What we saw was very pretty and the food was very good, so the only complaint is language problem.