Calligraphy to wrestling: where to find hands-on experiences in Japan
With such incredible cuisine, ancient traditions and breathtaking scenery, Japan is often near the top of travellers' bucket lists, and rightly so.
Whether it's searching for the best bowl of ramen in Tokyo's maze-like alleyways, trying your hand at a traditional craft like making washi paper in Mino, or feeding the famous bowing deer in Nara, there's something for every interest in Japan*.
According to Viator's 2025 Travel Trends Report*, hands-on experiences, such as craft classes, photography tours, and thermal spas, are increasingly popular with inquisitive travellers. With that in mind, here's where to find the best hands-on experiences in Japan.
Getting there: find great value trips to Japan with Wendy Wu Tours*, which offers a range of itineraries for all budgets and interests.
Paper & knife-making in Gifu
Gifu remains one of Japan's most underrated prefectures, known for historic towns like Shirakawa-go and its iconic, steep thatched roof houses featured in The Last Samurai movie, and the natural beauty of its surrounding Japanese Alps.
Those looking for hands-on experiences in Gifu will be pleased to find the Sanshu Seki Knife Museum, where you can hammer raw steel at a forge and even craft your own knife to take home.
Gifu is also known for its washi paper, produced in Mino for some 1,300 years. Washi paper is produced using cold water and the inner bark of native plants like mulberry and gampi. At Warrabee Land, you can produce your own paper and enjoy tea in a historic former paper craftsman's home.
Where to stay: Kai Okuhida, a contemporary hot spring ryokan whose complimentary woodworking and whisky smoking classes add to the hands-on experience. An in-room hot bath overlooking the gorgeous Japanese Alps enhances the stay.
Tea-drinking & sword-swinging in Ishikawa
Home to Kenrouken Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, Ishikawa is a prefecture steeped in beauty, tradition and crafts. Experience a traditional tea ceremony at Kenrokutei, a historic teahouse where the lord once hosted guests.
Today, you're taught important procedures and shown how to make your own matcha. Ishikawa is also known for its samurai heritage, with the feudal lord Maeda once presiding over the district during the Edo period.
At Kabura, learn of the Shijimaya family's samurai history and try out traditional sword techniques while wearing your very own samurai kimono.
Where to stay: Kayotei ryokan in Yamanaka Onsen. Enjoy a live geiko experience and, if you're brave, partake in traditional song and dance.
Wrestling & chopstick-carving in Tokyo
Tokyo's neon lights and constant hum can feel overwhelming to the weary traveller, but those looking to step away from Shinjuku will find another world of immersive activities.
For something entirely different, Yokozuna's Dojo provides hands-on lessons from former sumo wrestlers; you'll even get to wear the iconic mawashi (belt).
In Ginza, one of the more memorable activities to try is chopstick making; you can choose your own wood, carve and coat it in whatever you like. Pretty handy, as you'll be using chopsticks a lot.
For something even more special, at Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya you can make your very own plastic tempura; yes, the very same ones seen in many of Japan's restaurant windows.
Where to stay: at Shiba Park Hotel in Minato City, Tokyo, guests can take part in Kingutsi sessions, the art of repairing broken ceramics and porcelain. Tea ceremonies also take place in the unusual, and rather brilliant, setting of a library.
Soy & sake-sampling in Wakayama
Known for its spiritual trails, abundant fruit, and as the birthplace of soy sauce, Wakayama has plenty of hands-on activities for the keen traveller. Start in Yuasa for a Shoyu soy sauce factory tour; you'll even get to pop on a hair net and stir the huge vats yourself.
Like the sound of plum wine? At Nakano BC sake brewery, you'll be able to join an umeshu (Japanese plum wine liqueur) class, where you learn about the process of making umeshu before making your own bottle to take home to mature.
Perhaps the biggest hands-on experience of all is walking the Kumano Kodo, an ancient network of historic pilgrimage routes leading to the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano. You'll pass temples, shrines and hot springs; don't forget to fill up your hikers' stamp book at various resting points along the way.
Where to stay: no visit to Wakayama would be complete without a temple stay in Koyasan, Japan's sacred home of Shingon Buddhism. Stay at Daien-in, a temple first opened in 901; don't miss the Buddhist ceremony each morning around 6 am.
Calligraphy lessons in Nara
Most people know Nara for its ever-so-cute bowing deer in Nara Park, and while feeding them crackers is certainly a hands-on experience, there's much more to Nara than this.
Nara has an ornate calligraphy heritage, and at Nara Igoto Eena House, you'll be able to learn the skill of writing the Japanese language.
Once you've mastered it, your work will be framed to take home. Inden-ya (deerskin leatherwares) is also growing in popularity; you can join one of many leatherware classes in the prefecture and make your own handbag or wallet featuring distinctive lacquer-based patterns. Visit the Inden Museum to learn more.
Where to stay: after your calligraphy class, head to Hotel Tenpyo Naramachi for an overnight stay. This gallery-style hotel showcases famous calligraphy prints and brushes. Look out for the bowing deer!
Climate in Japan
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C |  10 |
10 |
 13 |
 19 |
 23 |
 25 |
 29 |
 31 |
 27 |
21 |
 17 |
12 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall |  9 |
 11 |
 16 |
16 |
16 |
 20 |
19 |
16 |
19 |
16 |
12 |
9 |
| Sea temperature °C |  15 |
14 |
14 |
 16 |
 18 |
 21 |
 24 |
 26 |
25 |
 22 |
19 |
17 |
The above guide shows the climate in Tokyo. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Japan.
Ready for your own hands-on experience in Japan? See the latest online offers on itineraries across the archipelago with Wendy Wu Tours, the experts in holidays to the Far East.
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