On this page, explore our private package tour offerings. The Hidden Japan offers both single and multi-day package tours, combining some of our most popular a la carte experiences into carefully curated trips. These trips are perfect for adding an authentic short-term northern Japan adventure to your travels.
If none of these tours are quite right for you, please contact us about arranging a fully custom private tour (we do both full trips and single legs!).
On this private sea-to-table culinary adventure tour, fish, fry, flambe, and feast your way through the bounty of the Sanriku fishing grounds just off the coast of Ishinomaki.
Experience true freedom and tranquility in the remote mountains of Miyagi at an onsen ryokan without electricity. With only lamps to light your way, digitally detox and experience nature to the fullest. Includes full English language support.
Catch your own fish or shop for some at a local market, then watch or work alongside as a professional Japanese chef prepares it.
Experience the fruit kingdom of Yamagata Prefecture. Meet a Yamagata farmer and visit their orchard to harvest fresh fruit, then head to a cocktail bar where the bartender will craft an original cocktail or mocktail just for you.
Rinnoji Temple, which has one of the best gardens in the Tohoku region, offers a private tour and immersion in Japanese culture as you learn about the history of Rinnoji Temple and Zen culture. After a prayer and zazen experience, enjoy a meal of shojin ryori.
Explore the deep craft of production of Japan, which have continued to the present day. See how Japanese fabrics are made and how old-style sake was brewed through this unique, exclusive one-day tour.
A private guided tour that lets you experience the scenic, cultural, and historical highlights of Sendai and Matsushima all in just one day.
An easy, one-day guided cycling tour exploring the traditional side of Yamagata City. Ride to a Japanese garden, a minor holy mountain to explore a hidden shrine, and the artisan district Hirashimizu for a weaving experience.
A 3-day, 3-night private tour of the charm of the countryside of Northern Japan in Miyagi Prefecture.
On this 4-day, 3-night gastronomy tour, explore Yamagata’s traditional and modern food culture in Yamagata City and Kaminoyama. Meet local farmers, chefs, restaurant owners and employees to experience, interact, and deeply enjoy all facets of this region’s incredible cuisine.
A 5-day, 4-night private tour to experience the best of cuisine and craftsmanship in the Uetsu area of Japan. Observe and experience techniques for making outstanding kitchenware of the master craftsmen of Tsubame-Sanjo and enjoy cooking and dining experiences with chefs of Tsuruoka City, a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
Surrounded by the misty green mountains of northeastern Japan, hit the sightseeing highlights of Yamagata City and nearby areas on either the 3-day or 4-day versions of this specially crafted tour. Includes hands-on cultural experiences, a visit to a mysterious mountain temple, and a stay in a hot springs village near Mt. Zao.
This 3-day, 2-night tour gives you the chance to not only watch, but take part in the Hanagasa Festival, of the top three summer festivals in Tohoku. This trip includes two nights at a central Yamagata hotel, a dedicated interpreter, a private dance lesson with a local instructor, costume rental, kimono dressing, hair and make-up, tabi, and zori sandals for the event on the evening of the 5th.
Explore Niigata, Fukushima, and Yamagata on this 4-day, 3-night private adventure tour. Explore Niigata city’s history and sake, hike through the stunning natural onsen landscapes of Fukushima, and embrace your inner samurai in Yamagata: this tour is for adventurous spirits looking for authentic experiences off the beaten path.
From Niigata to Yamagata, experience the charm and beauty of traditions of craftsmanship in the Uetsu region of Japan on this 4-day, 3-night tour. Experience Japan’s “monozukuri” tradition for yourself while learning about the history and charm of creation in each area.
Snag yourself seats at one of Japan’s top three summer fireworks festival this year with a 2-night Nagaoka Fireworks Festival package.
Spend the night in a mountain lodge in Yamagata and kayak in a submerged forest as the sun rises for an incredible outdoor experience.
Yamagata is the perfect place to experience traditional crafts, culinary and cultural activities, rich history, and plenty of sightseeing within very easy driving distances of each other. On this specially crafted four-day, three-night tour, take in the sightseeing highlights, from hands-on culinary and crafting experiences and a visit to the mysterious mountain temple Yamadera, to a stay in a hot springs village near the beloved Mt. Zao and sake tastings at local breweries.
This 3-day cultural immersion tour invites guests to discover Yamagata through its people, food, craftsmanship, and spiritual heritage. From hands-on culinary workshops and artisan encounters to guided visits to historic temples and relaxing stays in traditional hot spring inns, this program offers meaningful experiences that can easily be added to a broader Japan itinerary.
A 4-day, 3-night tour to experience the highlights of the Uetsu region of Japan, with a special focus on nature and its connections with the local spiritual and culinary cultures.
Experience life in rural Japan with an overnight farmstay experience in Yamagata.
Experience Yamagata to the fullest, from dawn to dusk. This specially crafted 3-day tour includes bar-hopping, sake tastings, hands-on cultural activities, a visit to a mysterious mountain temple, and a stay in a hot springs village near Mt. Zao. The perfect short romantic getaway.
Embark on a journey to experience the unspoiled wilderness of the Okitama region in rural Yamagata, Japan on this 3-day, 2-night tour. Visit the places written about generations past, enjoying the sights, locals, cuisine and culture of the land.
Interact with the abundant nature of the Okitama region. Experience a hot air balloon ride, canoe in picturesque gorges and enjoy a night walking tour through the traditional Akayu onsen district on this 2-day private tour.
On this 3-night gastronomy and artisan tour, explore Miyagi Prefecture`s charming countryside just north of its capital of Sendai City. With ease of access from Tokyo via the Tohoku Bullet Train, this tour program is designed to introduce the countryside charm in a compact package that can fit into a variety of tour itineraries.
Combining artisan workshops, local culinary delights, and charming local lodgings, the Miyagi Region offers a wonderful dive into traditional Japan for the open minded and curious traveler.
This tour is a customizable plan with a variety of options and length that can fit into existing travel itineraries thanks to the excellent access direct from Tokyo via the Tohoku Bullet Train. We recommend this for guests looking to break away from the main tourist sites of Japan for parts of their trip which mixes well with a visit to Tokyo and Kyoto.
Experience the splendor of Niigata Prefecture in this 3-day, 2-night private tour. Tour the factories of Tsubame Sanjo, see the majestic koi of Nagaoka, and delight in the local fermented food culture.
From oyster fishing and cooking in Ishinomaki to the seafood auction of Shiogama, Japan’s sushi capital, delight in the delectable seafood of the Miyagi coastline on this 3-day, 2-night gastronomy tour.
A 2-day tour program at Jionji, an ancient temple in the mountains, sure to enrich your mind and improve your physical health. Experience authentic shojin ryori vegetarian cuisine recreated from ancient recipes, try a Shugen trekking tour with a yamabushi mountain ascetic as your guide, and immerse yourself in the spiritual culture of this ancient temple.
Wear traditional Japanese clothing, Yukata, around the port town of Sakata while experiencing the traditional side of Japan on this 2-day private tour. Try out traditional crafts, Sakata cuisine, visit historical locations of the area and more.
Immerse yourself in the spirituality of the Dewa Sanzan Mountains in this active 3-day and 2-night experience.
On this 4-day, 3-night tour, hit Sendai’s top sightseeing destinations, experience hands-on cultural, culinary and crafting experiences, and get to know the tradition and culture of this fascinating city.
Dine on Dewa Sanzan shojin ryori, sleep at a pilgrim’s lodge. Wake the next morning to harvest vegetables and learn to cook this cuisine.
Marvel at the sight of the snow monsters atop of the frosty Mount Zao with this 2-day, 1-night tour.
Discover a different side of Japan and experience the vibrant food culture of the island of Rebun, Hokkaido. Immerse yourself in the northern panoramas and get to know the region’s fishing, culinary and cultural history through the experiences of local residents on this 4-day, 3-night tour.
In these carefully curated 2-day or 3-day tour packages, enjoy the cultural and culinary highlights of port town Sakata, easily accessible via JR East’s scenic Uetsu Main Line.
This 4-day tour is designed as an easy addition to any Japan itinerary for travelers seeking to venture beyond the typical tourist route and discover a more authentic side of Japan. Experience the spiritual beauty of Yamadera Temple, relax in the famous milky-white hot springs of Mt. Zao, and explore the charming streets and local culture of Yamagata City.
On this 2-day tour explore Yamagata’s traditional and modern food culture in Kaminoyama and Yamagata City. On day one, experience, interact, and deeply enjoy all facets of this region’s incredible cuisine. On day two, immerse yourself in traditional culture, from mountain temples to maiko performances.
Explore nature’s wonders in the Mogami region of northeastern Japan on this 2-day, 1-night tour, including a riverboat cruise and trekking to an ancient forest.
Immerse yourself in all things Samurai on this 4-day, 3-night tour. Start in the Samurai town of Shiroishi, enjoy private tours of Date Samurai history hotspots in Sendai and Matsushima, and get in on the action in Tome with a Yagyu Shingan-ryu experience. Wind down your trip with a stay in a luxurious traditional onsen ryokan.
From the soothing onsen waters and picturesque castle of Kaminoyama to the city skyline of Yamagata, experience the best local cuisine and culture this area has to offer on this 5-day, 4-night private package tour.
Embark on a journey to experience the unspoiled wilderness of the Okitama region in rural Yamagata, Japan. Visit the places written about generations past, enjoying the sights, locals, cuisine and culture of the land on this 3-day, 2-night tour.
Cultivate your mind, body and spirit as you experience firsthand how the samurai arts and traditions live on in the present day. In this private 8-day, 7-night tour, participate in personalized experiences led by masters, whilst being supported by English-speaking guides knowledgeable in martial arts.
Experience the best of traditional and pop culture in Fukushima on this 3-day, 2-night journey, including martial arts experiences, historic towns, breathtaking nature, hot springs stays, a visit to tokusatsu mecca and even a stationmaster cat.
Experience the best of Japanese high-class culture on this 2-day private tour including performances of traditional Japanese instruments of Shamisen, shakuhachi and koto, tea ceremony, tour the Homma Museum of Art, zazen meditation and more.
