The 2024 Michelin Guide awarded a total of 239 stars to 183 restaurants in Tokyo, cementing its status as one of the best food cities in the world. With a total of 504 restaurants recommended in the guide, it isn’t hard to find great food in this city.
But what if you were looking for something even more special? What if you wanted to do something unique to Japan, like enjoying a kaiseki-course meal while being entertained by a geisha, or picking out your own fish at Toyosu Market to make sushi with a master chef?
What if you wanted a culinary experience that went beyond the usual, to make your trip to Japan even more memorable?
You can do that, with Wabunka.
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WHAT IS WABUNKA?
Wabunka is an online platform tailored to those seeking private luxury experiences in Japan. They offer experiences mostly in Tokyo and Kyoto but they do have offerings in Osaka and other cities across the country as well.
What sets Wabunka apart is its focus on exclusivity and authenticity. Unlike many booking platforms that offer standard group tours, Wabunka focuses only on private exclusive experiences. These activities go beyond typical sightseeing, offering visitors a chance to connect with Japanese culture on a deeper, more personal level.
Browse through Wabunka’s carefully curated experiences and you’ll discover intriguing activities like practicing pottery with a Michelin-starred chef, pairing sake with jukusei matured sushi, or trying your hand at bonsai tree shaping with a bonsai master.
For travelers looking to have an authentic and more culturally enriching experience in Japan, Wabunka is an excellent place to start.
Founded in 2019, Wabunka is operated by Japan Culture and Technology (J-CAT). In addition to Wabunka, J-CAT also runs Otonami, a domestic booking platform for Japanese users, and Wabunka Enterprise, an organizer of bespoke cultural experiences for groups and corporate events.
PRIVATE LUXURY EXPERIENCES IN TOKYO
As its name suggests, Will Fly for Food is a food-focused travel blog so we’ve curated some of Wabunka’s most interesting gustatory experiences on this list. Wabunka offers more than just food experiences so be sure to visit their website for a complete list of their offerings in Tokyo.
Experience Shojin Ryori With Sake and Wine Pairing
Shojin ryori is a vegetarian cooking style that was introduced to Japan with the arrival of Buddhism in the 6th century. Meaning “devotion cuisine” or “food for spiritual practice”, it consists of meticulously prepared plant-based dishes made with seasonal produce and mountain vegetables.
Shojin ryori meals are a highlight of Koyasan temple stays, but you can enjoy a more modern version at Sougo in Tokyo. Helmed by Chef Daisuke Nomura – a leading figure in the global plant-based culinary movement – Sougo is known for its shojin ryori cuisine presented in kaiseki-style course meals.
In this Wabunka exclusive, each course in your shojin kaiseki meal is thoughtfully paired with locally produced sake, wine, and other spirits handpicked by Chef Nomura. Follow the link for more on our shojin kaiseki experience at Sougo.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
Enjoy Sake Pairing With Jukusei Matured Sushi
Sushi is the most well-known dish in Japanese cuisine. If you’re a fan of sushi, then you’ll have your fill of the most incredible sushi in Tokyo, but you can’t leave Japan without trying jukusei sushi.
Jukusei sushi refers to a more modern style of sushi made with fish aged for up to several weeks. Like dry-aging beef, it’s a difficult and time-consuming process that creates a more premium product prized for its richer taste and stronger umami flavors.
In this experience, you’ll enjoy jukusei sushi with sake pairing at Kimura, a popular restaurant specializing in aged sushi.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
Taste Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine in Asakusa (with Optional Geisha Entertainment)
Kaiseki is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Japanese haute cuisine. Renowned for its artful presentation, it’s a multi-course meal consisting of small, meticulously plated dishes made with the finest seasonal ingredients.
In this experience, you’ll learn the etiquette of traditional Japanese fine dining while enjoying a kaiseki course meal at Asakusa Saryo Ichimatsu. Elevate the experience by inviting a geisha or two (optional add-in) to provide elegant and refined entertainment during your meal.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
Enjoy a Candlelit Tea Ceremony With Kaiseki Cuisine and Japanese Cocktails
The tea ceremony is an important part of Japanese culture. Deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism, it embodies omotenashi – the Japanese art of wholehearted hospitality – and fosters a sense of mindfulness and connection between host and guest.
In this experience, you’ll enjoy a candlelit tea ceremony followed by cha-kaiseki cuisine and tea-themed cocktails at Sokkon, a cha-kaiseki restaurant run by the head of the Sowa School of tea ceremony.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
Enjoy a Tea Ceremony With Japanese-Influenced French Cuisine
Taking part in a traditional tea ceremony is a must-do experience in Japan, especially when paired with cha-kaiseki cuisine, but how about trying it with a French twist?
In this experience, you’ll enjoy a relaxed tea ceremony followed by a French mini-course meal made with seasonal Japanese ingredients at Hasabon. Hasabon is a tea room, French restaurant, and Japanese pottery gallery tucked away in the former geisha district of Kagurazaka.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
Enjoy Bonsai Creation and a Tea Ceremony With a Bonsai Master
The practice of bonsai is more than just an art form. Linked to Zen philosophy, it’s viewed as a form of meditation that teaches mindfulness and finding beauty in simplicity through the careful cultivation of a miniature tree.
In this experience, you’ll try your hand at bonsai tree molding at Shunkaen Bonsai Museum before sipping matcha in a tea room with your newly created bonsai tree as its centerpiece.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
Practice Pottery and Enjoy a Meal Prepared by a Michelin-Starred Chef
If you enjoy fine dining, then you’ve undoubtedly enjoyed many meals cooked by Michelin-starred chefs. But have you ever thrown pottery with one before sitting down to a meal at their restaurant?
In this experience, you’ll practice pottery with Chef Yoshinori Ishii before enjoying a meal at his newly opened hotel and restaurant Auberge TOKITO. A passionate ceramics artist who personally made all the tableware at his restaurant, Chef Ishii previously helmed London-based UMU, the first Japanese restaurant to receive two Michelin stars in all of Europe.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
Go Tsukiji Market Shopping and Take an Edo Cuisine Cooking Class
Edo cuisine refers to the type of food prepared in Edo-period Japan. Characterized by dishes like Edomae-style sushi, soba noodles, and grilled eel, it’s considered the foundation of modern Japanese cuisine.
In this experience, you’ll shop for ingredients at Tsukiji Market with chef and instructor Hanako Usui before moving to a kitchen studio to prepare a seasonal Edo course meal.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
Go on a Toyosu Market Tour and Enjoy Private Sushi Making With a Master Chef
From kaitenzushi to the most difficult to book suhiyas, you can enjoy a wide range of sushi experiences in Tokyo, but how about visiting Toyosu Market to purchase ingredients for a private sushi-making lesson with a master chef?
In this experience, you’ll visit a restricted area of Toyosu Market to buy fish before stepping behind the counter at Chef Kenichi Hirai’s restaurant Sushi Hazan for a hands-on lesson in making Edomae-style sushi.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
Learn Wagashi Making From a Confectionery Artist
Wagashi are artfully crafted Japanese sweets traditionally served with green tea. They come in different shapes and sizes and can be made with a variety of ingredients like mochi, sweet bean paste, seasonal fruits, nuts, and agar jelly.
In this experience, you’ll get a lesson in wagashi-making from confectioner and author Makumi Suzuki before sitting down to enjoy your creations with tea.
CLICK HERE for more information and to book this experience on Wabunka.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT WABUNKA
“My girlfriend signed us up for a Kintsugi class when we were in Kyoto – it was a great experience! An interesting mixture of calming but very exacting and requiring precision – and it was especially interesting as there’s nothing like it in the US. We each got to take home two pieces – a little nervewracking trying to keep them intact but we succeeded.”
– ianperera (Reddit, 2023)
“Zazen Meditation & tea ceremony experience at Daitoku-ji Temple. A once in a lifetime experience being introduced to zazen meditation by a proper monk and being served light matcha in a tea ceremony in an original wooden tea house. Very thoughtful, intimate & warming environment. Both the monk and our interpreter were very welcoming & friendly. Would recommend to others 10/10 & book again with Wabunka.“
– GodAtum (Reddit, 2024)
“Yes! We actually did the latter experience [candlelit tea ceremony experience with kaiseki meal and cocktails] and enjoyed it because we learned a lot about tea ceremonies and customs. However, the food was average and the restaurant venue where it was held gets mixed reviews at best (under 3.5* on Google). So I’d recommend only booking if you can research their partner / venue beforehand to ensure it’s totally worth it. They also have a punitive cancellation policy – 1 week (or less) in advance, if you want to cancel you don’t get any refund.”
– No-Throat-3629 (Reddit, 2025)
“We booked the Experience Noh with Actor Keizo Nagayama – Private Show & Practice for 2 persons in Tokyo back in May 2024. It was worth it.“
– AmbitiousReporter516 (Reddit, 2024)
Disclosure
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning we’ll earn a small commission if you make a booking at no additional cost to you. We really appreciate your support as it helps us make more of these free travel and food guides. Arigato gozaimasu!
Images courtesy of Wabunka