• NEW: 3 Or 4 Day Self-Guided Nakasendo Hiking Tours

  • Walk the ancient mountain road connecting Kyoto and Edo

  • Hike through green forests and by bubbly waterfalls

  • Soak in the charm of the old Nakasendo post towns

  • Enjoy the brilliant colors of autumn in Japan

  • Make memories to last you a lifetime

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The Spirit of Japan

Discover Japan with Grace, Flavor, and Story

From neon nights in Tokyo to quiet temple mornings in Kyoto, Spirit of Japan Tours designs deeply local journeys with comfort, character, and seamless logistics.

Personalized Itineraries, Thoughtfully Curated

Every trip blends iconic highlights with rare local moments. We handle rail passes, private transfers, language support, and reservations so your focus stays on wonder.

Have questions? Take advantage of our online travel consultation.

Experience the beauty and soul of this
country in an unforgettable, enjoyable way!

BOOK YOUR TOUR NOW

Tokyo’s Secrets Tour

Japan off the beaten path virtual tours

Yokohama Tour

All About Cherry Blossoms

Discover Ancient Kamakura

Zendo

What Our Clients Say:

“Makayla was a fabulous guide. She took into account my physical limitations and we spent a fantastic day outside Tokyo which is what we requested. We rode on subways and trains and a couple taxis and she made it seem a breeze. She took us to sights we never would have found and truly gave us a once in a lifetime guide to Japan. I would highly recommend her. Her English is excellent and she speaks several other languages! Feel confident booking with Makayla!” – Nancy

“18 March 2024: My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this tour, designed and led by Makayla. Makayla is very personable and her English is perfect. We visited three shrines, Buddhist and Shinto. We saw very few foreign tourists, indicating to us that they were hidden gems frequented mainly by Japanese. Our immersion into the local culture and history will remain a special memory for us. Thank you, Makayla!” – Mike

“What an absolutely delightful day we had with Makayla today! She managed to show us stunningly beautiful spots all around the west side of Tokyo that were not on the tourist radar. We were lucky enough to catch Sakura in full bloom, enjoy a charming lunch at a local soba spot and finished the day by experiencing a deeply moving fire ceremony at a beautiful Buddhist temple. It was truly memorable. Makayla was interesting and fun to spend the day with. We had a great time!” – Tina

“Makayla was a joy. She “arranged” for the cherry blossoms to arrive a week late just for us and obtained last minute reservations for a cherry blossom river cruise. She occasionally had to find shelter for us on a cool, windy, sometimes rainy day. Lunch at the Frank Lloyd Wright Bar in the Imperial Hotel was a highlight of our entire Japanese trip. She kept us advised by email and text and navigated the Tokyo subway labyrinth easily. She made a sprawling city small and personal.” – John

“Another great 5-star tour with Maikayla! We arranged a custom 6-hour tour at the end of our cruise that included a van hired for the day for touring and to drop us and our luggage at Haneda airport. Makayla was enthusiastic about the city where she lives, and we really enjoyed seeing the many wonderful areas of Yokohama. We want to come back and see more of this lovely city with Makayla!” – Gerry

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From Our Blog

Shinto – The Way Of The Gods

Living in a land constantly shaped by earthquakes, volcanoes, and battered by typhoons, the people of these islands have learned to respect the formidable forces of nature. The misty mountains covered with dense forests were believed to be homes of kami, or divine spirits. Ancient Japanese thought that kami existed in everything—rocks and trees, rivers and the sea, mountains and clouds. Kami were present everywhere, in all aspects of life.
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Walking the Kiso Road: A Nakasendo Adventure

This hike was enchanting and romantic – a wonderful blend of natural beauty, history, and delicious local treats. Although our journey continued for two more days, exploring Kiso-Fukushima and Narai-Juku, even a day hike from Magome to Tsumago would provide a remarkable experience of this historic road.
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Nara – a story of ancient temples, traditions and …. deer

The first thing that grabs the attention when you enter Nara Park, where the historical sites are is the deer. Nothing can prepare you for the sight of more than 1,000 of them freely roaming the grounds, completely unafraid of people. Believed to be messenger of the gods, the deer are considered sacred. Killing one of these sacred deer was a capital offense up until 1637, the last recorded date of a breach of that law. In present days they are designated as a Natural Monument and are protected as such.
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Hokkaido – Japan’s Emerald Island

Summers in Japan are generally hot and humid. There is, however one place that enjoys a very different climate from the rest of the country and that is Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. a few years ago our son spent 6 months working on a project in Sapporo, the island's main city, so we combined a visit to see him with sightseeing I had been wanting to do for quite some time.
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O-Higan – the time when day and night are equal

In the following couple of months, almost daily I would get on my bicycle and head to a temple on my list. These little adventures gave me a great sense of freedom and enjoyment that turned what could have been one of the worst times of my life into one of the best and richest.
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The Magic Of Cherry Blossoms

Sakura trees are different from ordinary cherry trees as they don’t produce fruit but instead have been cultivated over the centuries for their beautiful flowers. The cherry blossoms are considered the unofficial icon of Japan, and the trees are so loved and venerated that they are often given as a precious gift to other countries and symbolize Japan’s spirit and friendship.
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Setsubun – the day dividing the seasons

There are several fun traditions associated with Setsubun with the most popular one being mame-maki, which means throwing beans in Japanese. The period of time surrounding the Setsubun, was thought to bring the spirit world closer to the physical one. Thus, practices like mame-maki became popular. Tossing the beans is symbolic of driving away any evil spirits (Oni in Japanese,) who might have wandered too close to the physical realm.
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Dondo Yaki – the bonfires ending the New Year

A wonderful aspect of living in an old farming community was that they still faithfully observed their traditions. On the 7th day of January of our first new year there, a Dondo Yaki hut was erected on an empty rice field. The hut had a door and was big enough to have a large group of 10-15 people inside. In the middle of the hut there was a pit for the fire lighting the dark interior of the hut. It was also a place to brew to brew tea and grill Mochi cakes for the various women’s groups that gathered in the hut daily and, in the evenings to warm sake for the men.
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Daruma dolls: just a toy or so much more?

The Daruma dolls are named after Bodhidharma, the Buddhist monk who is traditionally credited for bringing Zen Buddhism to China. The legend says that Bodhidharma was famous among other things for his practice of gazing at walls (the original Zazen.) The legend claims that he sat in meditation for a period 9 years which caused his arms and legs to falls off. The round shape of the Daruma doll is a reflection of that legend. In paintings, Bodhidharma is often depicted as a wide-eyed, profusely bearded person. The same features can be seen on the face of the Daruma dolls too.
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