If you’re thinking about a trip to Japan and want to immerse yourself in unique Japanese cultural experiences without going broke in the process, read on.

[{"selector":"#anim-b39fe168-afca-468e-a56d-bf05d14b616f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58be16bf-bc7d-4f97-a83c-6f6a9695dc6a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 150.69269%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Explore Okunoin Cemetery in Koya-san

[{"selector":"#anim-4af4a813-af77-4a41-b071-48c78c8c7bf2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a747dc02-c1eb-4c63-afe4-9177eee7aed8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4222a23-3903-4919-9430-7b1d030d49ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa5e6a2b-da28-4571-82ac-cd4293b6dd5f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd7bb4d1-fb9a-45c5-ac2f-0891567b36c1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.04096%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Located in the temple town of Koyo-san — the name means sacred mountain— this burial site is the final resting place of anywhere from 200 thousand to half a million souls. Learn more

Visit the Ancient City of Takayama

[{"selector":"#anim-088f7cd6-bb4a-48cc-9e5c-e3cadb0bbf2d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4030f83b-8fe4-4de8-aa90-0861f1222f7e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97e23469-00e5-4814-b56c-6ecd3eaaed54","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.53399%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf910a1c-6914-4e40-83fc-3ac9ddf24da7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7a92eec-0548-479a-b624-cbec6a81e7c4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.38226%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] While in Takayama in the Japanese Alps, have at least one “Hida beef” meal experience in one of the many fine restaurants. Learn more

Experience an Authentic Ryokan Onsen

[{"selector":"#anim-91ffd53d-4835-4d0c-b46b-f3ebefb5f44e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d2bc546-f7ad-4c5e-9a7a-22995695f16d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b05c71b-7dfa-405e-8115-a691fcc21119","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38f2b302-0b92-4679-99cf-1090b2a677dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f0099fb-ce40-4729-ad7b-2f9791f8716e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.69966%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The ryokan that feature “onsen” have natural thermal baths fed from underwater natural hot springs while the standard ryokan provides regular hot tubs. Learn more

Savor the Street Food

[{"selector":"#anim-33a7592b-ea6d-4eb7-833b-8b640340b8a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e85f4c7a-d6a8-493b-91c5-c47032e94eda","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2fcdcef7-407c-4499-ad1f-8402d31cdc3a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.28663%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-653102c4-ce68-4f72-899e-930545a4cecb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7860efb1-c370-4a74-a473-46e0155e6aa9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.66667%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] You will find snacks unique to Japan such as chilled, salted cucumber-on-a-stick and tasty tidbits unique to the individual regions. Learn more

Socialize with felines at a Cat Café

[{"selector":"#anim-a74593e1-89db-4016-bc59-06e717f78d3c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f159f3eb-2b87-4d47-b6b3-6f3562a6c541","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc3fabc8-167e-42b6-ae3b-e5119085eb35","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-010c6500-7569-4394-8d1b-52800855f4d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f08ae04-23cb-420e-a1d3-d4a00c7252c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.04096%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cat cafes are places where they serve refreshments and have several cats – usually exotic breeds – wandering around doing what cats do, i.e. ignoring you. Learn more

Tour the Tsukiji Fish Market

[{"selector":"#anim-e0bdead3-e328-4e21-b6fb-babe8a11c361","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2abd8a59-3f9f-47f6-98ef-fd6a9bac1511","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c9b7ab9-1d3f-47be-9c70-3ac04019687d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ee20992-dd90-48b2-bc28-a9b94ca420d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7676929d-39ab-471b-9cdd-3a84fb35966e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.38226%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A local guide will ensure you get exposure to the most interesting aspects and history of the market. You will also get ample samples of the freshest seafood available. Learn more

The Budget Traveler’s Guide to the Unique experiences in Japan

Travels with Talek

From the beautiful scenery of a delicate Japanese garden or Mount Fuji to the bustling city center of major cities, Japan offers truly unique experiences.