The 8 Best Airbnb Experiences in Tokyo

Tokyo is one of those cities that feels endlessly deep. You can visit a dozen times and still discover new food stalls, hidden shrines, late-night bars, quirky subcultures and neighborhoods that feel like entirely different worlds. (I know because I’ve been here about 10 times!)

One of my favorite ways to explore Tokyo is through an Airbnb experience. Led by locals and long-time residents, these tours give you an up-close look at Tokyo’s food culture, nightlife, history, and crafts in a way you rarely get when walking alone. I’ve done a lot of Airbnb experiences in Tokyo over the years, and I think they tend to be better than the traditional tours you’ll find on Get Your Guide (although Arigato Travel goes up a notch and is the best traditional tour company in the city, so don’t miss them).

To help you choose from the endless experiences, here are my favorite experiences in Tokyo that combine cultural immersion, hands-on learning, and just the right amount of fun:

Learn to make authentic sushi with a trained chef

Sushi-making classes are common in Tokyo, but what makes this Airbnb experience stand out is that it’s done in an omakase restaurant. This course is taught by a sushi master (or his apprentice). You won’t just learn how to shape rice or fillet fish; you’ll learn why certain cuts are important, how chefs season rice differently depending on style, and how to pair ingredients to accentuate texture and flavor. The course is practical and surprisingly approachable. This is a small group experience that takes place in the morning, so you can have a hearty and fun breakfast before heading out to explore Tokyo. I like it very much.

Shibuya nightlife with all-you-can-drink

this is mine favorite Tokyo Nightlife Tour. The host Suemi and her friends provided the absolute best time. This Shibuya nightlife tour will take you to 3-4 izakaya locations that are very untouristy and devoid of locals. You get unlimited food and drinks, which is a really great experience. My tour guide, Shugo, was outgoing, spoke English, handled the large group dynamics well, was entertaining, explained the culture of the izakaya restaurant in detail, and stayed at the end of the experience. He is awesome!

Additionally, Suemi and her friends hosted an unlimited sake tasting class, which was the best sake class I have ever attended in Tokyo. They go into incredible detail about how sake is made and use a lot of visuals so it’s very easy to follow. It was a group of six, which made the experience very personable. If you want to experience sake, choose this. (They also offer a whiskey tasting experience, which I haven’t done yet, but I bet it’s just as good).

Shinjuku Izakaya Tour

This experience is similar in spirit to the Shibuya Nightlife Tour, but is set against the backdrop of one of Tokyo’s other major nightlife hubs. Shinjuku is full of small izakaya venues, many of which are tucked away in narrow alleys or upstairs spaces you’d never think you could enter. On this tour, Yuma, the knowledgeable sake sommelier, will take you to several local highlights and show you how izakaya culture really works.

Along the way you’ll try different styles of sake and learn how to read menus, what to order, and how locals typically drink and eat in these settings. Yuma is cheerful, funny, and really good at explaining things clearly without overwhelming you. It’s a social, relaxing way to experience Shinjuku nightlife without feeling lost or intimidated.

Historic Tokyo Walking Tour

This was one of the most educational experiences I’ve had in Tokyo. This tour focuses not on the usual tourist areas, but on exploring quieter neighborhoods that retain strong ties to the city’s past. The host is a lecturer who specializes in Japanese history and traditional culture, and the depth of information shared throughout the walk really showed through.

You’ll visit places like Nezu Shrine, walk through the tunnels of red torii gates, explore the ancient streets of the valley, and learn about the Edo Period, the Meiji Restoration, and how the role of the samurai changed as Japan modernized. The 2.5 hour walk won’t make you feel rushed and will give you a clearer understanding of how Tokyo became the city it is today. I learned a lot from this trip.

Tokyo Coffee Culture Tour

Tokyo has a booming coffee industry and this tour does a great job of showing you that. You’ll explore two lesser-known neighborhoods, Jimbocho and Kanda, and learn about old-school coffee shops and modern specialty cafes. You’ll learn about brewing techniques, flavor profiles, and how Japan developed such meticulous coffee methods.

This tour includes visits to historic cafes, specialty stores that pioneered Tokyo’s third wave movement, and even a wagashi shop, where you’ll learn how traditional Japanese desserts pair with coffee. It was truly a thoughtful and unique afternoon experience.

Organic matcha tea ceremony

This one-hour experience is a wonderful introduction to matcha and Japanese tea culture. You’ll learn about the history of matcha, its role in Japanese society, and how to distinguish high-quality matcha from lower-grade varieties. The host takes you step by step through the traditional preparation process. You’ll stir and taste authentic matcha in a calm, traditional setting that feels completely different from the busy streets of Tokyo. It’s short but memorable, and it gives you a deeper appreciation for the things you see everywhere you travel in Japan.

Tokyo Ramen Tour

Ramen is synonymous with Japanese cuisine, and this tour can help you understand why it inspires so much love. Over the course of about three hours, you’ll visit multiple ramen shops, each emphasizing a different style or approach.
You’ll learn about ramen’s origins, modern trends, and regional differences while tasting everything from classic ramen to more experimental or fusion styles. The guide explains broth types, noodle textures, and ingredients in an easy-to-understand way. Come hungry, this tour will definitely fill you up!

Shibuya and Harajuku Street Art Tour

This tour takes you through Shibuya and Harajuku to visit murals and installations hidden in alleys and less obvious spaces. In Tokyo, street art is a quieter, more underground scene (the Japanese aren’t too keen on murals on buildings), so it’s really interesting to understand where street art is allowed and how culture thrives in such a restrictive environment. The tour also includes visual examples of the mural before and after its creation, which adds helpful context. I think this is one of the most fun and unique Airbnb experiences and really allows you to see a side of Japan that most people don’t see!

There are a lot of Airbnb experiences in Tokyo, and I know I’m probably missing out on some really great ones (after all, I’m only one person), but these eight will get you off to a good start. Try to do it at least once while you’re in Tokyo, as most traditional organized tours are cookie-cutter experiences. These Airbnb trips are more fun!