All Reviews for Cultural Experiences

We loved this! It was easy for my two kids (6 and 10) and the end product turned out just like the model and was a Cool take home souvenir. The staff there are wonderful, friendly, and helpful.

We enjoyed this though it was a bit difficult for my kids (7 and 10). The instructor seemed uncomfortable with children. Still, overall an interesting and fun experience with cool take home souvenirs.

Most of the items are pre made and you simply need to put them together with some simple instructions. Good for family activity. Samples turn out realistic! The best part are the instructors, extremely friendly and accommodating. Tried their best to communicate in simple English and was sooooo polite. Thumbs up for them!

This was a great activity, I took my 5 Year old and he thoroughly enjoyed it. The staff are kind and helpful too. We loved that there was a playground next door for a good play afterwards as well :-)

Truly an amazing experience! I’ve never felt so beautiful in my life ! And the ladies were just so humble and friendly. They also let my family come in and wait while I got all pretty. Definitely coming again for my next trip!If your contemplating on doing this you won’t regret it !

There was a mistake about the time of the reservation. I booked for 6pm and we waited for over an hour because the 6pm dinner cruise was not available. Apparently only the 7 pm dinner cruise is available on weeknights. Veltra did confirm our booking at 6 though. There was definitely a disconnect.

Once we got onto the boat, things were good. We had a good time and the atmosphere was fun.

Nice food, very friendly service.
The firework was a surprise for us: it was just fantastic.
Night view of Tokyo bay is amazing.
We recommend it to anyone!

I was a little disappointed with the difference in the food compared to the website. Other than that, the staff's response was good, and there was plenty of time, which was nice.

HPとの差(料理)に、少しガッカリ‼️ それ以外は、スタッフの対応も良く、時間も余裕があり、良かったです。

We went on the Yakatabune Dinner Cruise in late October 2018. The directions to the port were clear and easy to follow. Very easy to get to via the subway (Oedo Line - Kachidoki station). I made sure I printed the Veltra voucher emailed to me. When I got to the pier, I showed the attendant the voucher and he directed us to the boat.

Once everyone boarded, they explained everything in Japanese and English (although the English was not great, it was understandable). The food served was delicious. I tried some new things I would never have ordered if I were to pick from a menu. The food kept coming, they served six types of tempura, and it was filling. All you can drink beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) was good too. We had several rounds of sake.

At several locations the boat stopped for picture taking upstairs above the main eating area. It was nice that this was an option. Several people went upstairs to take in the sights during the dinner. The party I was with enjoyed ourselves and the meal, it looked like the other parties enjoyed themselves as well.

If I had the chance, I would go again and would specifically seek the Harumiya Yakatabune cruise because of the wonderful experience

I wanted to create a memorable item for my wedding anniversary with my husband, so I participated in this experience. It started with choosing a glass, and there were so many options that I could select my favorite. The experience included proper practice and clear explanations, which made me feel very at ease. I had no worries about cutting my fingers while handling the blades, so I could work comfortably. The adjustments were challenging, but if anything came up, the instructor was there to help, resulting in a very satisfying finished product. Choosing a difficult design took a bit longer, but they were very attentive without rushing me, and at the end, I was able to take photos at a beautifully lit spot that looked great for Instagram. When I posted the photos on Instagram, I received many inquiries from friends asking where I did this. Given the level of satisfaction, the price is very reasonable!

主人との結婚記念日に何か思い出の品を作りたいと思い、参加させていただきました。グラス選びから始まりましたが、種類もたくさんあり、好きなものを選ぶことができました。体験は練習もきちんとあって説明もわかりやすく、とても安心できました。刃を触っても指が切れたりする心配が全くないので安心して作業を行うことができます。加減は難しいですが、何かあったら先生が手直しもしてくださるので、とても満足できる物が仕上がりました。難しい柄を選んだことで少し時間がかかってしまいましたが、急かすこともなく丁寧に対応していただけましたし、最後にインスタ映えしそうなライトアップした撮影スポットでの撮影もさせていただけました。写真をインスタに載せると、友達からどこでやったのかとたくさん聞かれました。この満足度でこの値段はとてもお安いです！

I attended a performance for the first time in June. The pre-show explanation provided an overview of the flow and the comedic moments, making it easy to get into the experience. After the show, the actors added further explanations, which deepened my understanding. There was also a photo opportunity, and during the part where the story was expressed through a traditional play, when I requested a ghost, they creatively acted it out, making for a very enjoyable time. I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't that time this time. I will invite different friends to go see it again. Ten people might be difficult, though! (*^.^*)

６月 口真似をはじめて観劇しました。
前説で 全体の流れ、笑いどこを教えて頂いたので、入りやすかったです。
舞台終了後 役者の方が更に説明を加えて下さり
理解を深める事が出来ました。また写真撮影タイムがあったり、物語を狂言で表現してくださるところでは ゴーストをお願いしたら 工夫しながらも 演じて下さりとても楽しい時間が過ごせました。今回 その時間がなく少し残念でした
また 違う友人誘って 観に行きます。
10人は 難しいですが(*^.^*)

The workshop was a really nice experience. Our teacher was a really friendly guy. I can definitely recommend it if you have time to do it!
The location is easy to find and just one stop from Ikebukuro. Our fake Ramen is a nice memory, that will us remind of our time in Japan.

This was one of the best things we did on our trip. Our instructor spoke great English and was so nice! We learned how to make lettuce and shrimp tempura and now I want to make so much more! Can't recommend it more!

I really enjoyed the activity. The teacher is really nice, very patient when explaining something. However I expect to learn from the very basic step, knowing that we tend to just stick one thing and another made me a little bit disappointed. Regardless, it was indeed a good learning experience for me. Thank you!

I went to this dinner with my mother and we both had an amazing time. There were several other people from overseas there and they introduced all of us and where we were from, which was sweet. I speak Japanese, but it was almost not necessary as everyone spoke English well. The MC translated pretty much everything into English so everyone could understand. Also, the Japanese locals were kind and joking around with us, so we felt completely comfortable.

The food was very good. And there was a LOT. I see some reviews saying there wasn't enough food, but if you eat all of it and have a reasonable amount of drinks, you will not leave hungry. Obviously it is a traditional Japanese meal, so be prepared to eat Japanese food!! - raw fish, fish cakes, sweet red beans, etc. If you don't like the food, of course you might leave hungry, but you're in Japan so you should try it...

The atmosphere of the evening started out calm, but then it turned into a party. There was singing, a dragon running around pretending to bite people's heads, and taking pictures with giant beer bottles. This might not make sense now, but it will. Harumiya does a great job at entertaining. I was laughing the whole time. So, if you're thinking about going to this dinner, you definitely should.

It's not something a complete beginner can create intricate patterns right away. However, I was able to make a fairly nice glass. I would like to try making it again if I get the chance.

いきなり初心者が難しい柄を作れるものでは無いです。
でも、それなりにステキなグラスが作れました。
機会があったらまた作りたいです。

It was wonderful! We used it for a company trip. It received high praise across three generations. The staff who served us were also very pleasant.

最高でした〜。慰安旅行で使わせて頂きました。3世代にわたって高評価でした。接客してくださる方も気持ちの良い方でした。

Well worth the time and just north of Akihabara, this was an amazing Shodo class that taught my family more than just one character. She let us make the ink we would use later to write everything with the calligraphy brush. The instructor explained the different characters used in Japanese and how one was derived from another, showing and letting us write those too. Then we got to chose a word to practice writing for the final draft on heavy duty paper. This would also include our names in Japanese, which she translated and included on the example that we followed. After many practice papers, we did the final draft, which was signed with the instructor's red stamp.

This was something the girls (daughters & girlfriend) really wanted to do. I was not as enthusiastic about it.
When we arrived the staff was extremely friendly and immediately tended to all of our needs/requirements. We chose our Kimonos and they dressed us all up. They made up the females' hair really nice and beautiful and gave us more than enough time to walk around Asakusa after. There is a great temple about a block away to take super pictures at.
Additionally, one of the staff members makes origami earrings and they are for sale at a very great price. They also have fans, umbrellas and other accessories for rent/sale.
The overall experience was actually better than I thought it would be. We had such a great time. The downside to it was getting some dirty looks from some of the locals; however, for the most part, many enjoyed it and took pictures of/with us. There were more people who liked it than not. There was a family (Japanese) who was in there prior to us dressing up and walking around as well. We saw them later at the temple along with a few others from other kimono places all dressed up. So we did not feel out of place once we saw others.
I highly recommend this company if you want a great Kimono experience. They also have Samurai wear and other traditional dresses. Look them up (Sakura Photography in Asakusa).

Lot of fun! Great service and company. View was wonderful

First, the instruction is thorough. The staff is refined and polite. You are also allowed to practice properly. For those with presbyopia, reading glasses may be essential.

The finished work can be photographed with the Asahi Beer sculpture visible through the window. There is also a dedicated shooting area with good lighting, which was great.

The completed work is packaged like a purchased product and placed in an original paper bag.

まず指導が丁寧。品のいいスタッフ。練習もちゃんとさせてもらえます。老眼の人は老眼のメガネが必須かも。
出来上がった作品は、窓越しに見えるアサヒビールのオブジェを入れて撮影可能。またライティングがしっかりしている専用撮影場所もあって良かったです。
出来上りの作品は買った商品のように箱詰めされ、オリジナルのペーパーバックに入れてもらえます。

We experienced this with three fourth-grade girls. They were slow to catch on and not very skilled, but I am grateful to the staff who kindly assisted each one of them. We participated because I wanted them to bring handmade items as souvenirs for their homestay family abroad, and I am very excited to see how they will explain it to their family.

小学四年女子三人で体験しました。飲み込みも遅いし手際も悪い、なのに一人一人に丁寧に対応してくださったスタッフさんに感謝です。
海外ホームステイ先へのお土産にと手作りの品を持たせたく参加しましたが、彼女たちがファミリーに何と説明するのか、とても楽しみです。

Since there is a member who doesn't drink alcohol, the one and a half hour duration was just right. I would like to use it again.

メンバーにお酒を飲まない人がいるため、1時間半という時間がちょうど良かったです。また利用したいと思います。

It was a cozy place with a great view. I hadn't thought about the design, so it was a bit spontaneous, but I had fun. I got a bit discouraged by my lack of skill along the way, but I managed to finish. The teacher comforted me by saying, "You're doing great!" I promised my friend a rematch. I don't know when it will be, but I will definitely come back.

見晴らしのいい場所で、こじんまりとした場所でした。
デザインを考えてなかったので行き当たりバッタリでしたが、楽しかったです。
途中で自分の下手さにへこみましたがなんとか仕上げました。先生が上手に出来てますよ！と慰めてくれます。友達とリベンジを約束しました。いつになるかわかりませんが、また伺います。

Fun and unique chance to experience a traditional Japanese craft and walk away with a personal souvenir. Would happily do it again.

The introduction by the members of the Enban Rider was very accessible, as they replaced the traditional elements of Kyogen with relatable topics before diving into the performance. After the show, the Kyogen performers provided explanations and shared behind-the-scenes stories, which was quite enlightening. This time, since there was extra time, we were treated to an improvised Kyogen based on a prompt, which allowed us to see a ghost—definitely a bonus!

円盤ライダーの方々の前説で狂言入門的な事や演目を身近なことに置き換えて、演じていただいた後に演目に入るので、とても分かりやすいです。
終わってからも、狂言師さんたちの解説もあり、裏話的な事も聞けたし、今回は時間が余ったということで、お題目からの即興狂言でゴーストが見れてお得でした。

I loved everything about this experience. The shop/factory is situated in a lovely little area of Tokyo (near Kita-Ikebukuro station) - easy to get to, and very welcoming on arrival. Our teacher did not speak much English, but was so helpful and demonstrated everything we needed to do. He also borrowed a translator from his colleague to ask us about our holiday plans and to recommend activities.

Myself and my friend came away with our beautiful miniature sundaes, and also some other purchases from the shop for friends and family. Absolutely delightful! Do make this a part of your trip to Japan.

Yamato Sample was one of the highlights of our trip. The staff was very accommodating, and could speak English better than I can speak Japanese. They explained the processes behind creating each type of sample. It really gives you an appreciation for their craft since they take so much care in doing it. The staff guides you in making the sample of your choosing. Highly recommended!

Great work shop on food sampling and the intructor speaks English an added plus. Most of the other workshops you need to have a interpret with you but not with this one...Try and make it and it just plain fun....

My brother, who lives abroad, came to Japan with guests he has been taking care of locally. Since he has visited Japan several times before, he is familiar with places like Asakusa and Ginza. We decided to go on a yakatabune (houseboat) tour as the final part of this trip. I joined him along with my elementary school son. We received a confirmation call the day before.

On the day of the tour, as we exited the station and crossed Umayabashi, we spotted the boat we were about to board, which got my son very excited! We checked in at the store and waited in front of the store with others who were also boarding the same boat until it was time to depart. A staff member holding a flag guided us to the boarding area, which was just across the crosswalk in front of the store. The weather was nice that day, so there were no issues, but I wondered what they do in case of rain. Only about five people can wait inside the store.

I tend to get seasick easily, and while the boat was stationary, I felt a bit uneasy due to the swaying. However, once we started moving, there were no problems at all. The staff on board were very friendly and accommodating, and the freshly fried tempura was delicious, allowing us to have a great time. We made a brief stop at Odaiba, and the night view from the boat was stunning! There was also a vendor selling clam tsukudani who came by, and I was able to taste it before purchasing, which was great. We enjoyed it at home the next morning and wished we had bought more.

My son has loved water buses since he was little and has taken the route from Takeshiba to Asakusa many times, but those rides only last about 30 minutes. This time, we got to enjoy it for two and a half hours. I was a bit worried about having a child on a full boat and whether we would disturb others, but the staff and everyone else were very kind, and we all had a wonderful time together. I was concerned that some people might get overly drunk at the all-you-can-drink section, but everyone was very well-mannered, which I think was due to the excellent service from the staff.

We took off our shoes to enter the boat, and the interior, including the restroom, was very clean. We were able to enjoy ourselves comfortably until we disembarked, and on the way back, we all talked about wanting to do it again. I wrote a lot, but I wanted to share how much fun we had.

Oh, and the last dessert, the brown sugar pudding bun, was incredibly delicious. I wonder where I can buy it...

海外に住む弟が、現地でいろいろとお世話になっているゲストを連れての来日。過去数回日本観光はしているので、浅草も銀座も慣れているし・・・と思いついたのが屋形船。今回の日本観光の最後に屋形船ツアーを計画し、それに私も便乗して、小学生の息子と参加しました。前日に確認の電話を頂戴しました。
当日は駅から地上に出て厩橋を渡っている時に、これから乗ると思われる船が見えて息子は大興奮！店舗で受付をし、出発時間まで店舗前で同じ船に乗る方々と待機し、時間になると旗を持ったお店の方が乗船場まで連れて行って下さいます。店舗前の横断歩道を渡ってすぐ。当日は天気が良かったので問題ありませんが、雨天の場合にはどうしているんだろう・・・と思いました。店舗内には5名程度しか待っていることができません。
私は船に簡単に酔ってしまう体質で、停船している間は揺れてる・・・と不安になりましたが、動き出したら全く問題なし。船内のスタッフの方々も皆さんとても対応が良くフレンドリーで、揚げたて天ぷらもとてもおいしく、楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。途中、お台場でしばし停船。船上から見る夜景はとてもキレイ！小さな船でアサリの佃煮を売りに来る業者さんもいて、味見もさせてもらえたので、しっかり食べてから購入しました。翌朝自宅でいただきましたが、これがまたとても美味しく、もっと買ってくれば良かったね、と話していました。
息子は小さい頃から水上バスが好きで、竹芝から浅草までの路線には何度も乗ったことがあったのですが、乗船できるのは30分程度。今回は2時間半も楽しむことができました。満席の船内に子供が1人、周りの方々にもご迷惑をおかけすることがないか不安ではあったのですが、スタッフの方をはじめ、皆様に良くして頂き、皆で楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。飲み放題の席では、泥酔したりする人も出ちゃうのかな・・・なんて不安もありましたが、皆様とてもマナーが良く、これもスタッフの方々の給仕が良いからなのかな、と感じました。靴を脱いで船内に入りますが、トイレも含め、船内はとてもきれいです。下船するまで気持ち良く利用することができ、また乗りたいね～と帰り路は皆で話していました。長々と綴ってしまいましたが、とても楽しい時間を過ごすことができたので、それをお伝えしたくて。
そうそう、食事の最後のデザートの黒糖プリンまんじゅうがとても美味しかったです。どこで購入できるのかなぁ・・・。