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Offered languages
- English
What makes this tour unique is not merely the accumulation of curious sights, but the invitation it offers to experience Kyoto through the lens of strangeness and human desire. In wandering through chaotic stores, photobooths, and cat cafés, we confront the peculiar ways in which people seek delight, companionship, and spectacle.
The lantern-lit alleys of Gion, with their whispers of history and shadows of concealed power, stand beside neon-lit maid cafés and Purikura booths, reminding us that culture is rarely coherent, often contradictory, and endlessly fascinating.
Here, the bizarre is not a frivolity but a lens through which we perceive the subtle, unspoken rhythms of everyday life—its rituals, its excesses, and its quiet obsessions—offering both amusement and reflection in equal measure.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The default meeting point is your hotel lobby, and we will contact you to confirm. As the tour will be conducted using public transportation, if you prefer a different meeting spot that is convenient for you, I can easily accommodate that.
Itinerary
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1
What does a 24/7 mega store with no clear logic sell? Everything. Literally. Enter the chaos. Floors of gadgets, costumes, bizarre beauty products, fake food keychains, adult toys, and souvenirs you’ll never admit to buying. The soundtrack is annoying. The layout is confusing. BUT WHY?
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
A visit to Fluffy's Café: Kyoto’s Cat Haven. Pet cafés let people “buy” companionship, paying for the experience of interacting with animals. It’s quirky and uniquely Japanese—a mix of comfort, curiosity, and commodified affection.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
A visit to Kyoto Olympia’s photobooth shop offers a glimpse into the quirky world of Purikura, Japan’s iconic Print Club culture.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
Shinbashi is a lively Tokyo district packed with narrow alleys, tiny bars, and izakayas where office workers unwind after hours. The drinking culture here is intense and ritualized—salarymen and women often go out nightly to socialize over endless rounds of sake and beer. The weirdness lies in the contrast: casual, crowded bars coexist with eccentric themed pubs, karaoke dens, and hostess/host clubs, creating a surreal mix of camaraderie, performance, and ritualized escapism that feels uniquely Japanese.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
A visit to Kyoto Maid Café Candy. In Pontocho, visitors are greeted with “Welcome home, Master/Mistress” and served by maids in charming outfits. Drinks and dishes come with playful chants or drawings, and Polaroid photos with the staff add a quirky, immersive touch—an eccentric slice of Japanese café culture.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included -
6
Gion’s narrow, lantern-lit alleys seem timeless and elegant, but beneath the beauty lies a darker undercurrent — some of its hidden corners and exclusive teahouses have historical ties to the yakuza, who once used the district for protection rackets and discreet dealings.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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