J-Times Editorial
J-Times 編集部 / J-Times Editorial Team
Matsuri (matsuri.group) is a platform for finding and booking guided tours, meetups, events and classes in Japan, with a craft shop attached. What it offers and how to read its pages, with real screenshots.
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What is Matsuri? A guide to finding cultural experiences in Japan
Short answer (as of 2026-09-30): Matsuri is a website for finding and booking guided tours, meetups, events and hands-on classes in Japan. It also has a shop for Japanese crafts, and an iPhone app.
Disclosure: J-Times and Matsuri are both operated by Jon&Coo Inc. This feature explains how our own service works. Every screenshot was taken on matsuri.group on 30 September 2026; listings and prices are as of that date.
Many visitors to Japan want more than a list of sights. They want to talk to people who live here and to do something with their hands or their evening. Matsuri is built to put those experiences in one place. This three-part feature walks through the site using real screens. This page is the map; the booking steps and the shop each get their own article.
What can you do on Matsuri?
Matsuri does two main things: it lets you find and book experiences in Japan, and it lets you buy Japanese crafts from independent shops.
The top menu (a tab bar at the bottom of the screen on phones) is organised like this:
| Menu | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Experiences | Guided tours, meetups, events and classes you can book |
| Shop | Crafts, tea utensils, calligraphy tools and more from individual sellers |
| Shrines | A location-based feature for finding shrines and temples nearby (not covered in this feature) |
| My Page | Your bookings, orders and favourites (login required) |
Listings come in four kinds: tour, meetup, event and class. On 30 September 2026 the site had 48 published listings, including past dates: 31 tours, 10 meetups, 6 events and 1 class. Most are in and around Shinjuku, Tokyo.
What kinds of experiences are listed?
In September 2026 the core of the catalogue is Tokyo walking tours with an English-speaking guide, plus relaxed Japanese–English language-exchange meetups.
The tour category includes a bar-hop through Shinjuku Golden Gai, a morning food walk through Tsukiji Outer Market, a stroll through the old Yanaka–Nezu–Sendagi neighbourhoods, and a sake tasting led by a certified sake sommelier. Among the meetups are free picnics on the lawn of Shinjuku Central Park where people chat in whatever mix of Japanese and English they have.
Each card shows the date and area. Open one and you see the duration, the meeting point, what is included, what to bring, the price and the dates you can book. The second article in this feature, how to book an experience on Matsuri, follows those steps screen by screen.
Is Matsuri available in English?
Yes. The language switch at the top right turns the menus and the listing descriptions into English.
Descriptions are translated listing by listing. The Golden Gai tour, for example, opens in English with "Step into neon-lit back alleys — an adult Tokyo night tour beyond the reach of typical sightseeing." If you live in Japan and want to send an experience to a friend abroad, you can share the same page in English.
How are prices shown?
Prices are per person and are shown in the currency you choose. Always check the final amount on the payment screen before you pay.
A free meetup shows "¥0 / person". Paid tours show a per-person price that already includes the card processing fee. The amount you see can change if you switch the display language or currency, so treat the listing price as a guide and confirm the total at checkout.
Is there an app?
Yes, for iPhone. "Matsuri 祭アプリ" is on the App Store (checked 2026-09-30). There is no Android version as of that date.
You do not need the app. Searching, booking and buying all work on the website, matsuri.group.
What can you buy in the shop?
Japanese crafts and everyday tools from independent sellers. There were eight shops on 30 September 2026.
You will find Wakasa lacquer chopsticks, bentwood magewappa lunch boxes, Kutani, Bizen and Mashiko ceramics, incense tools, calligraphy supplies, and tea utensils such as matcha and bamboo scoops. How to read a product page, and what to know about payment and shipping, is in the third article: how to buy Japanese crafts on Matsuri Shop.
The Matsuri feature
- What is Matsuri? (this page) — the overview
- How to book an experience on Matsuri — find, choose a date, get ready for the day
- How to buy Japanese crafts on Matsuri Shop — reading a product page, payment and shipping
Go deeper: the places and crafts behind Matsuri
- City and experience guides
- Craft guides
- Travelling safely
- November in Tokyo, and Ebisu
For the festivals themselves, see Japanese festivals: the ultimate cultural experience.
Sources and dates checked
- matsuri.group (home, listings, listing pages, shop) — viewed and captured 2026-09-30
- Matsuri public API (listing counts, prices, schedules) — queried 2026-09-30
- App Store, "Matsuri 祭アプリ" (id6761138366) — listing confirmed 2026-09-30
Written by
J-Times Editorial
J-Times 編集部 / J-Times Editorial Team