Hidden Secrets Journey.
- ~3 hours
- 20 – 200+ people
- City exploration
What is Hidden Secrets Journey?
Hidden Secrets Journey is an outdoor, puzzle-driven team experience set across the city.
Teams are split into groups of 4–6 and given a custom kit with a hand-illustrated map and puzzle materials. The map guides them through the city, uncovering clues hidden in buildings, signs, and everyday details most people overlook.
The challenges are designed so that no single skill dominates. Observation, logic, spatial thinking, and communication all play a role in teams succeeding by combining their strengths.
At the end, everyone comes together for a Final Mission that can only be solved as one team. Our facilitators handle everything on the day, so organizers can take part instead of managing logistics.
Simple to Run. Genuinely Challenging to Complete
Welcome & Kit Handout
Teams gather at the starting point. Facilitators welcome the group, explain the rules, and hand out the puzzle kits.
The Puzzle Mission
Groups spread out across the game area, each following their own route. At each location they find clues in the environment and use them to solve the puzzle. Teams move at their own pace, including stops along the way.
The Final Mission
All groups meet at the goal point. The answers collected by each team are combined to solve one last challenge together. It's the moment the competition becomes collaboration.
Structured Debrief
A facilitated session at your venue. Teams reflect on the experience, share what stood out, and connect it back to how they work together.
Three Established Locations Custom Maps, Purpose-Built Puzzles.
Each area is ready to run with no additional design time or fees. Planning something outside these three? Contact us at least 3–4 months ahead.
- Sensoji, Kaminarimon, Nakamise-Dori, Sumida River
- 20 – 300+ people
- ~3 hours
Japan’s most international city is shaped by two centuries of foreign trade. More open and spread out than Tokyo, which makes it the right choice for large groups where crowding at puzzle locations is a concern.
- Harbor View, Yamashita Park, port and stadium areas
- 20 – 300+ people
- ~3 hours
Temples, shrines, bamboo paths, and a beach within 90 minutes of central Tokyo. Best suited to smaller groups who want an event that feels like a genuine half-day excursion rather than an urban exercise.
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu through to Yuhigahama beach
- 20 – 100 people
- ~3 hours
What We Bring, So You Don't Have to Source It.
Six operational components that make the program reliable, scalable, and easy to approve at an organizational level.
Experienced bilingual facilitators
Our bilingual (EN/JP) team manages the entire event briefing, coordination, timing, and the Final Mission. Event organizers attend as participants. There is nothing for you to run on the day.
Purpose-mapped routes for every group size
Each team follows a distinct route, staggered to prevent overcrowding at puzzle locations. For large groups, we run parallel routes designed to feel independent even when 300+ participants are in the same neighborhood.
Four-level QR hint system
Each puzzle page carries a QR code. Teams access tiered hints — location guidance, three progressive hints, or the full answer. Groups that want a challenge take none. Groups that need support never get completely stuck.
Live rankings with exact completion times
Answers are submitted through a web-based tool that timestamps each team's completion. At the end of the event, organizers receive a precise ranking — useful for prize ceremonies and post-event reporting.
SDG-linked content
Puzzle answers connect to the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, tied to the specific locations teams are exploring. For organizations with CSR reporting requirements or sustainability commitments, this provides a documented programmatic connection.
The Final Mission
The program ends with a single challenge that requires answers gathered by every team to solve. Structurally, it means no team finishes in isolation — the final act is always collective. This is the moment organizers most frequently cite when describing what made the day work.
What Makes it Easy to Propose Internally and Easy to Deliver.
Zero preparation required from your side
Our facilitators manage the entire event briefing, facilitation, timing, the Final Mission. Your one task is getting your people to the starting point. Everything else is handled before you arrive.
Works for people who know the city well
Routes are built around places most people have passed but never looked at closely. Long-term Tokyo and Yokohama residents regularly discover things they didn't know were there.
Adjustable difficulty no team gets left behind
The QR-based hint system lets each group set their own challenge level. Teams that move fast can push for full marks. Teams that struggle can use hints and still finish. The experience works for mixed-ability groups without anyone feeling excluded.
A proven track record with enterprise clients
Google, Amazon, Rakuten, Autodesk, lululemon, Honda Research, Johnson & Johnson and over 100 other organizations have run Hidden Secrets Journey. The program is established, refined, and reliable enough to put your name on.
Two Plans, Activity Only, or Activity With Facilitated Debrief.
Pricing is based on these plan options. Final cost varies depending on group size, location, and setup.
Sample pricing based on 20 participants. Pricing changes according to the number of participants request a quote for your exact group size.
- Full puzzle kit per team (map, sheets, pens)
- Bilingual facilitators and support staff
- QR hint system + live ranking tool
- Final Mission for the whole group
- Includes everything in the Standard Plan
- Facilitated workshop at a venue of your choice
- Guided reflection and group discussion
- Teams internalize lessons from the day together
ADD-ON: FINALE CUSTOMIZATION: +¥55,000
Add your company logo or message to the Final Mission banner. Teams see your brand revealed as the climax of the game a memorable moment that ties the day directly to your organization's identity.
Extend the Experience with a Specialist-led Workshop.
Available as part of the Premium Plan or as an add-on to the Standard Plan. All workshops are delivered bilingually by certified facilitators.
EQ - Emotional Intelligence
Focuses on recognizing and managing emotions in a work setting. Relevant for teams where communication gaps or tension surfaced.
Points-of-You®
Workshops can be tailored to specific team goals, including leadership, resilience, and communication-focused sessions.
StrengthsFinder
Belbin Team Roles
Understand individual strengths and how different working styles contribute to team performance. A natural follow-up when role dynamics become visible during the activity.
Anger Management
A practical session on handling pressure, frustration, and interpersonal friction constructively.
Custom Workshops & Training
We work with a network of certified specialists to design workshops around your team’s goals.
Delivered by certified specialists. Available as a half-day or full-day session, alongside the activity or as a standalone program.
What clients say about Hidden Secrets Journey
Participants worked together naturally throughout the activity, and the client shared that it was impressive to see team members actively cooperating and solving challenges together.
Education Client
Public School
All participants enjoyed the activity and described it as a unique and refreshing team-building experience. After the event, the client told us they hoped to work with us again.
Corporate Client
Pharmaceutical Company
The activity gave the group a refreshing break from their usual work setting and helped participants connect through problem-solving, exploration, and shared discovery
Corporate Client
Technology Industry
Common questions about Hidden Secrets Journey.
What should we prepare before the event?
For the standard Hidden Secrets Journey program, there is very little you need to prepare. Please make sure participants know the meeting point, arrival time, clothing recommendations, and that they should bring a smartphone. Invite Japan will prepare the puzzle kits, maps, rule explanation, facilitation, hint system, and event flow.
If you choose to add a workshop, reflection session, or facilitated debrief after the activity, you will need an indoor space such as a meeting room, event room, office space, hotel banquet room, or conference room where everyone can gather comfortably. If you need help finding or booking a suitable room, please let us know and we can support you with options.
How many people can join Hidden Secrets Journey?
Hidden Secrets Journey is designed for corporate groups of around 20 to 200+ participants, depending on the location.
Teams are usually split into smaller groups of 4–6 people, which keeps everyone involved and makes communication easier. Asakusa and Yokohama can support larger groups, while Kamakura is better suited for smaller groups of up to around 100 people.
Is this suitable for Japanese and English-speaking teams?
Yes. Hidden Secrets Journey can be run in Japanese, English, or as a bilingual event. The program works well for international teams because participants need to share observations, discuss ideas, and combine different perspectives to solve the puzzles.
What happens if some people are not good at puzzles?
That’s completely fine. The puzzles are designed to use different skills, including observation, logic, spatial thinking, map-reading, communication, and teamwork. No single person is expected to solve everything. Teams succeed by combining strengths, not by relying only on “puzzle people.”
What if a team gets stuck?
Each puzzle includes access to a QR-based hint system. Teams can choose different levels of support, from location guidance to progressive hints or the full answer. This keeps the game challenging for strong teams while making sure no group is left behind.
Is this too difficult for a casual company event?
No. The experience is meant to be fun first, while still being genuinely challenging. Teams can move at their own pace, take breaks, and use hints when needed. The goal is not to make people feel tested; it is to create natural communication, cooperation, and shared discovery.
Will this work if our team is quiet or not very outgoing?
Yes. The structure gives people a reason to talk. Teams need to read maps, notice clues, compare ideas, manage time, and decide what to do next. Even quieter participants can contribute through observation, organization, clue-finding, or careful thinking.
What if participants already know Asakusa, Yokohama, or Kamakura?
That is actually one of the strengths of the program. The routes are built around details people usually walk past without noticing: signs, buildings, monuments, small design elements, and hidden local features. Even people familiar with the area often discover something new.
Is Hidden Secrets Journey physically demanding?
It involves walking around the city for most of the activity, so participants should be comfortable moving outdoors for a few hours. It is not a sports event or race, and teams can take breaks along the way. If you have participants with mobility concerns, it is best to tell us in advance so we can recommend the most suitable location or route adjustments.
Can we add a workshop or debrief after the activity?
Yes. A structured debrief can be added after the game. This gives teams time to reflect on how they communicated, made decisions, handled pressure, and used different strengths during the activity. It is especially useful when the event is connected to leadership, collaboration, D&I, psychological safety, or team development goals.
Is this only a sightseeing activity?
No. The city exploration is part of the appeal, but the purpose is team building. The puzzles require teams to communicate, divide roles, listen to different ideas, manage time, and combine different ways of thinking. The sightseeing element makes the experience more engaging, but the structure is built around collaboration.
Sessions across Asakusa, Yokohama, and Kamakura.
Corporate groups. Real conditions. Facilitated from start to finish.