Asakusa (浅草) is the center of Tokyo's shitamachi (literally "low city"), one of Tokyo's districts, where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives. Asakusa's main attraction is Sensoji, a very popular Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. The temple is approached via the Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries.
**This tour does not include access to the inside of the Imperial Palace** The current Imperial Palace is located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo, a short walk from Tokyo Station. It is the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. Edo Castle used to be the seat of the Tokugawa shogun who ruled Japan from 1603 until 1867. In 1868, the shogunate was overthrown, and the country's capital and imperial residence were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. In 1888 construction of a new Imperial Palace was completed. The palace was once destroyed during World War Two, and rebuilt in the same style, afterwards.
Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo's largest and most popular parks. Located a short walk from Shinjuku Station, the park's spacious lawns, meandering walking paths and tranquil scenery provide a relaxing escape from the busy urban center around it. In spring Shinjuku Gyoen becomes one of the best places in the city to see cherry blossoms.
Shibuya crossing is called Shibuya scramble by the locals. It is one of the busiest crossings in the world and home to the beloved statue of Hachiko the dog! Learn about this loyal dog and see the bustle of Tokyo up close! (Hachiko statue may not be accessible the week of Halloween to prevent vandalism)
Tsukiji is the old fish market of Japan! It is full of delicious and unique foods. Locals and tourists alike come to enjoy the great selection here! Be sure to purchase something while you are here to support the local business! Tsukiji may not be available in December/start of January due to requests from the market to not have tours during the holidays. We thank you for your understanding in advance.
Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Located just beside the JR Yamanote Line's busy Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park make up a large forested area within the densely built-up city. The spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths that are great for a relaxing stroll. The shrine was completed and dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. The shrine was destroyed during the Second World War but was rebuilt shortly thereafter.
Akihabara (秋葉原), also called Akiba after a former local shrine, is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. On Sundays, Chuo Dori, the main street through the district, is closed to car traffic from 13:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October through March).
Koishikawa Korakuen (小石川後楽園, Koishikawa Kōrakuen) is one of Tokyo's oldest and best Japanese gardens. It was built in the early Edo Period (1600-1867) at the Tokyo residence of the Mito branch of the ruling Tokugawa family. Like its namesake in Okayama, the garden was named Korakuen after a poem encouraging a ruler to enjoy pleasure only after achieving happiness for his people. Koishikawa is the district in which the garden is located in.
Hama Rikyu (浜離宮, Hama Rikyū), is a large, attractive landscape garden in central Tokyo. Located alongside Tokyo Bay, Hama Rikyu features seawater ponds which change level with the tides, and a teahouse on an island where visitors can rest and enjoy the scenery. The traditionally styled garden stands in stark contrast to the skyscrapers of the adjacent Shiodome district.
The Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館, Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) is the oldest and largest of Japan's top-level national museums, which also include the Kyoto National Museum, the Nara National Museum and the Kyushu National Museum. It was originally established in 1972 at Yushima Seido Shrine and moved to its current location in Ueno Park a few years later. The Tokyo National Museum features one of the largest and best collections of art and archeological artifacts in Japan, made up of over 110,000 individual items including nearly a hundred national treasures. At any one time, about 4000 different items from the permanent museum collection are on display. In addition, visiting temporary exhibitions are also held regularly. Good English information and audio guides are available.
Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples. The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.
Rikugien (六義園) is often considered Tokyo's most beautiful Japanese landscape garden alongside Koishikawa Korakuen. Built around 1700 for the 5th Tokugawa Shogun, Rikugien literally means "six poems garden" and reproduces in miniature 88 scenes from famous poems. The garden is a good example of an Edo Period strolling garden and features a large central pond surrounded by manmade hills and forested areas, all connected by a network of trails.
Yoyogi Park (代々木公園, Yoyogi Kōen) is one of Tokyo's largest city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is a great place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities. Although Yoyogi Park has relatively few cherry trees compared to other sites in Tokyo, it makes for a nice cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. Furthermore, it is known for its ginko tree forest, which turns intensely golden in autumn.
Harajuku (原宿) refers to the area around Tokyo's Harajuku Station, which is between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights. The focal point of Harajuku's teenage culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens.
Odaiba (お台場) is a popular shopping and entertainment district on a man made island in Tokyo Bay. It originated as a set of small man made fort islands (daiba literally means "fort"), which were built towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868) to protect Tokyo against possible attacks from the sea and specifically in response to the gunboat diplomacy of Commodore Perry. More than a century later, the small islands were joined into larger islands by massive landfills, and Tokyo began a spectacular development project aimed to turn the islands into a futuristic residential and business district during the extravagant 1980s. But development was critically slowed after the burst of the "bubble economy" in the early 1990s, leaving Odaiba nearly vacant.
Shibamata (柴又) is a neighborhood on the eastern end of Tokyo, not far from the Edogawa River which is the natural border between Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture. The town retains its old-school charm from yesteryear and is a perfect break away from modern Tokyo. One of the main attractions to see is the Shibamata Taishakuten Temple not far from the station.
Having miraculously avoided major damage during world wars and natural disasters, Yanaka and Nezu—two of the neighborhoods that make up shitamachi, Tokyo's old downtown—retain their last-century charm. You'll find historical sites such as Yanaka Cemetery and Nezu Shrine tucked away among shitamachi's narrow back alleys, traditional wooden houses, izakaya pubs, atmospheric coffee shops and retro stores selling old-style sweets and snacks. Here you can slip back in time to a slower-paced, more genteel Tokyo.
Golden Gai is said to have started around 1950 when the black market that had arisen in front of Shinjuku Station moved and, in this new area, a number of eating and drinking establishments set up shop. Although Shinjuku has undergone considerable modernization since then, Golden Gai seems to have remained largely unchanged. The alley is narrow and cramped with countless signs advertising the various establishments that line the way. Many of the buildings themselves are made of wood, remnants hanging on from the Showa Era. Most measure only around thirteen square meters (one hundred forty-two square feet). It's a dim, boisterous place filled with the aromatic smoke of grilling meats. Yet despite the nearly endless number of slick new restaurants available in Shinjuku, this little alley continues to draw the attention of foreign tourists. Golden Gai is a popular “un-touristy” tourist spot.
**Only up to the main deck, top deck is not included** The retro cute version of Tokyo Sky tree! This vermillion tower has been a symbol of Tokyo for a generation and can be seen in the background of many famous animes!
Gotokuji Temple, located in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo, is a Buddhist temple that is said to be the birthplace of the maneki-neko, or “luck-inviting cat figurine.” These small statues, which portray a cat sitting up and beckoning with its front paw, have become quite popular all over the world with cat-lovers.
Ueno Park About half a dozen museums, a zoo, a Toshogu Shrine and the Shinobazu Pond are just some of Ueno Park's attractions. Ueno Park is also Tokyo's most notorious cherry blossom party spot.
We had a fabulous tour with our guide Mr Yasuho Suzuki. We was a fun, enjoyable guide. We toured several famous locations during the tour. He was very flexible, accommodating my wife's limited walking abilities. During our tour of the National Museum, his pride of Japan was evident. I recommend. Mr Suzuki for your tour of Tokyo.
We had a fabulous time with Sam on our tour today. He spoke perfect English so we had no difficulty understanding anything he said. He took us to the area of Tokyo we requested and taught us how the train and metro system work to help us explore more on our own in the future. It was a great first day in Tokyo!
This was a great way to customize travel especially if you've been to Tokyo before. Takeshi was responsive to all my requests and he made recommendations as well.
One of the best, most memorable, excursions we have ever booked. This was an absolute must for this trip…. I would highly recommend Kenzo Ito to all my family and friends!!!
Our Tokyo experience was excellent! Our tour guide Haru was very knowledgeable and pleasant. This tour is definitely a must. It was so interesting navigating the public transportation with the help of Haru. He made the journey stress free. Thank you
We had a wonderful day exploring Tokyo with our guide 'Ted'. The weather was rainy, but that didn't slow us down a bit. By traversing this amazing city on the public tranport, we were able to cover alot of territory while becoming more comfortable with the train systems so we could carry on the rest of our trip alone. Saw several items/areas we will be returning to including Cafe w/Capabara. Along the way Ted was able to explain several details of Japanese culture as well as the Shinto and Buddhist religions. Would highly recommend!
Fummy-san provided the ideal introduction to Tokyo and our guided tour was an incredible experience! From the moment when he met us in the lobby of our hotel to the end of our tour when he escorted us to our requested destination, he was kind and patient and very professional. We learned a lot about the different neighborhoods as well as Japanese culture. His explanation of the subway system gave us the confidence to manage it on our own for the rest of our trip! Many thanks, Fummy-san!!!
Show was a superb guide. He is knowledgeable, patient with questions, adapting the tour to our pace and our choices. His English was adequate and we virtually always understood what he was saying. He is a gentle and a kind man. We recommend him highly
The tour was perfect for our first full day in Tokyo. Our tour guide, Kazuo Fukuda, met us in the lobby of our hotel right on time (he actually arrived ahead of schedule), and from there he escorted us to the points of interest that we chose for our tour with him. At those locations he provided interesting background and historical information, using nicely-organized visual aids that he brought along for the tour. As we went on our journey he helped familiarize us with the Tokyo transit system and provided suggestions for other things to see and do during our stay in Tokyo. He also made a very good suggestion for lunch, which offered us something delicious that we otherwise would not have experienced. We enjoyed our time with Kazuo; he is a delightful person and an excellent tour guide.
Amazing visit of Tokyo. Our guide Nobby brought us to all the best spots. He was very knowledgeable and interesting. Highly recommended!
We had a fantastic experience exploring Tokyo with our guide, Yuki! She was extremely knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and put together an excellent itinerary that allowed us to see and experience so much of Tokyo in just one day. Yuki knew the train and bus systems incredibly well, making it easy and efficient to get from one destination to the next. She was well-organized, kept everything running smoothly, and provided interesting and informative details about each of the places we visited. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with Yuki and appreciated how much thought and preparation she put into making our experience memorable. If you’re visiting Tokyo and want to see as much as possible in a single day while learning about the city and its culture, we highly recommend Yuki! She was an outstanding guide, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
An excellent 6 hour guided tour with Goreilo. Relaxed pace, great sence of humour, covered the attractions and negotiated Tokyos train and subway system which we were so thankful for!!
Yuki was a delightful guide and shared her immense knowledge about the Shinjuku area, its shrines, ceremonies, cultural traditions and fascinating shopping areas. Yuki’s English communication skills were excellent and she went to great lengths to answer our dozens of questions. We highly recommend Yuki’s tour guide services and hope to seek her out again when we return to Japan. Arigato gozaimasu Yuki 🙏
Private tour, personalized to the sites we wanted to see. Our Japanese tour guide was knowledgeable, helpful, and reasonably proficient in English. He accommodated our pace, and our preferences. 10/10.
My husband and I along with another couple had a 6 hour private tour of Tokyo. Our tour operator, Kenzo, was excellent. He reached out to me weeks before our trip and allowed me to customize our itinerary. He picked us up at our hotel and did a great job, explaining everything. We used the subway to get around, and he helped explain it to us. He shared his knowledge and his passion, took great pictures for us, and gave us great ideas for the rest of our time in Tokyo. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and he did a fantastic job!
Tomoya was a great guide . Professional, helpful and punctual. He has vast knowledge of the town and the whole country . We highly recommend him as a tour guide for any occasion.
We had such a wonderful day exploring Tokyo with Nobby! He took us to all the places we had hoped to see. What made the experience so memorable, though, was Nobby himself. He was so warm, friendly, and thoughtful that by the end of the day, it felt less like we had been on a guided tour and more like we had spent the day with a good friend. Thank you, Nobby, for making our visit so special. Highly recommended!
Shigeru was fantastic tour guide for Tokyo. I would recommend. He is a native and knows everything we were in good hands
Fummy-San gave us a wonderful and educational tour of Tokyo! This was the best introduction to the city that I could have hoped for. We appreciated learning about the history and customs of your beautiful country. We appreciated your efforts to teach us about the subway system too! Thank you very very much!
Sammy was very informative,helpful and spoke excellent English. A very enjoyable day.
I learned so much about Tokyo, and Japanese history and architecture during my half day tour with Keisuke san - it was an amazing tour. We went to the Meiji Shrine, then to Hamarikyu Japanese Gardens and then to the Tsukiji Local Fish Market (where I had lunch at a fantastic sushi restaurant on Keisuke san’s recommendation. What a wonderful day and it set the tone for my trip in Tokyo!
We had a really wonderful day with Izumi. We fitted in a lot of sights and had some very interesting chats with Izumi throughout the day. Izumi is a delightful man, with lots of Tokyo/Japanese history knowledge and great chat. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him and would definitely ask for him personally when we return…which I hope we will 😊
We booked a full day (8 hour) tour with Japan Guide Agency for our first day in Japan, with the aim of learning about life in Japan and understanding practicalities such as the Tokyo transport network, as well as visiting five varied locations. Takako was an excellent guide on all these aspects. She proposed a detailed schedule in advance, and kept in touch ahead of meeting us. We visited our choice of Tsujiki Market, Asakusa, Rikiugien Gardens, the perimeter of the Imperial Palace, and Harajuku. Tsujiki, Asakusa and Harajuku were packed, so having a private guide worked well. Takako spoke good English, was very knowledgeable without overloading us with facts, and shared personal insights into living in Japan. She took us to some lesser known spots for added interest, and regularly checked that the pace of the tour worked for us. She was great!
The guide did a great job. He was professional and kind.
Haru was an amazing guide his knowledge of the local history and places was outstanding. He took us to all the places we wanted to see and helped us to understand the inner workings of the subway system. He was an absolute pleasure to make our first day in Tokyo a memory which we will treasure for a lifetime we would have no hesitation in recommending his service.
Our time with Kris was phenonmenal. Prior to the trip he left a personalized message at our hotel confirming our oick up time and location. Kris was prompt, fun and full of wonderful history and cultural explanations. He even shard with us an overview of the history of Japan that helped us underdtand all of the differnt perionds in japanese history. We enjoyed the market experience and went to coffee at a lovely, and lively location where we were treated like royalty. Kris is lively, fun and extremely knowledgeable. Thank you for the fun and informative tour Kris. I hope to see you next year when I return.
Fukimo was AMAZING!!! She was so sweet, knowledgeable, punctual, communicative prior to the tour, took group photos to share with us, and gave my boys a thoughtful gift. She took time listen to our request and even secured a reservation at THE Kirby Cafe. I would highly recommend her! 10/10!
Kate was very knowledgeable about the city and history and culture and even picked us up at our hotel lobby. She sent emails before the trip asking us what we wanted to see and she planned a perfect day.
We booked a 6 hour walking tour with Nobby. We found him to be amazing with regard to advance contact and throughout our day with him. It was a comprehensive tour through Tokyo highlights and navigating the subway system was great fun. I have celiac disease and need to eat gluten free. Nobby did some major magic and found a gluten free soba noodle restaurant for lunch that was fantastic. Can you even imagine a more caring and personalized experience from a knowledgable guide? Thank you Nobby, we will never forget you!
Suzuki san was Very experienced and knew the stories behind every place. The pace was as per our interests and he didn’t mind us stopping if something piqued our interest midway.
Tachi was a wonderful guide who thoughtfully crafted a six hour tour for us. She was very knowledgeable and kind and took us to places we would not be seeing with our tour group. She also found us a vegan ramen restaurant for lunch that was delicious! Thank you Tachi!
Hideki was such a wonderful guide and curated my own mini 4 hour tour to introduce me to Tokyo and Japan. From showing me how to navigate the train systems and using the Suica card, to suggestions on what else to see and giving me a lot of history and information, I couldn't recommend him more. We fit a lot in within four hours, but it didn't feel rushed either, and then he helped navigate me to my next destination so I could explore on my own. Very grateful for this tour to start the love I have found for Tokyo already!
My one day customized private tour of top Tokyo sites with Mac was wonderful! He took me to see several very different, but all amazing places, was kind and taught me a lot about Japanese history and culture as we walked and viewed the temple, shrine, and imperial palace gardens. I greatly enjoyed the day, and it was a perfect way to be comfortably introduced to such a large, fabulous, and overwhelming city. I would recommend this tour, and Mac as a guide, to anyone traveling to Tokyo!
Ted was an excellent tour guide. He spent most of his life in Tokyo and not only knows the city but also teaches about Japanese history and culture. He ties together old and recent history in a way that keeps pace with the tour and holds your interest the entire time. He also provides maps and information specifically intended to help you navigate the rest of your stay in Tokyo This is a great way to spend your first day in Japan.
We had a wonderful experience with our personalized tour of Tokyo. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly attentive to our interests. The tour was thoughtfully planned and gave us a wonderful mix of Tokyo’s famous sights and unique local experiences. Our guide, Bruce was professional and patient and went above and beyond to make our day memorable. We highly recommend Bruce to anyone visiting Tokyo.
Hideaki Wada was a kind, funny, knowledgeable guide. He was also very good in helping me solve some train issues I had. He gave us some wonderful insights as to how Japan’s cultural history is affecting present day culture and its issues and customs. He was also game to go off the beaten path to find a spider sculpture we were interested in. His fun and love nd nature made our day in Tokyo fun and enlightening.
Great exercise-almost 7 miles of walking (14,000 steps). During the tour we used taxis, subways snd busses. Our requested itinerary took us all over Tokyo. Takesh (?) did a very good job moving us around and responding to our requests. Finally, the Tokyo tower was a great ending. Purchased our tickets to the top in advance and enjoyed the great views.
We had an awesome time exploring Tokyo with Bruce! He was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience enjoyable. Having a private guide made it easy to explore the city at our own pace and really appreciate Tokyo’s culture and history. Bruce was great to spend the day with, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. If you’re visiting Tokyo and want a personalized tour with a fantastic guide, I highly recommend booking with Bruce!
We had an amazing first day in toTokyo on our tour with Rumi. Rumi was gracious, kind, knowledgeable, and made the extra effort to ensure everything was perfect. We visited Meiji Shrine,Shibuya Scramble Crossing,Asakusa (Nakamise Street,Sensoji Temple),Ginza (Nissan Crossing),Hamarikyu Gardens and Tsukiji Fish Market. Her advice on navigating the train system was invaluable and will help us for the rest Of our stay. I highly recommend booking the tour and asking for Rumi.
Toru was our favorite tour guide in Tokyo. He customized the tour to meet our needs and then some. He was extremely knowledgeable and eager to answer our questions.
Kris was a great guide! We corresponded prior to the trip to ensure all the things I wanted to do were part of the day. The time was planned very efficiently so we got to see a lot and Kris was very informative throughout the day. Highly recommend this Tour and this Guide
Our tours with Kenzo were an absolute delight. It is clear that he puts a lot of care in building the right itinerary for the group, and our group very much enjoyed spending time with him learning historical, cultural, and spiritual knowledge about Japan. Our group asked a lot of questions and he was very patient with us. Today, we remarked about the poetic full circle of our journey from Imperial Palace to Gotokuji [Ii Naosuke's story] We enjoyed the greenhouse in Shinjuku Gyoen, shared delicious meals in Asakusa and at Meiji Jingu, and prayers at Sensoji and Meiji Jingu. Our group learned many new things through him, and we would not trade the experience for anything. Kenzo has a kindhearted soul, and we wish him well!
Yusuke is a fabulous guide to make your trip to Tokyo memorable. He was very responsive to our needs and organized a wonderful day of adventure. He speaks English fluently and is very well educated. During the day we discovered many parts of the city and gave us a thorough education of the subway system that was invaluable for the remainder of our trip.
Takako was a great guide She was knowledgeable, flexible and kind as well as very organised
Kenji provided an outstanding day tour of Tokyo. He took us to all the sites we requested and gave us informative information about the many things we saw along the way. I highly recommend this tour with Kenji!!
We had a wonderful experience with Kenzo on our private walking tour of Tokyo! From the very beginning, his communication leading up to our trip was excellent. He met us right at our hotel, gave us a great overview of the day, and made sure we knew what to expect. The tour was incredibly well planned and organized. Kenzo was knowledgeable, friendly, and provided interesting insights and explanations about the places we visited, the history, and the local culture. He really brought Tokyo to life and made the experience both enjoyable and educational. We appreciated his attention to detail and how smoothly everything went throughout the day. If you’re visiting Tokyo and looking for a fantastic private guide, I would highly recommend Kenzo! A great experience from start to finish!
Kenzo is a wonderful and friendly guide. Our group really enjoyed chatting with him, and we will absolutely tour with him again! We enjoyed Sensoji and the Tokyo National Museum the most.
4 of us, all older adults, had a fantastic full day tour with Taka as our guide. Even before we met, Taka was fully engaged with us through the back and forth emails which resulted in an itinerary that we co-created to hit exactly what we were interested in plus some of Taka's recommendations. He also took into account my gluten-free celiac requirements when picking a lunch stop that we could all enjoy. Taka has a great understanding of Japanese history and that knowledge was transmitted perfectly to us at every stop along the way. He helped with our before tour transportation needs by explaining how to get the needed Suica card which given our multiple subway rides was a necessity. Tdka also went out of his way to hrlp us with some questions we had for the next leg of our journey. The total package enabled us to see Tokyo in a way that would have been impossible otherwise. A great day.
A good guide is invaluable, especially navigating complex destinations like Tokyo. Guide May-san provided an excellent introduction to Tokyo for first timers; his warm and engaging character, jokes and wide knowledge made for a great first day. He was generous with his time. We certainly recommend him to anyone visiting Tokyo and looking for a top English speaking guide. Arigato gozaimasu.
A must for every visitor to the city . The tour was tailored to our interests and would highly recommend to all. Worth every cent!
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