Discover the different side of the sprawling Japanese capital that dates back to its Edo period of the 17th through 19th centuries, admiring the area’s charming mix of temples, springtime cherry blossoms and timeless ‘reien’ (cemetery). A included guide will accompany you on your visit, providing additional details about Japanese history and local culture.
This Buddhist Temple sits on the edge of the Yanaka Cemetery and dates back to 1274. It is located in a pleasant garden behind an old wooden gate. In its grounds, there is a bronze Buddhist statue that dates back to 1690 and was beloved by locals as "Tennoji no Daibutsu". Well worth to stop by.
This is an impressive cemetery and worth a look even though that is not a common route for the tour for tourists. It covers 100,000 square meters and has over 7,000 graves. It also has history more than 100 years after the Meji Restoration, the era that the government wanted to separate Buddhism and Shinto graves. However, most of the graves in this cemetery were owned by Buddhist so they established a public burial ground in Yanaka in 1871.
【Optional】 On the second floor of the Gallery Okubo building, there is a small tea room where you can experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony while seated on tatami mats. This optional experience is not included in the tour price. If you would like to participate, the fee is ¥3,000 per person and can be paid in cash directly at the venue. During the experience, a professional host will prepare authentic Japanese tea and introduce you to the basics of this traditional cultural practice. The tea room opens at 11:00 a.m., so it can only be visited during tours that start in the afternoon. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
【Afternoon tour only】 SCAI The Bathhouse is a contemporary art gallery located in Yanaka, with a town ambiance reminiscent of Old Tokyo.The gallery is housed in a venerable public bath imbued with a 200-year history.
【Optional】 Shitamachi museum was established to teach future generations about the culture of the Shitamachi or "Down Town". Most of the objects on display are things that were actually used at one time, and you can see the houses with furniture and goods which are placed in the location where they would have been used and you can even touch some of the displays. Display items are changed in accordance with the season, so that repeat visitors also get to enjoy how life in the Shitamachi varied over the year.
【Afternoon tour only】 In the middle of traditional old town Tokyo surrounded by Buddhist temples, you can find this studio of Alan West which was once an auto body garage and is now the only operating traditional Japanese painting studio open to the public. He was born in US but ever since he graduated from Carnegie-Melon University, he moved to Tokyo and continued his study and got a bachelor degree in department of Japanese painting at Tokyo University of the Arts, and even took master degree there.
One of Japan’s oldest shrine and perhaps most striking, set amidst huge trees and flowering azalea or つつじ shrubs with ponds, pathways and iconic colored charming wooden structures reflecting Japanese traditional culture and beauty including succession of small Torii gates colored in vermillon beautifully.
One of best local shopping streets in Tokyo, with the well-remained old town “Shitamachi” atmosphere. Explore the nostalgic side of Tokyo through Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street and don't forget to eat some local snacks!
This is primarily a tour of temples and shrines, which undoubtedly the oldest parts of Tokyo. However, I was hoping for more of old urban Tokyo. I probably did not read the description carefully enough. Our tour guide was excellent and took us on an interesting shopping area in Yanaka, as well as an owl cafe, a really different and interesting experience
Our guide, Masaharu Kai was amazing. Knowledgeable, warm and friendly. He conducted the tour in easy to understand English. He knew we were interested in learning about the history of the area. He showed us sights (restaurants, candy shops, and whiskey/sake shops) that have been in the neighborhood for generations. Also what the area was famous for. Really appreciated him. He felt like we were being shown around by an old friend. He was amazing!
We had the best experience with Masaharu Kai. He was like meeting up with an old friend. He was knowledgeable, warm, friendly, and knew all the "best of local" spots. Highly recommend him and the tour for an exceptional experience.
Kaori was very knowledgeable, kind, and accommodating. We would highly recommend her tour!
Eriko was so polite and kind, she let us know about history and religion giving us important facts We went to different stores and even had coffee and desserts She gave us a super cute detail at the end I definetly recomend her
We had a great tour today. We especially loved the Owl Cafe! Thank you so much!
Quite interesting. We got to see a part of Tokyo well off from the typical tourist area. Miyuki was a wonderful guide, both informative and entertaining.
The walk is undulating with one steeper uphill and one downhill. It’s mostly on paths apart from in the cemetery where there is some off path exploration but the cemetery is overall well maintained. There are lots of shrines and temples to see along with learning the history of Yanaka and how it developed over the centuries. There is a mixture of old wooden buildings and modern developments. The modern day population is mainly composed of older people which makes it a quiet area. If you want a change of pace and a chance to learn more about Japanese culture and history this is the tour for you. My friend and I were fortunate to have a tour where it was just us ( tour size is usually about 8) and Kaori who was our guide was delightful. Very friendly and knowledgeable and she made sure we were comfortable with the pace and was reassuring about adjusting the walk if needed. She took lots of pictures throughout the tour and made us a photo book for our memories. I would highly recommend this tour.
An excellent tour that was fun and very informative. Kaori was an excellent guide who explained where the walk would take us and how it could be adjusted to our requirements if necessary. I was travelling with a friend and we are both seniors who need to know where there are toilet and rest stops. Kaori took care of us extremely well. We were the only two in this tour so we had a lot of time to ask questions and learn as much as we could about how the area of Yanaka had developed. It was truly lovely to spend quiet, quality time in a local area away from the busy tourist spots. Kaori also took photographs along the way which she used to make a memory book for us. I would highly recommend this tour if you are looking for a more local experience and to learn more about Japanese culture. We also appreciated that these tours are small group size - usually 8.
Lovely morning walk with Maki - a knowledgeable and generous guide. We really enjoyed the area .
We loved our tour with Kai. We saw so much in 3 hours of old Tokyo. We had some delicious snacks as well. He taught us so much and answered all our questions. We would highly recommend spending some time with Kai. He gave us a great lunch tip as well. Thanks.
We had a very nice tour with lots of info regarding the history of Japan and Japanese culture We enjoyed walking in the streets and see how the Japanese live
I guess we expected more history, culture and facts to be shared about the place.
Our guide, Ríe, met us as expected. She was very knowledgeable. I enjoyed her explanation of the symbolism in the temples and shrines. I highly recommend this tour.
We did the walking tour early in our visit to Tokyo. Our guide was Bob who was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable throughout and showed us many interesting places away from the hustle and bustle of a lot of the city that we would never have found ourselves. We never felt rushed between places and Bob allowed us to stop, shop and even snack as we wanted. We all really enjoyed the afternoon and I would recommend this tour to anyone who wished to explore a little more of the "real" Tokyo.
Bob is an amazing guide - he explained about the history and culture behind each place we visited and also enthusiastically answered all my questions. Timing was great as we didn't have to rush and could explore each place and take pictures at our own pace. I'm very grateful for the experience!
Kaori was a great guide. Really appreciated learning more about the culture and history of Japan.
Miyuki is a wonderful guide! We enjoyed exploring and learning about the neighborhoods, restaurants, foods and shopping in Yanaka. We added on matcha experience Miyuki reserved that was a very special experience. Miyuki also gave great food recommendations of local treats to try and showed us the best shops to find souvenirs. Highly recommended Miyuki and this tour.
This was a fantastic tour! So interesting. Kaori was our guide and she was the best. We so enjoyed seeing this different area of Tokyo and Kaori was so helpful and insightful. It was a perfect tour for us.
Awesome Experience! It was a walking adventure with detailed explanations. I enjoyed every moment! When I asked questions it was answered with dates and historical clarifications.
Hideki Matsushita was an outstanding guide. We were very fortunate that we were the only two people on the tour and he gave us his full attention. He gave us a comprehensive explanation about what we were seeing, explained the history of Japan, explained the temples we were seeing, both the shinto shrines and the Buddhist temples and the significance of the grave sites. He also took great pictures of us which he shared with us after the trip. We would recommend him highly.
Had a wonderful morning walking through the Yanaka town, experiencing day to day life as well as many beautiful temples. Kiyo, our guide, was very kind and informative, sharing some of her personal Japanese lifestyle as well as history relating to the town and surrounds. If you want a quieter and relaxed tour, this is the one for you.
We are visiting from the States and had a great time on our walking tour of the Yanaka neighborhood. Our tour guide Miyuki was friendly, fun and very knowledgeable of the area. She also helped us gain a better understanding of local culture and customs. She took us on a tea ceremony, based on our request, and she even volunteered to go to a puppet show with us. We were very pleased and would highly recommend for other visitors to tour with her. Thanks again Miyuki!
Yanaka is an interesting historic area in Tokyo. Charlotte was an amazing guide. She is super knowledgeable. Like having a friend show you around. We saw lots of hidden nature spots in the city with lovely flowers, greenery and a koi pond. Lovely day together and leaned a lot!
We had a lovely tour with Miyuki! Walked around Yanaka for a couple hours, then got to experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. As this tour was at the tail end of our trip, Miyuki was a great resource to answer questions or comment on observations we had made while exploring Tokyo.
We had a lovely time on our private tour of Yanaka! Miyuki led us around to some temples and shrines in the area and also showed us some other parts of the neighborhood. As we took this tour towards the end of our trip, it was helpful to have Miyuki to answer questions and/or comment on observations we had made over the course of our visit to Tokyo. The tour was about 3 hours long, and included the walking portion as well as a traditional japanese tea ceremony (fee not included in tour reservation). Would recommend!
Kaori was informative and very knowledgeable of the history of the area. We really enjoyed the tour!
Mutsuko was amazing! She truly was one of the best tour guides we had. She went above and beyond to ensure our tour catered to our interests. She also was a world class photographer.
Rie was very knowledgeable and friendly. She asked about our backgrounds and tailored our tour.
interesting and professional we covered a lot of interesting places we would not have found ourselves. 14000 steps !
The best Yanaka tour ever! Masaharu Kai was very friendly as well as informative and would recommend him as your guide! 😊
Masaharu Kai was the best tour guide ever! I truly learned so much about the area and would recommend Masaharu Kai to anyone interested in this tour 😊
Keita was an incredible guide for us! We had a great afternoon walking around and visiting shrines and the gorgeous azalea garden! The highlight was getting to see a side of Tokyo that was away from the bustling part of the city and really showcased the architecture and old vs new elements of the city!
Very interesting hearing so much history. Do not, however, go on a Monday as the local shops they say you will see are closed. That was disappointing, but recovered as we were here in April and got to see the Azeala festival at one of the many shrines we saw. Yoshida was a great tour guide showing us a few things we would never have seen on our own
Seiko San was simply fabulous. We ended up getting an individual tour as we were the only ones on the tour. She was so prepared and explained everything in detail. She was so patient and it was one of the best tours in Japan we had.
Great tour ... really got to see the part of Japan that wasn't skyscrapers and more everyday and tradition ... perfect for understanding the Japan everyday ....
Very fun and interesting tour ! Haru was great, hopefully can use him When I return next year ! So happy to see some of the historical and everyday parts of Tokyo !
This was a wonderful experience. Our guide was kind, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to, which made the morning feel relaxed and personal. We walked through quieter lanes lined with cherry blossoms, away from the busy tourist areas, and got to see a different side of Tokyo. It felt calm, authentic, and unhurried. I really appreciated the slower pace and the chance to just take it all in.
Yuko was a great guide! She was very kind and knowledgeable about the area’s history. Yuko also went above and beyond by helping us take some great photos along the way, which made the experience even more memorable. You can tell she genuinely cares about making sure everyone has a good time! We enjoyed our stroll around Yanaka and would highly recommend Yuko and this tour!
Keita is a very informative and personable guide. He has a very good knowledge of our tour area. He made sure we had group pictures along the way. This was especially important because it was a family trip.
Kiyo was lovely, helpful, intelligent, and organized! She was sensitive to our needs and adapted our schedule accordingly. Despite the rainy day, we learned a lot about Yanaka, shopped at local small shops and had a great time. Thank you Kiyo!🙏🏼❤️🎉
Its the best walking tour i had. Emiko is a great lady with a very good knolwedge in history. I never felt when the time just flew up and already 3,5 hours was gone. I strongly recomand it.
my mom loved it! she was solo traveling at 65+ and transport was so easy and 10/10. i asked every tour in advance to contact her via whatsapp and most did
With one day only in Tokyo, we decided to book this tour. We were extremely happy to spend these hours with Miyuki. She was incredibly knowledgeable and flexible to make the experience special for our needs and wishes. We will book again when we come back!!! :-)
Our guide made our final day in Tokyo most memorable. This walking trip offers a close-up view of how people live in Tokyo - Shrines and Temples not on regular path and a great little shopping street with excellent local crafts. Ask for our guide -- Keita!!! So knowledgeable and passionate about the information he has to share.
We had a wonderful time as a family of five. Our 10 year-old became a master at determining “shrine vs. temple”. Our 12 year-old loved the very local snacks (a rice cracker shop, a candy shop, street food). Our 14 year-old said she learned a lot about old Tokyo that she never knew. Bob, our guide, went out of his way to make the experience fun for everyone (he even raced our little one up sone stairs!) and was so knowledgeable.
We loved the tour and it is something different to do, away from the hustle and bustle - Keita was very knowledgeable and it was great to visit an older part of Tokyo and walk the quieter streets, see various architecture and homes. It is a long tour and a short break in the middle would have been appreciated. All round we really enjoyed it.
The tour was amazing! Yanaka is a beautiful old part of Tokyo, totally different from the rest of the city. Our guide Hitomi was excellent, she showed us many interesting sport in the area, and she gave us a lot of useful tips. We participated also in a tea ceremony - an extraordinary additional experience! Thank you Hitomi for a wonderful afternoon in Tokyo!
Our tour with Sue was an incredible experience. Since there was no one else signed up, we got a surprise private tour and loved spending the 3 1/2 hours with our own Japanese grandma. She took us through an older and cozier part of the city, and we got to experience a side of Tokyo that felt very special. If you love history or want to get off the beaten path I couldn't recommend this tour enough.
Don’t hesitate to book! This was our favorite tour we did while in Tokyo. It gets you out of central Tokyo to see a quiet neighborhood with a lot of older buildings and landmarks. Yumi was an amazing tour guide, so friendly, approachable, patient and kind. We loved talking to her and learning so much about Tokyo and Japan. She gave us great recommendations and showed us many small gems like a coffee shop, bakery, and tea house. You are walking the entire time, but you get to see lots of things you wouldn’t normally including multiple temples, the cemetery and many alleyways I would recommend doing this tour at the beginning of your day and spending the rest of the day exploring Yanaka on your own as there is a shopping street with many local stores. If you are a cat lover, there are a few stores here for you, especially. There were great restaurants in the area too. unique characteristics. Again, I cannot recommend this to her enough. Probably my favorite of the entire trip and we were in Tokyo for seven days. Yumi was so great, we wished we could’ve had her take us on tours every day we were in Tokyo. She even took photos of us at many of our stops and then shared them to us on Google Drive.
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