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Minkaen:Japan Open Air Folk House Museum-Houses from Samurai days & Shinjuku's Twilight View etc.

Nihon Minkaen

My grampa, who was a folk-house researcher and architect, drew pictures of the houses and published them

Stairs to a watermill

Minkaen

A farmhouse from Yamagata in the Tohoku Region

A map of the museum

The gate of Mt. Masugata, a hill of 84m high

View of Shinjuku from Mt. Masugata

View of Yoyogi, Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge from the observation deck of Tokyo Metropolitian Government Building

One of the options: Shibuya Crossing

Minkaen:Japan Open Air Folk House Museum-Houses from Samurai days & Shinjuku's Twilight View etc.

Highlights

Joined 2017

Yoko T.

4.84 / 5

(161 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Kanagawa

Japanese (Native), English

6 hours

Private tour (only you and Yoko T.)

Up to 5 people

Japan Open Air Folk House Museum (Nihon Minkaen) in Kawasaki celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

It has 25 folk houses, water mills & a stage collected from all over Japan.

After approximately thirty-minute train ride and fifteen-minute walk, we could timeslip to the old days of Japan, centuries ago.

We'll also visit the free observation deck of Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

11:30 AM

Meeting Point

At the lobby of your hotel in Tokyo/Yokohama/ Kawasaki or a station within the 23 wards of Tokyo/Kawasaki Station

Japan Open Air Folk House Museum (Nihon Minkaen)

A walk in a typical residential town in the suburbs

View from the Observation Tower of Mt. Masugata, a hill

Observation Deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Admission Free)

Ending Point

At your hotel or the places you prefer to during the tour

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Guiding fee, hotel pick-up in Tokyo/Yokohama/Kawasaki

What‘s not included

Transportation fare (You and guide: From Shinjuku Station to our destination is 250 yen , From Shinjuku Station to Tocho by bus is 180 yen, the rest depends on where your hotel is),

meals, snacks, drinks,

Admission fee of Nihon Minkaen (you and the guide)

Adults (16-64) 500 yen, Seniors (65+) 300 yen, Students (13-) 300 yen Children (0-15) Free

Tour Important Information

Japan Open Air Folk House Museum is built on a hill. There are some slopes and stairs, which are not wheelchair-friendly. We're supposed to walk about more than two hours and a half, so please wear walking shoes.

Some houses are allowed to go in and see if you take off your shoes inside them.

Vending machines are available at many places in the Open-Air Museum and Mt. Masugata Park.

Feel free to make inquires by sending messages to me. If you would like to change the twilight view from Shinjuku to some other places, please let me know, because I'm quite flexible about that.

MInkaen is closed on Mondays

Important message from the supplier

To the tour agents:　　I can only deal with cases when the tourists will pay every necessary admissions and transportation fare themselves.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2017

Yoko T.

4.84 / 5

(161 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yoko T.

Hi, I'm Yoko, a National License Tour Guide＆International Kikisake-shi.

I speak with an American accent, 'cause I lived in Seattle, Washington for six years in my childhood(3-9 years old). My tours might be better with people who LOVE TO WALK, have STAMINA and keen to learn about the culture.

Now I live within a walking distance from Ueno Park, Tokyo, so I see a lot of International tourists walking around in my neighborhood every day.

(PLEASE CHECK EACH TOUR. The expenses are spelled out, too.)

"Tokyo is larger than we thought and the transportations are so complicated," Swedish guys told me. I'm here to help you. I know well about Tokyo, Yokohama, Yamanashi etc. and I travel most of the parts of Japan.

I would appreciate if you could see more sightseeing spots with me as your guide and enjoy your stay.

I love to answer your questions, even though I became nearly breathless when I was with American guests, a family of three, curiously asking me questions after questions:-)

I appreciated their interest in Japan very much.

I also go mountain trekking for nearly thirty years. I've been to the summit of Mt. Fuji and Mt. Kitadake three times. Talking about Mt. Takao, maybe more than fifty times.

I hope we can enjoy the beautiful view together.

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon and having a good time together.

Hope to hearing from you soon.

Reviews

Anne R.

5 / 5

Nov 20, 2025

Tokyo Up-to-You Tour

Nov 20, 2025

Tokyo

8 hours

“Yoko is an awesome guide”

We arranged to spend a day with a private guide so that we could see the highlights of Tokyo, learn the complex subway system and plan for the next few days on our own. We were successful on all three fronts … with Yoko’s help. We visited Meiji Jinga Shrine, East Gardens, Ootoya and Asakusa Denpoin Street, Sensoji and Asakusa Shrine and Nakamise Shopping Street and a few things in between. Yoko is knowledgable about Japan’s history, religions and culture. We learned a lot! She moves quickly and we had trouble keeping up to her from time to time. Glad we did though as we saw and learned lots on our one day tour!

Yoko T.

Thank you so much for a great review.　　Sorry I moved quickly but I made sure that you would take your time and wait. I was amazed that both you and Rick san was energetic enough to make the most of the day even you've been traveling nearly a month already and I didn't notice you were pushing yourselves so much. You were so lucky that we could see a wedding processions when we were at Meiji Jingu and had the great timing to see a special parade of Hirosaki Neputa Festival at Asakusa. I had a great time including talking more over the dinner we had at the Izakaya with the drinks. I hope your grandchildren will enjoy the souvenirs you bought for them and your grandkid who plays Ice Hockey have a great season. Thank you again for everything, Anne san and Rick san!!

Jeannie K.

5 / 5

Oct 31, 2025

Tokyo Up-to-You Tour

Oct 31, 2025

Tokyo

8 hours

“Knowledgeable and experienced ”

Our family of 3 had a great full day tour with Yoko! She determined the best places to visit based on what was available, our interests and the weather! We visited Meiju Jinko shrine, enjoyed a family run traditional tea ceremony and went to a special and authentic Japanese lunch together. In the afternoon we visited a traditional residential neighborhood, enjoyed a few galleries and went to Ueno Park where we learned about more of the history surrounding a few more incredible shrines and temples. And finally Asakusa area where we visited the Senso-ji temple. We definitely would not have seen these places on our own and it was great to have a knowledgeable guide to experience this with! She also gave us a plan for our remaining days in Tokyo. Would recommend her!

Yoko T.

Thank you for the great review and giving the opportunity to meet the wonderful Kenkares. Jay san and your son Cyrus were really nice that I had a great time with all of you. I deeply appreciate that you seemed to enjoy many spots, taking pictures of them. We were lucky to see the only wedding processions in the morning that day at Meiji Jingu Shrine. It was quite interesting to hear you talk about the huge brush with Allan West, Japanese painting artist, at Yanaka. I hope you will remember yesterday when you see his picture. I hope you enjoy Hakone,HIroshima and Kyoto too. Thank you again for the wonderful day, Jeannie san.

Ross S.

5 / 5

Oct 15, 2025

Tokyo Up-to-You Tour

Oct 15, 2025

Tokyo

6 hours

“2 days in Tokyo”

Yoko really added to our experience, was very knowledgeable about history, religion, football, politics etc, also very engaging. She was massive help using trains, shinjuku station is difficult to navigate. Also recommended some nice restaurants. Definitely 5 stars.

Yoko T.

Thank you so much for a great review, Ross san. I really enjoy talking with both you and your lovely wife about various topics. Also it was great that we could visit historical sites like Zojoji Temple and Hibiya Library to know about the Edo Castle which I don't visit that often with the guests. I hope you watch "Perfect Days" directed by Vim Venders shot also at Asakusa and the Shogun Series when you get back to the UK. I hope you enjoy Kyoto and the rest of your stay in Japan.