- Tours›
- Art, Culture, & Historical
Tour of Samurai town good for stopover tourists !!
SAKURA city is most suitable sightseeing spot for the tourist who are going to stay in Narita or transit at Narita Airport!! Besides its locational advantage,it exposes all visitors to the Samurai warrior's culture and lifestyle. Because, it's a castle town flourished as a strategic point to protect the east of Edo. I invite you to slip back in time to the Samurai period!!
Meeting Point
Narita Airport,Your hotel in Narita,Your hotel in Tokyo also available(at 1,500 JPY/group)
Samurai retainer's residential quarter in Sakura city
“Visit Samurai retainer's residential quarter designated as Japan Heritage.(Samurai houses built in the late Edo Period!!)”
There are three old Samurai Houses(※) along the main street(named Samurai Houses Street) of the quarter, surrounded by high walls and quick hedges, where you can feel the nostalgic air of Samurai-era. These well preserved residences were built in the later half of Edo Period where some samurai of SAKURA clan(samurai retainer) really used to live. These rarely seen Samurai Houses still remaining and open to the public definitely expose you to the samurai's life style!!
(※)This group of Samurai Houses is the one of the cultural properties that make up the Japan Heritage titled "Edo-Era Travelogue of Four Hokuso cities' traditional townscape filled with the nostalgic air of Edo"
SAKURA Castle Ruins Park
“Stroll SAKURA Castle Ruins Park.(The ruins is also Japan Heritage)”
This expansive and beautiful park is set amidst the ruins of SAKURA Castle(※) used to serve as a strategic point to protect the east of Edo from 1617 to 1868. There's little left of the original castle, but there still remain the ruins of the fortifications such as defensive mounds,dry moats, water-filled moats and rarely seen large-sized "馬出し空堀 Umadashi-karabori" or a type of dry moat demarcated an enclosure(bailey) along with earthen embankments(ramparts). The enclosure served as a hidden entranceway(more likely a carriage porch space) for samurai on horseback!!
That's why you can feel the nostalgic air of samurai-era here!!
(※)This group of the ruins is also the one of the cultural properties that make up the Japan Heritage.
National Museum of Japanese History
“The tour of the National Museum of Japanese History in the park(Japan's largest museum of history and folklore)and lunch”
The REKIHAKU located in the park,which is Japan's only nationally operated and the largest museum of history and folklore,houses and displays some 230,000 artifacts of historical importance and cultural value that together help to tell the story of Japan's past!!(Its exhibits cover age periods from ancient to modern times,visually presenting the various moments of history,and scenes of everyday popular life.(※) )
In developing its galleries,REKIHAKU has endeavored to produce concrete,visual exhibits that facilitate an understanding of Japanese history and culture,relying on both the numerous authentic artifacts in its collection, and faithfully reproduced replicas and scale models based on academic validations.
At the end of REKIHAKU tour, you can drop by the museum store, where research bulletins, exhibition catalogues, and other REKIHAKU publications including visitor's guide book(summary of all the Galleries of this museum written in English) are available for purchase. Also available are picture postcards of museum artifacts,a variety of handicrafts, and an extensive collection of museum catalogues from around Japan!!
That's why I'm sure that you can most easily deepen your understanding on Japanese history and folklore through this exciting REKIHAKU tour!!
(※)The permanent exhibitions span six galleries from prehistoric to modern times.
Ending Point
Narita Airport,Your hotel in Narita,Your hotel in Tokyo also available(at 1,500 JPY/group)
Want to personalize this tour?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
- Click below to tell us what you are looking for:
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee,pick-up and drop off from/at Narita area(airport,station,your hotel),transportation fee(guide)
Transportation fee(you) : 920 JPY/person(from/to Narita airport station) ,The Old Samurai Houses admission fee (you) : 210 JPY/person, The National Museum admission fee(you) : 600 JPY/person ,lunch(you&guide:if any), pick-up from your hotel in Tokyo : 1,500 JPY/group ,drop off at your hotel in Tokyo : 1,500 JPY/group, Bathing fee for the hot spring(you:if any):800JPY/person
Tour Important Information
◆Points of attention◆
1.Not available on Monday as all of the spots are closed.
2.Since the closing time of the final destination(the REKIHAKU museum) is 16:30, we should preferably start by 12:30 at the latest. (In the case of meeting in Tokyo, preferably by 11:30. And the duration of the tour will be 5 hours,but no extra charge!!)
3.Comfortable shoes are recommended as we walk approximately 6 km in total and there're several slopes.
◆What to expect◆
This tour would be perfect for tourists who are interested in traditional Japanese culture derived from Samurai warrior's culture and lifestyles.
Additionally,its locational advantage(60 minutes from Tokyo and 30 minutes to Narita airport by train) makes easier for many tourists including people of the layover in the Narita Airport to use the available time effectively.
This interesting tour set in both rarely seen historic sites and the best museum of history will make you immerse in a atmosphere of old times!!
◆About Sakura city◆
SAKURA city located in Hokuso District,the northeastern region of Chiba Prefecture,is designated as ”Japan Heritage” along with other three cities of this district.
The title of ”Japan Heritage” is granted by Agency for Cultural Affairs to the quality of a consistent story narrating the Japan’s culture and tradition finely studded with the historic charm and character of each locality.(Titled:"Edo-Era Travelogue of Four Hokuso cities;an excursion around Edo towns,with traditional townscape filled with the nostalgic air of Edo(old Tokyo)")
The specific reason for the designation is that Four Hokuso cities including SAKURA used to support Edo, a big city with a population of over one million by sending a broad range of things necessary for daily life for Edo and even now have preserved a number of traditional views of landscape and townscape, which the visitors from Edo used to frequent to see. (Unlike Tokyo, these local towns didn't suffer major damage from air raids during World War Ⅱ.)
Particularly,SAKURA is a castle town that flourished as a strategic point to protect the east of Edo and still have preserved a remnant of Samurai town!! We invite you to slip back in time to the Edo Period(1603～1868) in this local town abounds in rich nature around Inba lake.
◆General flow of the Tour◆
Starting from Narita area(airport,station,your hotel,etc),we're going to Keisei SAKURA Station by train.(ex.19min. from Narita Airport station to Keisei SAKURA station)
This walking tour of the following 3 sites starts from Keisei SAKURA station!!
・Firstly,you'll visit "Samurai retainer's residential quarter".
・Secondly,you'll visit "SAKURA Castle Ruins Park".
・Lastly, the tour of "the National Museum of Japanese History(known popularly in Japanese as REKIHAKU)"
After the museum tour,We'll go back to the Keisei SAKURA station by walking(20minutes) or route bus or Taxi.(You choose amongst these three options depending on your physical condition !!).
Monday is not available.
Important message from the guide
Please send me message for inquiry about availability for activities regardless of the Availability Calendar.
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
Narita Tour Reviews
Audrey H.
Tour of Tokyo's selected sites to learn about Japan !!
“Amazing way to learn the city and history”
We couldn't have asked for a better first day in Tokyo! Hiroki-san was gracious, funny, and was able to help us navigate the most confusing subway system we've ever seen! As first timers to Japan, it was very overwhelming trying to find what to do and how to travel there. By doing this tour, we not only traversed the city, but learned so many different things in the process! Hiroki-san was even able to customize our day based on preferences we provided. We never had to pull out a phone to navigate, got amazing pictures, and will cherish these memories forever!
Hiroki K.
(51 reviews)Dear Audrey san, Thank you so much for choosing me as a tour guide on your first day in Japan and writing such a great review despite being busy getting ready for many things !! During the tour I really had a great time with you and your wonderful family, and yesterday was a day that leaves behind an enjoyable memory !! Also, your sincere attitude towards learning Japan really impressed me !! Thanks to the information for your preferences you gave me beforehand, I was able to customize your day smoothly. Thank you again, and please give my best regards to Josh-san and Ryan-san !! Sincerely, Hiroki
Rajeev K.
Tour of Tokyo's selected sites to learn about Japan !!
“Enlightening experience”
Hiroki-san is a very kind and knowledgeable individual. I had a superb time with him exploring the treasures of Tokyo. His command over Japan's history is just amazing. I would definitely recommend Hiroki-san to anyone who has a free day to explore Tokyo city.
Hiroki K.
(51 reviews)Dear Rajeev-san, Thank you so much for choosing me as a tour guide on your last day in Japan and writing such a wonderful review on my tour despite being busy just before your flight !! Since my happiest moments are when I hear that my guests had a memorable time, your heartfelt review really inspired me !! Thank you again, and have a nice flight to Singapore !! Sincerely, Hiroki
“lovely man very helpful”
lovely man very helpful
Hiroki K.
(51 reviews)Dear Simone, Thank you very much for taking the"Tokyo custom booking" and giving me the excellent tour review!! Since the itinerary consisted of not only the destinations how to learn about Japanese history and tradition but also the experience of the contemporary Geek Culture,thanks to your honest request given me beforehand, I’m sure you’re able to fully enjoy the tour !! (Particularly, the Maid Cafe was so fun !?) Thank you again, ang hope to see you again !! Sincerely, Hiroki
