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Tokyo Imperial Palace History Tour: Temples and Museum
Are you interested in Japanese history? This history tour will perfectly fulfill your curiosity. As an important political center since the 17th Century, the Tokyo Imperial Palace has a significant cultural and historical legacy. See many significant buildings, such as Edo Castle, Shiba-Toshogu Shrine, Zojoji Temple, a Japanese Orthodox church, an archeological museum, and much more. Come and take a stroll through time around the Palace. I am looking forward to sharing Japanese history with you.
Meeting Point
Shibakoen Station (I-05) on Mita line. Hamamatsucho Station (JY-28) on the JR Yamanote line. Meeting at the visitor’s hotel is possible, but the meeting time will be earlier.
9:00 am - Shiba-Toshogu Shrine: Observe this beautifully-decorated shrine, dedicated to the first Shogunate of the Edo era, Tokugawa Ieyasu. The famous gigantic Gingko tree standing near the shrine makes the atmosphere more relaxing and lovely.
10:00 am - Zojoji Temple: The impressive Buddhist temple was founded as a family temple of the Tokugawa clan. Within its complex, there are many interesting constructions, such as the big main hall, which contains a reverent Buddha image inside and monuments of the Tokugawa clan.
11:00 am - The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace: Founded by the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the giant Edo Castle now is open to the public. Although most of the buildings were destroyed during the huge fire in 1657, stunning stone walls, reconstructed structures, and twisted pine trees are enough to feel the good old vibes of ancient Japan.
12:00 pm - Lunch at Jimbocho: The most famous used-bookstore district in Tokyo. Enjoy strolling around and finding your favorite Japanese dish.
1:00 pm - Museum of Meiji University: Learn more about Japanese culture and society by visiting this archeological museum featuring lots of interesting exhibitions, such as unearthed relics and tools.
2:00 pm - Nikorai-do: Enjoy strolling around the Holy Resurrection Cathedral, a Japanese Orthodox church constructed in 1891. Witness the impressive Byzantine architecture inside the 38 meter-high dome.
3:00 pm - Yushima Seido: Visit the prominent Confucian temple during the Edo era, which used to be a school for bureaucrats and be amazed by a huge Confucius statue in the garden and spectacular Chinese architecture.
3:30 pm - End the tour at Ochanomizu Station on JR Line or your hotel.
Ending Point
Ochanomizu Station on JR Line. Ending at the visitor’s hotel is possible
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Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide Fee, Hotel Pick Up and See Off in 23 Wards of Tokyo
Transportation Fee (You and Guide), Lunch (You and Guide), Contribution for Nicholai-do (300Yen/person), Transportation Fee of Guide from Home
Tour Important Information
- The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace is closed on Monday and Friday. However, if Monday is a holiday, it will be opened and closed on Tuesday instead. In this case, we will change to visit Nijubashi and Sakuradamon Gate located in the Imperial Palace Outer Garden.
- The main part of the Imperial Palace is currently occupied by the construction of Daijosai halls, which were used for the Imperial rituals. The visitors can see it from a distance, but may not be allowed to observe it closely. Please, contact the tour guide for further information.
- If the visitor would like to visit Kanda Catholic Church, located near the Holy Resurrection Cathedral, please don’t hesitate to inform the tour guide. However, it is closed on Monday. The visitor can only see it from outside.
Important message from the guide
Any day available, except some paticular days.
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
Tokyo Tour Reviews
“Kazuo is so passionate and detail oriented to help you have an amazing trip”
Kazuo went way beyond what almost any other guide would do for me by helping me plan my trip in detail in advance since so many things require advance booking, planning, etc. He was fantastic!
Kazuo F.
(2 reviews)Dear Chris Thank you for writing such a very good evaluation for me. My job was given priority to arranging your travel. I was deeply impressed by your will to have your son much pleasure in this travel. And I concentrated on it. Your satisfaction is my joy. I am looking forward to assist you also in your next travel. Best Regards, Kazuo
“Excellent, knowledgebale guide!”
Kazuo is really a gentleman, his English is excellent ,and his historical and cultural knowledge of Japan are excellent. Our group was 4 adults and we spent a day with Kazuo seeing incredible places hat would have been very hard to find by ourselves. Kazuo did a lot of research for our trip and he was an excellent guide. I would not hesitate to hire him again, and I highly recommend him! Lastly, our guide took us to a very reasonably priced Japanese restaurant that had very good food for about $10 a person. Kazuo really listens to what you say you want to do, and he is very flexible. We spent a whole day with him and will definitely book with him again!
Kazuo F.
(2 reviews)Jane, I really appreciate such a good evaluation to me. Your requirements were basic knowledge of Japanese history and culture, and preparation for your own stroll in Tokyo later. According to these criteria, I gathered visiting sites in nearby area and stacked into the tour. As my prospect may have been rather optimistic, the time was nearly running out. But the delay was suppressed by your suggestion. All of you seemed to enjoy the tour. It was a wonderful experience also for me. I deeply thank you and am looking forward to next guide for you.
