Ah, Tokyo! So little time, so many places to see! All the places recommended below (see Itinerary) are personal favorites. You can't go wrong with any of them. We’re so flexible we can even extend the tour on the day itself!
There are also 14 packaged tours designed to appeal to your special interests. This includes half day tours of Harajuku, Shinjuku Odaiba and Ueno.
Come, let me show you “My Tokyo”!
Central Tokyo, Yokohama and some hotels in Kawasaki.
Let's talk about samurai and Japan's Imperial family!
Traditional market. The sushi is highly recommended!
Seasonal flowers, a 300 year-old pine tree, cherry blossoms (late March).
Entrance to the garden = 300JPY/person, 150JPY for seniors (the guide has a pass). Optional informal tea ceremony.
•Tokyo Bay area view from the observatory deck of one of the city's tallest buildings. Free entrance
•Scenic ride on the self-driving train. Train fare = 180 to 400JPY (depends on route)/ per person
Man-made island. One of the trendiest places in Tokyo. Check out my Odaiba Tour page for a longer tour of the area.
Food and drinks = 1,500++JPY/person
Kagurazaka is a small old-fashioned geisha town. Back alleys still have the traditional stone pavements. Entrance to the garden = 300JPY/person (the guide has a pass)
Trendy and artisanal shops under elevated train tracks. It's a clever use of space.
Tsukiji Fish Market, depachika in Ginza. A depachika is the food section of department stores. It’s like a wonderland for food!
Most popular tourist destination.
Cruise = 860 to 1,200JPY/person
Lotus pond, museums, temples, and shrines. Check out my Ueno Tour Page if you want to explore Ueno further.
•Recommended meet-up time: 8:00AM at your hotel
•No tuna auction
Please ask the guide about the opening dates for Sumo Museum. Hokusai Museum entrance = 400JPY/person, 300JPY for seniors and children (the guide has a pass). Japanese Sword Museum entrance = 1,000JPY / person
•Yanaka is an old-fashioned residential area which survived a WW2 fire.
•Asakura Museum is the artist Asakura's former residence which features his artwork and traditional architecture (also his design). Entrance = 500JPY/person
Department store, wholesale store, Kabukicho (the former red-light district), and pub street. Check out my Shinjuku Tour Page if you want to see more of Shinjuku.
The biggest Shinto shrine in Tokyo. Soak in the peace and tranquility as we walk through the grounds.
The height of KAWAII - let's discover the ultimate cuteness in this area. Check out my Harajuku & Shibuya Tour Page for a more immersive kawaii experience.
Shibuya Crossing (probably the busiest in the world), Hachiko - faithful dog, and shopping . Shibuya Sky - Best view of Tokyo City Entrance = 2,000JPY/person (the guide has a pass).
•Earthquake simulator ride (at the Safety Education Center) and/or Fire Museum tour = Free entrance.
•Smoke Maze and Mock Firefighting are also available at the Safety Education Center. Advanced bookings required.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo, Kyu Asakura House (traditional house and garden), Tsutaya books and shopping area. It’s a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of Central Tokyo. Fashionistas like the trendy shops and hip cafes in the area.
Tennozu area is a hip town near Haneda airport with lots of modern art monuments and several art galleries.
•Museum entrance fee = around 1,200JPY (depends on the exhibition)
The area is like "5th avenue in N.Y.". International brands are lined up. We will take a taxi from Yurakucho area to Tsukiji Fish Market to save time and energy.
Kabuki is a traditional opera acted by men.
Let's see variety of local food including fish, meat and vegetables & fruits. Sushi knives and other kitchen tools are also sold. Street foods and sushi bars are another treat. When the market is closed we will visit Tsukiji Honganji Buddhist Temple.
Ueno Park and the lotus pond. You have two options to go to the next spot. (walk or taxi)
Over 100 year old traditional merchant house
Immerse yourselves in the traditional residential area with narrow paths.
Traditional houses were converted to nice cafes and shops.
The artist Asakura's former residence which features his artwork and traditional architecture (also his design). Entrance = 500JPY/person
Let's see the life of locals.
At the final destination OR at a pre-agreed place in central Tokyo
Guide fee
The following are PAID IN CASH on the day/s of the tour.
= Transportation during the tour (you & guide) = approx. 1,000++JPY/person (you and the guide)
= Entrance fee (you & guide)
. . . Guide has a pass for some attractions.
= Lunch / food / drink (you & guide)
= tour extension is available
. . . 1 hour 5,000/hour
Earthquake Simulator
= For ages 6 and above.
= Please ask the guide the possible dates.
= Smoke Maze and Mock Firefighting also available with advanced bookings.
Fire Museum
= Children are allowed on the vintage helicopter and retired fire trucks.
= Exhibit of samurai-era firefighters (Hikeshi) includes some Ukiyoe. They were considered heroes at that time as the prevalence of wooden structures led to a lot of fires.
= Closed on Mondays.
The area is crowded on weekends. / Meet-up at outside of central Tokyo = Please contact the guide, first. No meet-up service from Tokyo Sky Tree Area, Sumida, Koto, Narita airport & Tokyo Disney Resort. = Please meet me in the central Tokyo.
Multiple-day bookings are encouraged. I might have greater flexibility in opening closed slots in this case. Let's talk about it. Send me a message! :‑)
MORE INFO:
= We use public transportation (train, subway, bus and/or taxi) in my tours as it's the best way to see the city.
= A custom tour = Please book at least SIX HOURS = 45,000JPY
= The meet-up time marks the official start of the tour.
= Hotel pick-ups = only in Central Tokyo, Yokohama, and a few hotels in Kawasaki.
= Four-hour tours available = Tokyo, Harajuku & Shibuya, Odaiba, Shinjuku, Ueno, Yokohama, and antique flea market. Please check out the corresponding tour pages.
“Shinjuku, Cherry Blossoms, and Shopping!”
If you're looking for a customized tour, reach out to Toshi. She was flexible, organized, and very pleasant company. I had a day to myself in Tokyo while my husband was at a conference. I booked a custom tour with Toshi, and am so glad that I did! Our trip was at the tail end of cherry blossom season, so weren't seeing very many blossoms near our hotel. Toshi took me to the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden where there were other varieties in full bloom. It was beautiful! I'm an artist and had scouted out a couple of art supply stores before our trip. Toshi advised which ones would be feasible to visit during our timeframe, and then offered suggestions of other things we could do/see in the area near the shops. We saw some 'hidden gems', including a local Shinto shrine, Godzilla, and Omoide Yokocho. Toshi was constantly sharing information about the area and its history as we explored. She made sure I was comfortable, filled the role of interpreter, and ensured I had a great day. Thank you, Toshi!
Toshi H.
(126 reviews)Arigato, Annie! I also had a wonderful time with you. So glad that we managed to hit the places you wanted to visit - shopping, cherry blossoms and sightseeing. Please come back here in late November to see the fall foliage. I'm sure it will give you a lot of inspiration for your paintings. Hope to see you again.
“Great tour with Toshi, excellent knowledge, and covered all the key sites”
We arranged to meet Toshi at the station and were immediately put at ease after meeting Toshi. Her knowledge and English were excellent and we experienced many aspects of Yokohama. We enjoyed a Chinese lunch (inexpensive) in China Town followed by a taxi ride to Sankeien Gardens. Again Toshi had very good knowledge of the most interesting aspects of the garden . In summary, we can highly recommend Toshi to provide an excellent private tour of Yokohama.
Toshi H.
(126 reviews)Thank you, Peter! It was a pleasure meeting you and your wife. Yokohama is one of my favorite places as the bay area is postcard pretty. Yokohama being historically significant yet considered a trend setter makes it very interesting to many visitors. Take care and I hope to tour you to other places in the future!
“Great custom tour”
We highly recommend Toshi. We asked for a customized tour for me and wife. A tour that would match our preferences and abilities. Toshi planned and executed just the right tour for us. She even adjusted it on the fly when needed. Toshi proved to be a knowledgeable guide well versed in the history of Japan in general and Tokyo in particular. She is also great fun to spend time with.
Toshi H.
(126 reviews)Thank you very much, Ami! I'm truly delighted to have you here in Tokyo. We were able to see a variety of places in one day. Our day began with a sense of reverence at Meiji-jingu Shrine. At Harajuku, we witnessed the vibrant fashion trends among the youth. Asakusa provided us with a unique blend of traditional charm and bustling energy. The Imperial Palace stood majestically beside the business district. Tokyo is full of surprises, isn't it? I sincerely hope you continue your Japanese adventure filled with joy and excitement. Enjoy the rest of your Japan adventure! Please take care of yourself.