Discover Japan: Japanese Garden & HANDICRAFT shopping
Joined 2017
Curious about the history of ancient Japan and its rich traditions in handmade crafts? This private walking tour is perfect for you. After visiting one of the Japanese gardens of your choice from: East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Hamarikyu Gardens, or Koishikawa Kourakuen, we will visit Nihonbashi, the commercial center of Edo-Tokyo from more than three hundred years ago. You will surely be amazed by the variety of handmade Japanese traditional crafts and the richness of Japanese history.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At the lobby of your hotel in Tokyo
9 AM: We will visit one of the three: East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Hamarikyu Gardens, or Koishikawa Kourakuen, which are considered the best Japanese Gardens in the city.
10:30 AM: Drop in the souvenir corners of Nihonbashi Information Center, which sells products from Nihonbashi's historical and famous shops that you won't be able to find anywhere else!
11:00 AM: Nihonbashi Bridge, a twin arch bridge made of stone more than 100 years old
11:30 AM: Nihonbashi Toyama Store - A shopping center for food, crafts & gifts from Toyama prefecture, where you can see the famous sculpture of Inami originally from Toyama Prefecture. *Closed from Dec.31 to Jan.2
12:00 PM: Visit Hakuza Nihonbashi, Gold Leaf Store, where handbags, earrings, and cosmetics get a golden touch! *Closed on New Year's Day
12:30 PM: Explore Ibasen Fan Store (founded in 1590), a sophisticated shop of 400-year traditional paper fan *Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, Dec.28-Jan.4
1:00 PM: Ozuwashi Traditional Japanese paper store, where Washi - UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Objects is displayed with a large variety of patterns and designs. (founded in 1653). *Closed on Sundays, Dec.28-Jan.3
1:45 PM: Mitsukoshi Department Store *Closed on Jan.1, 23, and Feb.20
2:15 PM: Visit Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square and/or Kobuchicho of Kabukiza and enjoy the delicacy and intricacy of all various designated handicrafts (Closed from Dec.29 to Jan.3)
3:00 PM: End of tour.
Ending Point
At your hotel or the places you prefer
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
Guiding fee, hotel pick-up in Tokyo, the guide's admission fee for the Japanese gardens.
There is no admission fee for the East Gardens.
- Transportation fare for you and the guide. We might buy a Metro One day Pass at 600 yen at the beginning of the tour.
- Meals, snacks, drinks, admission fee (Hamarikyu Gardens/Koishikawa Korakuen: 300 yen, over 65 years old: 150 yen)
Tour Important Information
The East Gardens will be closed on Mondays and Fridays, so please choose Hamarikyu Gardens or Koishikawa on those days.
On Sundays, we cannot visit Ibasen and Ozuwashi, but we can visit some other stores instead. It’s possible to add a lacquerware shop and some others and the craft shop of Mitsukoshi Department Store.
Choosing Sato Sakura Museum, having a Japanese painting collection including cherry blossom pictures, at Nakameguro or the National Museum of Modern Art at Takebashi instead of a Japanese garden is possible except Mondays as long as you pay the admission fee of you and your guide. (Sato Sakura Museum: Adults 500 yen, Over 70 years old 400 yen/ the National Museum of Modern Art: Adults 500 yen, College Students 250 yen)
Sato Sakura Museum will be closed from December 29th to January 4th, January 9th, and February 13th). Starting after your lunch is also possible.
Suggestions, requests are welcomed. Please make inquiries by sending me messages.
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
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
“Yoko tour —February 2025”
Yoko provided great tour learning about some of Tokyo’s older neighborhoods with a stop at a local family restaurant for a delicious lunch. This is the second time we hired Yoko and she again exceeded our expectations. The tea ceremony proved to be the highlight in watching and learning about this traditional activity. The National Museum was enhanced with all Yoko’s pertinent facts. Finally, the performance at the Kabukiza Theatre topped off a wonderful day with her expert explanations and historical references. Yoko planned the perfect day for our limited time in Tokyo and she was very accommodating with our requests. Highly recommend Yoko. T. Atkins
Yoko T.
I deeply appreciate you choosing me again after our first tours in Tokyo and Mount Fuji area two year ago and the amazing review, Thomas san. We visited Yanaka Cemetry and its neighboring residential area, Nezu Shrine and Ueno Park. I'm happy you enjoy conversations with the lovely family who hosted the tea ceremony. I knew that Atsuko san played Lacrosse in her university days but it was quite a surprise that you also played it. I was quite honored to enjoy the great performance of Akoya and a dance together with you and Mickey and felt satisfied with two of you praising as it was "Marvelous." Let's visit Kamakura together the next time you come. Till then please take good care of yourselves. Thank you again for everything. Sincerely, Yoko
“First time to Tokyo with 1 day to see the sights - YOKO was amazing!”
We only had one day to see Tokyo and we were in the best hands. Yoko had great ideas for us, was so helpful. We got around Tokyo effortlessly with Yoko and saw all the things we wanted to. We can't thank her enough and would highly recommend her for trip to Tokyo. Thank you so much Yoko! :)
Yoko T.
I deeply appreciate you posting the review of your client and friend Ben san's, especially when I'm having a hard time because a irrational libel was posted by a dementia guy who arranged a trip for his "friends" and the office staff won't remove it even it was full of false statements. I really had a great time myself talking with Ben san and Noah san. They were fast walkers so we could cover a lot in a day. Rebecca san, I hope you can enjoy fluffy snow next month, Thank you again, Yoko
Fanny B.
Early Risers' Nikko Up-to-You Tour by Tobu Limited Express
“Beautiful day in Nikko”
The day could not have been more beautiful. Yoko is a fountain of information. She was also very patient with us and that might not of been the easiest thing to do and I appreciate that very much. Thank you Yoko for your tips and all the info you gave us to make our trip better.
Yoko T.
I appreciate your wonderful review, Fanny san. It was really nice meeting you and Alex. It was a beautiful day just like your name bringing the amazing weather. I was akso quite surprised with Alex knowing Amaterasu and so many other things about Japan. I hope you enjoyed the Izakaya dinner. It is a good way to experience a lot of different kind of Japanese cuisine. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay so if l have any questions feel free to send them. Thank you again for the review and the wonderful day. Have fun, please!!
$164/ per group
More tours by Yoko T.
Tokyo Up-to-You Tour
I recommend ending up the day with the night view of the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Bay, the most beautiful night view in Tokyo I would like you to see. We will visit the spots you would like to in Tokyo.I will make an itinerary based on your choices and requests. (The popular highlights will be Meiji Jingu Shrine, East Gardens and Asakusa with Nakamise Souvenir Shopping Streets.) Sightseeing spots in Tokyo is widely spread, so I guess we can only visit three or four spots a day.
Mt. Fuji's View from Lake Kawaguchiko Up-to-You Tour starting from Shinjuku
Mt. Fuji isn't always visible, especially when it's hazy. Please choose the spots in the highlights you would like to visit around Kawaguchiko/ Mt. Fuji, based on your interest/preferences, your physical condition and the weather. It depends on which ones you choose, but I'll do my best to arrange it the way you can visit more than three of them but if you choose both Chureito Pagoda and Nemba, you might not be able to choose the other options unless you are willing to use taxis.
Early Risers' Nikko Up-to-You Tour by Tobu Limited Express
Nikko, which has been acknowledged as World Heritage in 1999, has temples and shrines with awesome sculptures.We will ride a Tobu Limited Express train for approximately two hours from the west side of Tokyo area/Saitama to visit there and take time to appreciate them.You can enjoy Yuba (tofu skin), which is one of the local specialities, buckwheat noodles or curry and rice etc. as lunch.
Flowers in Kamakura: Great Buddha, Hasedera & Eishoji Temple
Kamakura is a very healing city, which became the capital of Samurai at the end of the 12th century, and has a lot of temples where we can see lovely flowers. We will ride a train for approximately an hour or so from Tokyo/Yokohama/Kawasaki area to visit there. Appreciating the flowers, some temples and shrines, we can also enjoy the beautiful twilight seaview.
Other Popular Shopping Tours in Tokyo
One-day tour in Tokyo with a focus on your preferred shopping and entertainment.
After the hotel meetup, in the original plan, the tour starts from visiting Ueno Park, walking around the big pond, checking out Toshogu Shrine and Saigo Statue. Afterwards, depending on the preference, visiting the Ueno Zoo or National Museum (or not). Grabbing lunch nearby, then heading out to Ameyoko Shotengai closeby, potentially trying karaoke & game centers as well. Last, heading to Shibuya to check out the famous Shibuya Crossing, wrapping up shopping/dining/entertainment you like.
Ginza Line Tour
Explore Tokyo’s top sights on this adaptable Ginza Line tour with the 600 yen Metro day pass. Visit Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple and Kaminarimon Gate, then enjoy Ueno’s street food scene. Discover Ginza’s luxury vibe, including a whiskey experience, and dive into Shibuya with its famous Crossing, anime shops, and Nintendo Store. The tour blends highlights like Ueno food, Ginza whiskey, and Shibuya anime tours, offering flexibility to match your interests.
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This tour is for vintage fashion lover. On this tour, you can experience shopping for vintage clothing in Harajuku and Shibuya. I will customize your tour according to your preferences.
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Ikebukuro has many famous manga-related shops. You don't have to be a collector to have fun at places like ``Animate,'' ``Book Off,'' and anime cafes. There is a large ”gachapon shop” too. Let's go looking for limited edition and rare items!
