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Discover Japan: Japanese Garden & HANDICRAFT shopping
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.
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?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
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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.
Important message from the supplier
It will be first booked, first served basis, but could you make inquiries before booking?
If you're interested in TOKYO, MOUNT FUJI, or NIKKO, please CHECK the TOURS before you make inquiries.
(Some transportation for Mount Fuji or Nikko might be fully booked if you do last minute booking.)
I could also guide KYOTO, HIMEJI etc. if you will cover my transportation fare round trip from Tokyo.
If you'd like a car chartered, please check the PRIVATE CARS TOUR by yourself.
It's concerned with your budget, so I'm afraid I cannot make arrangements for that, but I will be happy to guide you with the car you chartered.
It's impossible to make quotes without knowing the spots you would like to visit.
Nikko and Mount Fuji are approximately two hours on Limited Express from Shinjuku or Asakusa.
Tokyo is not a compact city, but a huge one.
If you have difficulties with stairs, please tell me in your message. Thank you.
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
Robert G.
Relax at Hamarikyu Gardens ＆ Ueno Park/Tsukiji Outer Market
“Great Tour of Tokyo”
We had a lovely guide in Tokyo, Yoko, who was with us for two days. Her English was impeccable. The first day she took us to the main shrines Meiji - Jingu ( where we saw several wedding parties) and Senso-ji along with teaching us how to navigate the metro and train system! We wanted ramen for lunch and Yoko delivered! We found Yoko easy to be with and full of energy - she gave information easily without having to prompt her. She never wearies of questions either! We were familiar with the shogunate eras but she was able to fill in all the blanks for us without drowning us in facts and numbers as well as our “knowledge” of the yakuza from “Tokyo Vice”! We enjoyed her so much we asked to book her for a second day while she guided us through the Imperial Gardens. She not only knows her history but also the names of plants and trees to help understand the beautiful gardens. We mentioned that we wanted to buy a knife and go to the Tsukiji market. She mentioned a free event at the Anakusa Cultural Tourist Center where we were able to see geishas perform traditional dances and one of the 6 houkan ( male counterpoint to the geisha) left in Japan. In order to attend the event I had to cancel my tickets to the Yayoi Kusama museum and Yoko found a different time that I could repurchase my tickets so that we could do it all. She reworked our schedule so that we could do it all!! She took us to a nice restaurant for lunch that was superb and a favorite of locals. She was so helpful with information regarding other things we had planned and would readily share travel information and other ideas for our remaining days in Tokyo! If only we could have had her travel to Kyoto with us too! My husband and I highly recommend Yoko but I warn you - you better have your walking shoes on or you will not be able to keep up with her!!
Yoko T.
(133 reviews)Martha san, thank you so much for writing such an incredible review. I deeply appreciate both you and Robert san enjoyed Japanese culture and cuisines so much. I had a great time talking with both of you. I also wanted to show you interesting spots in Yanaka besides Yanaka Ginza so sorry we ran out of time. As you often have a business trip to Japan, I will hope I can show you around the gorgeous, artistic World Heritage Nikko some day soon. Thank you again for such a lovely heartful review and your generosity. I hope you have a nice flight back to the States.
“Action packed fun day!”
We had a great time with Yoko, it was an action-packed day with a combination of history, architecture, and fun. Yoko is very knowledgeable and planned a great itinerary. While I won't go into too much detail of our itinerary--she hit all the points we planned and was flexible in including some fun stops--including the free view of the city, rainbow cotton candy and even dropping us off at the sushi restaurant at the end of our day. We are a family of 4 with two kids 11 and 9, she balanced our itinerary so that it was both fun and informative. When booking recommend doing it earlier in your trip--she has some great tips on travel, saving money and other sights. Highly recommend!
Yoko T.
(133 reviews)Thank you so much for a great review, Adel san！！ I was impressed that you'd like to have the educational part for your lovely kids. Connor and Audrey. I was wondering if Connor could walk thru the Meiji Jingu Shrine when he complained about walking another hour but he did it!! It was such a lovely day meeting all of you. I was amazed with Audrey not only being cute but smart like her parents. The kids seemed to be too young to enjoy the sushi yet but I was happy to share the moments enjoying the huge cotton candies and the fun day together. I'll be looking forward to seeing you again soon. Thank you again for the great day and a wonderful review.
“Excellent ”
Yoko met us at our hotel and showed us the historic areas of Tokyo like we requested. She was very informative and her English is better than most people in the U.S.
Yoko T.
(133 reviews)Wow, thank you for your prompt reply. It was fun meeting you and your family. The mom and daughter quiz competition was highlight of the day. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay. Thank you again for the lovely day, Yoko
