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.
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
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
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)
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.
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.
Pat T.
“8 hours in Kamakura from Yokohama ”
First off, being met by a guide, at the hotel is always a plus. If you like guides who are up front, matter of fact, and who knows the area she is offering a tour for, Yoko is a great choice. If you like face to face sharing of historical information attached to the many temples and shrines in Kamakura, Yoko is a great choice. If you want to have a personalized tour taking into account your own tour goals, interests, and lunch preference, Yoko is a great choice. There certainly was a lot of walking. Yoko was upfront about the tour in her narrative, and kept to her word of covering the “must see” things but also took us deeper into Kamakura neighborhoods to explore the “off the beaten path temples/shrines/sites. It is not a hike for those without stamina. Nor one for. those who may be sensitive to the heat of Japan’s July. Despite the challenge is weather and terrain (balanced by my own limits of physicality) Yoko gave us ample time to rest in the shade, use the facilities, have a drink or snack, or peruse an AC chilled store, all the while also being sure we covered as much as we could in the 8 hour shared experience. Yoko provided a first time run through experience that was both informative and intriguing…enough so that my 17 year old son was attentive, and excited he was able to enjoy Kamakura the way we all did. Japan can be very busy, especially at the transit stations, so I would suggest you keep up with your guide, don’t feel rushed just stay close because they are trying to get you somewhere in the time given. If you are looking for a leisurely stroll without a time based march through the day, then don’t choose this tour. There is lots of steps to take (literally) to cover the terrain that Yoko would like to show. It was a ethno-cultural day of temples and shrines, and that was a lot to take in. We got what we expected to get, and hopefully enough confidence to return on our own some time in the future.
Yoko T.
Thank you so much for the detailed review, Patrice san. It was a tremendously Atsui day so Otsukare-sama-deshita. I always adjust the Kamakura tour based on the level of physical strength of the guests. Some elderly in the group couldn't do stairs and some weren't interested in the shopping streets at all. I was happy that the four of you could walk a lot but sorry I didn't notice you had troubles with your shoes until the very last minute when we came back to Yokohama. You were so energetic that I failed to sense that and I enjoyed talking with you and your family. There is so much to see in Kamakura that maybe you didn't have enough time but we took time at Komachi Street too. I was glad that you enjoyed the lunch and liked Shirasu, baby sardines, that not many people could appreciate. Somehow we could come back to your hotel neighborhood slightly before being mobbed with the rush hour crowds. Please tell Dylan that the store Mugiwara is at Shibuya Magnet just in case he forgot it 'cause he wasn't jotting down but maybe he remembers anyway. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay and cruises. Have fun, please!!
Olle L.
“Yoko is a powerhouse”
Yoko was guiding us through the masses of Tokyo with great pace and knowledge even though we were quite tired after de 14 hour flight so was really helful of extending our tour to two day shorter tours . Highly recommended.
Yoko T.
Wow, thank you so much for a great review, Sir. It was a great pleasure for me to guide you and your great family. I really loved talking with your wife who expressed so much positive comments about East Gardens and Meiji Jingu Shrine etc. I was also amazed with the politeness of the younger group including your beautiful and active daughters. I hope you enjoyed more sake after the ones at Asakusa and other spots in Japan. Thank you so much again!!
Dinu B.
“Tokyo tour with a pro”
Loved the time we spent with Yoko in Tokyo. We had planned for a trip to Mt Fuji initially, but as the weather was very unfavourable, Yoko offered to show us around some of the most interesting sites in the city. She knows Tokyo inside out, spoke perfect English, and was very pleasant company all throughout. I ended up regretting that I did not book more days with her, but I am thankful for the one I had. Otsukaresama deshita.
Yoko T.
I really appreciate your great review. I had so much fun with you, your wife Ioana and your friends. I was deeply amazed with your group reading SHOGUN and the numbers of Japanese movies you saw before you came to Japan. I still believe Mount Fuji is the most beautiful in February. I will dream of you coming back with your daughter some day. I hope you have a nice flight back tomorrow. Arigato gozaimashita!! Thank you again for the wonderful time. See you!!
$170/ per group