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
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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.
Jeannie K.
“Knowledgeable and experienced ”
Our family of 3 had a great full day tour with Yoko! She determined the best places to visit based on what was available, our interests and the weather! We visited Meiju Jinko shrine, enjoyed a family run traditional tea ceremony and went to a special and authentic Japanese lunch together. In the afternoon we visited a traditional residential neighborhood, enjoyed a few galleries and went to Ueno Park where we learned about more of the history surrounding a few more incredible shrines and temples. And finally Asakusa area where we visited the Senso-ji temple. We definitely would not have seen these places on our own and it was great to have a knowledgeable guide to experience this with! She also gave us a plan for our remaining days in Tokyo. Would recommend her!
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Yoko T.
Thank you for the great review and giving the opportunity to meet the wonderful Kenkares. Jay san and your son Cyrus were really nice that I had a great time with all of you. I deeply appreciate that you seemed to enjoy many spots, taking pictures of them. We were lucky to see the only wedding processions in the morning that day at Meiji Jingu Shrine. It was quite interesting to hear you talk about the huge brush with Allan West, Japanese painting artist, at Yanaka. I hope you will remember yesterday when you see his picture. I hope you enjoy Hakone,HIroshima and Kyoto too. Thank you again for the wonderful day, Jeannie san.
Ross S.
“2 days in Tokyo”
Yoko really added to our experience, was very knowledgeable about history, religion, football, politics etc, also very engaging. She was massive help using trains, shinjuku station is difficult to navigate. Also recommended some nice restaurants. Definitely 5 stars.
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Yoko T.
Thank you so much for a great review, Ross san. I really enjoy talking with both you and your lovely wife about various topics. Also it was great that we could visit historical sites like Zojoji Temple and Hibiya Library to know about the Edo Castle which I don't visit that often with the guests. I hope you watch "Perfect Days" directed by Vim Venders shot also at Asakusa and the Shogun Series when you get back to the UK. I hope you enjoy Kyoto and the rest of your stay in Japan.
Susan A.
“Great Tour with Yoko T.”
If you like to walk, Yoko will give you a great tour. She took us all over Tokyo and tailored the tour to whst we wanted to see. I wanted to see Hina dolls and she took us to see them and explained the history. We walked around Yanaka and saw traditional houses, Shinto shrine, and ate at a restaurant that served food like you would eat in a Japanese home. She suggested we visit the Yamatate Museum. She also took us to OTA museum for wood block prints. But most importantly Yoko -San of helped us buy our Kabuki tickets beforehand, suggested restaurants to eat at, told us where to buy bento boxes for Kabuki theatre, etc. etc. Thank you Yoko for taking such good care of us. Sue and Pat
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Yoko T.
Thank you so much for a great review, Susan san and Patrick san. It was a great pleasure of mine to be of help for you. Susan san, I really love how you appreciate our Japanese culture not only the Japanese paintings but also Kabuki acts as much as you can with making various lovely comments. We could enjoy the quieter Tokyo including the off the beaten path around Yanaka and Nezu Shrine while I felt sorry that Omotesando Boulvevard was overcrowded on Saturday to enjoy the Pritzker architecture but we can see some unique fashion of the youngsters there. I appreciate so much your kindness and your generosity again. I hope you could enjoy more of Japan by visiting Hakone, Takayama and Kyoto during your tour. Have fun, please!!
$162/ per group
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