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.
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?
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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.
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
To the tour agents: I can only deal with cases when the tourists will pay every necessary admissions and transportation fare themselves.
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
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
Anne R.
“Yoko is an awesome guide”
We arranged to spend a day with a private guide so that we could see the highlights of Tokyo, learn the complex subway system and plan for the next few days on our own. We were successful on all three fronts … with Yoko’s help. We visited Meiji Jinga Shrine, East Gardens, Ootoya and Asakusa Denpoin Street, Sensoji and Asakusa Shrine and Nakamise Shopping Street and a few things in between. Yoko is knowledgable about Japan’s history, religions and culture. We learned a lot! She moves quickly and we had trouble keeping up to her from time to time. Glad we did though as we saw and learned lots on our one day tour!
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Yoko T.
Thank you so much for a great review. Sorry I moved quickly but I made sure that you would take your time and wait. I was amazed that both you and Rick san was energetic enough to make the most of the day even you've been traveling nearly a month already and I didn't notice you were pushing yourselves so much. You were so lucky that we could see a wedding processions when we were at Meiji Jingu and had the great timing to see a special parade of Hirosaki Neputa Festival at Asakusa. I had a great time including talking more over the dinner we had at the Izakaya with the drinks. I hope your grandchildren will enjoy the souvenirs you bought for them and your grandkid who plays Ice Hockey have a great season. Thank you again for everything, Anne san and Rick san!!
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.
$159/ per group
More tours by Yoko T.
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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 we might only visit three or four spots a day.
Tokyo Up-to-You Tour
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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.
Mt. Fuji's View from Lake Kawaguchiko Up-to-You Tour starting from Shinjuku
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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.
Early Risers' Nikko Up-to-You Tour by Tobu Limited Express
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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.
Flowers in Kamakura: Great Buddha, Hasedera & Eishoji Temple
Other Popular Shopping Tours in Tokyo
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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.
Ginza Line Tour
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Tokyo Vintage Fashion Tour
You love fashion, and you love the planet, so this tour will help you to rock your amazing style without hurting the environment thanks to Vintage or resale shops in Shimokitazawa or Harajuku, I will customize your tour based on your preference and interests. This walking tour is particularly suitable for any fashion and style lover who wants to meet vintage shops. Let's get this one! :)
Tokyo Vintage Fashion Tour
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Vintage Fashion Tour
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.
Vintage Fashion Tour
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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.
One-day tour in Tokyo with a focus on your preferred shopping and entertainment.
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