We will visit several places in Tokyo where you can experience traditional and modern Japan in one day.
Please select some places from the list below or just let me know what kind of attractions you are interested in, then I will propose a one-day tour itinerary for you.
This tour is so flexible that we can change our itinerary depending on your interests. If you are Muslim, we can visit Tokyo Camii mosque and Halal restaurant.
At your hotel in Tokyo.
This is the oldest and the most popular temple in Tokyo with a big gate and 5 story pagoda. Nakamise-Dori is a pedestrian street leading to the temple lined with many traditional shops and souvenir stands.
Kappabashi is a place full of restaurant supply stores. If you are interested in kitchen knives or potteries, this is the place to go.
Each store has its own specialty ; dishes, furniture, aprons and hats, baking utensils, cooking utensils, lanterns and super-real plastic display food.
It’s the second tallest free-standing broadcasting tower in the world (634m ). Its higher observation room is at the height of 450m.
I will wait at the bottom of the tower, if you think 3,100JPY for the guide is too much.
There are about 60 wholesalers and 400 retail shops here. You can taste some street food like seafood BBQ and fresh fruits. You can enjoy the best sushi as well.
Basically, it’s close on Wednesday, Sunday and national holiday.
This is one of the biggest temples in Japan and quite unique.
Its main hall is an Indian style not like a traditional temple.
This is a typical Daimyo(Japanese feudal lord) garden in the Edo period (1603-1868) with a tidal pond and two wild-duck hunting sites.
It is considered one of the most important parks of the Meiji Era.(1869-1912) It's wonderful for strolling because of the variety of its planed gardens; styles range from French and English to Japanese traditional.
You can have a sky view of Tokyo at the height of 202m.
It’s not as tall as the Sky Tree, but it's tall enough and free of charge.
The beauty of Samurai spirit is shown in Japanese swords and their costumes. You can see what samurai spirit is and feel their spirits still living in today’s Japanese people. As there are good guides in this museum, you don’t need to pay my admission fee.
Don't misunderstand! This is not a restaurant but a theater where you can watch a crazy show with simple food.
If you want to go there, I will take you there and finish the tour. Because the show time is evening and night.
This is the most venerable Shinto shrine in Tokyo, opened in 1920 in honor of Emperor and Empress Meiji. It has two big Torii, a traditional gate of shrines.
This street is the center of Japanese Kawaii (Cute) fashion and very popular among young girls.
Ukiyoe is a Japanese traditional wood-block printing developed during the Edo period.(1603-1868) It affected impressionist artists in Europe like Gogh and Monet.
This is one of the most popular sightseeing spot for international tourists. Watch Japanese people’s behaviors here.
It's like a food museum. It carries many kinds of food from prepared delicacies to delicious imported confectioneries.
You can wear Samurai Armor and take photos ( 2 poses / 10 shots). Reservation is required. Of course, you don’t need to pay for the guide.
Akihabara has two faces.
The first one is an electronics shops town and the other one is the center of Otaku culture. Otaku is a Japanese term for people with obsessive interests, commonly the anime fandom. There are so many amine goods shops here and a maid café is one of the symbols of Otaku culture.
It's a cultural mecca with a number of museums including the prestigious Tokyo National Museum and the delightful Shitamachi Museum with its displays of old Toyko, Ueno Zoo and so on.
This street is crowded with stores offering clothes, fresh fish, dried food and so on.
You can feel an old style traditional town. There are many small temples, boutiques and ateliers.
It’s the largest mosque in Japan and known as the most beautiful mosque in all of Asia.
At your hotel in Tokyo.
Guide fee
Transportation cost for the guide
Lunch for the guide
Your transportation cost (Approx. 900JPY per person)
Your lunch
Admission fee (you and the guide)
We will use public transportation during this tour.
Free pick-up service to your hotel is only in Tokyo metropolitan area, in 23 wards. For other places, the extra charge will be added depending on the distance and the time necessary.
“Kamakura & Tokyo”
I had the great pleasure of spending 2 days in the company of Hideaki on 5th & 6th April 2024, when we visited Kamakura and toured Tokyo. Hideaki proved to be a very competent and knowlegeable guide and had no problem at all to fit all my requests into his preplanned itinerary. The visit to Kamakura proved to be of great interest with visits to the 13m high bronze Great Bhudda, Buddhist Zen Temples and Shinto Shrines. To have a guide who was able to give detailed explanations about various aspects of Japan's two major religions, certainly enhanced my experience of this great city which was once the political centre of medieval Japan. We took lunch at a local Japanese restaurant where I prepared my own okonomiyaki...a great way to sample "everyday" Japanese food. After a stroll down "Cherry Blossom Street", we explored the local market....and of course, various street foods bringing the days activities to a very satisfiying end :) Day 2 in Tokyo began with visits to the fish market, Asakusa (with its unique blend of traditional and modern cultures, including the iconic Sensoji Temple) and the Meiji Shrine (where I had the privilige of seeing part of a Japanese wedding ceremony). Along the way, I had ample opportunity to sample more street food and purchase souvenirs. The Shibuya Crossing was a fanatstic experience but nothing prepared me for the sight of the fabulous Cherry Blossom in full bloom at Ueno Park - Absolutely amazing !! My trip to Japan could not have had a better start.... So a huge "Thank You" Hideaki, not only for your company but for being a knowlegeable, conscientious and very competent guide ! With Very Best Wishes, Stephen.
Hideaki M.
(48 reviews)Stephan-san, Thank you very much for your review. I think we really had good two days with full blooming cherry blossoms. I also enjoyed chatting with you. Best Regards, Hideaki Murayama
“Day trip Hakone ”
It was a miserable day, cloudy and rainy. We took a private tour with Hideaki. He is so kind, speaks very good English, and is incredibly smart. The tour was jaded by the weather but we were able to complete the loop and Hideaki was not just a good tour guide, but a thoughtful, kind, and conscientious one. Thank you!
Hideaki M.
(48 reviews)Marion-san, Thank you very much for your review. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see Mt. Fuji. But Hakone has another good activity, that is a hot spring (onsen). Enjoy it and be relaxed. Best Regards, Hideaki Murayama
“Wonderful day in Tokyo”
We have had a great day with Hideaki. Not only is he very knowledgeable but he is very pleasant company. He composed a tour for us a few weeks ago but because the sakura was not in full bloom yet in the intended location we visited Ueno Park instead, in which the blooming was a little better. Thank you very much for a lovely day! Suzy and Andy
Hideaki M.
(48 reviews)Andy-san, Thank you very much for your review. I'm very glad to know that you enjoyed the tour even though we couldn't see full-blooming cherry blossoms. I hope you can see them during your stay in Japan. Best Regards, Hideaki Murayama