Concise Japanese history tour. Recommended especially for those who like to overview Japan’s history and art at the start and the end of your trip. Focusing on the early modern era in Ueno Park, we survey the entire history at Japanese Gallery in Tokyo National Museum. It’s not in a lecture style, but in relaxed, interactive way. Why don’t you share its real treasures with me, an Ueno local?
At Parkside Exit (Koen-guchi) of JR Ueno station *I will be waiting just across the street from the exit with a signboard or something you can recognize me
Ueno Park (walking in nature and visiting historical spots)
Tokyo National Museum (Japanese Gallery, etc.)
At Tokyo National Museum
1.Fun Walk at Ueno Park: Ueno Park is a spacious public park enjoyable to walk around and many excellent museums and Japan’s oldest zoo are located here. Not only that! The whole area was once the grounds of Kaneiji temple, the city’s largest, wealthiest temple in 17th to 19th century. Many historical events happened here. Let’s spot such remains* while walking in beautiful nature with seasonal flowers blooming.
(* statue of Saigo Takamori, Shinobazu Pond, Kiyomizu Kannon hall, Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Great Buddha of Ueno, etc.)
2. Tokyo National Museum (Japanese Gallery): We are to appreciate the museum’s Highlights of Japanese Art exhibition. While exploring the exhibition rooms with Japan’s authentic treasures, you can travel from over 10,000 years ago to the late 19th century. Sharing my personal views and answering your questions, I would like to deepen your understanding and make your travel experience unforgettable!
※ In the large museum complex, there are 5 more buildings and a nice gift shop. If you are interested in other exhibitions or have request to extend the tour, I would be glad to be your company.
- guide fee
- transportation fee (you and guide),
- admission fee of Tokyo National Museum (620 yen / adult , if you are under aged 18 or 70 or over, showing your ID will make your admission free)
□ admission fee of Ueno Toshogu Shrine if you want to take a close look at it. ( 500 yen / person) * You can have its general view from outside
□ lunch if needed
★ Travel insurance is not included in our tours. I would recommend you take out your own travel insurance just in case of any unexpected accident, loss, or damaging others' property. You can find the counter of a few insurance companies at the airport when you arrive.
★ 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.
★ For the evening tour, some extra charge(25%) might be added depending on the time.
☆I could start our tour from early in the morning like 7 or 7:30 if you prefer. For details, please contact me before booking.
※The pictures of my previous guests on my web-page are posted only after securing their consent.
Not available on Mondays or the Tuesdays just after National holidays as Tokyo National Museum is closed
■ Please wear comfortable shoes and outfits for walking.
■ I could extend the tour and guide you to Yanaka * if requested.
＊Yanaka is a nostalgic residential temple town with old houses and lifestyle remaining, just adjacent to Ueno.
■ Maximum number of participants is 6 (taking the convenience of other visitors to the museum considered.)
Tomoko helped me plan upcoming trip to Japan and had wonderful ideas and suggestions as well as a rough itinerary laid out for me. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone in need of guidance and information about traveling to Tokyo and Japan!
Hi Jamie! Thank you for your kind review. It was very nice talking and sharing with you whatever I’ve experienced for your special birthday trip to Japan. Hope you enjoy your further research and planning, and do not hesitate to contact me again if you have any inquiries. Bon voyage! - Tomoko
I had an amazing day in Kamakura hosted by Tomoko. I was visiting Tokyo with my husband who was there in business for 5 days and I booked this tour to head out of Tokyo for the 3rd day which was perfect! Tomoko met me in my hotel lobby and reviewed the day’s plan with me. We started by taking the metro to the train after Tomoko was extremely flexible and stopped for coffee with me,. In Kamakura, she guided me all over Kamakura to many historical sites, shrines and temples, as well as, the shops I was interested in along the way. It was both a fascinating and educational tour filled with information about Japanese history and culture. Tomoko also gave me many ideas for things to see in Tokyo in my remaining days in this expansive city. I recommend booking. At least one tour with Tomoko to anyone traveling to the Tokyo area and would ask her to guide me again if I can make it back to Japan. Tokyo and Kamakura are such wonderful cities and Tomoko is a thoughtful, kind and extremely knowledgeable tour guide.
Thank you so much for posting such a nice, articulate review, Nikki! I’m glad that you enjoyed the excursion to Kamakuran with me, especially because you’d been experiencing a few days with rain and cloud before, which is rare in this season. Yes, we did cover a lot of interesting places, such as Great Buddha, Hasedera temple, the slope of Gokurakuji, the local fish restaurant with the great ocean view, and of course the main shrine of Kamakura and the serene Zen temple! It was also our fun part the day to explore the local shops, the lovely local ‘mochi’ shop, the dried food shop with more than 150-year history and the lovely antique shop! Your intuition to find treasures was amazing! Looking forward to our next adventure, Nikki! Thank you again. -Tomoko
I connected with Tomoko to discuss a family vacation with my siblings. Tomoko has a great personality and she’s completely fluent in English. She is knowledgeable about each city on our itinerary and is prompt and responsive. I had a draft proposed itinerary for a ten day trip in less than a day back from her. Highly recommend working with her.
Hi Reza, Thank you for your comment and letting me make a draft for your special family tour. I’m sure you’ll have great time with your siblings and mother as you’re impressively thoughtful and well prepared. Glad that I got the chance to work with you. Thank you again:) Tomoko
We were a group of 16..which is huge. I was glad that she was able to give us a glimpse of the local shopping area in Tsukiji market (which is otherwise huge and super crowded so you could miss it) and gave us a chance to get a better view of the crowded temple by standing on the rooftop of a building across the street! She also helped us shop for bonito flakes and some other things in the market. It was a challenge to direct such a large group but she did a good job. I appreciate that!
Thank you for taking your time to write and post that kind review, Shirley. I hope you enjoyed the day with your family and relatives. I’m impressed that you were so interested in Japanese authentic cooking and ingredients. I’m sure you enjoyed the very good ‘dashi’ and dishes at home. All the places we visited had their special atmosphere as ‘年の瀬‘ the year end and Christmas seasons when locals start preparing and shopping for their holidays of family gatherings, young couple enjoy dating, tourists from overseas excitedly come after the COVID restrictions have been almost lifted. I wish I could have guided at places more relaxingly especially without your joining queue and waiting. Thank you very much again for all your understanding and cooperation.