Japanese Gardens and Origami Workshop in Central Tokyo
The tour consists of two characteristic Japanese cultures; typical strolling style Japanese gardens, Rikugien, and origami paper folding. Rikugien is one of nine Japanese gardens in the Tokyo Metropolis. Its strolling-style garden has a fine and warm touch with scenery images from classical Japanese poems. After the visit, you will be invited to the guide’s residence nearby, and have a joyful origami workshop of 90 minutes.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in central Tokyo
8:00 - 8:30 AM: Pick you up at your hotel
9:00 AM: Rikugien Japanese Gardens
One of nine Japanese gardens of Tokyo Metropolis.
Typical strolling style Japanese Gardens were made by a high-ranked samurai serving for Shogun, Yoshiyasu Yanagisawa, in the early 18th century spending seven and a half years welcoming his VIP guests including the Shogun family.
10:15 AM: Origami workshop
90 minutes workshop in a typical Japanese private house in Bunkyo City.
15 minutes walk from Rigugien.
12:00PM: Break up
At a nearby station; Sugamo (JR), Sengoku (Toei Subway), or Myogadani (Tokyo Metro).
Ending Point
Tokyo Metro Myogadani Station (M23), Toei Subway Sengoku Station (I14) or JR Sugamo Station (JY11).
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
English-speaking guide/instructor
Origami workshop with instruction and materials
Pick-up from your accommodation in central Tokyo
Travel expenses for your guide
Travel expenses for you
Admission fee for Rikugien for you: JPY 300/person
Matcha tea with Japanese sweets for you and your guide: JPY1,000/person, when taken
Other fees and expenses for you and your guide, if any
Tour Important Information
- Starting time is flexible and to be discussed before booking confirmation.
- The maximum acceptable number of guests is five including children.
- In Rikugien, you may feel the heart of “omotenashi” or Japanese hospitality. While strolling around its pond, various flowers, plants, trees, birds, and carp welcome visitors in the miniature replication of nature. At a teahouse by the pond, matcha tea with a seasonal Japanese sweet can be enjoyed.
- Leaves start changing their color in late October, and the most beautiful colored leaves in Rikugien are seen from late November to early December.
- A magnificent weeping cherry will welcome guests from mid-March to the first week of April, depending on the climate of the year.
- During 90 minutes origami workshop, you can make several cute and cool origami works with your own hands from a variety of square origami sheets. The works may include a traditional “orizuru” (origami crane), a ninja throwing star, and a cute Mt. Fuji. Origami is the art and culture of Japan, and you may feel such through the 90 minutes workshop experience. For the origami workshop:
・you do not need to have any experience in origami paper folding,
・all required tools and materials will be ready so you do not need any preparation, and
・for guests younger than five years old who may have difficulty with the work, simple and joyful items can be introduced.
Important message from the supplier
The inbound tour has been resumed. Wearing a mask depends on individual decisions, and you can enjoy tours and cultural experiences in Japan now.
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 Koichiro Y.
Hello! I’m Koichiro. Please call me “Yamasan”. It derives from my family name and my friends call me so.
I worked for a machinery company as a project manager and engineer for mechanical and electrical construction projects both domestic and overseas for over 35 years. I recall my first overseas project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when I was 26, and the second was in Singapore. I visited many countries for surveys, meetings, commissioning, project handing over, and so on.
In 2014 at the age of 60, I decided to retire from the company and live the expected further 30 years of life with a new career and experiences. I, then, studied translation and guide interpretation. I passed the national examination for licensed guides (English) in 2015 and registered with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in February 2016.
Until now, I have been guiding many beautiful guests mainly to popular sightseeing spots such as Asakusa, Tsukiji, Omote-Sando, Meiji Jingu Shrine, and Tokyo Skytree, and also cultural experiences of Origami making, Furoshiki wrapping, and Sushi cooking.
I am happy that I can freely arrange a customized tour together with you, or can propose my tours to you. I want to show you some parts of daily Tokyo life and introduce you to Bunkyo City which is located in the heart of Tokyo, just north of Chiyoda City where the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station are. The city is Tokyo’s typical residential and academic area where I was born, grew up, and live a happy life now.
Now, we can tour around the world but have not yet overcome COVID-19 completely. Recently, the number of passengers wearing masks on public transportation in Tokyo reduced to some 25% but we should mind about it still. Please carry your mask to wear it where or when necessary (December 2024, Yamasan).
Reviews
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Dana M.
“Best Tour Guide Ever!”
If I could give more than five stars I would! Yamasan went so far above and beyond to make our group of five feel special! He prepared a custom schedule for us, dropped off materials and info at our hotel for us before we arrived, was flexible and patient during the tour, and even gave us an incredibly thoughtful hand made (by him!) origami gift at the end of the tour. He insisted upon escorting us all the way to our hotel front door at the end. Amazing, kind, and informative guide!!
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Koichiro Y.
Dear Dana san, Thank you so much for your magnificent review comment. I also enjoyed the tour and the friendly talk with your beautiful family. I hope you are having a good time at Disneyland. It's rainy, but I guess not too many visitors there today. The tour was designed to visit popular tourist spots. I hope to have another chance to introduce you to some unpopular local spots in Tokyo in the future. Please keep your SUICA cards with you. Very best regards, Yamasan
Leonardo lorena L.
“Day tour in Tokyo eith Yamasan”
We had the great opportunity to walk around Tokyo with Mr Yamasan on our 1st day in the city. We took the tour throught the city on a Wednesday - on this day, some of the stores of Tsukiji fish market are closed. He explained that in advance, but we went there anyway and it was worth! Besides that we went to other places: imperial palace, shrines and temples. He is very kind, strong walker and helpfull. We totally recomend Yamasan for a day trip in Tokyo! Thanks Yamasan! It was an unforguntable day and Tokyo experience. We Wish you all the best and hope to meet tou again in the near future. Best regatds
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Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much for your great comment. In Wednesday's Tsukiji Outer Market, not all shops were open because of the closure of Toyosu wholesale market, but a smaller number of visitors allowed us to walk easily seeing many impressive shops. The itinerary was prepared selecting popular spots for the first visitors to Tokyo, and I'd like to arrange more specific spots for your next visit. I hope that in the nearest future.
Jonathan C.
“Yamasan Koichiro - fantastic!”
Four of us had a wonderful time with Yamasan on the Sake Brewery Tour. He is a superlative guide who communicated well and even created printed explanations of sake and the brewing process. He is very intelligent, knowledgeable, and thoughtful. We are thankful for the experience he has given us.
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Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much for your beautiful comment. I was happy to be with you and to have joyful and friendly communication throughout the tour. Pickleball, which connects your two families, was a new sport for me. I mentioned it might have another name in Japan, but that was incorrect. Picklegall is a new sport in Japan, and it is also pickleball. Please enjoy the remaining days in Japan.
$156/ per group
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