Japanese Gardens and Origami Workshop in Central Tokyo
Joined 2020
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?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee, origami workshop with instruction and materials, hotel pick-up
Traveling expenses for guide
Traveling expenses from your accommodation to JR or Tokyo Metro Komagome Station (for you)
Admission fee for Rikugien (for you): 300 JPY/person
Matcha tea with Japanese sweet (for you and your guide): 1000 JPY/person when taken
Other fees and expenses (for you and your guide) during the tour, 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
Joined 2020
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
Karl H.
“Great Guide, great day.”
Well what can we say about this all round lovely man. We went with Koichiro (Yamasan), to Hakone. Travelling by train and bus it was a great experience. Koichiro (Yamasan) was great company, his relaxed and calm approach to everything made our day go smoothly. Even before we met him we knew by his efficiency and kindness we would like him. We highly recommend Koichiro (Yamasan).
Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much for your fantastic review comments. It was not a fine day, and we could not see Mt. Fuji, however, I relaxed knowing that you enjoyed the tour. I was happy to be with a nice and tough couple. We walked over 20,000 steps throughout the Hakone walking tour. Amazing! Thank you very much again.
Amy M.
“Great with his Sake”
He knows what he is doing. His knowledge of sake is good. Very enjoyable sake tour with him.
Koichiro Y.
Thank you so much for your review. I hope you have also enjoyed the last half of your Japan tour to Mt. Fuji and Osaka. During the sake tour, we were lucky to participate in a once-a-year festival of a very local temple and have a friendly time with some local people. You might bring home the Kumade, a happiness-collecting rake, which makes your 2025 a delightful year. Please convey my best regards to your good-drinker husband. I hope to see you again shortly for another sake tour. Yamasan
Florin B.
“Very good first day in Japan and Tokyo”
Yamasan guided us exceptionally well in our first contact with the city, the japonese culture and gardens. He sent us days before the tour plan, the interest sites and updated then a couple of times according to our interest. He was also very kind to come with us and help us solve a personal problem. We were very delighted with his services. Thank you, Yamasan!
Koichiro Y.
Thank you so much for your comment. It was a rainy day in Tokyo, and I was afraid that your first day here was not perfect. You, however, didn't complain about the rain at all during the tour and in your comment too. I was (and am still) very happy with your beautiful family, and hope you are continuously enjoying this first tour to Japan. Please contact me when you plan the second Japan tour. Will it be when your son graduates from the university?
$114/ per group
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