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?
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/27755/88495.jpg)
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
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
Jacob F.
“Great guide in Tokyo”
Koichiro Y. (Yamasan) was one of the best tour guides my wife and I ever had! He is a very knowledgeable, soft-spoken, and highly energetic man with a very good command of English. While spending time with Yamasan, we felt he was for us like an old friend and very personal. Walking with him through various places in Tokyo made our trip not only enjoyable and educational but also made us feel at home in Japan. I highly recommend Yamasan to anyone visiting Tokyo.
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/27755/88495.jpg)
Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much for your great comment. I also felt that we were old friends each other, and enjoyed happy time with you. You might have nice days in Osaka too, assuming you could try some more new Japanese dishes for you. See you again next year (?).
Naila C.
“One Day Tour to Hakone”
Had a wonderful and interesting tour with Koichiro san! I recommend him highly. Thank you Koichiro san.
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/27755/88495.jpg)
Koichiro Y.
Thank you so much for your nice and quick review comment. I also enjoyed a good tour with you. There were unexpected number of visitors but no Mt. Fuji today. However, I feel relaxed hearing your comment. Please enjoy your remaining days in Tokyo. Thank you again, Yamasan
Anne L.
“Tokyo Gardens and Shrines Oct. 2025”
We had a great tour with Yamasan! He was knowledgeable, entertaining and fun to be with. He took us to places we never would have discovered on our own. We would highly recommend him for a great day in Tokyo.
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/27755/88495.jpg)
Koichiro Y.
Thank you very much for your review comment. I am happy that I could introduce you to some parts of our daily life while walking and dropping in several local facilities in the residential area in my Bunkyo City. I hope you continue the wonderful tour in Japan.
$116/ per group
More tours by Koichiro Y.
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5162/117230.jpg)
Japanese Gardens and Tokyo Life: Bunkyo City Customized Tour
Bunkyo City is in the heart of central 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 now. We'll move around the city with a Bunkyo City Community Bus, B-guru ( “beagle”, the mascot character of the bus), and visit Edo-Tokyo Japanese gardens and other calm and pleasant sites. You'll also catch a glimpse of Tokyo citizens’ life during the tour.
Japanese Gardens and Tokyo Life: Bunkyo City Customized Tour
Tokyo Sake Brewery Tour plus One
You are interested in Sake, aren’t you? Sake is popularly explained as “rice wine”, but the expression is not correct. On this tour, you will visit Ozawa Shuzo in Ome City, Tokyo, and learn about various issues on sake. After beautiful Japanese lunch, the brewery visit, and tasting of various types of sake there, you will touch nature in a suburban area in metropolitan Tokyo.
Tokyo Sake Brewery Tour plus One
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5369/91769.jpg)
Your First Origami Online Workshop
Touch the tip of Japanese culture prior to your tour by picking up this online experience of Origami. It is an art and a joy of paper folding which can be enjoyed by everybody interested in this oriental culture. With just an hour workshop, you will be able to create your own Origami works such as a great samurai helmet, a pretty butterfly, a joyful jumping frog, a paper container for candies, and a traditional Japanese crane (orizuru) from square sheets of paper.
Your First Origami Online Workshop
Tokyo Sake Brewery and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Toshimaya Shuzo is one of ten sake breweries in Tokyo. It is located in a residential area in Higashi-Murayama City not far from central Tokyo. They organize brewery tours on Saturdays and guide their facilities introducing their sake brewing philosophies and offering several types of their sake products for tasting. In the afternoon, the tour visits Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei Park in Koganei City on the way back to central Tokyo.
Tokyo Sake Brewery and Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Tokyo
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/22536/a7f03e88-0dc6-46c1-aaba-a207dfb8d431.jpg)
Once upon a time in Asakusa: Handicraft & Samurai
The Edo period, when Tokyo became the capital, is often seen as the peak of Japanese art and culture! Temple architecture, woodworking, woodblock prints, porcelain... I will use traditional handicrafts to illustrate the history and lifestyle of the people of Tokyo. Who were the samurai? What difference with a Ninja? How were armors crafted? I am also going to teach you all you need to know about those fierce warriors in front of a large collection of authentic weapons & armors.
Once upon a time in Asakusa: Handicraft & Samurai
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/84466/9761a57a-7390-4df1-a97f-96a17a0dcfcf.png)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/16781/0c808129-97e9-4fdf-8bbc-ac483297e88b.jpg)
Harajuku, Omotesando & Shibuya, Half Day Tour
Our Tour will start from Meiji Shrine, then move to Takeshita street where you can find cute ‘Kawaii’ culture. On Omotesando Promenades you will find a gorgeous line-up of newly designed architecture, such as Omotesando Hills by Tadao Ondo etc. Finish is Shibuya where you can enjoy Shibuya Crossing. Goal will be good Japanese restaurant.
Harajuku, Omotesando & Shibuya, Half Day Tour
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/58912/d90f4e47-4b22-4cdd-b7ce-754e17d5dee5.png)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/15774/3518ab99-eeab-4495-8fae-d0632f7ebd95.jpg)
Traditional and Modern One-day Tour in Tokyo
Best recommended tour for the first-time visitor to Tokyo. Tokyo is a unique city with various traditional and contemporary attractions. Let’s create your personalized time in Tokyo by discussing the places you want to visit. You should plan a tour of different sites, such as Kamakura and Hakone, along with my other plan. I am based in Tokyo, but I would happily arrange your tour.
Traditional and Modern One-day Tour in Tokyo
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/57838/e1b7787b-1c2b-43d5-8a07-90b3087647a0.png)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/1049/23654.jpg)
Asakusa, 3 hours.
Asakusa is not only a temple town but also a traditional town of common peoples's culture. In the typical Tokyo Shitamachi (old residential town), there is Japanese Broadway, interesting and unique river view and many many shops worth to visit. You can enjoy the essence of Shitamachi.
Asakusa, 3 hours.
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/914/69371.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/97123.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/97122.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/103186.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/88584.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/116749.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/95621.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/88577.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/88581.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/103190.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/90115.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/88578.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5169/103187.jpg)