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Lost in Old Tokyo Downtown: Explore Yanaka & Nezu
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Joined 2019
The Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi areas are called “Yanesen”. The stairs leading to Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street is famous as a spot to see Japanese people’s real life. The areas have atmosphere of good old days of Tokyo downtown in 1960’ and also known as a religious town because they have many local temples, shrines and graveyards. There are small shops selling Japanese traditional kitchen items and souvenirs, and sweets shops and stalls basing on a concept of Japanese traditional colors.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel (inside of Tokyo area)
- I can meet you at any place you’d like. Please let me know your preference in advance.
Tennoji Temple
Founded in 1274, this is the oldest temple in the area, offering visitors a glimpse into Japan's rich religious heritage. Situated on the edge of Yanaka Cemetery, this Tendai sect temple has a beautiful bronze Buddha statue in their peaceful garden.
Yanaka Cemetery
Yanaka Cemetery is one of Tokyo's most famous graveyards and has the feel of a park with its profuse foliage, including a beautiful alley of cherry trees: a very popular spot in spring when the overhanging branches are heavy with bright blossom. The cemetery is also a beauty spot in autumn, with its many deciduous trees, including numerous gingkos. You can see Japanese traditional way to worship ancestors.
Asakura Museum
This is a small, off the beaten path museum. Its building was used from 1907 as a residence and atelier by Fumio Asakura, the highest peak of Japan's modern sculpture. In the atelier, you can see his works and in the residential area, you can see the traditional Japanese lifestyle a hundred years ago. Admission ¥500. Closed on Monday and Thursday.
Yanaka Ginza
"Yanaka Ginza” is a shopping district where you can feel the atmosphere of Japanese downtown and see people’s real life. You can buy street food and take it to the Echigoya liquor shop and have a glass of beer if you’d like.
Nezu Shrine
Nezu Shrine has a legend to be founded about 1,900 years ago by legendary priest Yamato Takeru no Mikoto. It was built on the current site in 1706 at the order of the fifth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. It is famous for a tunnel made with lots of vermilon torii gates (red archways). Very good for photos.
Ending Point
Nezu Shrine
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, Hotel pick up (inside of Tokyo area)
Transportation fee for you (about ¥1,000/pp, depending on the location of your hotel), lunch for you and guide (about ¥1,500/pp), entrance fee for you and guide (Asakura Museum ¥500/pp)
Tour Important Information
-This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
-Asakura Museum is closed on Monday and Thursday.
- The ending point could be Ueno or any place you’d like.
Important message from the supplier
If you stay in the central area of Tokyo or Chiba, I will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel or anyplace you like.
We will take public transportation and walk a lot so please wear comfortable shoes.
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 2019
About Tour Guide Chiaki K.
Welcome to Japan! My name is Chiaki. I’m a government licensed guide interpreter, a wife and mother of two grown-up children. I’ve been living in Tokyo for 30 years so I know the area well.
If you don’t want to miss popular “must see” places, wish to eat a variety of Japanese popular and delicious food, have particular interest in Japanese theatrical arts, architectures, gardens, tea ceremony and “kawaii” characters, or are tired of tourist spots and like to see the real life of people in Japan, I can help you.
My goal is to help you to make your stay in Japan as memorable and fulfilling as possible. If I can serve you to make your special trip more special, it will be my pleasure.
Reviews
Connie C.
“Best Day in Tokyo”
I had the best day in Tokyo with Chiaki. We toured Shinjuku and Shibuya and she was able to show me so much. Everything I wanted to see in those areas she made possible, I know I would have only seen a forth of what we saw if I was trying to do it on my own. She knew the best train routes and the best walking areas to get us through these crowded areas. I highly recommend Chiaki if you are coming to Tokyo!
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Chiaki K.
Dear Connie, thank you so much for your wonderful review! I’m so happy to hear that you had the best day in Tokyo with me. Even it was a rainy day, we enjoyed exploring Shinjuku and Shibuya. Eating Taiyaki at the rooftop garden is the good memory for me. I hope you enjoy the cruise trip and others you are planning in next year and take home many wonderful memories! Thank you again for your kind words and take care!
Elise V.
“Chiaki is the best! ”
Chiaki is amazing, we highly recommend her. Chiaki did a custom tour for our family: grandparents, myself and my children. We asked her to help us navigate the Tokyo trains, see Pokemon, Tokyo Skytree, Tsukiji fish market, and a Buddhist fire ritual. She delivered! She even taught us how to collect stamps at the subway stations. She was considerate of our entire group and ages (from 7 to 70), we learned so much and we're so happy we started our trip to Japan with her.
Chiaki K.
Thank you Elise, for your wonderful review! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed your first day in Japan with me. It was my pleasure that I spent the beautiful day with such a nice family like you. Theo and Elliot are cheerful and well behaved children and your parents are very friendly. I’m glad to hear that everyone enjoyed the day! Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. I hope the rest of your trip will be filled with wonderful family memories! Arigato!
Lyndsay S.
“Beautiful first day in Tokyo with Chiaki.”
We were a group of 6 and we booked our first day in Tokyo with Chiaki and we had a lovely day. Chiaki was warm, interesting and flexible to our needs. She helped us navigate our way on the trains and took us to some beautiful shrines and temples explaining along the way and answering our many questions. Nothing was too much trouble for her. We would highly recommend booking Chiaki for a tour. Shes a gem.
Chiaki K.
Thank you Lyndsay for your lovely review! It was such a pleasure spending your first day in Tokyo with all of you. Girls are full of curiosity and enthusiasm, and boys are so funny! I feel very fortunate to have met such a lovely group and to have been part of your Tokyo adventure. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation, including “she’s a gem”! I hope the rest of your time in Japan will be filled with wonderful memories!
$120/ per group
More tours by Chiaki K.
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Tokyo Six Hour Tour Customized for You
Tokyo is a fantastic city with so many places to visit. The city has it’s own history, culture, art, food and religion, and you will know better when you have a guide. If you are interested in specific area like street food, Japanese architecture and garden, tea ceremony experience, animal cafes, anime figures or finding kimono/pottery, I can help you.
Tokyo Six Hour Tour Customized for You
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Tokyo Four Hour Tour Customized for You
Tokyo is a fantastic city with so many places to visit. The city has it’s own history, culture, art, food and religion, and you will know better when you have a guide. If you are interested in specific area like street food, Japanese architecture and garden, tea ceremony experience, animal cafes, anime figures, or finding kimono/pottery, I can help you.
Tokyo Four Hour Tour Customized for You
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Food tour of Tokyo for First-Timers
Japan is known for a lot of delicious food. This tour takes you to Tsukiji Outer Market (the old and historical area which supports people's stomach) and Ginza. During the tour, you will know the Japanese transportation system and how to find good and reasonable restaurants, etc. so that you can visit other places by yourselves. Please feel free to consult me concerning where to visit and see. You can see and eat a variety of local food on the streets in Tsukiji, become familiar with the town.
Food tour of Tokyo for First-Timers
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Lost in Shinjuku Sanchome and Kabukicho! Tour
Shinjuku is always the exciting city and have many faces. We visit the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen garden, a sophisticated department store, a historical shrine, narrow back streets of bars and pubs and famous nightclub streets.
Lost in Shinjuku Sanchome and Kabukicho! Tour
Other Popular Off the Beaten Path Tours in Tokyo
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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
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Explore Tokyo Hidden Gems Walking Tour by Trains
Explore hidden gems unknown to tourists and even Japanese who do not live in Tokyo. Old town areas since Edo period such as Sendagi (Nezu shrine) & Ningyocho are hidden jewels,beside the ordinary must see Tokyo site-seeing spots such as Tokyo Tower, Asakusa Senzoji Temple. This tour combines old nostalgic charms with succulent local foods at Ningyocho & Tsukij Outer Market.
Explore Tokyo Hidden Gems Walking Tour by Trains
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The unbeaten tracks of Sumida and Koto Wards (5 hour excursion)
Sumida and Koto area was part of the eastern peripheral of old Edo with many second houses of feudal lords which typically had splendid Japanese gardens. Visit and stroll two gardens that have been retained to this day. Also included are visits to a memorial park related to the Kanto Earthquake of 1923, a historic Buddhist temple related to Sumo and the Fukagawa Edo Museum.
The unbeaten tracks of Sumida and Koto Wards (5 hour excursion)
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Excursion off the Beaten Track in the Suburbs of Tokyo
We will explore the western suburbs of Tokyo in this tour. If you are looking for something different from the crowded tourist attractions in the central part of Tokyo, you will enjoy exploring the western suburbs of Tokyo. I recommend this tour not to first timers but to repeaters who have been to famous places in Tokyo. You will discover traditional spots in the beautiful environment of the suburbs. Weather permitting, lunch in a local restaurant can be replaced by a picnic lunch in a park.
Excursion off the Beaten Track in the Suburbs of Tokyo
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