Lost in Old Tokyo Downtown: Explore Yanaka & Nezu
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?
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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
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
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
Rebeca H.
“Chiaki is awesome!”
Me and my husband had an amazing time with Chiaki! Without her we would have been lost in the Tokyo subway, but she made it all very easy and took the time to explain everything. She is kind, funny and very smart. Please don’t hesitate booking with her! Thank you for everything Chiaki!! You made me laugh so much! Kawaiiii!
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Chiaki K.
Dear Rebeca, Thank you so much for your lovely review and photo! I’m so happy to hear that you both had a great time in Tokyo. It truly makes me smile to know we shared laughs and knowledge about kawaii! Thank you for your sweet recommendation. It was a real pleasure spending the day with you, and I hope your time in Tokyo was full of wonderful memories. Thank you again and take care!
Melissa L.
“A lovely tour with Chiaki”
We had two excellent tours with Chiaki! We had a 4 hour tour the afternoon/evening of our first day in Tokyo, then a 6 hour tour the day after that. She was early to meet us in our hotel, and very well organized and professional. I asked for help to learn to use the metro system, and she carefully explained how to navigate as we went to different places our first day. We saw the Meiji Jingu Shrine, Palace outer garden, Shinjuku Hanazono Shrine, a shopping district (forgot which one), a very fancy department store, briefly walked through the golden gai district (it was still daylight), and a few other shrines and areas. We saw so much! Chiaki was very well organized and completely customized the tour to us. When we went to the Metropolitan Government Observatory to finish our tour at the observation deck and found a very long line, she quickly found an alternative and we went there instead. No line, and still an incredible view. In fact, it was near the harbor area, and after looking at other pictures, I think it was better. We had two wonderful tours with Chiaki, and I highly recommend her as a guide. She is very knowledgeable, and if she didn't have the facts, she quickly found them. She also is very prepared and helpful. Thank you for a lovely experience, Chiaki!
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Chiaki K.
Thank you so much Melissa, for your wonderful and detailed review! I’m truly happy to hear that you enjoyed both tours and that your first days in Tokyo were such a positive experience. It was a pleasure meeting you and explore the different parts of the city together for me, too. Your pictures and Will’s movies of underwater life was so beautiful and fascinating. They will stay in my memory with our two day tours together forever. I hope that you will continue to take many beautiful pictures and movies around the world. Thank you for spending two lovely days exploring Tokyo with me. I sincerely appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back again on your next visit to Japan! Arigato! P.S Thank you for the Trader Joe’s bag and nuts. I love them!
Melissa L.
“Wonderful tour guide!”
We had two excellent tours with Chiaki! We had a 4 hour tour the afternoon/evening of our first day in Tokyo, then a 6 hour tour the day after that. She was early to meet us in our hotel, and very well organized and professional. I asked for help to learn to use the metro system, and she carefully explained how to navigate as we went to different places our first day. We saw the Senso-ji temple and area, Nakamise shopping street, Asakura museum (an interesting, hidden gem of a traditional house and art museum), Tennoji Temple and graveyard, and the Fukagawa Fudodo fire ceremony. (To me the fire ceremony was interesting for about 10 minutes, but went on for about 30, but I was also cold!) Chiaki was very good at telling us about the sights as we went and answering our questions. She is knowledgeable, thoughtful, and has a lovely laugh and sense of humor. I highly recommend Chiaki as a tour guide!
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Chiaki K.
Dear Melissa, thank you for your lovely messages! Your comments really encourage me. Please see my reply to the other review you posted! Arigato!
$113/ per group
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