Must-See Spots in Tokyo Downtown for First-Time Travelers
Joined 2024
This tour is designed for first-time travelers who want to explore the major sightseeing spots of Tokyo's downtown area in just a day.
Starting from Tokyo Skytree and the historic district of Asakusa, you'll experience the essence of traditional Japan. Next, we head to Ueno, known for its cultural landmarks and vibrant park.
Finally, we visit Akihabara, the heart of anime and gaming culture, where you'll discover the roots of Japan’s subculture, including a visit to a popular maid café.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Oshiage Station-Bus terminal exit
- The meeting point is at the bus terminal exit of Oshiage Station. The exact location will be shared in advance via a Google Maps link along with reference photos.
Skytree - Entrance to Observation deck
After meeting, I will guide you to the 5th floor of the base building (Tokyo Solamachi) and assist you in purchasing tickets for the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree.
Photo spots
I will take you to the best photogenic spots around Skytree for capturing great memories and social media posts.
Shopping Street at Solamachi
Tokyo Skytree is built on Solamachi, a large shopping complex with over 300 souvenir stores. I will guide you to selected popular shops for unique gifts and souvenirs.
Lunch
I will visit the restaurant area of Solamachi, where you can choose from a variety of Japanese and Western cuisine options.
Walking tour to Asakusa
I will take a scenic walking route to Asakusa, crossing the Sumida River via a charming bridge.
Asakusa: Kaminari-mon & Nakamise Street
Starting from the iconic Kaminari-mon (Thunder Gate), we will walk through Nakamise Street, a lively shopping street with traditional snack shops and souvenir stores. This path leads us to the main hall of Senso-ji Temple, where you can also try Omikuji (fortune slips).
Optional Experience
At this point, you can choose one of the following:
1. A matcha (green tea) making experience in a peaceful Japanese-style tatami room led by a matcha specialist.
2. Enjoying matcha sweets at a traditional matcha café.
Moving to Ueno
After completing the Asakusa tour, we will head to Ueno by train or taxi (approx. 1.5 km).
Ueno Park shrine and Ameyoko street walk
In Ueno, I will take a relaxing stroll through Ueno Park, visit its small lake, and explore Ameyoko Street, a lively old-style shopping district.
Moving to Akihabara Anime city
We will head to Akihabara, either by train or taxi, to explore Tokyo’s mecca for anime, gaming, and otaku culture.
Akihabara Anime city tour
Akihabara is filled with various specialty entertainment stores. I will guide you to the most famous shops based on your interests. A popular option is visiting a maid café—one of over 200 in the area.
The tour ends at Akihabara station
Our tour concludes at Akihabara Station. From here, you can continue exploring or head back to your hotel.
Ending Point
Akihabara station
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
①Public transportation fee from Asakusa to Ueno and from Ueno to Akihabara for you and guide. Distance is about 2km taxi might be more efficient than public transportion if the number of people is more than 2-3. (roughly $10 per person)
②Lunch & cafe fee (approximately 10~20 USD per person, for you and guide)
③Tokyo Skytree observation decks entrance fee
Adult 18 years old and over is ¥3,100yen.
Teenager 12 to 17 years old is ¥2,350yen.
Child 6 to 11 years old is ¥1,450yen.
④Option Maid Cafe entrance $20~.
Tour Important Information
1. Shorter Version : This tour lasts 8.5 hours and covers many sightseeing spots, but it can be customized into a shorter tour based on your request. In that case, the fee will be adjusted proportionally to the duration. I am always happy to accommodate your preferences.
2. This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
3. This tour is not recommended for those with severe back/knee problems.
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 2024
About Tour Guide Ken T.
Hello! My name is Ken (Kenichi), and I’m a professional tour guide with experience guiding over 1,500 foreign tourists as of February 2025.
I have worked for both Japanese and international companies in Tokyo for over 30 years, giving me deep insight into the city and its unique charm. I also love traveling and have explored many famous destinations in Japan as well as in 40+ countries worldwide.
I fully understand the challenges that many first-time travelers face when visiting Japan, especially in a busy city like Tokyo.
My goal is to provide you with a fully customized, time-efficient tour that meets your needs and preferences.
Since most travelers have limited time and want to visit as many places as possible, I carefully plan tours that highlight the best spots and the most efficient routes, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
For added comfort and luxury, I offer the option of using a car with an experienced driver (my wife), making your tour even more convenient and stress-free.
I look forward to guiding you and helping make your visit to Japan truly memorable.
Reviews
Amy R.
“Ken is great”
We loved Ken for our guide. He knows all the hidden spots whether it is a maid cafe or anime specialty stores. We also hit sky tree and temple. He has lots of knowledge and goes extra mile for you. He knows how to avoid busy times and gave us great tips prior to and after our tour. He’s a great photographer and send you a link with the pics. Highly recommend!
Ken T.
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review! It was truly a pleasure guiding your group, and I’m honored to hear that you enjoyed the tour. Although both Tokyo Skytree and Asakusa were quite crowded that day, I was so happy to see how everyone stayed cheerful and enjoyed the experience together. The weather was a bit cloudy at times, but we were lucky to catch glimpses of blue sky—and of course, it was the perfect timing for the cherry blossoms, which I hope added a special memory to your trip. I'm also glad to hear you appreciated the visit to the maid café and anime stores—it’s always fun to explore the unique sides of Tokyo! If the photos I took bring back good memories, I’ll be very happy. Thank you again for choosing me as your guide. I hope to see you again on your next visit to Japan—and please don’t hesitate to share my name if your friends are planning a trip too! Warmest regards, Ken
Venkat B.
“AMAIZNG GUIDE ! ! ! ! !”
Professional Courteous Punctual Willing to customize tour based on patient and detailed discussions, meticulous planning, and efficient execution can be few attributes that I wish to start describing my experience about Ken We had a customized ALL DAY TOUR of TOKYO. Wonderful couple (Mrs. & Mr. Ken) picked us up at Yokohama Cruise Terminal in their luxury van, and patiently spent entire day with us. The extent to which they made real time changes to driving directions based on traffic congestion was quite impressive Above all ........ willing to go ABOVE & BEYOND every step of the way to ensure a memorable experience for us was very very impressive! Being a seasoned guide he knew exactly how to avoid congestion, crowds, as well as exact photo spots, and thereby helping us save time in a busy schedule Keeping in mind that Tokyo is very populous and hectic on any given day, having Mrs & Mr. Ken as our Guide made the entire experience a breeze! Bottomline: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Period!
Ken T.
Dear Venkat-san , Thank you so much for your incredibly kind and thoughtful review. It was truly an honor to guide you on your final day in Japan, especially after your long cruise journey. We were blessed with perfect weather that day — clear skies and full cherry blossoms, just at their peak. While it was a shame that the crowds made it difficult to fully relax and take in the scenery, I'm very happy you still had the chance to enjoy the beauty of sakura during your visit. I also appreciate your recognition of the flexibility and care we put into adjusting plans to make the most of the day. Your warm and respectful attitude made it a pleasure to guide you throughout Tokyo. Wishing you many more safe and memorable travels ahead. I sincerely hope our paths cross again one day. Best regards, Ken
Ross T.
“Highly Recommended”
We were unsure what to do on our last day in Tokyo since we had a 4pm flight from Narita. In the end, we booked this private tour and are so happy we did. It completely took the stress out of our final day in Japan. Ken was super helpful and communicative in setting everything up, picked us up from our hotel, and took us out to see Narita Temple, a temple with over a thousand years of history. The temple grounds are quite vast, with many structures, and there is also a beautiful Japanese garden with a large pond. Ken's knowledge of the area (and his excellent English) made the experience even more enjoyable. Sachie, our driver, was incredibly kind and ensured a smooth and safe journey throughout the tour. When the tour was over, we were dropped off at our terminal for a stress-free, no-hassle airport commute! Overall, one hundred percent recommended. Thank you, Ken and Sachie, for a perfect end to our vacation!
Ken T.
Dear Ross, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review! It was truly a pleasure to guide you on your final day in Japan. I’m delighted to hear that the tour to Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple and the seamless transfer to Narita Airport made your last day stress-free and enjoyable. Exploring the temple’s rich history and tranquil gardens with you was a highlight of the day for me as well. I’m so glad you found the experience memorable and that my insights added value to your visit. Sachie and I are thrilled to know that you appreciated the smooth journey and safe drop-off at the airport. Your kind words mean so much to us, and they inspire us to continue providing the best possible service for our guests. Thank you again for choosing our tour as the perfect conclusion to your vacation. If you ever return to Japan, we would be delighted to guide you again. Wishing you many more wonderful travels ahead! Warm regards, Ken and Sachie
$253/ per group
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