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).
Matcha Experience (Needs reservation)
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/taxi 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.
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.
④ Matcha experience ¥2,480yen
⑤ Maid Cafe entrance ¥2000～ .
Tour Important Information
1. This tour lasts long hours and covers many sightseeing spots, but if you feel tired, it can be customized into a shorter tour based on your request. 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
Gary C.
“Great planning to allow multiple places within a short time”
Thank you, Ken-san and Sachie-san for the tour and great planning, that we were able to visit several places (Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa, Akihabara, Zojoji Tokyo Tower, Shibuya) within short amount of time. Thank you for helping to take nice photos too. It was definitely a good day spending time with the both of you during our tour.
Ken T.
Dear Dary, Thank you very much for your wonderful review! Although our time together was short, it was truly a pleasure guiding you through Tokyo’s highlights. We were very happy to see you enjoying each spot, and we also had a lot of fun sharing the day with you. We would love to visit Singapore someday too! Wishing you all the best, and we hope to see you again in the future. Warm regards, Ken
Ricky M.
“Great Experience and Super friendly!”
with this being our first trip to japan, it was very nice to have ken show us around some and explain things to help us get around better. ken has a very good energy and took great photos of us as well. highly recommend, thanks again!
Ken T.
Dear Ricky, Thank you so much for your kind words and wonderful review! It was truly my pleasure to guide you on your very first trip to Japan. I’m glad to hear that I was able to help make your experience smoother and more enjoyable. This tour was a bit longer than usual, so I hope you weren’t too tired afterward. I really enjoyed spending time with you and capturing some fun moments through the photos we took. You both have great smiles! I wish you the best for the rest of your journey in Japan. And if you ever come back again, I’d be more than happy to guide you once more! Warm regards, Ken
Pryia C.
“Excellent Short Tour of Akihabara ”
We were strapped for time and Ken was kind enough to give us a condensed tour of Akihabara. Ken embodies the best of Japan as a guide - warm, very smart and knowledgeable but with quiet strength and humility. We absolutely enjoyed learning about the history of this unique part of Tokyo. I would wholeheartedly recommend Ken.
Ken T.
Dear Priya, Thank you so much for your kind review. It was truly my pleasure to guide you and your lovely children through Akihabara. Although our time was limited, I did my best to select spots that matched your children’s interests—and seeing their excitement over anime figures and the unique atmosphere of Akihabara truly made me happy. I’m glad we could explore a bit of the rich history and culture of this area together. I wish you and your family a wonderful continued journey in Japan, and I hope our paths cross again someday. Warm regards, Ken
$260/ per group
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