Nostalgic Yanaka Stroll (half day)
This tour is recommended for those who love strolling and look for a less touristy travel experience. Yanaka is one of the few areas in Tokyo where you can enjoy relaxing, retro atmosphere. If you like taking photos, Japanese daily lifestyle and architecture, or even cats, this is your choice.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
at JR Ueno or Nippori station (details can be discussed)
1. Temple town
2. Yanaka Cemetery
3. Yanaka Ginza & Yomise-dori (local shopping streets)
4. Asakura Museum of Sculpture (closed on Mondays and Thursdays)
Ending Point
at the nearest station or our last visiting spot
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
- transportation fee (you and guide)
- admission fee (Asakura Museum of Sculpture 500 yen/adult, 250 yen/child)
- food and drink if needed000
Tour Important Information
■ wear comfortable shoes and clothes
■ Asakura Museum of Sculpture is closed on Mondays and Thursdays. Wear or bring socks to enter. *admission: 500 yen/adult
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 Tomoko H.
Hi everyone! Hearty welcome to Japan.
I’m Tomoko.
I am an English-speaking licensed tour guide, and a registered nurse as well.
“Fun Discovering Experience Walking like a Local!” – F-D-E-W-L!
That’s what I suggest.
【Experiences】
My work history is as follows.
1) high school teacher ---12 years
2) nurse--8 years + 2 years as operational manager for Kamakura city vaccination team (during COVID period)
3) tourism related jobs such as tour conducting, guiding, and backyard supporting---10 years
As a tour conductor, I’ve visited about 20 foreign countries (possibly yours?) as well as countless number of towns and villages in Japan.
I’ve enjoyed these jobs while being a mother.
Through these experiences with lots of people from different backgrounds, I've found it a great pleasure to share the joy of learning and experiencing something new!
【Guiding Areas】
<Basic> Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Fuji, Yokohama, Nikko, and other neighboring areas from Tokyo
I’m a specialist in Tokyo and Kamakura as I have lived and enjoyed walking a lot in those cities for decades. To be honest, even after all my years here, I still enjoy exploring like a tourist as Tokyo is such an enormous city with great diversity and is constantly changing.
Kamakura is a historical small city with nice beaches and hills and lots of hidden spots of beauty. Almost every time I go out, I feel I’m still making new discoveries. That’s why I cannot stop exploring.
I would take you to some neighboring areas like Hakone, Yokohama, Nikko, and Mt. Fuji area (Lake Kawaguchiko), etc.
<Based on Requests > *if my transportation & accommodation are covered
Nagoya, Kyoto, Nagano(Nagano city, Snow Monkey park, Kisoji trail, etc.), Hida (Takayama, Shirakawa-go), Kanazawa, Oita, Yamagata, Akita, etc.
My original family is from Nagoya, so I know their culture and even their language(dialect) well. Later in my life, I have lived in Oita, Kyushu(far south west of Tokyo) for nearly 10 years and traveled a lot in Kyushu. I love traveling Tohoku, the northern Japan area, too. I’ve planned and enjoyed visiting many of those local areas in the north, too. So, I could share those experiences with you even while having tours in Tokyo or online.
【Personality and others】
- I love meeting people, listening and talking to them.
- I'm friendly and caring, I hope:)
- I love nature and enjoy hiking and skiing.
- I love seasonal flowers and good local food.
- You will see a lot about Japanese culture, nature, and lifestyle with me.
What has made you decide to come to Japan, by the way? Is it its scenic beauties, exotic culture, history, food, anime, or what else? Is it your business that has brought (or will bring) you here? Let me have a clue and customize your tour. I will make the best tour suggestion for you.
Why don’t you contact me now? I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you! Arigato-gozaimas!
Reviews
Hope P.
“A Fun Day in Tokyo”
We had a wonderful day exploring Tokyo with Tomoko. She was extremely accommodating and thoughtfully adapted our itinerary to make it easier for my travel companion to see the city when walking was difficult. Tomoko has an excellent sense of humor and a warm, engaging personality that makes the day fly by. She easily wove in our spontaneous requests for shopping and sightseeing, and even shared one of her favorite neighborhood antique shops with us—a highlight of the day! We came away with many memorable moments, great stories, and a lasting appreciation for all that Tokyo has to offer. Thank you, Tomoko!
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Tomoko H.
Dear Hope, I also fondly remember the day I spent with you and Rickey. After leaving the hotel and checking out the basement food floor of the Ginza department store, we decided to enjoy a taxi tour around town. It was great to visit the shops you requested, like Tower Records and the Godzilla Shop, and to show you different areas with their own unique atmosphere from the car window. And above all, I'm so glad you enjoyed the matcha served in authentic antique tea bowls, the seasonal wagashi sweets, and the tea ceremony room. The owner's family was also very happy about your visit. Thank you so much again. -Tomoko
Amanda P.
“Memorable day in Tokyo”
Choosing Tomoko as our guide was the best decision. She quickly went from guide to cherished friend. The whole tour felt like meeting up with an old friend that was showing us around. Prior to the tour she listened and understood what we were hoping to get out of the tour. Tomoko put together a great itinerary and had wonderful insights on everything. Her instincts about when we needed a break were great. This was our first trip to Japan and Tomoko helped us feel at ease. We learned so much and will remember our time with her forever. I have already recommended her to friends.
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Tomoko H.
Thank you for the wonderful review, Amanda. The day spent with you and Mike was very relaxing and memorable. Since you're interested in local Japanese foods, I really enjoyed taking you around places like Tsukiji, the basement food hall at Ginza Mitsukoshi, and the local grocery store in Yanaka that I often use. It was also a pleasure to walk with you from Ueno Hirokoji to Ueno Park, Kan'ei-ji Temple, and Yanaka Cemetery, sharing stories about the various histories of the Tokugawa shogunate era and seeing your interest in them. Since you had just returned from Nikko, it felt like the fun of fitting puzzle pieces together as we went. I'm grateful to have spent time with two such gentle young people who are open to different cultures and foods. And if you get the chance, try nattō and umeboshi again sometime. Best wishes to you! Tomoko H
Ana H.
“A wonderful day”
We are a group of 6, with 2 young adults. Tomoko was wonderful in every aspect. She made things more than just enjoyable for all of us, young and young at hearts. We visited shrines that were meaningful but not so crowded, made last minutes changes and enjoyed everything very much. I hope to meet her again sometime! All the best and thank you, Tomoko!
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Tomoko H.
Thank you very much for your prompt review. It was an extremely hot day, but we enjoyed the cool breeze at the café next to the giant bell at Engakuji Temple, met Enma, the king of hell, drew a lucky fortune at Hachimangu Shrine, and walked a lot despite the heat. You are amazing walkers! The Great Buddha was waiting for us patiently under the blazing sun. At Hase-dera, we enjoyed the breathtaking views, and walked along Zaimokuza seashore. We also indulged in special chocolate, traditional Japanese sweets from a shop celebrating its 250th anniversary, and had a delightful dinner at a traditional Japanese-style room in Enoshima. Laughter really is contagious. It was a really fun day filled with laughter. I hope you keep having fun on your trip. I look forward to seeing you again in Osaka, and someday in Romania, Ana, Sorin, Sofia, Petru, Manuela, and Marius - Ne vedem, mulțumesc.
$214/ per group
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One day fun excursion to Kamakura, a small, coastal city just one hour south of Tokyo. Sometimes called the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, Kamakura offers numerous temples, shrines and other historical monuments as well as beautiful beach and forestry hills. Refer to this model plan, and I will customize your tour based on your tastes and requests. Count on me, Kamakura specialist!
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