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
Beatrix O.
“A real first day in Tokyo!”
I came to Tokyo with my elderly mother and a healthy amount of anxiety about getting it right. Tomoko dissolved both. Communication beforehand was prompt and warm; the itinerary felt custom-built rather than off-the-shelf. She has a rare instinct for pace — knowing when to linger and when to move on — and a quiet attentiveness that my mother noticed and appreciated. And she is genuinely brilliant company: conversation wandered from sumo to food to Japanese culture with the ease of someone who loves the city and loves talking about it. If your first day in Tokyo is in Tomoko's hands, it's in very good hands.
Roger R.
“Wonderful day in Hakone”
Ms Tomoko provided a very interesting and fun day touring the Hakone region for my wife & I on March 13th 2026. The weather was a bit cold and overcast but Tomoko made the day bright and enjoyable even with the unpleasant cold weather! We got a very good overview of the history and we were able to experience the cable car, boat excursion, we took a short walk along lake Ashi and observed the Hakone check point and Hakone shrine and temple. Fortuntely we got a glimpse of Mt Fuji before the clouds set in. I can't say enough for her patience and guidiance with us. Bravo Tomoko!
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Tomoko H.
Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Roger. It was a very cold day with snow still on the ground and the trees from the previous day, but I’m grateful to have shared such a heartwarming and enjoyable time filled with laughter with you and your wife, Angun. When I heard that you would be staying in Hakone for three nights, I was able to give you an overview of the Hakone area at a leisurely pace. I imagine you're relaxing in a lovely hot spring right at this moment. Someday, I’d like to visit Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium. Please enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan. Thank you again:) - Tomoko
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Rhonda K.
“Yanaka tour with Tomoko ”
Had the most wonderful experience Tomoko was so informative and went out of her way to make sure we had the best time she catered the tour to what we wanted to see and do Then she made sure we tried some wonderful treats Tomoko made our day highly recommend Mal and Rhonda from Australia
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Tomoko H.
Rhonda, Mal, it was so nice walking around Yanaka with you today. I'm glad you both enjoyed this quiet, relaxed area. Having just spent a week walking the pilgrimage trails through the mountains of the Kumano Kodo until yesterday, I felt a sense of peace guiding you around the familiar neighborhood near my home this afternoon. It was wonderful sharing the nostalgic shopping streets, temple town, cemetery, and interactions with local middle schoolers with you, experiencing the daily lives of ordinary people, and enjoying my favorite snacking (roasted sweet potatoes and rice crackers called “kakinotane(persimmon seeds)”) together. Enjoy Disneyland tomorrow with the younger members of your family. Thank you again! - Tomoko
$209/ per group
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