Off the Beaten Path: Utsunomiya Full Day Tour
Joined 2024
Discover Utsunomiya, where delicious gyoza await! Begin in central Utsunomiya with a stroll down Orion Dori, the vibrant shopping street. Stop at Kirasse to taste a variety of gyoza or try local favorites Minmin and Masashi on Gyoza Street. Visit the Utsunomiya Castle Ruins, then explore the Marugame Stone Church and the revered Futaarayama Shrine.
Tour the awe-inspiring Oya Stone Mine and marvel at the Giant Kannon statue.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your Hotel (Tokyo)
Utsunomiya Core Course (4 hours)
Futaarayama Shrine – Historic Shinto shrine at the heart of Utsunomiya.
Orion Street – Covered shopping street with local boutiques and snack shops.
Gyoza Lunch – Try Utsunomiya’s famous dumplings at a local restaurant.
Utsunomiya Castle Ruins – Explore the reconstructed castle walls and grounds.
Marugame Church – A unique western-style church known for its striking brick architecture.
Option A: Utsunomiya Extension (4 hours)
Oya Stone Kannon – Giant Buddhist carving set in a dramatic stone cliff.
Oya History Museum (former Oya Mine) – Explore massive underground stone caverns.
Wakayama Bamboo Farm – Walk through a scenic bamboo grove away from the crowds.
Option B: Nikko Toshogu Extension (4 hours)
Nikko Toshogu Shrine – A UNESCO World Heritage site and final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Sacred Bridge (Shinkyo) – Beautiful vermillion bridge marking the entrance to the shrine complex.
Rinnoji Temple – The largest temple in Nikko, known for its grand structure and Buddhist artifacts.
Ending Point
Your Hotel (Tokyo)
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
Tour Guiding
Japanese/English Interpreting
Hotel Pick up/Drop off within Tokyo 23wards
Your rail fare
Guides rail fare
(One way local line is roughly 2000yen from Tokyo or 4000yen by bullet train)
Tour Important Information
Important message from the supplier
Important Information – Please Read Before Inquiring
Before submitting an inquiry, please review the FAQs. Inquiries should be made with the intention to book a tour.
Do you provide a driver?
No. I’m a rail-based guide, which is faster, more convenient, and more cost-effective for getting around Tokyo. If you require a private driver, you’ll need to arrange that separately. Please note traffic and parking limitations in the city.
Can you make bookings on my behalf?
No. My tours focus on locations that don’t need reservations. Some popular attractions like Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya Sky, and teamLab require advance booking. If you want to visit one, I recommend making it your final stop and reserving tickets in advance.
Can you take me to Mt. Fuji?
I generally don’t offer Mt. Fuji tours. The mountain is often not visible, and travel time is about 3 hours each way. Many guests feel let down when visibility is poor. A group bus tour is usually a better option for Mt. Fuji visits.
Can we see sumo?
Tokyo hosts sumo tournaments in January, May, and September. Tickets sell out fast—like trying to get NFL seats. Outside these months, options are limited.
Recommendation: Look into sumo lunch experiences or VIP sumo exhibitions tailored to international visitors. These are more accessible and still offer great cultural insight.
Can we get Studio Ghibli tickets?
Studio Ghibli Museum tickets sell out within minutes and are hard to secure, especially for tourists. The same applies to many themed cafés, which book out quickly. Check official websites and book early if these are must-visits.
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 Grant A.
I am a independent guide—do not contact me for to resell or subcontract my work or for driving services.
Hello! My name is Grant, and I’ve spent over a decade living and exploring Japan. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, I first came to Japan as a high school exchange student in Inuyama, a historic castle town in Aichi. My love for Japan began early—sparked by childhood games like Pokémon that were released in Japanese before English. This passion led me to pass the N2 Japanese Language Proficiency Test in 2018, study at language schools across Japan, and graduate from the Japan Visual Media Translation Academy.
I’ve traveled to every prefecture in Japan, often using unlimited rail passes to explore castles, historic sites, and regional specialties.
I hold a degree in Asian Studies from a Tokyo university, and my extensive experience living in Tokyo has made me an expert on the city’s transportation system, hidden gems, and affordable eats. With over 30 visits to Kyoto, I have deep knowledge of its historical sites and the broader cultural landscape of Japan. I studied at Japanese language school in Kyoto. I visited all the world heritage sites in Kyoto and have a lot of knowledge on the history of Japan. I can provide tours of Kyoto or places outside of Tokyo for an additional transportation fee.
Tour options:
Full-Day Tour: 40,000 yen (8 hours)
Full-Day Tour Outside of Tokyo: 40,000 yen plus transportation expense
Reviews
Javier M.
“A MUST have guide.”
With the limited time I've spent with Grant it sure was a blast! Having Grant as a guide for a day taking me to the most popular technological and otaku filled place in Tokyo was wide opening. While Grant may look a bit intimidatingly awkward, hes quite professional in his touring and guiding skills. He taught me how to properly use Japan's shinkansen and train stations when traveling to other places besides Tokyo. If you are in the fence on having Grant as a guide in japan ill say go for it! Hes been living in japan as a foreign exchange student since high-school, as well as having traveled to all of Japan's prefectures! As a side note he taught me the history and manufacturing process of making Japanese whiskey and scotch, in which he is quite knowledgeable on.
Sofiabennie V.
“Custom Tour in Tokyo”
We had a great day with Grant. When we came to Tokyo we had already been in Japan for more than 2 weeks and and were out of firm plans and tired of all the planning. We wanted to let someone else take the wheel and a less crowded experience. We contacted Grant who asked about our interests and then built a custom itinerary for us. He took us to the Lucky Cat temple, Showa Kinen park, for som great fried chicken and to Nakano Broadway. What's more we also had som great discussions on living abroad, languages, history and much more. He has a great knowledge of Japanese history and culture which gave a depth and perspective to our discussions. We warmly recommend Grant as a tour guide.
Simon R.
“Thank you Grant!”
We booked Grant for 2x days in Tokyo and had a wonderful time with Grant who was able to show us around easily and provided a good balance of fun and information for both us and our two young children; including the challenges of where to eat! Thank you Grant, you made our holiday in Japan a highlight and would definitely recommend anyone to book Grant.
$276/ per group
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