One-Day Imperial and Cultural Tokyo (Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Imperial Palace Gardens, Ueno)
Joined 2018
Enjoy old and new Tokyo through this tour!
Meiji Shrine is one of the biggest and most famous shrines in Tokyo. Along Omotesando Street in Harajuku many luxury brand shops are located, and Takeshita-dori Street near Omotesando Street is known as a shopping place for young people.
Imperial Palace East Gardens are a big beautiful park near Tokyo Station.
In Ueno they have a lot of temples and shrines, and also museums such as Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, etc.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel
Your Hotel
Pick up at your hotel. Go to Meiji Shrine by public transportation.
Meiji Shine
Visit Meiji Shrine and Harajuku.
Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine is one of the biggest Shinto shrines where the soul of Emperor and Empress Meiji are enshrined. Surrounded by forests, this area of Meiji Shrine is a place for Japanese people to relax. If you are lucky, you may see a Japanese traditional wedding.
Harajuku
There are two main streets in Harajuku. One is Omote-sando Street where many famous boutiques are located, and the other is Takeshita-dori Street where many shops that young people are interested in. Takeshita-dori Street is known as a fashion hub for young generations. You can find a lot of interesting things in Harajuku.
Imperial Palace East Gardens
Imperial Palace is former Edo Castle, and the East Gardens are a big beautiful park near Tokyo Station. You can see buildings of the Edo period such as stone walls and watch towers, and walk around the Japanese garden with a pond, stone lanterns, flowers, etc. We will have lunch nearby.
Ueno
We will walk around Ueno Park.
During the period of Tokugawa shogunate, Ueno was a home for Buddhist temples and people living in those days. One of the most famous temples is Kan-eiji Temple which was originally established in 1625 as a family temple of Tokugawas.
Kan-eiji temple has several sub-temples such as Kiyomuzu Kannondo, Bentendo, etc. Kiyomizu Kannondo was built in the 17th century and modeled after Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. They enshrine one-thousand-armed Kannon in the hall.
Bentendo was originally built in the 17th century, but rebuilt in the middle of the 20th century because it was burnt down during WWII. They enshrine eight-handed goddess of knowledge, art, and beauty.
You can also visit Toshogu Shrine where Tokugawa's three shoguns, the 1st shogun Ieyasu, the 8th shogun Yoshimune, and the 15th shogun Yoshinobu, are enshrined. This shrine is said to have benefits for the success in business, victory in competition, health and longevity, etc.
In addition, there are several museums, festival hall, zoo which is famous for pandas, etc. in Ueno Park.
Ueno
Go back to your hotel by public transportation.
Your Hotel
End of the tour.
Ending Point
Your hotel
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
1. Guide fee
2. Hotel pick-up
* Hotel pick-up is included if your hotel is located near a station on JR Yamanote Line or inside the circle of JR Yamanote Line. If extra transportation fees are necessary for hotel pick-up, I will let you know.
1. Transportation fee (you and your guide) : About 1000 yen/adult
2. Admission fee (you and your guide)
3. Lunch (you and your guide)
4. Beverages (beer, juice, etc.)
Tour Important Information
The Imperial Palace East Gardens are usually closed on Mondays and Fridays, except for national holidays.
*** FAQ ***
(Q) Can I add or delete the places to visit?
(A) Yes! You can add or delete the places to visit. Please let me know the places you want to visit. I will make a customized tour for you.
Important message from the supplier
Nothing speceial.
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 2018
About Tour Guide Hiroshi S.
Hello, I'm Hiroshi.
I am a National Government Licensed Tour Guide Interpreter in English. I have got a master's degree in Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the U.S.
I have been living in a city of Fujisawa, which is the city next to Kamakura, for more than 20 years, and also lived in Kamakura for more than 10 years. So far, I have visited almost all the temples and shrines in Kamakura. So I am sure I can offer you a pleasant trip to the historical city, Kamakura.
In addition to Kamakura, I can also guide Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, Nikko, etc. because I have visited many places in Kanto area. For example, in Tokyo I can show you around the sightseeing spots such as Asakusa, Tsukiji, Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Skytree, etc.
I like baseball and used to play baseball, but now enjoy watching professional baseball games. And I like watching Rakugo, Japanese traditional story-telling performance.
Of course, I also like travelling very much, and am interested in Japanese culture and history. So I would like to show you Japanese tradition and culture.
Let’s enjoy a trip in Japan together.
I am looking forward to seeing you soon.
Reviews
Catherine P.
“Fabulous day with Hiroshi”
We had a fantastic day with Hiroshi. We covered a lot of the major sites in Tokyo. Hiroshi has an easy going style and is very knowledgeable. He has a great sense of humor and was very good at explaining complicated history.
Hiroshi S.
Thank you very much for the review. I also had a great time with you. We visited Ueno, Tsukiji, Imperial Palace, Harajuku and Shibuya. We learned about Japanese history and religion, and also got a taste of young people's culture. Unfortunately, we weren't able to meet the Emperor :-) I think you also learned some basic Japanese greetings, so I hope you'll try to use them during your stay in Japan. There are still many things to see in Tokyo. Please contact me when you come to Japan again. Let's enjoy Tokyo and Japan together! Hiroshi
Zdenek D.
“Wonderful Hakone with Hiroshi”
I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to enjoy the nice views and natural beauty. Hiroshi told us a lot of interesting things and we really enjoyed the trip with him.
Hiroshi S.
Thank you for writing a review. We visited Owakudani by cable car, enjoyed a boat cruise on Lake Ashi, and experienced Japanese history at the Hakone Checkpoint and Hakone Shrine. Mt. Fuji was covered in clouds, but gradually revealed its beauty. I am happy that you enjoyed the nature and history of Hakone. Next time you come to Japan, let's enjoy Japanese nature, history, and culture together. I look forward to seeing you again in the future. Hiroshi
Samina A.
“Three great day tours!”
Hiroshi is such a kind and skilled guide. He tailored my custom requests for 3 days tours outside of Tokyo. Everything was planned to perfection and well synchronized with the logistics. He even helped me with directions at the end of my tours as I requested different drop-off points. I will definitely hire his services again in my next visit!
Hiroshi S.
Thank you for your review. I also enjoyed three days with you. We were able to see a lot of beautiful flowers on this tour. We saw daffodils and nemophilas in Hitachi, tulips in Ashikaga, and cherry blossoms in full bloom at Lake Kawaguchi. I am very happy that you enjoyed the flowers. We took a lot of photos. I will further improve my photography skills before your next visit :-) I look forward to seeing you again in Japan! Hiroshi
$247/ per group
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