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- Off the Beaten Path
The unbeaten tracks of Sumida and Koto Wards (5 hour excursion)
Joined 2019
Sumida and Koto area was part of the eastern peripheral of old Edo with many second houses of feudal lords which typically had splendid Japanese gardens. Visit and stroll two gardens that have been retained to this day. Also included are visits to a memorial park related to the Kanto Earthquake of 1923, a historic Buddhist temple related to Sumo and the Fukagawa Edo Museum.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
- At your hotel
Former Yasuda Garden
Yokoami-chou Park
Ekouin Buddhist Temple
Fukagawa Edo Museum
Kiyosumi Garden
Ending Point
Your hotel in 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
Guide's travel fares
Admission fees (including for guide; around 500 yen per person) and your travel fares (around 1,000 yen per person if starting from central Tokyo)
Tour Important Information
Although we will be making maximum use of public transport, there will be a lot of walking involved. In addition, in Kiyosumi Garden, we will walk over some rocky steps along the lake. Remember to wear comfortable shoes.
Restaurant option for lunch is limited.
All the five sites highlighted in this tour are in close proximity of each other and can be visited within five hours. However if you wish to enjoy a more relaxed tour, I suggest we skip one site least appealing to you.
Only available if starting from central Tokyo
Important message from the supplier
I do not do coach tours.
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 2019
About Tour Guide Takahiro I.
I grew up in the UK, and have lived more than ten years in the UK and USA on overseas assignments.
While I lived abroad, I started to realize how shallow my knowledge on Japanese culture, beliefs, history and food was for a Japanese resident, whenever I tried to respond to the questions my foreign friends had about Japan. For the last 20 years I’ve been doing a lot of domestic travel visiting areas that I’ve never been before, and studying history and culture, as well as enjoying Sake from all parts of Japan.
From 2015, I intensified my studies of Japan, and in 2017, successfully received government certification as a qualified guide on Japan.
Thinking it would help my studies as well as be beneficial for visitors to Japan, I opened a website titled “Rediscovering Japan” in 2016 to record my travels and share my experience with travelers to Japan. To date I have covered 25 of the 47 prefectures in Japan.
I have found that rather than just visiting tourist spots at random, it is much more interesting if you have a clear theme of the places you are going to. I hope you'll enjoy the visits with me to rediscover Japan!
Reviews
“Excellent taste of Japan on my first trip, thank you Tom.”
I had Takahiro as a guide for my first trip to Tokyo and I thoroughly enjoyed the day. We visited Asakusa and explored the Temple and Shinto shrine with Tom (as he asked me to call him) explaining the fascinating details as we went. He was very knowledgable in all areas and his English is impeccable, having worked and lived in UK in his younger years. I never felt rushed and Tom's flexibility and patience was appreciated as I browsed the stalls to find souvenirs to take home. We took the river boat to Yasuda Park and the Sumo Arena and had a peaceful walk through the beautiful gardens. Tom helped with every aspect of the trip (subway navigation especially) and it was a lovely first taste of the history of Tokyo and it has definitely made me want to come back again. Thanks so much Tom, we will see you again on our next visit.
Takahiro I.
Thank you Simon for your kind review. I'm glad that you enjoyed your first and short trip to Japan. Japan has so much to offer to visitors to Japan. History starting from the Jomon people from 14000 B.C. to modern times, religious and cultural heritage, architecture, gardens to name a few. I look forward to welcoming you back to Japan in the near future. Thanks again for having me as your guide.
Nadine G.
One hour translation and accompanying service for tour of G-Cans Underground Temple in Saitama
Customized
“Extremely friendly tour guide with a lot of enthusiasm and great knowledge”
Takahiro showed temples and shrines in Tokyo and taught us interesting things about Japanese culture. It was great being with him as he is super flexible, friendly and enthusiastic to show us around. He has great knowledge and very good English. Thank you Takahiro for this great day!
Takahiro I.
Dear Nadine, Thank you for taking a moment to write this review. I really enjoyed being with you and your family. I sincerely hope that you are enjoying the rest of your tour and wish you and your family all the best. Kind regards Takahiro
“Perfect start to our visit”
From the moment we contacted Tom he offered us support and advice which continued even after the guided tour. The tour was tailored to our interests and Tom surpassed our expectations. He even gave us written notes containing travel tips for us to use during our stay. Tom's knowledge and love for his country made this extra special, and we feel like we made a friend. We cannot recommend Tom highly enough.
Takahiro I.
Thank you so much for your kind review. I'm so glad I was able to help give a good start to your first visit to Japan. Although there were some hectic moments like catching the boat at the last minute, I think we managed to cover a lot of ground on your first day in Japan. I wish you a most enjoyable and memorable stay in Japan, and hope you will revisit Japan, giving me the opportunity to see you again either as a guide or friend.
$195/ per group
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