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Tokyo: First Day on Your Trip to Japan
This tour is for the tourists who have just arrived in Japan and would like to explore Tokyo on the first day of your trip. See the typical major sites like Meijijingu Shrine, Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji Wholesale Market, Imperial Palace and Asakusa, while travelling across the city from the west to the east. Also learn about some tips for strolling Tokyo by yourselves, such as transportation, reservation, dinning and shopping, unique tourist sites and so on, according to your requests and interests.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
Pick up: Hotel
Any hotel you are staying at. Additional transportation costs are needed.
Meijijingu Shrine (other option: Shinjyuku Gyoen Garden and etc.)
Visit one of the most famous shrines in Japan, where the spirit of Meiji Emperor (enthroned 1867~1912) is enshrined.
Highlights:
1. Learn about Meiji Emperor and Meiji era
2. Experience Shinto's rituals like washing hands, prayer, writing wishes on Ema tablet, etc.
3. Learn about Shinto's events such as wedding, festivals, new year day, etc.
4. Stroll around the sacred and tranquil precinct of the shrine.
Harajuku Takeshita Street (or Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara and so on)
Harajuku Takeshita Street: The fashionable street lined with interesting shops which produce subcultures of present Japan
Enjoy shopping, animal cafes, eating sweets, and so on.
Tsukiji Wholesale Market (other option=Toyosu Fish Market and etc.)
Go to Tsukiji Wholesale Market
Enjoy lunch at the outer retail market, where professional cooks and restaurant owners come to purchase fresh ingredients. There are many kinds of restaurants and street food shops lined along narrow and busy shopping streets.
Tokyo Skytree (Other options: Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Sky and etc.)
Visit the landmark tower in Tokyo, which serves as a broadcast antenna and is an attractive tourist site.
Highlights:
1. Command the bird's-eye view of Tokyo and learn about the geography and history of the city
2. Look at the places directly below like temples, graveyards, schools and so on
3. See the distant views such as Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Tokyo Bay and Yokohama
Asakusa Sensoji Temple (other option=Hamarikyu Garden and etc.)
End the day with Asakusa district in downtown Tokyo
Highlights:
1. Visit Sensouji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo and see the beautiful architecture and sculptures like the big red paper lantern, the statues of the God of Wind and Fire, the Five-Storied Pagoda etc.
2. Experience some rituals of Buddhism, prayer, drawing fortune telling, incense burning etc.
3. Stroll Nakamise shopping street and other side streets to enjoy shopping and eating at a variety of small shops along the streets
Drop off: Hotel or Asakusa
Choose the ending point up to your convenience. In case of dropping off at your hotel, additional costs are needed. If you want to explore Asakusa more and have dinner there, end the tour at Asakusa.
Ending Point
At your hotel or Asakusa Subway Station
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
guide's transportation fee
guide's admission fee
transportation fee
entrance fee
Tour Important Information
1. This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
2. The order of the visiting places can be changed depending on the weather and the season. On Monday and Friday, East Garden of Imperial Palace is closed, so
3. If you have any food you cannot eat, like raw fish, meat, please let me know in advance.
4. If you have any requests or questions, I am happy to hear from before your arrival.
Important message from the supplier
I have changed the day when I am available.
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 Haruo T.
I live in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture. I have a license to teach in high schools and was admitted to the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language in the University of Birmingham. Until 2015 I had been teaching English at public high schools in Kanagawa for 37 years. During that time, I had some experience of guiding students from overseas through sister-school relationship around Tokyo and Kanagawa. Therefore, I had good command of English with the TOEIC score of 935.
As for a tour guide experience I earned the certificate of National Government Licensed Guide-Interpreter in English and since then I have guided tourists to the popular sites around Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura and Yokosuka. My guiding focuses on introducing not only Japanese historical and cultural backgrounds but also giving tourists some tips to travel Japan only by themselves, such as how to use trains and subways, find good restaurants, reserve tickets, buy survenier, and speak basic Japanese. In addition, my tour includes opportunities to experience Japanese culture like Zen meditation, ninja performance, visiting anime's location sites based on tourists' request. Besides, by means of my hobbies of writing English Haiku and Waka (traditional Japanese poems) and performing Rakugo (traditional Japanese funny story telling) in English, I can surely entertain tourists during the tour.
My moto as a tour guide is let the tourists have a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Japan with my profound, intelligible and interestiog guiding.
Reviews
Hildegard B.
“An unforgettable Day in Tokyo with Haruo”
Haruo picked us up at the new cruise terminal and guided us through an amazing day in Tokyo. We visited the Tokyo Government Building, enjoyed a delicious teppanyaki lunch, crossed the famous Shibuya Crossing, and explored the Meiji-schrein and Sensoji-tempel along the way. We used public transportation throughout the day, and without Haruo we would have been completely lost in Tokyo’s complex train system. His guidance made everything easy and stress-free. We booked Haruo because our daughters had already toured with him before and were absolutely enthusiastic about their experience — and now we fully understand why. The tour was very relaxed, and Haruo was always flexible and attentive to our wishes. We started the day as strangers and ended it happily, tired, and as friends. A truly special experience — highly recommended!
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Haruo T.
I can’t say thank you enough for your kind words. It is a great honor and encouragement to have guests from the same family. Since I’d received much information on you from your daughters, I didn’t feel like meeting new guests from the beginning. You were so interested in Japanese culture that your questions were excellent and got the target. Though the restaurant your daughters recommended was closed, you didn’t not complain and even encouraged me to find another. I was happy you liked Okonomiyaki, which was not what you had expected. Most of all, I enjoyed listening to your story on your family members as well as culture in Germany. I wish I could visit you and your country some day. Danke and keep in touch.
Bernard B.
“Invaluable guide in Tokyo”
We decided to spend a whole day in Tokyo before embarking on a cruise. We connected with Haruo because he lives in Yokohama, and we had decided to stay in Yokohama within walking distance of the cruise terminal. The HUGE advantage to that is that Haruo met us at the hotel and started the day there, so that he was able to guide us through the extensive train and subway network up to Tokyo. It can be daunting and complicated, and I am not sure how many times we would have been delayed without him. But by the end of the day, we had the confidence to get back on our own. Haruo's English is excellent, and we never had an issue understanding him. He is personable and kind. Best part is that his communication was excellent before the tour, and he incorporated our desired stops into a custom itinerary that would work. And best yet, he was flexible on the day of the tour when weary legs and feet decided to forgo a stop or two to more thoroughly enjoy our day. We had decided to end the tour in Asakusa and go back on our own to meander a bit more on our own and have the ladies do some shopping. And was able to point out a particular type of restaurant that we requested. All in all, getting Haruo was a great decision, and we feel that we have gained a friend in Japan as well.
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Haruo T.
Dear Bernard. I can’t say thank you enough for your kind words. I also felt like traveling with my friends at the end of the tour. I would be happy if I could be able to give you some advice to help you enjoy your long trip here in Japan. I’m sure you can, since you understand what you need to know and ask me appropriate questions. Even though it’s warmer than usual and needed a lot of walking, you were so cooperative and generous to keep up with my pace. I’m afraid it might have made you exhausted. The conversation with you at the cafe at Shinjuku Gyoen Garden was so enjoyable that I might have forgotten I was your guide. Whenever I see the wonderful picture taken with you in front of the gate of Asakusa Sensoji Temple, I’ll remember and think of you and the tour on one beautiful early summer day in Tokyo. Best wishes Your friend, Haruo
Marcus O.
“Great tour with an excellent guide”
Haruo is a very kind and pleasant guide. It was a pleasure, to explore the town with him and we truely can recommend him. He explained the historic and the modern meanings of the stops of our tour and made all of the experience really interesting. We had a very good time with him and it was very helpful.
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Haruo T.
I can’t say thank you enough for your kind words. I hope your Pokémon souvenir has a great impact on your children. Please don’t worry too much about the result of Omikuji fortune telling drawing. That is a kind of advice for you. I also enjoyed the tour, especially cherry blossom viewing with you. Good luck and take care of yourselves. Danke.
$259/ per group
More tours by Haruo T.
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Kamakura & Yokosuka: History of War and Peace Tour
This tour takes you to historical sites on wars and peace. In the morning, explore Kamakura to visit the sites related to the battles of samurais to learn about battles in the middle age. After lunch at Komachidori Street, move to the city of Yokosuka to visit Yokosuka Navel Port and Memorial Battleship Mikasa to know about the wars in the modern era. If you want to take the tour of either Kamakura or Yokosuka, it is possible to change the itinerary.
Kamakura & Yokosuka: History of War and Peace Tour
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Yokohama Shore Excursion
This is a one-day shore excursion for those who visit Yokohama port during your cruise overseas. During the limited time see the must-see sites and experience some attractions of your interest. Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan with a population of about 3.8 million. It is the first port which opened to the world after a long seclusion policy by the last Samurai government (Tokugawa Shogunate). Enjoy both historical sites and newly developed seafront center.
Yokohama Shore Excursion
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Kamakura & Enoshima: It's Shownan Time!
This tour takes you to Kamakura, the first Samurai capital, and Enoshima, which is a sandbar island on Japanese Long Beach called Shownan. You visit Hachimangu Shrine and Great Buddha to learn about the history and culture of Kamakura Shogunate (Samurai Government). On the latter half of the tour, you enjoy exploring the picturesque and religious island, Enoshima, which is now a popular, and attractive tour site. After you leave Japan, you will never forget this wonderful moment.
Kamakura & Enoshima: It's Shownan Time!
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Magical History Tour in First Samurai Capital
This 4-hour tour takes you to four major and popular tourist sites in Kamakura. Visit Kamakura Hachimangu Shrine to learn about Shintoism, (Japanese indigenous religion), and the culture and history of Kamakura Shogunate, (the first samurai government). Stroll Komachidori Street to enjoy foods and drinks as well as shopping. At Kotokuin Temple, see the great statue of Amida Buddha, and at Hasedera Temple, see the statue of eleven-headed Kannon to know more about Buddhism and it's statues.
Magical History Tour in First Samurai Capital
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Tokyo
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Asakusa, 3 hours.
Asakusa is not only a temple town but also a traditional town of common peoples's culture. In the typical Tokyo Shitamachi (old residential town), there is Japanese Broadway, interesting and unique river view and many many shops worth to visit. You can enjoy the essence of Shitamachi.
Asakusa, 3 hours.
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East Gardens of Imperial Palace & Marunouchi
I will guide you around the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace where Edo Castle was built. You can enjoy contrast of modern and old Tokyo! Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building, designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, recently underwent renovation to restore the station to its pre-war glory. I will show you red brick station and Marunouchi featuring many historical buildings. This tour will help you understand Japanese history especially about the Edo period about 400 years ago.
East Gardens of Imperial Palace & Marunouchi
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Tokyo Tradition, Culture, and Modern Wonders One-Day Tour
Join our expertly guided tour through Tokyo’s iconic highlights! This is a handy private walking tour that utilizes the public transport system for first-time visitors to Tokyo who want a comprehensive overview of the city. From the serene Meiji Jingu Shrine to the energetic Shibuya Crossing and historic Asakusa, experience the perfect mix of tradition, culture, and modern charm. With stops at the Tsukiji Fish Market and the majestic Imperial Palace, this tour is a must for first-time visitors!
Tokyo Tradition, Culture, and Modern Wonders One-Day Tour
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Alte Japanische Kulturgüter besuchen
Besuchen wir alte Japanische Kulturgüter, um die Geschichte und Kultur Japans zu lernen. Zu den Kulturgütern gehören Meiji-Jingu, dem Kaiser Meiji gewidmet und eines der bedeutendesten Pilgerziele Japans, Kaiserpalast umgeben von Wassergraben sowie Asakusa, eine Kernziele der Eddoko, der alteingessenen Bewohner der Stadt und wegen der von Andenkenläden gesäumten Straße bekannt. Das heißt, SIe können die alte Kultur Japans gut lernen.
Alte Japanische Kulturgüter besuchen
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