Tokyo: First Day on Your Trip to Japan
Joined 2019
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?
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
Joined 2019
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
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.
Teresa B.
“Great Day With Haruo ”
We had a wonderful day with Haruo in Tokyo! He was incredibly patient and flexible, especially when we had to change our original plans due to the rain. He was very open and eager to learn more about our culture, and at the same time, we could ask him anything about Japanese traditions, culture, and daily life. It was a truly enriching experience — thank you, Haruo! He’s not only the best tour guide, but also the ultimate videographer when it comes to making you look like a celebrity while crossing Shibuya Crossing!
Haruo T.
I appreciate your kind and heartwarming words. I had a great time with the tourists who were so interested in our culture and history. Especially the questions you asked me were so interesting that they induced more deep and profound explanations. Also thank you your patience and cooperation for bad weather and crowdedness. At the end of the tour I felt like strolling around Tokyo with my friends. Take care and keep in touch.
Robert B.
“A Very Full and Fun Day! ”
Haruo and I had a wonderful day exploring the beauty and history of Kamakura, and then after a quick train trip, we did a tour of Yokosuka's naval history and reviewed the American and Japanese fleets. Haruo is a superb guide with an excellent understanding and explanation of the rich history of Kamakura and Yokosuka. A very fun companion and superb English speaker, you will very much enjoy your day with him.
Haruo T.
Hi, Robert. I can’t thank you enough for your kind words. Since you have learned a lot about the culture and history of Japan, I enjoyed talking about various aspects, like history, literature, religion and so on with you. Also I appreciated your sympathy and support on my injury. I’m sure you’ll have a great time at photo session. Best wishes Haruo Takagi
$280/ per group
More tours by Haruo T.
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.
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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.
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.
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