Tokyo First-Timer Special
This is a one-day tour for first-timers in Tokyo. We will visit popular spots from West to East using subway (900 JPY for a one-day ticket). You will appreciate the contrast between old/traditional and modern, and between quiet and lively. With this tour you will be able to catch an unforgettable glimpse of the city of Tokyo from visual, cultural, historical and gastronomical angles. I can also explain how we Japanese are getting along from a local perspective.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
JR Harajuku Station East Entrance
JR Harajuku Station East Entrance
Meiji-jingu Shrine
Our first spot is a Shinto shrine in a forrest in the middle of the city. Once you step into the precinct, you will forget that you are in the busy city and will find Japanese traditional scenes.
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower, which used be the highest tower in Tokyo, was built in 1958 for TV broadcasting. We will go up to the observation deck and see a 360-degree view of the city. The admission fee is 1,500 JPY per person. The guide is free of charge as he is a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter.
Zojo-ji Temple
We will stop by this old temple near Tokyo Tower. You will enjoy a view of the contrast between old and modern.
Tsukiji Outer Market
The fish market moved to Toyosu, but there are still a lot of shops and restaurants in this outer market. We will have lunch here. It depends on the restaurant and menu, but the lunch will cost somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 JPY.
East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace used to be the Edo Castle where the Tokugawa shogunate governed the country until the Meiji Restoration in the 19th century. The East Gardens, part of the Imperial Palace, are now open to the public.
Asakusa
Our final destination is Asakusa, one of the most popular spots with the oldest temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji Temple, as its center. Nakamise, approach to the temple, is famous for its shops for souvenirs and sweets.
Asakusa
The tour ends in Asakusa
Ending Point
Asakusa
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
transportation fee (about 900 JPY per person, for you and the guide), admission fee (about 1,500 JPY per person, for you) and lunch
Tour Important Information
We will use subway with a one-day ticket for moving around the city. We will walk a lot to and from the nearest subway station and inside the precinct and the garden. So please wear comfortable shoes. Please let me know your dietary restrictions or preferences if any.
Important message from the supplier
I can guide you to places far from Tokyo if you pay my transportation fee.
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 Fumi M.
Born and bred in Tokyo I am still living in the suburbs of Tokyo. I spent several years in the U.S. and the UK and wanted to show international visitors around Japan in return for the hospitality I had received in foreign countries. After coming back from the UK, I obtained the qualification of the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter. I can guide guests to every corner of Tokyo including areas off the beaten track. As a history fan I can tell you a historical episode behind the scenes. From a local perspective I can explain how we Japanese are getting along. Since I have science and technology backgrounds, I can give you a tour of scientific or technical things as well..
Reviews
Thi thang T.
“Kyoto is beautiful ”
Our guide was friendly and polite, and the trip was comfortable overall. However, I was disappointed with the level of guidance and planning at both Arashiyama and Nara Park. At Arashiyama, we only walked through the Bamboo Forest and took some photos. The guide did not explain that there were several beautiful attractions nearby, such as Ōkōchi Sansō Garden, Kimono Fores, so we missed them. The same thing happened at Nara Park. We only stopped near the entrance to feed the deer, and the guide did not take us further inside or explain that we could visit important attractions such as Tōdai-ji Temple, the Great Buddha, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and other beautiful areas of the park. As first-time visitors, we relied on the guide to recommend the main attractions and organize a more complete experience. Unfortunately, we only discovered afterward how many important places we had missed. The trip was pleasant, but the guidance was not detailed or thorough enough, which is why I am giving 3 stars. Since we missed several major attractions at both Arashiyama and Nara Park and were not informed about them during the tour, I believe a 3-star rating is fair. We flew over from Dubai, 10 hours and spent 2 hours on train from Tokyo to Kyoto but we missed a lot of attractive places, thats very pity! I should have asked chat GPT, not rely everything on the tour guide.
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Fumi M.
Thank you for your review. As you mentioned I was not well prepared because I had litttle time to prepare for the last minute destination change in the area of Kyoto and Nara, which is not my home ground.
Susie W.
“Matsumoto Castle and Nagano: a train adventure!”
We had a long but great day with Fumi M. who took us by train from Tokyo to Matsumoto Castle followed by a wonderful lunch which included Buckwheat noodles, something different that we’d never tasted before. Loved the castle and the climb to the top was so worth the effort which afforded some wonderful views and many antique weapons. The Cherry blossoms were in full bloom and looked amazing with so many trees sprinkled about as we made our way along the tour. We stopped at Nagano to visit the Temple which was awesome and inspiring. Loved the town and would have loved to stayed a few days as it was so interesting. Stopped twice at Beni Beni pastry shop not far from the Temple to buy Custard, Apple pie tarts covered with salted caramel sauce - just Devine! Home to Tokyo on the Bullet train to finish off an amazing day. Thank you Fumi for making this day possible and all your help with the organisation. You were a great tourist guide and so good to be with someone who is so competent with the English language .
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Fumi M.
Thank you, Susie, for your great review. It was such a hectic day today that I hoped I could have shown you more in Nagano Prefecture. But I hope you, your husband and your friends enjoyed the adventure. Have a safe trip to Australia with good memories of Japan. Fumi
William H.
“Great host! ”
Fumi was excellent! His English was exceptional, and really made us feel comfortable. He helped with interpretation during a meeting as well as offering key insights to make our visit to Japan exceptional. His ability to adjust to the situation: meeting vs tour was outstanding. When we visit again, I’m hopeful Fumi would be available to guide us again! He’s the best guide we’ve booked at gowithguide.com!
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Fumi M.
Thank you for your kind review, William. I also learned a lot about the food industry. I hope you will be able to grow your food business with this opportunity. I hope to be able to see you again somewhere sometime! Fumi
$158/ per group
More tours by Fumi M.
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How about an enjoyable walking in Tokyo?
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Tokyo,Now &Then
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Tokyo half day tour for 1st time visitor
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