Tokyo off-the-beaten selection in one day with Kaori
Joined 2019
This tour offers my favorite local visits or off-the-beaten experiences in Tokyo. We can visit 2 areas you pick up from below. Also, these areas can be combined with regular sightseeing spots as optional. Feel free to ask me any arrangements with my other tours. Let's explore Tokyo with local eyes!
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel, or your choice in Tokyo 23 wards.
Select 2 areas for one day from below.
Please choose 2 areas for one day. We visit one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Or you can request me one to combine with another major sightseeing spot which is not on the list.
(A) Yanaka (Yanesen) - Stroll around local charming town with local people's life.
Lovely local town with people's ordinal life. Tokyo was heavily damaged during World War Ⅱ. Yanaka, also called Yanesen, survived from fire by bombing. That's how this area retains old atmosphere. This town is also known as temple town and cat town. Having been loved by artisans, lots of small galleries and cosy shops can be enjoyed in the area. "Strolling around" is the way to explore this charming town.
(B) Kagurazaka - a fashionable shopping and dining district along a sloping street, but with Geisha culture.
Kagurazaka was located just outside the outer moat of Edo Castle in Samurai period and famous as Geisha entertainment district. Some restaurant related to Geisha still remain here. You can see what you don't see in tourist area. Akagi Jinja Shrine is very popular as the most fashionable shrine in Japan, designed by renowned architect Kuma Kengo. There are many sophisticated shops and restaurant around here. Visiting AKOMEYA, you can see or shop the finest food selection from all over Japan. If you like to shop like Japanese, you love Kagurazaka!
(C) Fukagawa - Experience impressive buddhist Goma Fire ritual with Taiko drums.
We can experience special Goma fire ritual at Fukagawa Fudoson temple. It takes about 30~40min. We need to be quiet during the ritual. Will offer unusual experience. Not recommended for small kids, as it's part of buddhist training. We can also visit nearby Tomioka-hachimangu shrine, which is related to Sumo history.
Also, visit Kiyosumi Gardens, cosy charming Japanese strolling garden I love.
At Fukagwa Edo Museum, you can enjoy the a life-size reproduction of the townscape of Fukagawa and the people's lives of the Edo period (around 1840s).
(D) Gotokuji-temple - known as cat temple, popular for photo lovers
This quiet beautiful temple is known as origin of beckoning Cats, or Lucky Cats (Maneki-neko in Japanese). Interesting history with a cat and a samurai. Thousands of small cat dolls are offered in temple. Good photo spot. Located at west of Tokyo, making short excursion from busy central. Nearby Setagaya-hachimangu shrine has Sumo wrestling ring in the precinct.
(E) Shibamata - home to the movie series Tora-san, “It’s Tough Being a Man”
Located north-east of Tokyo, shitamachi (old town) spirit is still surviving in this peaceful local town. Taishakuten temple boasts elaborate sculptures and beautiful garden.( admission : 400 yen) We can enjoy traditional street food such as green kusa-dango (Japanese mugwort rice dumpling) and hand-grilled senbei (rice crackers) on approach road to the temple. Historical Yamamoto-tei house offers beautiful break time with maccha green tea and some traditional sweets in a beautiful Japanese-stlye house with inner garden. (admission : 100 yen). Be noted taking off shoes is required for Taishakuten sculpture gallery and Yamamotei house.
End of tour
I can take you back to your hotel, or we can end up on your choice in Tokyo 23 wards.
Ending Point
At your hotel, or your choice in Tokyo 23 wards.
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, hotel meet-up, send-off in Tokyo
transportation fee (you and guide), food and drink (you and guide), entrance fee (you and guide)
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【Major fees on tour day】
Depends on spots you choose. But if you choose spots within Tokyo Metro areas, below applies.
For guide, a one-day subway ticket costs 900 yen.
For you, depending on what you have. (Ex. Welcome Suica.) More info below.
Even if outside metro area, cost would be within 2,000 yen/person or such.
>Transportation Tips in Tokyo.
If you’re staying in Tokyo for a few days, getting either of below at the airport makes your travel easier. Both requires passport to purchase.
●Getting Welcome SUICA for travelers (transportation IC card) at the airport is strongly recommended to get around easily. Convenient in all major cities in Japan. *The issue of regular transportation IC card has been discontinued for unknown period due to shortage of semi-conductors as of 2024 June.
●Tokyo Subway Ticket（24h / 48h / 72h)
Unlimited travel ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei Metro (Not available for JR). Best value for Tokyo visitor. But limited line availability.
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For more information for transportation system in Tokyo, refer to my blog.
"What's the best ticket for Tokyo transportation?"
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【Optional】Hired cars
I'm happy to work with hired car you arranged at your end.
Tour Important Information
The transportation fee depend on spots you choose.
Important message from the supplier
- Kindly make an inquiry only for my available days on my calendar on GoWithGuide.
- I do tours up to 4 people to maximize each person's experience.
- I'm Tokyo based. My tours basically start/end in Tokyo. If you like to start/end outside Tokyo 23 wards, kindly cover my transportation fee from/to there. Thank you for understanding.
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 Kaori S.
Kon-ni-chi-wa. Hello! I'm Kaori, having lived in Tokyo for more than 20 years since I got married to a photographer who lives here. Originally from Shizuoka prefecture which has Mt.Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan. I took 2 working-holiday-visa stays in my younger days. One is in Toronto, Canada, and another is Australia touring by motorcycle. One year respectively.
I love travel both international and domestic. That's why I love helping individual travelers rather than group tours, because I myself love travel freely. Love nature, gardens, trekking, greenery, also anime. My favorite is taking you to the off-the-beaten tracks where I love.
As a national government licensed guide, I've got deep knowledge of Japanese culture and history. I really enjoy talking about the way of life with people from different cultures. We see what you like and talk what you are interested in. That's my style. If you don't know what to want, I can help you with that.
I'm happy to make tailor-made tours only for you (up to 4 people) upon your request.
・Half Day as you like (up to 4 hours) : 40,000 JPY
・Full Day as you like (up to 8 hours) : 64,000 JPY
・Extra hour over 8hours : 6,000 JPY/hour
I'm quite an outgoing person, ( but organized well! ), easy to get along with anybody, including small kids to teenagers. Can't wait to see you soon!
Reviews
Cindy L.
“Wonderful Guide”
Kaori is a wonderful guide, she is very organized with her planning and her itinerary ideas were right up the alley of what we were looking for as this was our first-time visiting Japan. Thank you Kaori for an amazing time and sharing Japanese culture with us!
Kaori S.
Thank you so much for giving me an excellent review, Cindy-san. I loved the uniqueness of your request. It was a great joy for us, my husband and me, meeting and chatting with them. They gave us the best friendliness, which we are truly appreciating. Thank you again for the great opportunity. Wishing to have next adventure, hopefully with you too sometime in the future! Big hugs, Kaori
Diana T.
“Wonderful Tour! ”
A friend highly recommended taking this tour w/ Kaori and she certainly did not disappoint! She was the consummate host, very knowledgeable and offered great assistance. We enjoyed very much our personalized tour of Kamakura with Kaori!
Kaori S.
Thank you for an excellent review, Diana-san. It is a great honor for me to receive referrals from my guests I had guided to their friends, family and relatives. Also it is fun to meet people who have mutual acquaintances. Expanding circle of friendship to the world gives me immense pleasure to be a tour guide who lives in Japan. I'm so grateful. Hope to see you again for another adventure! Big hugs, Kaori
Marisa S.
“G. O. A. T.! Look no further…”
Konnichiwa! My family and I had the best time in Tokyo with Kaori-san. Even prior to our meeting, she was always quick to respond to my numerous emails/messages; very helpful with information to help us customize our tour (especially with my kids in mind as well as their interests) and very patient with all my questions. On tour day, she arrived on time and taught us our first lesson in greeting eachother in Japanese (kids vs. adults). We shopped and toured around the Shinjuku, Shibuya and Harajuku area. We got to take photos of Godzilla head, 3D cat and Hachiko (my personal fave). We ate at a great spot for lunch, Karu, which was a rotating sushi restaurant. There was a fun game at table side that the kids enjoyed, the sushi was great (such a variety), and it was a hit seeing the special conveyor belt speed deliver your food! At the end of the day, we didn’t want to say goodbye to Kaori. Planning this trip had given me some anxiety…and I knew our first day in Tokyo would be overwhelming in trying to navigate the train system, crowds and just being in a new country! However, our day with Kaori put all of us at ease, she really helped us to get a Handle on the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. My kids haven’t stopped talking about Kaori even as we are still trekking through Japan. So sweet and very informative! We all really loved her!
Kaori S.
Konnichiwa! Arigato gozaimasu for taking your precious time to write such an exceptional review for me and attaching nice photos of us while you are still traveling. I’m delighted to hear your sweet kids remembered me in such a lovely way. All of your family were so kind and friendly to me. It is always my pleasure to have fun together, but also to support my guests to make their travel smooth as possible for their own time. I'm so happy you are enjoying Japan! Can't wait to see you all again in the future, maybe Ghibli next time!! Big hugs, Kaori
$414/ per group
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