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- Off the Beaten Path
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.
(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 pick-up, hotel drop-off
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
- I do tours with a small private group up to 4 people.
- Please kindly make an inquiry for available days on my GWG calendar.
- My tours basically start/end in Tokyo. If you like to start/end outside Tokyo 23 wards, my transportation fee from/to there should be covered. 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 with a photographer who lives here. I'm 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 (up to 4 hours) : 40,000 JPY
・Full Day (up to 8 hours) : 64,000 JPY
・Extra hour : 8,000 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
Brendon S.
Private Kamakura - One day trip from Tokyo with Kaori
“Kamakura Expert”
Kaori was on time, which I value greatly. She was able to adapt to the needs of our party and gave a detailed description of the history regarding the places we visited. 100% would book again.
Kaori S.
(81 reviews)Thank you very much, Brendon-san, for taking your precious time to give me an excellent review while you are still on travel. Great pleasure to hear you loved our day in Kamakura. Looking forward to having another adventure when you come back to Japan!! Big hugs, Kaori
“Excellent and thoughtful guide.”
Kaori was a wonderful guide and planned a tour to meet our interests. She was informative and flexible, changing the schedule on the day of the tour to meet our needs. Appreciate her help!
Kaori S.
(81 reviews)Thank you for taking time to give excellent review for me just after our tour! I’m so happy if I could have been help of you. It is always my pleasure to support my guests upon their needs on the spot. That is why I'm doing only private tours, but not group tours. It was fun to end the day with sake over chatting. Enjoy the rest of your stay fully! Big hugs, Kaori
“Amazing experience! Highly recommend ”
Really enjoyed my 1 day tour with Kaori! It was easy to communicate with her - both online and in person. She’s such a thoughtful and caring tour guide - don’t think I’ve ever met any guide that’s as genuine and kind as her. Right when we met, she took the time to share with me about the train system and even gave me a Tokyo guide + train map. Knowing that I wanted to try wearing a kimono, she proactively booked a kimono-rental reservation near our area of interest. She gladly took plenty of photos and videos for me during my day trip. She was also well-versed in the history behind these places of interest, managed to learn quite abit. When I was shopping, she would even kindly offer to carry my shopping bags so that I could shop more comfortably. The thing that really touched me was when she prayed for me to get a good outcome for Omikuji and luckily we did! Overall, such a great experience! Highly recommend Kaori if you’re looking for a private tour guide in Tokyo Japan. You’ll be well taken care of :)
Kaori S.
(81 reviews)Thank you for taking time to give such heartwarming review for me. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the day with me. It was like a long-time friend going out, wasn’t it? I really loved to be with you for a whole day. You looked so kawaii (cute!) in Kimono. Was good it did not rain hard as expected. Maybe your BEST FORTUNE drove away bad weather! I definitely want to meet you again in the future when you come back to Japan. Tokyo has much to offer. Looking forward to hearing from you anytime. Big hugs, Kaori
$388/ per group
Reserve
