This tour covers my favorite places in Tokyo.You can choose three places from the list of more than 30 places in Tokyo, classified as Temple&Shrine, Garden, Shopping, Observatory, Museum, Experience, and Others.
At your hotel
10:00 AM Hotel pick-up
11:00-12:00 Place #1
12:30-13:30 Place #2
13:30-14:30 Lunch
15:00-16:00 Place #3
17:00 Return to your hotel
I will provide a more specific itinerary considering the location of your hotel and the choice three places.
Meiji-Jingu Shrine: It is one of the most popular Shinto shrines in Japan where you will feel a special sacred atmosphere in a forest (Admission free except Inner garden including the Kiyomasa's well and iris garden (Optional with 500 JPY)). It was built in 1920 to commemorate Emperor Meiji who changed Japan into a democratic industrialized country after a long feudal period.
Asakusa including Senso-ji Temple: Asakusa is a very popular area for shopping such as the Nakamise street where you can find Japanese souvenirs with reasonable price. Asakusa has been developed with Senso-Ji temple which was established in 8th century and has been very popular among common people to get rid of illnesses.
Zojo-Ji Temple: It used to be the temple of Tokugawa family who had governed Japan for 265 years. It is not so touristic nor crowded where you can feel Japanese traditional Buddhist atmosphere in front of the statue of Buddha (Admission free).
Sengaku-ji Temple: This Temple is famous for the graves of 48 Ronin who attacked a high ranking samurai named Kira to revenge for their Lord Asano. Its story is well known among Japanese to fight against authority with the samurai spirit (Admission free except its museum (Optional with 500 JPY)).
Ueno Kanei-ji Temple and the grave of the last Shogun: It is a temple of Tokugawa family who had governed Japan for 265 years. It is a very authentic Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect. There are graves of the Tokugawa Shoguns including the last one, Yoshinobu (Admission free).
Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine: A branch of Tosho-Gu Shrine, which worships the 1st Shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa, who established Edo Period. (Admission free)
Gotoku-ji Temple : This temple is famous for the numerous statues of cats with one paw raised in invitation for good business. (Admission free)
Hie Shrine: This shrine was established in 1498 and had been worshiped by the Tokugawa Shogunate as the protection of Edo from evil spirits. (Admission free)
Imperial Palace East Gardens: It used to be Edo castle where Tokugawa shogunate had governed Japan for 265 years. You can see several gates and defense house of the castle renovated about 50 years ago. There is a nice Japanese garden, renovated based on a picture of Edo period, but we can't enter the current Palace, including the residence of the emperor (Closed on Monday and Friday. Admission free).
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden: This Japanese garden used to be a Samurai mansion of the Mito Tokugawa family. This garden is a typical strolling type garden of feudal lords, reproduces many scenic places in Japan such as Kyoto and Hida (Admission: 300 JPY).
Shinjuku-gyoen Garden: This garden is next to Shinjuku area, very large, so many kinds of trees and has a well maintained Japanese garden. It is very popular with many kinds of cherry blossoms. (Admission: 200 JPY)
Hamarikyu Garden: It used to be owned by the Tokugawa Shoguns in Edo period. They enjoyed duck hunting by using trained hawks. This garden is within walking distance from the Tsukiji outer market, which is popular with sea foods. (Admission: 300JPY)
Kiyosumi Garden: It is a typical strolling type Japanese garden with the collection of big natural stones with different shapes and colors. There are a lot of Koi fish, turtles, and birds in the pond. (Admission: 150 JPY)
Rikugien Garden: It is a typical strolling type Japanese garden in Edo Period made by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu who loved Japanese poems. (Admission: 300 JPY)
Happo-En's Garden: It is very popular for its wedding party.
This garden was originally owned by a Samurai load in Edo period.
You can see very old bonsai trees with 500 years old and so many pretty koi fish in its pond.
Note that you need your passport for Tax Free.
Tsukiji Outer Market : The wholesale area has moved to Tokyosu in October, 2018. But its outer market is very popular where you can taste a variety of foods. There is a new wholesale area where you can see many kinds of fish including a big tuna. (Admission free)
Ginza: There are large department stores, brand shops and Kitty land. How about lunch at Ginza Six? Or you can buy Japanese foods and eat at a table there.
Harajuku/Shibuya: A busy area for shopping, food, cat cafe, owl cafe, and hedgehog cafe. (Admission: 1,000 to 2,000 JPY/h for animal cafe)
Shinjuku Kabukicho: Shopping, Godzilla road and its observation deck, Please watch my video below! (Admission free)
Odaiba: Newly developed area by Tokyo Bay with a lot of modern shops and facilities. (Some facilities request an admission fee)
Akihabara: There are many electrical appliance shops and other new travel attractions such as Owl cafe and Maid cafe. (Admission: Owl cafe: 2,000 JPY per hour, Maid cafe: from 2,000 JPY)
Nakano Broadway: It is a department store of used figurines. (Admission free)
Yanaka Ginza: There are many old local shops for crafts and foods.
You can see Mt Fuji from Tokyo on a clear day, but its possibility is about 30%.
Tokyo Sky Tree: The tallest tower in Japan with two observatories at 350m and 450m. (Admission: 2000 JPY for the 350m only, +1000 JPY for the two observatories)
Tokyo Tower: Tokyo tower is a nice place to observe Tokyo without waiting so long. If the sky is clear, you can see Mt.Fuji. (Admission: 900 JPY for the main observatory at 150m)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory: There are two observatories with great view of Tokyo. Currently, only North Tower is available. (Admission free)
Roppongi-Hills: Tokyo City View; Observatory at 270m. It has Sky Deck which is an outdoor observatory. (Admission: 1,800 JPY, +500 JPY for Sky Deck)
Shibuya Sky: Open air observatory deck at 226m on the 45th floor of the Shibuya Scramble Square Building. It has 360 degree view of Tokyo. Admission: 2,000 JPY per adult including the guide)
Tokyo National Museum in Ueno: The most popular museum in Japan, which has the largest collection of Japanese treasures such as statues of Buddha, Japanese sword, Japanese painting, and Kimono. The museum has a nice museum shop for souvenirs. (Admission: 600 JPY per adult)
Samurai Museum: It has something new, where you can observe real Samurai armors and swords with background explanation from a staff, You can take pictures with the armors on you. (Admission: 1800 JPY per adult and 800 JPY per child)
Nezu Museum: Nezu collection of traditional Japanese arts with a very unique and quiet garden. (Admission: 1,100 JPY)
Fukagawa Edo Museum: This museum is more focused on the life of common people in Edo. The real scale model houses look very real. (Admission: 400 JPY)
Ninja Experience: It is a new place for children to practice some arts of Ninja. Forty minutes practice of basic skills of Ninja such as throwing shurikens. (Admission: 1,000 JPY, closed on Tue. and Wed.)
Tea ceremony: Experience a formal tea ceremony with English guidance for 60 min. (Previous reservation required. Admission: 2700 JPY/ adult)
Strawberry picking: You can eat all the strawberries you pick. They are sweet and delicious. (April and May only, Admission: 2,500 JPY per adult, 2,000 JPY per child, Reservation needed, please ask.)
Memory Line & Golden Gay: Both places are for locals to enjoy eating and drinking at night around Shinjuku station.
You can have dinner at Memory Line and have some drinks at Golden Gay for two hours.
To visit these places, you must start the tour after 13:00PM.
Tokyo Carmii Mosque: This mosque is the largest mosque in Tokyo, it is a beautiful mosque and open to public. (Admission free)
The popular Digital Art Museum in Odaiba was closed in 2022 which was taken over by this attraction in Toyosu.
They have many dark rooms where they show the projection mapping of various images on various surfaces including water.
It's admission is 3,000 JPY per adult and needs reservation.
They charge the guide so I will stay outside unless you want me join you.
They are professional actors of samurai movies who perform various Tate just in front of you.
You can talk to them and take photo after the show.
Admission is 12,000 JPY per adult for 60 min. Show and need reservation.
At your hotel
1. Easier to Go; You can explore the most popular places in Tokyo without being bothered by her most complicated transportation system.
2. Memorable Tour; I will explain the historical or cultural background of each place by using my document installed in my iPad which will make it more memorable for you.
3. Flexible Plan; The tour is very flexible with time and places according to your interest.
4. Delicious Foods; Japanese food is very important part of my tour, I will take you to my favorite restaurant for lunch during the tour.
Guide fee
Hotel pick up
Transportation cost of the guide within Tokyo
Transportation cost of you (about 1,000 JPY each within Tokyo).
Transportation cost of the guide outside of Tokyo (if you stay outside of Tokyo such as Disneyland)
Lunch cost of you and the guide (from 1,000 JPY)
Entrance fees (shown in the description of each place in highlights)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan has been closed to foreign travelers since March, 2020. This restriction has been eased since October 11th, 2022 but you still need to vaccinated three and more times or have a certificate of COVID-19 negative . Please ask me the availability of the tour before you book it. I was vaccinated four times with the Pfizer one.
Not available on Mondays and Fridays.
We will use public transportations during this tour but we can take a taxi if you want.
I can lend you an IC card for easy use of public transportations and help you to charge your deposit in it.
- The tour guide is not available on Monday.
- Please, send a direct message to the tour guide for confirming the availability before booking
We use the subways to visit the places. I will rend you an IC card for public transportation, please pay me 1,000 JPY each for you and me at the beginning of the tour.
Yes, I can go to Narita airport in the morning from 8:00AM.
I will use public transportation as much as possible.
If you have much luggage, you'd better take a taxi which costs about 200USD.
I will take you to my tour after leaving your luggage at your hotel.
I will take you to your hotel after the hotel for checking in.
The extra cost will be 10,000 JPY including the transportation cost of mine.
The following is typical schedule.
10:00 Hotel pick up
10:30-12:00 Meiji shrine
12:00-13:00 lunch
13:30-15:00 Imperial palace
15:30-16:30 Asakusa
17:00 return to the hotel
If we go to Meiji shrine, Tsukiji and imperial palace shown above, we are going to walk 20,000 steps.
If you think it's too much, I can arrange places so that you don't have to walk so much.
The auction will start at 5:30AM and you need a ticket to attend it.
The number of ticket is limited to be 120 and it is becoming more and more difficult.
So I don't take you to the auction.
Yuki picked us up from our hotel reception and then took us on a very interesting tour. Lots of Cherry Blossom and use of the subway which was a new experience for us. No way we could have found all of the sites or navigated our way on the subway without Yuki. Then delivered back to our hotel at the end of the tour. Yuki has great knowledge and good English.
Dear Marks, Thank you for writing the review. Now is the last days of cherry blossoms in Tokyo. You are very lucky to have seen them yesterday. Let's enjoy Kamakura today. Yuki
Ist was a beautiful day with Yuki in Kyoto. We really enjoyed the Shinkansen Ride. Yuki answered all of our questions very competently and always responded to our wishes. We can only recommend Yuki as a guide and would be happy to do another tour with Yuki
Dear Robert, Thank you for writing the review of my Kyoto tour. We visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It was a beautiful day, but the street was very very clouded. Thank you for all your cooperation. Yuki
Wonderful tour guide and beautiful place! Yuki san was very pleasant and knowledgeable about the area and how best to navigate to each location.
Dear Lavenna, Thank you for writing the review of my Kyoto tour. The speed of the Shinkansen makes one day tour to Kyoto possible, but it is a tight tour. Thank you for the cooperation of your family. Best regards, Yuki
Polite. Knowledgeable. Experienced. Wonderful start to our vacation!
Dear Dan, Thank you for your review soon after our first tour. I hope I can provide you and your wife memorable tours of Yokohama. Yuki