Japan Awaits

Tokyo ‘Explorer’: Personalized Full Day Walking Tour will visit some of the most iconic locations in Tokyo and includes many interesting locations not generally visited by tourists along the way. Discover the blend of traditional and modern Tokyo culture, with you enjoying a personalized experience throughout the journey.

The first stop will be at the Tsukiji Market. The auction will not be available at this time, but you’ll be able to see where the main fish market used to be and you can taste some of the most fresh seafood you can get in Tokyo (optional). From there, visit Tsukiji Honganji Temple, which is noted for its unique architecture, influenced by temples in South Asia.

Visit the Imperial Palace, which is located on the former site of the Edo Castle. The large park area is surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo. Learn about the history of the Imperial Palace, its use during the Edo period, how it was completely destroyed during WWII and what it means to the people today.

After learning about Japanese history in this area, visit Akihabara, which is famous for its many electronics shops and is recognized as the capital of Japan’s “otaku” (diehard fan) culture for anime and manga. This is a great place to play some games at the arcades or take cute photos in a Purikura photo booth (optional) to fully immerse yourself in the otaku culture here.

After a fun visit to Akihabara, visit Ueno for the Ameyoko street market and lively park, which were originally part of Kaneiji Temple (originally one of the city’s largest and wealthiest temples during the Edo Period).

Walk through Uguisudani and learn about the interesting and peculiar story of this part of town (known as the “love hotel district”), before passing through Yanaka and its memorial area of prominent figures in Japan, including the final resting place for the last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu. The area surrounds Tennoji Temple, which has been a historic place during the Meiji Restoration for the separation of “imported” Buddhism and the “native” Shinto. Learn about the difference between Buddhism and Shinto in Japanese culture before proceeding to the street food area to try local foods in the narrow alley and street shops (optional).

Take the train back to Shinjuku Station or your preferred location, and say goodbye to your tour guide.

Availability: Any day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (except some holidays)

Price:

Private Tour:
       1 person only: ¥87,000
–     2 people or more: see pricing at check out

 Included:

• Public transportation costs (local train and sometimes bus tickets, if necessary)
• English-speaking tour guide
• Photo opportunities and more

Excluded:

• Meals, food and drinks
• Other fees not included in the tour
• Gratuities (optional)

What if I’m late?

Attire

The tour operates in all weather conditions (except when there is a typhoon or other extreme situations). Please dress appropriately for all weather conditions. In such case, please note that the tour may change slightly to accommodate for the weather.

Non-Smoking

While most places we visit may be non-smoking establishments, there are some places along the way that may allow smoking in designated areas. Please take note of this for guests who are sensitive to smoke.

Age Requirement

There is no age requirement, but a reservation must be made for all guests. The cost is the same for guests from age 6 and up (Adult). There is no cost for infant (0 – 1 years old) and young child (1 – 5 years old). Passports may be required to verify age on the day of the tour (as it may be required for children to ride the train at no cost).

Payment

All bookings are payable via Stripe (Booking Checkout) or Flywire. Confirmations regarding your booking will be sent at least 10 days before your activity date.

Cancellation Policy

Standard Cancellation Policy:

Looking for tour in a different city?

Japan Awaits is a licensed tour operator in Japan, with hundreds of registered and vetted tour guides nationwide. We offer tours in any location in Japan and manage all details, including transportation and tickets. Contact us and inquire about a custom experience today.

What if I’ve visited this city before on a previous trip?

Every city in Japan has a lot to offer. There are many aspects to the city and many hidden and local spots that you may not have seen or heard of before. In the Custom Tour form that will be sent to you after your booking, you’ll be able to let us know of any attractions you have already visited and would not like to see again on this tour. We will carefully review your requests and will create an itinerary based on your preferences.

How far in advance should I book?

Preparing a customized tour requires some time, especially if reservations for restaurants or other venues are required. We recommend making a reservation as early as possible. Ideally, it should be 3 months before your travel date, or 1 month before the travel date at the very least. For Custom Tour bookings that are requested with less than 7 days before the travel date, we may not be able to arrange your custom tour in time so your booking request may be cancelled and you will receive a full refund.

Why am I charged a service fee if I make a cancellation after you started planning the trip?

Organizing and planning a trip requires a lot of time and if we have made reservations on your behalf, it may be very challenging to cancel some booking requests. Once we receive your booking and your answers from the Custom Tour form, we will begin putting together your Itinerary Sheet and will start arranging your tour guide, buying tickets, making reservations at venues for your tour, etc.

If you cancel the tour any time after we have sent you the custom Itinerary Sheet, the service fee of 15% of your total tour cost will be nonrefundable.

If your cancellation falls within the fees applied to the Standard Cancellation Policy, the service fee of 15% will no longer take effect. You will only be responsible for the cancellation fee specified in the Standard Cancellation Policy. Please carefully review the terms and conditions specified on the checkout page.