Tokyo Private 6-Hour Tour: Experience Modern and Traditional Japan with a Licensed Guide
4.9
1,835 Ratings
Asakusa
Experience the best of modern and traditional Japan on a private 6-hour tour of Tokyo. Explore the dynamic capital with a licensed guide and customize your itinerary to visit must-see spots.
Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Asakusa - This tour will help you explore Tokyo more efficiently in a single day. Start at your hotel and then head to any destination of your choice. You can visit 3 to 4 spots in 6 hours. Choose your preferred locations from the list below and customize your tour with your guide!
  • Imperial Palace - This tour will help you explore Tokyo more efficiently in a single day. Start at your hotel and then head to any destination of your choice.

You cannot enter the Imperial Palace.

  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden - Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks. Just a short walk from Shinjuku Station, the park’s expansive lawns, winding paths, and serene scenery offer a peaceful escape from the bustling urban center. In spring, Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the best spots in the city to see cherry blossoms.
  • Shibuya Crossing - This tour will help you explore Tokyo more efficiently in a single day. Start at your hotel and then head to any destination of your choice.
  • Tsukiji Fish Market - Discover Tokyo’s historic fish market!
  • Meiji Jingu Shrine - Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Located next to the busy Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park form a large forested area within the densely built city. The spacious shrine grounds have walking paths perfect for a relaxing stroll.

The shrine was completed and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the emperor’s death and six years after the empress’s passing. It was destroyed during World War II but was rebuilt shortly after.

  • Akihabara - Akihabara (秋葉原), also known as Akiba after a former local shrine, is a central Tokyo district famous for its numerous electronics shops. In recent years, Akihabara has also become known as the center of Japan’s otaku (diehard fan) culture, with many stores and establishments dedicated to anime and manga now interspersed among the electronics shops. On Sundays, Chuo Dori, the main street through the district, is closed to car traffic from 13:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October through March).
  • Koishikawa Korakuen Garden - Koishikawa Korakuen (小石川後楽園, Koishikawa Kōrakuen) is one of Tokyo’s oldest and finest Japanese gardens. It was constructed in the early Edo Period (1600-1867) at the Tokyo residence of the Mito branch of the ruling Tokugawa family. Like its namesake in Okayama, the garden was named Korakuen after a poem encouraging a ruler to seek pleasure only after ensuring the happiness of his people. Koishikawa is the district where the garden is located.
  • Hama Rikyu Gardens - Hama Rikyu (浜離宮, Hama Rikyū) is a large, beautiful landscape garden in central Tokyo. Situated alongside Tokyo Bay, Hama Rikyu features seawater ponds that change with the tides and a teahouse on an island where visitors can relax and enjoy the view. The traditional garden contrasts sharply with the skyscrapers of the nearby Shiodome district.
  • Tokyo National Museum - The Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館, Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) is the oldest and largest of Japan’s top national museums, which also include the Kyoto National Museum, the Nara National Museum, and the Kyushu National Museum. It was originally established in 1972 at Yushima Seido Shrine and moved to its current location in Ueno Park a few years later.

The Tokyo National Museum houses one of the largest and finest collections of art and archaeological artifacts in Japan, with over 110,000 items, including nearly a hundred national treasures. At any given time, about 4,000 items from the permanent collection are on display. Additionally, temporary exhibitions are held regularly. Good English information and audio guides are available.

  • Senso-ji Temple - Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo’s most vibrant and popular temples.

Legend has it that in 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River. Despite returning the statue to the river, it always came back to them. As a result, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo’s oldest temple.

  • Rikugien Garden - Rikugien (六義園) is often considered Tokyo’s most beautiful Japanese landscape garden, alongside Koishikawa Korakuen. Built around 1700 for the 5th Tokugawa Shogun, Rikugien means “six poems garden” and recreates 88 scenes from famous poems in miniature. The garden is a prime example of an Edo Period strolling garden, featuring a large central pond surrounded by manmade hills and forested areas, all connected by a network of trails.
  • Yoyogi Park - Yoyogi Park (代々木公園, Yoyogi Kōen) is one of Tokyo’s largest city parks, with wide lawns, ponds, and forested areas. It’s a great spot for jogging, picnicking, and other outdoor activities.

Although Yoyogi Park has fewer cherry trees compared to other Tokyo sites, it is still a pleasant spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring. Additionally, it is known for its ginkgo tree forest, which turns a brilliant gold in autumn.

  • Takeshita Street - Harajuku (原宿) refers to the area around Tokyo’s Harajuku Station, located between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the center of Japan’s most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights.

The heart of Harajuku’s teenage culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, lined with trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothing stores, crepe stands, and fast food outlets catering to fashion-conscious teens.

  • Odaiba District - Odaiba (お台場) is a popular shopping and entertainment district on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. It began as a series of small man-made fort islands (daiba means “fort”), built towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868) to protect Tokyo from potential sea attacks, specifically in response to Commodore Perry’s gunboat diplomacy.

Over a century later, the small islands were joined into larger ones through massive landfills, and Tokyo launched a grand development project in the extravagant 1980s to transform the islands into a futuristic residential and business district. However, development slowed significantly after the “bubble economy” burst in the early 1990s, leaving Odaiba nearly vacant.

  • Shibamata - Shibamata (柴又) is a neighborhood on Tokyo’s eastern edge, near the Edogawa River, which forms the natural border between Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture. The town retains its old-school charm, offering a perfect break from modern Tokyo. One of the main attractions is the Shibamata Taishakuten Temple, located not far from the station.
  • Nezu - Miraculously spared from major damage during world wars and natural disasters, Yanaka and Nezu—two neighborhoods that make up shitamachi, Tokyo’s old downtown—retain their early 20th-century charm. You’ll find historical sites like Yanaka Cemetery and Nezu Shrine hidden among shitamachi’s narrow alleys, traditional wooden houses, izakaya pubs, atmospheric coffee shops, and retro stores selling old-fashioned sweets and snacks. Here, you can step back in time to a slower-paced, more genteel Tokyo.
  • Shinjuku Golden Gai - Golden Gai is said to have originated around 1950 when the black market that had sprung up in front of Shinjuku Station moved, and a number of eating and drinking establishments set up shop in this new area. Although Shinjuku has modernized significantly since then, Golden Gai has remained largely unchanged.

The alley is narrow and crowded with numerous signs advertising the various establishments. Many of the buildings are wooden, remnants from the Showa Era, and most measure only about thirteen square meters (142 square feet). It’s a dim, lively place filled with the aroma of grilling meats. Despite the many sleek new restaurants in Shinjuku, this little alley continues to attract foreign tourists. Golden Gai is a popular “un-touristy” tourist spot.

  • Tokyo Tower - The retro-cute version of Tokyo Skytree! This vermillion tower has been a Tokyo icon for generations and is featured in the background of many famous animes!
What's Included
  • Customizable Walking Tour of 3-4 sites
  • Pick up/drop off on foot
  • Meet up with guide in Tokyo
  • Licensed Local Guide
What's Not Included
  • Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
  • Private Vehicle
  • You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
  • Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Additional Information

Relish in a streamlined, daylong excursion of Tokyo, led by a certified multilingual guide with ample experience under their belt! During the tour, your guide will expose you to both the contemporary and age-old facets of this pulsating capital city in Japan.

Owing to the sprawling expanse of Tokyo, one of the world’s largest city agglomerations, the one-day tour will likely concentrate on a tiny section, leaving you impressed by the city’s vastness. Tokyo offers a simultaneous echo of both the past and the present, and your adept private guide will assist you in maximizing a full day in this vibrant Japanese metropolis. Share your preferences with us, and we’ll tailor a six-hour tour to perfectly suit your desires!

Note1: Please pick out your preferred attractions from a list provided in the tour details to form your personalized itinerary.
Note
2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter qualification, sanctioned by the Japanese government, mandates a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of Japanese heritage and culture.

  • Tour dates can be changed up to 2 days before the tour. Any tour date change may result in a change of tour guide or tour unavailability.
  • This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Location
Asakusa
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1835 Ratings)
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108kyleneh
May 26, 2024
Taka-bout a good time - Our guide, Taka, was friendly, funny, and knowledgable. He gave us a suggested itinerary of sightseeing locations then personalized our experience based on our interests and his local recommendations. He gave us tips and fun facts you wouldn't find just with a general Google search, guided us through the train system, and helped us with proper Japanese practices and terms we needed throughout the trip. We highly suggest this tour as one of the first things you do in Tokyo!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathleen
May 26, 2024
Terrific Guide - Taka was friendly, cheerful, accommodating and knowledgeable. He was the perfect guide for the day! He designed a great day for introducing us to Tokyo!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathleen
May 26, 2024
An exceptional tour! - We were spending 3 days in Tokyo before boarding a cruise. I very highly recommend this tour. It was an excellent introduction to the city. Our guide, Kazu, was outstanding! He contacted us immediately after we booked, which was months ago. He introduced himself and asked us to share our expectations for the day, and a list of things we would like to see and do. We were in communication again a week or so before our arrival. He gave us a very comprehensive tour. He packed so much into our time with him. We visited all areas of Tokyo, visiting all of the city’s major highlights. Markets, temples, shrines, the palace gardens, and tourist sights. He provided the background and history at each stop. He was very warm and engaging. We enjoyed a great traditional meal with him at lunch. We traveled by train and subway. We used a one day pass for the subways. It was a great way to move through the city, and to learn how to navigate on our own for the remaining days we were there. An added bonus, before he left us, he shared a list of suggested places to also see, organized by the areas we visited with him, the east, west, and center areas of Tokyo. And, he also gave us a list of suggestions of things to see and do in other major cities in Japan. My husband and I could not have asked for a better day of touring!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katri_r
May 26, 2024
A great introduction to Tokyo! - It was such a pleasure to spend the day with Noripy! Her energy, knowledge, helpfulness was perfect for our introduction to Tokyo. She planned a itinerary for our family which included several top destinations along with a fantastic sushi lunch in Tsukiji outer market. During the day she shared her knowledge of Japanese history annd culture and of the transportation system. She went out of her way to help us plan our following travels, even including a stop at the JR Train office so that we could reserve seats for several days later. We would highly recommend spending a day with Noripy in Tokyo!
Review provided by Viator
William_t
May 26, 2024
Walking Tokyo - Ted was awesome!! It was great way to see Tokyo for the first time! Easy walking pace. Wonderful ramen for lunch.
Review provided by Viator
P2180mdlynna
May 26, 2024
Great sights, great guided tour - Yoshi was amazing. He took us all over Tokyo & tried to accommodate what we wanted to see. I never imagined we could cover so much in a day. We visited at least 6 - 7 major areas/attractions. Wonderful insights & information was shared.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Culture526977
May 26, 2024
Koba is a very knowledgeable and wonderful guide. He explained history clearly and we truly enjoyed listening to him. - Wonderful experience guide. Very knowledgeable and easy to understand.We will definitely will recommend him to our family and friends.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jay_b
May 25, 2024
We enjoyed seeing the... - We enjoyed seeing the Meiji Shrine and the “Torii Gates”, Sacred Camphor trees and inner Garden. We also really liked visiting the local neighborhoods like Yanaka and Harujuku area and seeing how some of the local population lives. Tachi was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and agreeable. We definitely recommend her!
Review provided by Viator
Timothy_b
May 25, 2024
Best tour in Tokyo! - Chas Yokoi was an outstanding tour guide! He met us after lunch and took us on a private tour to the locations we selected, teaching us many things along the way. Chas was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about everything in Tokyo. I highly recommend him to anyone!
Review provided by Viator
Mickeymg9218cp
May 25, 2024
Lichfield day out - Hi just been to Lichfield today for a day out with family . sitting on a piece of cardboard on the main busy street with families walking by was a guy injecting himself in the ankle with a syringe ..was no police or security around t report it to....what a great site for a day out in Lichfield...25/5/2024
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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