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Ueno and Yanaka Culture Art Walking Tour in Old Tokyo

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Taito City

Explore Ueno and Yanaka's rich culture and history with a walking tour through museums, temples, shrines, and traditional architecture.

Duration: 7 hours, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

National Museum of Nature and Science - You will have an introductory guide to the Museum and its history, as well as being shown some of the main attractions there, including a life sized Blue Whale model, a steam locomotive and the taxidermied body of the beloved and legendary dog Hachiko. The architecture of this Meiji period building is also impressive. The museum is large, so we won’t have time to explore it all, but you can enjoy some free time to explore yourself before we meet back up for our second destination.
Ueno Park - We will then head to Ueno Park to explore the beautiful temples, shrines, and lake to enjoy nature and escape from the busyness of Tokyo. The walk around the park is peaceful and you can enjoy a relaxed and slower pace as your guide tells you all about the history and culture of the area. You will experience a variety of temple and shrine architecture, from a large bronze Buddha face, a walkway of red Torii gates, and even a golden shrine! At the lake, you can enjoy seeing many birds and Koi Carp against the backdrop of high rise buildings.
Ameyoko Shopping Street - Our final stop in Ueno will be Ameyoko, a retro area known for its shopping and restaurants. You will have a guided tour on the history and significance of the area, before enjoying your lunch break to explore, eat and go shopping if you wish. After lunch, we will have a 20 minute walk to our next destination of Yanaka.
Yanaka District - For our first Yanaka stop, we will visit a well known museum in Yanaka’s history and art scene. The museum was both the workshop and family house of a famous Japanese Sculptor. You can enjoy viewing the artist’s amazing and unique works on display, but also the architecture of the beautiful traditional Japanese house you will walk around. The museum also has a Japanese style garden built in the centre of it, and a rooftop terrace where you can enjoy views of Yanaka and surrounding Tokyo. You can spot the Tokyo Skytree on the expansive horizon!
Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street - You will then enjoy a guided walk around the shopping district of Yanaka Ginza, where you can feel the cosy and calm atmosphere. Known as Cat town, look out for the many cat statues and cat themed items on display and for purchase! Sample delicious street food, traditional Japanese standing bars, baked goods and visit unique shops to pick up the perfect souvenir. There is even a vintage Kimono shop where you can buy items for as low as 500¥. You will have free time here to enjoy the area at your own pace.
Yanaka Cemetery - Finally, we will pay a visit to a beautiful and peaceful Buddhist temple with impressive statues of Buddha. You can enjoy a rest here among the tranquility. We will then walk through Yanaka Cemetery and Sakura Dori. Don’t be alarmed, this cemetery is very popular with the locals to stroll through and enjoy nature. In Spring, Sakura Dori is filled with blooming Cherry Blossoms and makes for a magical sight. Yanaka Cemetery is also known for its many famous people laid to rest, including Sumo Wrestlers, Samurai and aristocrats!

What's Included

Admission fees for the museums and Toshogu Shrine
Local English speaking guide

What's Not Included

Food and drink
Trains and transport before and after the tour

Additional Information

The tour will provide guests with a well-balanced itinerary including museums, a park and nature, shrines and temples, and traditional architecture.

You will walk around the popular and expansive Ueno Park to visit its many temples, shrines, and beautiful landscapes. Known as the place to go if you’re a culture vulture due to its many museums and heritage attractions. You will then visit a bustling and lively retro area of Ueno famous for its old-style shopping arcades and restaurants.

You will then visit a perfect example of a Shitamachi or ’lower city’ in Tokyo, Yanaka. A cozy and traditional neighborhood, not many tourists know about, you will step back in time and enjoy an atmosphere that is very different from many parts of Tokyo.

Location

Ueno Station

You will meet your tour guide outside of Ueno Station’s park gate exit. Please follow the signs in Ueno station for the park gate exit and go through the ticket gates and come outside of the station. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag.

Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings

5.0