Tokyo 6hr Private Guided Tour & Maki-e Experience

Discover Tokyo’s charm and create Maki-e art in a 6-hour private tour. Customize your itinerary and enjoy a unique cultural experience.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Asakusa - Asakusa (浅草) is the heart of Tokyo’s shitamachi (literally “low city”), a district where the atmosphere of Tokyo from past decades still lingers.
  • Imperial Palace - The current Imperial Palace stands on the former site of Edo Castle, a vast park area encircled by moats and massive stone walls in central Tokyo, just a short walk from Tokyo Station. It serves as the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family.
  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden - Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo’s largest and most beloved parks. Located a short walk from Shinjuku Station, the park’s expansive lawns, winding walking paths, and serene scenery offer a peaceful retreat from the bustling urban center. In spring, Shinjuku Gyoen becomes one of the city’s top spots for cherry blossom viewing.
  • Shibuya Crossing - Shibuya Crossing: Known as the busiest intersection in the world, Shibuya Scramble is a marvel of modern urban life. You can also visit the famous Hachiko dog statue here!
  • Tsukiji Fish Market - Discover the historic fish market in Tokyo!
  • Meiji Jingu Shrine - Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Situated next to the JR Yamanote Line’s bustling Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park form a large forested area within the densely built city. The spacious shrine grounds feature walking paths perfect for a leisurely stroll.

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

  • 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 recognized as the hub 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 district’s main street, 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 level with the tides and a teahouse on an island where visitors can relax and enjoy the view. The traditionally styled 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 premier national museums, which also include the Kyoto National Museum, the Nara National Museum, and the Kyushu National Museum. It was originally established in 1872 at Yushima Seido Shrine and moved to its current location in Ueno Park a few years later.

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

  • Tokyo Tower - The retro-chic counterpart to Tokyo Skytree! This vermillion tower has been a Tokyo icon for generations and frequently appears in the background of famous anime.
  • 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 regarded as 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 in miniature 88 scenes from famous poems. The garden is a prime example of an Edo Period strolling garden, featuring a large central pond surrounded by manmade hills and wooded 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, offering wide lawns, ponds, and wooded areas. It’s an excellent 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, situated between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the epicenter of Japan’s most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historical sites.

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

  • Roppongi Hills, Shop & Restaurant - Roppongi Hills exemplifies a city within a city. Opened in 2003 in the heart of Tokyo’s Roppongi district, this building complex includes offices, apartments, shops, restaurants, a hotel, an art museum, an observation deck, and more. The office floors house leading companies from the IT and financial sectors, making Roppongi Hills a symbol of Japan’s IT industry.

At the center of Roppongi Hills stands the 238-meter Mori Tower, one of Tokyo’s tallest buildings. While most of the building is dedicated to office space, the lower floors feature restaurants and shops, and the upper floors house an observation deck and modern art museum open to the public.

  • Odaiba District - Odaiba (お台場) is a popular shopping and entertainment area on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. It began as a series of small man-made fort islands (daiba means “fort”), constructed 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 merged into larger ones through extensive land reclamation, and Tokyo embarked on an ambitious development project in the extravagant 1980s to transform the islands into a futuristic residential and business district. However, development slowed significantly after the burst of the “bubble economy” 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 nostalgic charm from days gone by and offers a perfect escape 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 nestled among shitamachi’s narrow backstreets, 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, more genteel Tokyo.
  • 器 日本橋夢東本店 / 日本橋左近本店 - This is where you will experience Kintsugi at the end of the tour.
What's Included
  • Maki-e making experience
  • Customizable Tour 2 -3 sights from ‘What to expect’ list’
  • Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Tokyo
  • Cost of the materials used for the maki-e experience
  • Licensed Local English Speaking 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

This 6-hour walking tour includes a 2-hour Maki-e experience at Mutoh. Before your Maki-e session, enjoy a walking tour with our licensed guide! After 4 hours of exploring, your guide will drop you off at Mutoh. The start time for the Maki-e experience may vary, but it will be approximately 4 hours from the beginning of the tour. You can customize your tour directly with the guide after booking. Please create your itinerary by selecting 2 to 3 spots from the ‘what to expect’ or ‘itinerary’ list.

Location
Asakusa
Cancellation Policy

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

Select Date and Tickets
up to 10 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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