Tokyo tour à la carte

Meeting Point

At your hotel

Choose three places to go from the following list of more than 30 places and request for lunch if any.

The following is an example of itinerary when you choose places #1, #2, and #3.

{TEMPLE & SHRINE}

T1. Meiji-Jingu Shrine

Meiji-Jingu Shrine: It is the most popular Shinto shrine in Tokyo where you will feel a special sacred atmosphere. It was built in 1920 to commemorate Emperor Meiji who changed Japan into a democratic industrialized country after a long feudal period. (Admission free except Inner garden including the Kiyomasa's well and its iris garden. (Optional with 500 JPY))

T2. Asakusa including Senso-ji Temple

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 the 7th Century and has been very popular among common people to get rid of their sickness.

T3. Zojo-ji Temple

Zojo-ji Temple: This used to be the temple of Tokugawa family who had governed Japan for 265 years during the Edo Period. It is not so touristic nor crowded where you will feel Japanese traditional Buddhist atmosphere. (Admission free except the cemetery of Tokugawa family (Optional with 500 JPY))

T4. Sengaku-ji Temple

Sengaku-ji Temple: This Temple is famous for the graves of 48 Ronin who revenged to kill the high ranking samurai named Kira for their Lord Asano's resentment. Its story, "Chushingura" is well known among Japanese for their Samurai Spirit. (Admission free except its museum (Optional with 500 JPY))

T5. Ueno Kanei-ji Temple and the grave of the last Shogun

Ueno Kanei-ji Temple and the grave of the last Shogun: It is one of the temples of Tokugawa family who had governed Japan for 265 years during the Edo Period. 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)

T6. Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine

Ueno Tosho-gu Shrine: A branch of Tosho-gu Shrine in Nikko, which worship the 1st Shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa, who started the Edo Period. If you have no time to visit the main shrine in Nikko, this is the place to come. (Admission free)

T7. Gotoku-ji Temple

Gotoku-ji Temple: This temple is famous for the numerous statues of cats with one paw raised in invitation for good business. There are cemeteries of Ii family who supported this temple during the Edo Period. Naosuke Ii was assassinated at the end of the Edo period, which paved the way to the end of Samurai period. (Admission free)

T8. Hie Shrine

Hie Shrine: This shrine was established in 1498 and had been worshiped by the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo Period as the protection of Edo from evil spirits. There is a series of numerous red torii gates similar to the one at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto. (Admission free)

T9. Nezu Shrine

Nezu Shrine: This shrine was said to be opened by Takeru Yamato who conquered the northern part of Japan just after Japan was established as a nation. There are many photo spots, including the series of Torii gates as this shrine has not yet well known to foreign tourists.

{GARDEN}

G1. Imperial Palace East Gardens (closed:Mon,Fri)

G2.Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden: This Japanese garden used to be the Samurai mansion of the Mito Tokugawa family. This garden is a typical strolling type garden of feudal lords, where they enjoy the popular sceneries in Japan such as Kyoto and Lake Biwa. (Admission: 300 JPY)

G3. Shinjuku-Gyoen Garden

Shinjuku-Gyoen Garden: This garden used to be a duck hunting field for samurai lords and the Emperor. 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 in the spring with many kinds of cherry blossoms. (Admission: 500 JPY)

G4. Hamarikyu Garden

Hamarikyu Garden: This used to be owned by the Tokugawa Shoguns in the Edo Period. They enjoyed duck hunting by using trained falcons. There are large ponds filled with salt water from Tokyo Bay. There is a three hundred years old pine tree with so many branches spread all over. (Admission: 300JPY)

G5. Kiyosumi Garden

Kiyosumi Garden: This is a typical strolling type Japanese garden with the collection of massive natural stones with different shapes and colors. This has been selected as the most beautiful garden in Tokyo. There are a lot of Koi fish, turtles, and birds in the pond. (Admission: 150 JPY)

G6. Rikugien Garden

Rikugien Garden: This is a typical strolling type Japanese garden in the Edo Period made by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu who supported the Shogun. He loved Japanese poems and made the scenes described by the poems. (Admission: 300 JPY)

G7. Happo-en Garden

{SHOPPING}

Note that you need your passport for Tax Free.

S1. Tsukiji Outer Market

S2. Ginza

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.

S3. Harajuku/Omotesando

Harajuku/Omotesando: Takeshita street is very popular among Japanese young women. A busy area for shopping, foods, variety of animal cafes. (Admission: 1,000 to 2,000 JPY/h for animal cafe) Omotesando is a high end shopping street.

S4. Shinjuku Kabukicho

Shinjuku Kabukicho: There are many recycle shops to sell used high end bags and watches at a lower price. I will take you to Godzilla road with real size Godzilla head displayed on a building. There are many restaurants and drinking places but you should stay safe on the main street and avoid dubious businesses there.

S5. Odaiba

Odaiba: Newly developed area by Tokyo Bay with a lot of modern shops and facilities. (Some facilities request an admission fee)

S6. Akihabara

Akihabara: There are many electrical appliance shops and other new travel attractions such as anime figures and the Maid cafes. (Admission: Maid cafe: from 2,000 JPY)

S7. Nakano Broadway

Nakano Broadway: It is a department store of used figures of Japanese anime. (Admission free)

S8. Yanaka Ginza

Yanaka Ginza: It's a nostalgic shopping street. There are many old local shops for crafts and snacks/foods.

{OBSERVATORY}

You can see Mt Fuji from Tokyo on a clear day, but its possibility is about 30%.

O1. Tokyo Sky Tree (Reservation recommended)

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)

O2. Tokyo Tower

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: 1200 JPY for the main observatory at 150m)

O3. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory: There are two observatories with great view of Tokyo. Currently, only the South Tower is available. (Admission free)

O4. Roppongi-Hills

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)

O5. Shibuya Sky (Reservation recommended)

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)

{MUSEUM}

M1. Tokyo National Museum in Ueno

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)

M2. TeamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills (need online reservation)

M3. TeamLab Planets at Toyosu (need online reservation)

M4. Edo-Tokyo Museum (Not available now due to renovation)

Edo-Tokyo Museum: Unique Museum for Edo Period, including scale models of Edo Castle, display of the daily life of common people. Must see for those are interested in Japanese history. (Admission: 600 JPY per adult)

M5. Nezu Museum (closed; Mon)

Nezu Museum: Nezu collection of traditional Japanese arts with a very unique and quiet garden. (Admission: 1,100 JPY)

M6. Fukagawa Edo Museum (closed: 2nd and 4th Mon except Holidays)

M7. One Hundred Steps Staircase

{EXPERIENCE}

E1. Ninja Experience (closed: Tue. Wed.)

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: Adult/Child/Infant: 3,840/3,360/1,200 JPY)

E2. Tea ceremony (needs Reservation)

Tea ceremony: Experience a formal tea ceremony with English guidance for 60 min. (Previous reservation required. Admission: 2700 JPY/ adult)

E3. Strawberry picking (Seasonal, needs reservation)

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.)

E4. Memory Lane & Golden Gay

E5. Samurai experience (needs reservation)

E6. Glance at Kabuki at Kabuki-za Theater (need reservation)

{OTHERS}

X1. Tokyo Carmii Mosque

Tokyo Carmii Mosque: This mosque is the largest mosque in Tokyo, it is a beautiful mosque and open to public. (Admission free)

If you have any other places to visit, please let me know.

Request for Lunch if any

Ending Point

At your hotel or the last place if you want