Tokyo has incredible places to see more than you can think of, so much so that you need a clear-cut game plan before arriving. Otherwise, you’ll get frustrated by the things you decided to skip.
Whether it is to discover oddball pit-stops at night or seek out city adventure in broad daylight, you’ll never run out of things to do in Tokyo for the entire month. If you’re pressed for time, don’t fret because we’ve got you covered.
We’ve listed five of the best day tours in Tokyo so you can see Japan’s capital as much as possible.
1. Geisha Tour
For starters, geisha is a female Japanese entertainer who is skilled in a myriad of Japanese arts, like playing classical music, dancing, singing, and poetry.
If you want to take a taste of the ancient Japanese entertainment culture, watching a geisha performance in Tokyo is the way to go. But more than the recreation facet, the Geisha encounter in itself is a great learning springboard for Japan’s oldest traditions.
Geisha districts spread throughout Japan, and you can find many of them in Osaka and Tokyo. We highly suggest booking a tour days ahead as they might be fairly elusive around Tokyo at the last minute.
To secure a slot on a Geisha tour in Tokyo, you can visit JapanAwaits.com. Price starts at ¥8,900 (around US$80).
2. Yanaka Tour
If you want to dive deeper into the Japanese culture, Yanaka district is the perfect place, to begin with.
Yanaka dates back to Japan’s Edo period of the 17th through 19th centuries and it remains to be the most traditional district in Tokyo. While many of its spots have been looked at as secret hideouts, Yanaka is quickly attracting the attention of savvy foreign tourists.
A raft of exciting activities also awaits you in Yanaka. You can visit ancient temples and the local reien (cemetery), an amazing viewing place for sakura (cherry blossoms). If sakura season is in your agenda, make sure to time your visit during the northern springtime (around March to June). Don’t forget a side trip around Yanaka-Ginza-Shoutengai area to shop souvenir goods and eat local dishes.
You can book a Yanaka tour via Omakase Tour for as low as ¥8,000 (around US$70).
3. Go-Kart Tour
In case you want to know what it feels like to be Super Mario driving his go-kart around the streets of Tokyo, the best way to do it is to experience it yourself.
Go-karting in Tokyo is also one of the most efficient ways to see multiple spots in the city in a couple of hours. Drive your way around your way Akihabara, Asakusa, Ginza, Tokyo Skytree, Imperial Palace, Tokyo Dome, Toranomon Tunnel, Ryogoku, and Rainbow Bridge, among others.
A range of character costumes is available for you to wear. But you must take note that your driver’s license is your key before you can enjoy this fun activity.
Price starts at ¥7,500 (around US$70). Make sure to check out Maricar.com for booking and guidelines.
4. Authentic Local Food Tour
Would you actually miss out on authentic local dishes like sushi, sashimi, yakitori, and okonomiyaki when in Japan? It’s an unspoken rule.
Tokyo is jam-packed with excellent food places. Everywhere you look around, there should at least one place cut out for your taste. But why join tours? It goes beyond what you see on the streets. Locals know best. In Ebisu, we highly recommend trying a true izakaya (after-work pub) and mochi ice cream. For a gluten-free vegetarian food tour, it will be gladly accommodated through a private tour.
Price starts at ¥15,000 (around US$135). Contact OishiiTokyo.com for your booking.
5. Harajuku Tour
In Harajuku, you can find one of Tokyo’s busiest and most vibrant lanes--the Takeshita Street.
The popular place is brimming with youth-driven fashion boutiques and trendy cafes and restaurants, making it a mecca for teenagers and 20-somethings whose have a penchant for anything funky. Takeshita Street is also where kawaii, or the culture of cuteness in Japan, was conceived.
Tokyo Localized offers a free walking day tour in Harajuku so you can experience roaming around Tokyo like a local. For the ultimate local experience of Japan’s history and street culture, the tour will also bring you to Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Olympic Stadium, Ota Memorial Museum, Yoyogi Park, and more.
Favorite Day Tour in Tokyo
Which day tour in Tokyo are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments section.
Tokyo Localized provides visitors and travellers to Tokyo with a unique perspective of this great city, what makes us unique is that our tour guides live and work in Tokyo, have a passion for this city and love meeting and welcoming new faces. Find out more about our Unique Day and Night Tours of Tokyo - we can't wait to meet you!
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