Ballin’ on a budget in Tokyo, Japan? Let’s be honest -- Tokyo is not cheap.
Despite it being a high-class metropolis, it’s one of those expensive cities that many budget travelers would religiously save up for just so they can experience it at least once in their lifetime.
Did you know that Tokyo free walking tours abound pretty much everywhere in the city? Which means you don’t need to break the bank to see what Japan’s crazy charming capital has to offer.
Don’t worry, we listed some of the best Tokyo free walking tours that you can take to save you up to a hundred bucks every day.
1. Imperial Palace East Gardens Free Walking Tour
Tokyo Free Walking Tour’s Imperial Palace East Gardens free walking tour will take you back to the days of the first shogun. The palace itself is not accessible to the public, but tourists are welcome to visit the East Gardens, a spacious area within the inner palace.
The Imperial Palace East Gardens used to be the grounds of Edo Castle’s main and secondary circles of defense. Although none of the main buildings was left today, you can still see the moats, some guardhouses, entrance gates, and walls at the site.
Tokyo Free Walking Tour’s Imperial Palace East Gardens free walking tour takes place every Saturday at 1 p.m. You don’t need to reserve a slot. Just show up at the meeting place, on the ground floor of the Tokyo Station Marunouchi Central Gate. Get to know more about this Tokyo free walking tour here.
2. Yanaka Free Walking Tour
Yanaka in Taito is one of the few remaining neighborhoods in the city where the shitamachi ambiance from the past has survived. Tokyo SSG Club’s Yanaka free walking tour will let you experience what the rustic, quaint Old Tokyo feels like.
The tour will take you to a couple of tourist attractions such as the Tennoji Temple and the Yanaka Cemetery, which is a great hanami spot during cherry blossom season. It also includes trips to narrow alleyways and popular shopping street Yanaka Ginza.
Tokyo SSG Club’s Yanaka free walking tour takes place every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Get to know more about this Tokyo free walking tour here.
3. Asakusa Free Walking Tour
Asakusa is the heart of shitamachi. Tokyo Localized’s Asakusa free walking tour will bring you back the rich cultural history of Tokyo.
This tour will walk you through the Senso-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo, as well as the Nakamise Shopping Street, Denboin-dori (a shopping and dining street), and a bayside view looking over the Tokyo Skytree and Golden Poo, among others.
Tokyo Localized’s Asakusa free walking tour happens every Saturday and Sunday. Get to know more about this Tokyo free walking tour here.
4. Harajuku Free Walking Tour
Harajuku is an area near the Harajuku Station that’s brimming with various shops, cafés, boutiques, crepe stalls, and fast food restos. Tokyo Free Guide offers a Harajuku free walking tour where you can explore the depths of Harajuku.
But more than being a shopping and dining district, Harajuku is most known for Takeshita-dori, the center of Japan’s extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles. You may do a side trip to Omotesando Hills, a complex teeming with high-end clothing brands and upscale restaurants.
Get to more about the Tokyo free walking tours offered by Tokyo Free Guide here.
5. Shinjuku Free Walking Tour
Would you really miss Tokyo at night? Shinjuku -- debatably the busiest part of Tokyo -- takes center stage at night.
Tokyo Localized’s nightly Shinjuku free walking tour will let you experience Tokyo’s crazy nightlife, Japan’s bizarre drinking culture, and the metro’s red light district. More specifically, this tour will take you to Kabukicho, Omoide Yokocho, Godzilla Road, host/hostess clubs, love hotels, and more.
Tokyo Localized’s Shinjuku free walking tour happens every night from 7 to 9 p.m. Get to more about this Tokyo free walking tour here.
Conclusion
With all these amazing things going on around the city, who would ever think that you could still get the most out of your Tokyo trip without spending a fortune? It’s a common sentiment among wise budget travellers.
But apparently, Tokyo has so many options without needing you to burn through your pocket money. These are just some; for sure, there are more ways to explore Tokyo for free or less.
Which Tokyo free walking tour would you love to take soon? Let us know in the comments!
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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