Experience Old and Nostalgic Tokyo: Yanaka Walking Tour
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Experience Old and Nostalgic Tokyo: Yanaka Walking Tour
By OMAKASE
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About
Discover the historical Yanaka district of Tokyo on a small-group half-day tour that highlights landmarks from the Edo period. See temples built during the 16th-19th centuries, visit a historical ‘reien’ (cemetery) where visitors rarely go, and view cherry blossoms in the spring. Your guide provides detailed commentary about Japan's history and the heritage of this serene district, which is an oasis within bustling Tokyo.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 4-80, max of 8 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Japanese, English, Chinese, Italian, French
More
Highlights
- Walking tour proceeds at a leisurely pace suitable for most people
- Hear insightful commentary from the guide
- Experience the quiet calm of this well-preserved historic district
- Small group limited to 10 people allows a more personalized tour
- Professional guide
What's not included- Food and drinks(100-500 yen depending on what you want to try)
- Transportation expenses
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entry/Admission - Yanaka
- Start:
- Nippori Station, 2 Chome-19 Nishinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0013, JapanThe meeting point is Nippori station, north ticket gate located on the 2nd floor of the station building. You can access the meeting point by JR Line and Keisei Line. Please be ready 10 minutes prior to the meeting time. Your guide will be waiting for you there with a sign board.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 22178P4- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- A maximum of 10 people per booking
- Tour duration can be extended at a rate of 3,000 yen per group, per hour, payable in cash
- Please inform your staring time when booking. The start time is from 9:00 am or 14:00 pm.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 22178P4
From
S$100.81
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 2 Chome-19 Nishinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0013, JapanThe meeting point is Nippori station, north ticket gate located on the 2nd floor of the station building. You can access the meeting point by JR Line and Keisei Line. Please be ready 10 minutes prior to the meeting time. Your guide will be waiting for you there with a sign board.
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Hel Moo G0 contributionsTokyo in a day, very helpful and insightfulThank you Kaori for being our tour guide today, would be lost with out you. I really enjoyed the explanation behind Japanese history and culture, visiting the market, then viewing the jaw dropping view from the roof top!Written 7 February 2025
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- jessicaaU858ST0 contributionsFantastic Hiroshima day tourNagako was an amazing tour guide! We had a wonderful day visiting miyjima island and seeing the local deer! We tried the local onomiyaki which was delicious. After lunch we visited the A bomb dome and museum - while very confronting, it is a must see for any tourist wanting to learn more about Hiroshima’s history.Written 4 February 2025
- jessicaaU858ST0 contributionsFantastic Osaka day tourFantastic day tour roaming the streets of Osaka. Akari was an excellent tour guide, very friendly and knowledgeable! We enjoyed trying the local takoyaki at the fish markets and exploring the Osaka castle. Would definitely recommend !Written 3 February 2025
- Getaway052240654180 contributionsSnow monkeys in a natural hot bathTeddy was a brilliant guide, and the monkeys are such a great sight. The walk was easy but beautiful. The snacks on the way up are delicious; it was snowing when we visited and a hot tea and roast sweet potato were welcome!Written 28 January 2025
- madysonj20250 contributionsHighly recommended!A delightful tour of Kobe’s hidden gems. From the scenic Meriken Park to the historic Kitano district, this city offers a perfect blend of nature and culture.Written 21 January 2025
- 273bradleyj0 contributionsGreat tour around SapporoMs. Chieko was an amazing tour guide. Family friendly and patient with our 8 and 6 year old daughters, who are not the easiest to travel with. Saw so much because of her ability to navigate the local public transit lines. Very enjoyable day ranging from a trip to the top of a mountain with a very cool Olympic Museum and exhibit and ending and a great chocolate factory. Great memories highly recommend this tour to anyone that wants to get around Sapporo.Written 19 January 2025
- S5908TLkathyh0 contributionsOsaka with MiyoHad a fantastic time with Miyo after dropping our 6 children off to Universal Studios Japan. We ventured to Osaka Castle for our own private tour with Miyo who very kindly arranged for us to use the lifts as there are a lot of stairs. She passionately explained the history of the castle and surrounds and then took us to Kuromond Market for yakiniku for lunch. Miyo, again was fantastic and helped us order and cook our food. We cannot recommend this personalised tour with Miyo enough. She was absolutely wonderful.Written 17 January 2025
- cbB5809KU0 contributionsAmazing tour and guide!Azusa was great! She met us in the lobby of our hotel (The Knot) and was ready to go. She was very knowledgeable of the areas/site and history and worked with our schedule. She translated our needs to the local vendors to assist with purchases. The tour was seamless! We had to end early and she was kind enough to take us to the Shinkansen line to catch our train back to Tokoyo. I would definitely recommend her!Written 16 January 2025
- somjl0 contributionsFantastic Tour with Motoko – Highly Recommended!We had an absolutely fabulous day touring Osaka, Hiroshima, and Miyajima with Motoko as our guide. Despite the cold weather, we were lucky to experience a bit of snow, which added a magical touch to the day. Motoko's warm and engaging personality made the entire experience even more special. Her deep knowledge of the local history and temples was truly insightful, and we learned so much while exploring these beautiful locations. She shared fascinating stories and cultural details that brought the sites to life. One of the highlights of the day was the incredible lunch of local oysters and okonomiyaki – both were absolutely delicious and gave us a real taste of the region's culinary delights. Motoko's company was lovely throughout, and we genuinely enjoyed every moment with her. We would wholeheartedly recommend her as a guide to anyone looking to explore these areas. Thank you so much, Motoko, for an unforgettable experience!Written 13 January 2025
- D9602LIjenniferd0 contributionsLoved exploring the quirky shopsWonderful time exploring the shops and enjoying the atmosphere. Loved the hedgehogs as well 🩷 We would definitely recommend this half day walking tour.Written 13 January 2025
- travelbugger690 contributionsAmazing half day tour full of cute surprises in Harajuku!It can be quite daunting to visit Harajuku with so much to see but Mutsuko’s half day tour was perfect for my teenager daughters. She took us to such cool and fun places that we could never have found by ourselves. A fantastic tour!Written 11 January 2025
- G329WAjoannem0 contributionsExcellent walking tourThis tour was amazing and very informative behind the scenes look at old Tokyo I would highly recommend it. It was a great start to our trip to japanWritten 5 January 2025
- paulaE634ZI0 contributionsJapanese calligraphy experience in Tokyo with Calligraphy MasterWe had the incredible opportunity to participate in a Japanese calligraphy session in Tokyo, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience! From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed and guided through the process with care and enthusiasm. The teacher explained the basics of the art form in an engaging and easy-to-understand way, which immediately captured our interest. We had the chance to try it ourselves, following the step-by-step guidance provided. What stood out to us was the teacher’s patience and encouragement. Every stroke we made was met with constructive and positive feedback, which boosted our confidence and made the learning process both enjoyable and rewarding. By the end of the session, we had not only learned the foundational techniques but also created our own calligraphy pieces, which we were proud of! This experience gave us a newfound appreciation for the beauty, mindfulness, and creativity involved in Japanese calligraphy. We highly recommend this session to anyone visiting Tokyo. It’s a wonderful way to connect with Japanese culture, explore creativity as a group, and leave with meaningful memories and art to treasure! 🌸✨Written 3 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
319 reviews
Excellent
302
Very good
15
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Zippytennis58
Sawbridgeworth, UK36 contributions
Emiko met me as planned. I was the only one on the tour so became a private tour. Emiko was engaging, full of knowledge and happy to adapt to my interests.
We covered about 5 miles as we strolled around the Yanaka district visiting Temples and Shrines with a stop at the beer hall.
The district is one of the oldest surviving so quite a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city districts
I would highly recommend Omakase as a tour guide company!
We covered about 5 miles as we strolled around the Yanaka district visiting Temples and Shrines with a stop at the beer hall.
The district is one of the oldest surviving so quite a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city districts
I would highly recommend Omakase as a tour guide company!
Written 28 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear valued guest,
Thank you for your view, we are really glad you enjoyed our Yanaka tour - the area in indeed a wonderful contrast to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo!
If you ever come back to Japan, we'd love to guide you again.
Regards,
Dara
Written 7 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Donald K
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Rie was the most knowledgeable tour guide and host we can imagine. Her conversation skills are impressive and she was very responsive to our many questions, taking time to carefully explain her answers and also being thoughtful about what was important to us to learn.
Her explanation of Japanese customs and traditional history taught us many details we will always remember. She is the best example of a loyal Japanese citizen who also expresses interest in other cultures and diversity.
We would recommend her service to everyone we know who plans to visit Tokyo and appreciate the experience.
Her explanation of Japanese customs and traditional history taught us many details we will always remember. She is the best example of a loyal Japanese citizen who also expresses interest in other cultures and diversity.
We would recommend her service to everyone we know who plans to visit Tokyo and appreciate the experience.
Written 1 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience with Rie and enjoyed your tour of Tokyo/Yanaka area. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for more memorable experiences in the future!
Regards,
Mariko
Written 4 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pedro A
3 contributions
We booked this tour take to take a deeper look at traditional Tokyo during a short trip in city. It delivered that and more!
Yumi was an excellent host. She was very understanding about our late arrival due to train line confusions and really walked us through the roots of the neighborhood and a bit of traditional Japan. She was also very personable and knew everything we asked. Great tour to get away from the buzz and crowds in most of Tokyo.
Yumi was an excellent host. She was very understanding about our late arrival due to train line confusions and really walked us through the roots of the neighborhood and a bit of traditional Japan. She was also very personable and knew everything we asked. Great tour to get away from the buzz and crowds in most of Tokyo.
Written 4 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Pedro,
Thank you for exploring another side of Tokyo with us and leaving this review! We're glad to hear that you had a wonderful experience with Yumi who is indeed an amazing guide. Yanaka is truly a place full of great finds that even some Tokyo locals don't know about.
We are very much looking forward to your next visit!
Best regards,
Kyoko
Written 23 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dkahn
Clearwater, FL9 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
My son and I enjoyed this tour. It was in a part of Tokyo that was much quieter than most of Tokyo. Visiting the massive cemetery and several shrines was the high point.
We learned about the differences between Buddhism and Shintoism in both the past and the present. Satsuki did an excellent job as our guide. My only disappointment was that I had expected to see many more of the old homes and buildings from a bygone era. There are only very few left.
We added, at an additional cost and an extra hour, a formal Japanese tea ceremony, which was something I would recommend. It was an interesting look into the culture.
We learned about the differences between Buddhism and Shintoism in both the past and the present. Satsuki did an excellent job as our guide. My only disappointment was that I had expected to see many more of the old homes and buildings from a bygone era. There are only very few left.
We added, at an additional cost and an extra hour, a formal Japanese tea ceremony, which was something I would recommend. It was an interesting look into the culture.
Written 24 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for booking our Yanaka tour and leaving this review. Even though it wasn't perfectly what you've had in mind, we are glad to hear that you still enjoyed everything else with Satsuki!
We are very much looking forward to your next visit!
Best regards,
Kyoko
Written 28 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Christine D
4 contributions
May 2024 • Family
After navigating the train system, we met our guide, Masaharu Kai, at Nishi Nippori Station and began our tour of the Yanaka Old District area in Tokyo.
We had a wonderful 4 hour tour exploring, Yanaka Cemetery, an art gallery, food stalls and all the back streets of the Old District area.
Masa was a wonderful guide, full of humor and goodwill. It was great to see the old part of Tokyo City.
We had a wonderful 4 hour tour exploring, Yanaka Cemetery, an art gallery, food stalls and all the back streets of the Old District area.
Masa was a wonderful guide, full of humor and goodwill. It was great to see the old part of Tokyo City.
Written 5 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear valued guest,
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the walking tour of Yanaka, and our guide Masa made the tour enriching and enjoyable for you. We hope to have the pleasure of guiding you on more adventures in the future.
Best regards,
Kyoko
Written 24 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joel F
Castle Rock, CO19 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
It goes Yumi was exactly what you want in a tour guide. Knowledgeable, very friendly, and kind. She was very attentive to making sure this experience meet our personalized preferences by asking us questions and recommending the best stops. The story of the last Shogun, the Sumo Yokozuna, and the beautiful shrine were outstanding.
Additionally, she helped us make purchases along the way by both translating and offering guidance that only locals would know. Simple shopping as a foreigner can be quite stressful!
Side note, the people we encountered along the way were wonderful.
I highly recommend Yumi and this experience.
Additionally, she helped us make purchases along the way by both translating and offering guidance that only locals would know. Simple shopping as a foreigner can be quite stressful!
Side note, the people we encountered along the way were wonderful.
I highly recommend Yumi and this experience.
Written 12 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for joining the tour and posting an excellent review! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Yumi. We appreciate your participation so much and hope you will come back to Tokyo and explore hidden gems again. When you have the chance to travel Japan again, we will be happy to host you anywhere at any time.
Best regards,
Misaki
Written 14 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Deborah S
3 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
This was THE BEST tour we took during our week in Tokyo! Emico our guide did a fantastic job of helping us to understand a beautiful, older side of the city that we would not have been able to appreciate nearly as well on our own. Emico also documented our tour by taking frequent photos of us and emailing them to us the next day. Thank you!
Written 21 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear valued guest,
Thank you for the lovely review! We're so glad to hear that you were so much satisfied with the tour with Emiko. Yanaka is truly a fascinating place where even some Tokyo locals don't know about. We sincerely appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you back for more tours in the future!
Best regards,
Kyoko
Written 26 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alexandra W
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Couples
Eriko was absolutely fantastic. She shared so much of Japan’s history with us and toured us through Yanaka visiting traditional Japanese homes and temples. We were most grateful for her passion and knowledge, and would recommend this tour to anyone seeking to learn and also have fun!!!
Written 16 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear valued guest,
Thank you for your heartwarming review! It's wonderful to know that Eriko made the tour enriching and enjoyable for you.
We greatly appreciate your recommendation and hope to have the pleasure of guiding you on more adventures in the future!
Best regards,
Kyoko
Written 24 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Esther D
Chicago, IL50 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
We had a wonderful tour with Eriko who showed us around a lesser known area of Yanaka. We saw many interesting temples and with Eriko's explanations about the different religions we learned a lot. We also did a tea ceremony and we saw an artist gallery that made beautiful things with golden pieces. Overall we had a wonderful day with Erika and I recommend this tour for everybody who wants to see old Tokyo!
Written 13 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Esther,
Thank you for exploring another side of Tokyo with us and leaving this review! Glad to hear that Eriko's guiding skill made your day wonderful.
We appreciate your recommendation and hope to have you back again!
Best regards,
Kyoko
Written 24 November 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
airamyh
115 contributions
I have been to Tokyo a few times but I saw a side of Tokyo that I never had before. It was a quiet, peaceful, not crowded, artisan filled experience. Masayo our guide was welcoming and knowledgeable. I really enjoyed the winding narrow residential streets and visiting the ginza at the end and eating street food. It was also great exercise with lots of walking to burn off all those calories haha. I would recommend tourists to bring cash with them so they can enjoy the street food. Oh wait, I forgot to add that the tea ceremony was an enjoyable pause on the tour.
Written 28 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for joining the tour and posting an excellent review! So happy to hear that you enjoyed with Masayo. We appreciate it so much and when you have the chance to travel Japan again, we will be happy to host you anywhere at any time.
Best regards,
Takeshi
Written 28 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Erin S
Darwin, Australia
I would like to do this tour. I am a very slow walker and wander if I will be left behind. Is this suitable for me? I am 75 years old.healthy but can not walk fast.
Written 8 May 2019
Only two of us on tour, and so really up to us as to pace of tour and stops we wanted. Believe all groups are limited to max of 6 people. Does involve some 3 hours of walking.
Written 8 May 2019
Nita A
Wargrave, United Kingdom
Hi- we would like to book a tour- we are arriving tomorrow and leaving Sunday.
Thank you
Written 11 March 2019
Contact omakase tour... they can be found through TripAdvisor. They are very helpful and professional. I highly recommend to go through them.
Written 12 March 2019
We have booked the walk for tomorrow. In the confirmation we were informed to be at Nippori Station but not the exact collection point - could you inform us please? BW Erwin Rietbroek
Written 17 February 2019
Our guide met us right outside of the North Gate of the JR Nippori Station. She sent us a text message a few hours prior.
Written 17 February 2019
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.