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Yanaka and Nezu: Tokyo Old Traditional Town Cultural Experience
5.0
13 Ratings
Arakawa City
Explore Tokyo’s old neighborhoods, discover historic temples, and experience authentic Japanese culture on a leisurely 3.5-hour walking tour.
Explore Tokyo’s old neighborhoods, discover historic temples, and experience authentic Japanese culture on a leisurely 3.5-hour walking tour.
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Nezu Shrine - As one of Tokyo’s oldest places of worship, this shrine features a charming Torii-lined pathway. Discover the native Japanese religion, learn the proper way to pray at a shrine, write your wishes, and receive your fortune here.
- Tennoji Temple - Among the oldest temples in the Yanaka area, it boasts a large bronze seated Buddha….
- Nezu Shrine - As one of Tokyo’s oldest places of worship, this shrine features a charming Torii-lined pathway. Discover the native Japanese religion, learn the proper way to pray at a shrine, write your wishes, and receive your fortune here.
- Tennoji Temple - Among the oldest temples in the Yanaka area, it boasts a large bronze seated Buddha. Enjoy a peaceful moment in this historic temple and admire the beautiful garden views surrounding the complex.
- Yanaka District - Explore remnants of Showa-period (1926–1989) houses, now transformed into shops. Discover small, traditional shops passed down through generations from the Meiji and Taisho periods.
- Nezu - Stroll leisurely through this local residential area with a knowledgeable tour guide. Observe both old and new houses and shops, and gain insight into the local Japanese lifestyle. Witness the daily lives of the elderly residents and often spot nursery children on their walks.
- Yanaka Cemetery - One of Tokyo’s largest and most picturesque cemeteries, it is the final resting place for many notable figures.
- Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street - This historic shopping street offers local street foods and Japanese desserts. Find unique Japanese souvenirs, but note that shop hours vary, and many are closed on Mondays.
- Yuyake Dandan - Known as the “sunset staircase” in Japanese, it offers stunning sunset views and a picturesque view of Yanaka Ginza street. This is a must-visit photo spot.
- SCAI The Bathhouse - Walk past this 200-year-old bathhouse, now an art gallery.
- Ueno Sakuragi Atari - Discover wooden houses that have been converted into shops.
- The Yanaka’s Himalayan Cedar Tree - Pass by this majestic 100-year-old Himalayan cedar tree.
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Tour guide fee
- Bottled water
- Tour guide fee
What's Not Included
- Meals
- Meals
Additional Information
We are new to this website, but we have conducted numerous Yanaka tours, receiving many positive reviews from our satisfied customers. This walking tour is designed at a leisurely pace, allowing participants to closely experience authentic Japanese lifestyle and culture. It is suitable for most individuals with moderate fitness levels. Participants will…
We are new to this website, but we have conducted numerous Yanaka tours, receiving many positive reviews from our satisfied customers. This walking tour is designed at a leisurely pace, allowing participants to closely experience authentic Japanese lifestyle and culture. It is suitable for most individuals with moderate fitness levels. Participants will explore Tokyo’s historic neighborhoods—Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi. Discover ancient temples and shrines, as well as buildings from the Meiji, Taishō, and Showa periods.
• Typically, this tour lasts about 3 hours and 30 minutes. However, the duration may vary slightly, ensuring everyone can enjoy their stroll through this charming neighborhood with flexibility.
• Small group sizes allow for personal interaction with our knowledgeable tour guide.
• Experience the tranquil side of Tokyo’s old town.
Note: We are a small team of experienced tour guides. We do not employ inexperienced or temporary guides, even during peak seasons.
Location
Nippori Station
Meet at Nippori Station . Please go to North Gate , West Exit (for Yanaka) , once you go out the exit our tour guide will wait for you at the rest area (with baggage storage coin lockers)
(Please refer to the last 2 pictures for the meeting place at Nippori Station)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(13 Ratings)
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Daina
Jul 16, 2025
Fabulous Tour and Guide! - I had the most wonderful experience today on a walking tour with Sui through Yanaka and surrounding areas. Sui was so knowledgeable and engaging that all of us on the tour didn’t want it to end and she was nice enough to spend extra time with us! The stops on the tour were well chosen, and provided a good mixture of history, cultural significance, and useful information. If you are looking for a higher level tour experience, I highly recommend Undiscovered Tokyo Tours and Sui!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Passenger51143083899
Jul 1, 2025
Off the beaten path in Tokyo - This was a fun stroll in the older parts of Tokyo where you don't see hordes of foreign tourists. Our lovely guide was friendly, very knowledgeable on the spots visited and took us to interesting places and shops where locals go to. I hughly recommend this to those who appreciate culture, history and interactions with the local community ☺️.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marymargaret_s
Jun 22, 2025
We were staying in Yanaka... - We were staying in Yanaka and booked this tour for our first day in Japan. Sui was an excellent guide. She is extremely knowledgable and engaging. She had lots of information that we wouldn't have gotten from the guidebooks. Her tour really set the tone for our time in Tokyo.
Review provided by Viator
Travelinguy2017
Feb 3, 2025
A wonderful experience of a slower, quieter old Tokyo - As first time visitors to Tokyo (and Japan too), we were not sure quite what to expect on this tour.
After having walked around the Ginza area and Shibuya, bright lights, crowds and high-end labels seemed to be permanent fixtures.
Yanaka turned out to be the exact opposite, and our guide, Sui, was as good a guide as one could expect.
First, you can walk safely on the side streets of Yanaka. There were far more pedestrians than cars. The streets are also narrow and full of turns, so cars travel slowly. What I am saying is, you can comfortably stroll along this lovely little corner of Tokyo that is so completely different from anything you might have seen before.
Different? Little bakeries, small coffee shops in pre-war buildings, a real vegetable and fruit stand such as you might see is small town USA but with a Japanese twist, a beer hall- tiny, but serving locally brewed beer that you might find anywhere else) , an antique store with real antiques (bit prices, though), plenty of temples, just a wonderful opportunity to see a more normal small town.
The Yanaka Ginza that you come to towards the end is another delight. Exactly the opposite of the 'more famous' Ginza, with not a single brand name, all tiny local stores selling hand-made artifacts and family-owned food stands, an absolute delight - if you like that sort of thing, that is.
It can be a long-ish walk, around 3 hours, but its worth every minute.
And our tour guide, Sui, took us to so many interesting places that time just zoomed by.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jaimiet_11
Jan 28, 2025
Tokyo, off the beaten track - Our guide Sui gave great directions to find her to start the tour (a challenge on other tours we have been on). Having a Japanese person conduct the tour (rather than just someone who could speak English) really helped us to understand more about Tokyo and Japan. Sui answered even the most obscure questions, provided a great tour of not just temples and shrines that you would not normally see, but also of Tokyo neighborhoods showing how the locals live.
Our 8yo daughter was in a difficult mood the morning of the tour and Sui was very patient with her and by the time it was over, she was sad to see her go.
If you have been to Tokyo and seen the "highlights" already, this is a nice relaxing tour that shows you things you would not discover yourself.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cfloyd48
Jan 22, 2025
Good to experience a quainter area of Tokyo - The tour was very enjoyable and informative.
Sui was a good tour guide - accommodating and had answers to most of our questions.
We saw several old wooden houses that have survived and are now repurposed as restaurants and a bakery.
Nezu Shrine is well worth visiting.
Recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ms_cashew
Jan 13, 2025
I got so much out of this walking tour! - I booked this Yanaka walking tour in October and it was such a great experience! I was lucky enough to be the only customer that day, so I was given a personalised tour of the Yanaka Ginza area! I love wandering through backstreets and my guide Sui was very accommodating and knowledgeable.
I chose to do a tour because I wanted to get the most out of visiting the area. As a non-Japanese speaker, I found it incredibly helpful to have Sui by my side, who helped order food and speak with the shop vendors.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience the history, food and culture of the Yanaka Ginza area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Freedom62003520830
Dec 19, 2024
Beautiful discovery - The visit was very interesting, the guide knew her subject very well and was very kind. Great experience👍🏽
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andrew_m
Nov 19, 2024
A fascinating insight into Tokyo’s history and culture - A thoroughly enjoyable your. The guide, Sui, was friendly and engaging. She led the tour at at even pace, which gave sufficient time to stop and enjoy each site. In particular, her explanations of the importance of temples and shrines in Japanese history and present day life, especially the significance on monks was wonderful. It was also pleasing that much of the tour was spent and residential areas, thus giving an insight into modern day Japanese life. Having said that, it was great to conclude the tour in the Yanaka Ginza, and to shop without neon lights from all angles
Review provided by Viator
Alleycat2007
Nov 7, 2024
This tour made my trip! - This walking tour was fantastic. I was a little leery of booking it because it only had one review. But I went for it and am so glad I did. Turns out they usually book through another guide service and were new to Tripadvisor/Viator.
I went with a friend, about 10 pp on the tour. Our guide was Sui. She was excellent right from the start. Sent very clear directions where to meet and then took us walking for 3.5 hours through neighborhoods with cemeteries, temples, and shrines. I’d been in Japan for about two weeks already and Sui’s tour answered the gazillion questions I had about culture, the differences between temples and shrines, why there are so many wires above the streets rather than buried, why there are so few traditional wood houses left, and many more.
We ended the tour on a shopping street where Sui pointed out traditional foods and restaurants I would not have noticed on my own.
Just terrific. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor