Private Tokyo Full Day Tour: Explore Modern and Traditional Tokyo from Yokohama

Discover the best of modern and traditional Tokyo on a private full-day tour. Avoid the confusion of public transportation and explore the city comfortably in a private vehicle.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Asakusa - Asakusa is the heart of Tokyo’s shitamachi, a district where the ambiance of old Tokyo still lingers.

Asakusa’s main highlight is Sensoji, a highly frequented Buddhist temple established in the 7th century. Visitors reach the temple via Nakamise, a shopping street that has been offering traditional local snacks and souvenirs for centuries.

  • Imperial Palace - The current Imperial Palace stands on the former grounds of Edo Castle, a vast park area encircled by moats and massive stone walls in central Tokyo, a short walk from Tokyo Station. It serves as the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family.

Edo Castle was once the seat of the Tokugawa shogun who governed Japan from 1603 to 1867. In 1868, the shogunate was overthrown, and the capital and imperial residence were relocated from Kyoto to Tokyo. The new Imperial Palace was completed in 1888. The palace was destroyed during World War II and later rebuilt in the same style.

  • Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden - Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo’s largest and most beloved parks. Located a short walk from Shinjuku Station, the park’s expansive lawns, winding paths, and serene scenery offer a peaceful retreat from the bustling urban center. In spring, Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the city’s top spots for cherry blossom viewing.
  • Shibuya Crossing - Shibuya Scramble Crossing is a famous pedestrian intersection in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Situated in front of the Shibuya Station Hachikō exit, it halts vehicles in all directions to allow pedestrians to flood the entire crossing. The Hachikō statue, located between the station and the intersection, is a popular meeting spot that is almost always crowded.
  • Tsukiji Fish Market - Tsukiji Outer Market is a district next to the former Tsukiji Wholesale Market site. It comprises several blocks of wholesale and retail shops, as well as restaurants lining narrow lanes. Here, you can find fresh and processed seafood and produce, along with food-related items like knives.
  • Meiji Jingu Shrine - Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Located next to the JR Yamanote Line’s busy Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park form a large forested area within the densely built city. The spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths perfect for a leisurely stroll.

The shrine was completed and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the emperor’s death and six years after the empress’s passing. The shrine was destroyed during World War II but was rebuilt shortly after.

  • Akihabara - Akihabara (秋葉原), also known as Akiba after a former local shrine, is a central Tokyo district famous for its numerous electronics shops. In recent years, Akihabara has also become known as the hub of Japan’s otaku (diehard fan) culture, with many stores and establishments dedicated to anime and manga now interspersed among the electronics shops. On Sundays, Chuo Dori, the district’s main street, is closed to car traffic from 13:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October through March).
  • Koishikawa Korakuen Garden - Koishikawa Korakuen (小石川後楽園, Koishikawa Kōrakuen) is one of Tokyo’s oldest and finest Japanese gardens. It was constructed in the early Edo Period (1600-1867) at the Tokyo residence of the Mito branch of the ruling Tokugawa family. Like its namesake in Okayama, the garden was named Korakuen after a poem encouraging a ruler to seek pleasure only after ensuring his people’s happiness. Koishikawa is the district where the garden is located.
  • Hama Rikyu Gardens - Hama Rikyu (浜離宮, Hama Rikyū) is a large, beautiful landscape garden in central Tokyo. Situated alongside Tokyo Bay, Hama Rikyu features seawater ponds that change with the tides and a teahouse on an island where visitors can relax and enjoy the view. The traditional garden contrasts sharply with the skyscrapers of the nearby Shiodome district.
  • Tokyo National Museum - The Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館, Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) is the oldest and largest of Japan’s premier national museums, which also include the Kyoto National Museum, the Nara National Museum, and the Kyushu National Museum. It was initially established in 1972 at Yushima Seido Shrine and moved to its current location in Ueno Park a few years later.

The Tokyo National Museum boasts one of Japan’s most extensive and finest collections of art and archaeological artifacts, comprising over 110,000 items, including nearly a hundred national treasures. At any given time, about 4,000 different items from the permanent collection are on display. Additionally, temporary exhibitions are regularly held. Good English information and audio guides are available.

  • Tokyo Skytree - The Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー) is a television broadcasting tower and a Tokyo landmark. It is the centerpiece of Tokyo Skytree Town in the Sumida City Ward, not far from Asakusa. Standing at 634 meters (634 can be read as “Musashi,” a historic name for the Tokyo Region), it is the tallest structure in Japan and the second tallest in the world at the time of its completion. A large shopping complex with an aquarium is located at its base.
  • Senso-ji Temple - Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo’s most vibrant and popular temples.

Legend has it that in 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River. Despite returning the statue to the river, it always came back to them. As a result, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo’s oldest temple.

  • Rikugien Garden - Rikugien (六義園) is often regarded as Tokyo’s most beautiful Japanese landscape garden, alongside Koishikawa Korakuen. Built around 1700 for the 5th Tokugawa Shogun, Rikugien means “six poems garden” and recreates in miniature 88 scenes from famous poems. The garden is a prime example of an Edo Period strolling garden, featuring a large central pond surrounded by manmade hills and wooded areas, all connected by a network of trails.
  • Takeshita Street - Harajuku (原宿) refers to the area around Tokyo’s Harajuku Station, situated between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the epicenter of Japan’s most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historical sites.

The heart of Harajuku’s teenage culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined with trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothing stores, crepe stands, and fast food outlets catering to fashion-conscious teens.

  • Roppongi Hills, Shop & Restaurant - Roppongi Hills is a prime example of a city within a city. Opened in 2003 in Tokyo’s Roppongi district, the complex includes offices, apartments, shops, restaurants, a hotel, an art museum, an observation deck, and more. The office floors house leading companies from the IT and financial sectors, making Roppongi Hills a symbol of Japan’s IT industry.

At the center of Roppongi Hills stands the 238-meter Mori Tower, one of the city’s tallest buildings. While most of the building is occupied by office space, the lower floors feature restaurants and shops, and the upper floors house an observation deck and modern art museum open to the public.

  • Odaiba District - Odaiba (お台場) is a popular shopping and entertainment area on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. It began as a series of small fort islands (daiba means “fort”), built towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868) to protect Tokyo from potential sea attacks, particularly in response to Commodore Perry’s gunboat diplomacy.

Over a century later, the small islands were merged into larger ones through extensive landfills, and Tokyo embarked on an ambitious development project in the extravagant 1980s to transform the islands into a futuristic residential and business district. However, development slowed significantly after the “bubble economy” burst in the early 1990s, leaving Odaiba nearly vacant.

  • Shibamata - Shibamata (柴又) is a neighborhood on Tokyo’s eastern edge, near the Edogawa River, which forms the natural border between Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture. The town retains its nostalgic charm and offers a perfect escape from modern Tokyo. One of the main attractions is the Shibamata Taishakuten Temple, located not far from the station.
  • Nezu - Miraculously spared from major damage during world wars and natural disasters, Yanaka and Nezu—two neighborhoods that make up shitamachi, Tokyo’s old downtown—retain their historical charm. You’ll find sites like Yanaka Cemetery and Nezu Shrine nestled among shitamachi’s narrow alleys, traditional wooden houses, izakaya pubs, cozy coffee shops, and retro stores selling old-fashioned sweets and snacks. Here, you can step back in time to a slower-paced, more genteel Tokyo.
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from ‘What to expect’ list
  • Parking Fees, Highway fees, Fuel Surcharge
What's Not Included
  • Other personal expenses & Entry Fees
  • Lunch
  • You cannot combine tour groups
Additional Information

This is the ideal pick for time-tight travelers wanting to discover lots of Tokyo’s highlights in a day. Avoid the potential confusion of Tokyo’s subway system, and travel comfortably in a private vehicle instead.

Due to the enormous size of Tokyo, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, a one-day tour would probably focus on one small area, which would still leave you in awe at the scale of the city. Tokyo is where you can experience both modern and traditional, and your experienced private guide will help you efficiently enjoy a full day in this dynamic Japanese capital.

You can see 3 to 4 sights on this tour!

Location
Asakusa
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(7 Ratings)
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Compass63523
Jul 26, 2024
An excellent tour to Japan. - The Tokyo tour was great. Our tour guide Hiro Chikata was excellent. He take us to all the places that we previously schedule. He had a lot of knowledge about the Japan history. I recommended him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gwensq5882yd
May 31, 2024
Stellar Introduction to Tokyo - Our first visit to Tokyo began with a fabulous private tour with Nori. She led us to many beautiful historic and cultural sites in & around Tokyo, and provided thorough explanations at each one. She provided a lot of interesting facts about places nearby and was very knowledgeable about the history of shrines and temples we visited. We were transported in a very comfortable van to each stop. Nori answered all of our questions about Japan social norms and culture. We ate lunch together at a nice local restaurant and she recommended other areas to visit during the rest of our time in Tokyo. Our tour finished with a visit to the Shibuya Scramble and shopping areas. We loved spending our day with Nori learning about Tokyo!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jonff627nd
Apr 14, 2024
Taku is the best - TAKU was an excellent guide and pivoted quickly to changes of things we wanted to see in Tokyo. We had been in Tokyo before a cruise and had seen many of the "normal" sites. Taku was creative, met us at the cruise ship, we had a lovely day, and he got us to Haneda in plenty of time for or flight home. Would recommend very highly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
699alisonp
Apr 4, 2024
A great day in Tokyo! - We had a fabulous day seeing the highlights of Tokyo. Yoshi our guide was wonderful. He looked after us so well. I had a walking frame with me as I gave limited mobility he looked after me and was considerate to my needs. Our highlight was lunch. Yoshi too us to a Japanese bbq lunch - Yakiniku. We ate eating beef. One of the best meals we have had in a long time. We could not have ordered from the menu without Yoshi’s help. He was so great to chat to. We found his social and historical knowledge very interesting!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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