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Tokyo: Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide
- Duration4 hours – 8 hours
- GroupPrivate tour
- TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
- LanguagesEnglish
- BookingInstant confirmation
About this activity
Tokyo rewards people who know where to look. On this fully private walking tour, a local guide builds the route around what you actually want to see — the landmarks you've been picturing, the backstreets you'd never find on your own, or a mix of both.
Share your interests when you book and your guide will confirm the plan with you before you set out. You'll get around the way locals do, on foot and by train, with someone who can read the signs, order the food, and explain what you're looking at.
Temples and shrines, old shitamachi streets, food markets, pop-culture districts — you decide what the tour is built around. Choose a 4, 6, or 8-hour tour, with hotel pick-up included. Your group is the only group.
What to expect
Senso-ji Temple
2-3-1, Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0032, Japan
Tokyo's oldest temple, and still a working one. You'll come in under the Kaminarimon gate and its giant paper lantern, wash at the purification fountain, and watch people waft incense smoke toward whatever they'd like fixed. Your guide explains what's happening at each step so you can join in rather than just photograph it — including how to draw a paper fortune, and what you're supposed to do if you pull a bad one.
Nakamise Shopping Street (Kaminarimon)
2-3-1, Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0032, Japan
The approach to Senso-ji has been lined with stalls for centuries. It's crowded and it's touristy, and it's also where you'll find snacks that are genuinely local — ningyo-yaki baked in front of you, warm age-manju, rice crackers grilled over coals. Your guide will point out which stalls are worth stopping at and order for you where nobody behind the counter speaks English.
Ueno Park
Uenokoen, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0007, Japan
A wide public park holding several of Tokyo's major museums, a zoo, a shrine and a large pond, all within walking distance of each other. What you do here is your call — a slow walk under the trees, the quieter shrine paths away from the crowds, or a museum if you'd like to add one. Your guide will help you choose based on how much time you have left and what you've already seen that day.
Ameyoko Shopping Street
6 Chome-10, Ueno, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0005, Japan
A market street packed in under and alongside the railway tracks, left over from the years when this was a post-war black market. Now it's dried seafood, cut fruit, cheap trainers, cosmetics, and standing bars where people are drinking at four in the afternoon. It is loud and it is not polished. Your guide can read the stalls for you and get you tasting things you would never have ordered on your own.
Akihabara
Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo Prefecture, 101-0021, Japan
Six or seven floors of anime figures, retro games, manga and secondhand electronics, stacked inside buildings you'd walk straight past without knowing. You'll see arcades where the regulars are genuinely good, shops organised by series in ways that only make sense once someone explains them, and duty-free counters worth knowing about. Tell your guide what you're into and you'll end up in the right building rather than the biggest one.
Shibuya Crossing
2 Chome-2-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo Prefecture, 150-0043, Japan
Several hundred people crossing in every direction at once, every couple of minutes. Your guide takes you across it, then up to the vantage points locals actually use to watch it from above — generally free, and generally not the ones signposted for visitors. Worth seeing at any hour, better after dark when the screens are lit.
Hachiko
1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya Train Station, Shibuya, Tokyo Prefecture, 150-0043, Japan
A small bronze dog beside Shibuya Station, and the most-used meeting point in the city. Hachiko came here to meet his owner off the evening train, and carried on coming for years after the man died. Your guide will tell you the version Japanese people grow up with, which is sadder and more specific than the film. Expect a short queue for the photo.
Takeshita Street
1 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo Prefecture, 150-0001, Japan
A narrow pedestrian street of teenage fashion, secondhand shops and food built to be photographed — crepes, oversized candy floss, whatever is currently going around online. It's chaotic and it's fun. Your guide can also walk you two minutes over to Omotesando, the wide, quiet, expensive avenue running parallel, which is a useful thing to see back to back.
Meiji Jingu Shrine
1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizono-cho, Shibuya, Tokyo Prefecture, 151-8857, Japan
A Shinto shrine set inside a forest of roughly a hundred thousand trees, every one planted by hand when the shrine was built. From the first torii gate it's a walk of about ten minutes under the canopy, and the city noise drops away as you go. You'll pass the wall of sake barrels, wash your hands at the fountain, and see people writing wishes onto wooden plaques. Your guide will show you how to make an offering properly if you'd like to.
Omoide Yokocho
1-2, Nishishinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture, 160-0023, Japan
A handful of alleys on the west side of Shinjuku Station, lined with counters that seat six or seven people and grill over charcoal. It smells of smoke and it hasn't changed much since the 1950s. Your guide can get you a seat and order for you — the menus here are handwritten in Japanese, and having someone to translate is the difference between walking past and sitting down.
Shinjuku
Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
The busiest station in the world, and the districts stacked around it: department stores, neon, tiny bars, and government towers with free observation floors. What you see depends entirely on the hour — this is a different place at two in the afternoon and at nine at night. Your guide routes it around when you're actually there, and can get you through the station, which defeats most people on their first try.
Tsukiji Fish Market
4-14-2, Tsukiji, Tokyo Prefecture, 104-0045, Japan
The wholesale market moved out to Toyosu in 2018, but the outer market stayed: rows of small shops selling grilled scallops, sea urchin, tamagoyaki straight off the pan, knives and dried goods. It's at its best in the morning and a fair number of stalls close by early afternoon, so this is one your guide plans around your start time. They'll order for you and tell you what you're eating.
Imperial Palace
1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda, Tokyo Prefecture, 100-8111, Japan
The former grounds of Edo Castle, now a public garden inside the palace walls. You can walk up onto the stone base where the castle keep once stood and see just how large the fortress was before it burned. It's quiet, it's free, and it closes on certain weekdays — so if you want it in your day, your guide will build the route around the calendar.
Ginza
Ginza, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Tokyo's expensive district: flagship stores, old department stores with basement food halls worth walking through even if you buy nothing, and small galleries a few floors above street level. On weekend afternoons the main avenue closes to traffic and people walk down the middle of the road. Your guide can also steer you into the older backstreets, which are a good deal less polished than the frontage suggests.
Pickup & meeting point
Pickup is included for all travellers.
You can request a pickup location of your own.
Pickup locations1,099
The operator lists 1,099 pickup points. 40 are shown here; choose yours from the full list when you book.
Hotels & residences40
- HOTEL MYSTAYS Ueno Iriyaguchi5-5-13 Higashi Ueno, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0015, Japan
- Hotel Livemax Asakusa Ekimae2-6-5 Komagata, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0043, Japan
- Hotel Livemax Asakusabashi-eki Kitaguchi2-7-2 Yanagibashi, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0052, Japan
- Candeo Hotels Ueno-Park1-2-13 Negishi, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0003, Japan
- Hotel Tourist Inn Ueno Okachimachi2-20-4 Misuji, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0055, Japan
- Business Hotel Inamoto4-24-13 Senzoku, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0031, Japan
- The Hideout Tokyo1-13-3 Shitaya, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0004, Japan
- APA Hotel Ueno Inaricho Ekikita5-10-8 HIgashiueno, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0015, Japan
- Business Hotel Yamayuri2-19-5 Higashiueno, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0015, Japan
- Horai2-35-2 Kiyokawa, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0022, Japan
- Dormy Inn EXPRESS Asakusa1-3-4 Hanakawado, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0033, Japan
- Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku2-9-10 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0032, Japan
- Asakusa Home Suites Tokyo2-20-10 Nishiasakusa, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0035, Japan
- Nest Hotel Tokyo Yaesu18-3 Nihonbashikabutocho, Chuo, Tokyo Prefecture, 103-0026, Japan
- The Edo Sakura3-2-13 Shitaya, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0004, Japan
- Hotel Sunroute Asakusa1-8-5 Kaminarimon, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0034, Japan
- Fukuyoshi Ryokan2-19-14 Higashiueno, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0015, Japan
- MONday Apart Ueno Shin Okachimachi1-27-11 Higashiueno, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0005, Japan
- Hotel Bougainvillea Minowa3-44-4 Ryusen, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0012, Japan
- Agora Place Tokyo Asakusa2-2-9 Kotobuki, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0042, Japan
- Hotel Trend Asakusa Tawaramachi1-18-3 Kotobuki, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0042, Japan
- Hotel Livemax Gifu Ekimae4-12-2 Higashiueno, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0015, Japan
- Hotel Trend Tobu Asakusa Ekikita1-15-4 Hanakawado, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0033, Japan
- Echigoya2-27-2 Nihonzutsumi, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0021, Japan
- OYO 44568 Hotel Kuramae3-7-1 Kuramae, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0051, Japan
- Toyoko Inn Tokyo Uguisudani Ekimae1-2-17 Negishi, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0003, Japan
- APA Hotel Asakusa Kuramae2-4-6 Komagata, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0043, Japan
- Ikkokuya Annex2-38-3 Kiyokawa, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0022, Japan
- ICI HOTEL UENO SHINOKACHIMACHI4-23 Taito, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0016, Japan
- Okachimachi Station Hotel3-15-3 Taito, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0016, Japan
- KOKO HOTEL Ueno Station2-18-4 Higashiueno, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0015, Japan
- Section L Yushima-Ueno3-25-2 Yushima, Bunkyo, Tokyo Prefecture, 113-0034, Japan
- Tamuraya Main Store2-16-5 Kiyokawa, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0022, Japan
- Prostyle Ryokan Tokyo Asakusa2-12-11 Hanakawado, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0033, Japan
- sequence SUIDOBASHI2-22-17 Kanda Misakicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo Prefecture, 101-0061, Japan
- Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno3-19-7 Higashiueno, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0015, Japan
- Yamanaka Ryokan4-23-1 Ikenohata, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0008, Japan
- Toyoko Inn Asakusa Kuramae Kaminarimon1-3-13 Komagata, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0043, Japan
- MIMARU Tokyo Ueno Inaricho5-8-2 Higashi-ueno, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 110-0015, Japan
- Kin Hotel2-3-2 Matsugaya, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, 111-0036, Japan
- You can arrange your pickup point with the operator after booking.
Pickup instructions
We'll meet you at your hotel or a central meeting point of your choice, then travel Tokyo together on foot and by public transport — the way the city is built to be seen. Please have an IC card (Suica or PASMO) ready if you already have one, or cash to buy tickets as we go. Transport fares aren't included in the tour price. We don't provide private car service, and we're unable to meet guests at Haneda or Narita airport.
What's included
Included
- Photos taken by your guide as you explore
- Hotel or central meeting-point pick-up and drop-off
- Temple and shrine entrance fees on your agreed itinerary
- Custom itinerary planned around your interests before your tour
- Private walking tour with a Tokyo local guide
- Personal recommendations for the rest of your time in Japan
- Help with Suica/PASMO IC cards and getting around by train and subway
Not included
- Meals and drinks
- Transport fares (trains, taxis) and airport transfers
- Entry tickets for additional attractions
Good to know
Accessibility & suitability
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Traveller requirements
- Minimum 1 traveller per booking
- Maximum 10 travellers per booking
- At least one adult must be included in the booking
- Age bands: Child (0–11), Adult (12–99)
Additional information
- The itinerary shown is a sample. Your stops, route, and pace are agreed with your guide in advance and can be changed on the day.
- After booking, please share your interests and any specific places you'd like to visit. Your guide will contact you to confirm the plan before your tour date.
- Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring cash or an IC card for transport fares.
- Bring your passport or ID if you'd like to shop tax-free.
- Entrance fees for attractions not listed in the inclusions aren't covered. Where a paid attraction is added at your request, guests cover admission for themselves and their guide.
- If you choose to eat during the tour, please include your guide and cover their meal. If you'd prefer not to, just let us know in advance.
Languages
- Guide
- English
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- 1+ days before100% refund
- 0–1 days before0% refund
Important booking information
- Confirmation
- Confirmed immediately after booking.
- Tickets
- One per booking
- Local time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Product code
- 457658P1
What you'll be asked when booking
- Age of each traveller
- Date of birth
- First name of each traveller
- Last name of each traveller
- Your preferred pickup point
- Any special requirements
Traveller reviews
5.0/ 521 reviews
Ratings aggregated from Viator (5) and Tripadvisor (16).
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Ready to book Tokyo: Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide?
From JPY 19,800 per person · Free cancellation available
Activity information provided by Viator, an authorized travel partner. Gateera does not operate this activity.