Scenic spots and good food are just 30 minutes away from Haneda Airport (HND). Perfect for all ages with a lot of photo opps. You have some choices - sample sushi at the historic Tsukiji Fish Market, the biggest Shinto shrine in Tokyo, the hot spot called Shibuya (the Times Square of Japan), the Imperial Palace (outside only). Please note that a 2-hour extension will give us a more immersive experience. [NO NARITA meet-up for this guide]
Haneda Airport or your hotel (Central Tokyo or Yokohama only)
= Around 200 establishments, including sushi bars, vegetable stalls, and kitchen tools and equipment (such as sushi knives).
= Livelier in the morning.
= Closed on Thursdays and Sundays.
= ALTERNATIVE: Imperial Palace (outside only), if that’s more to your liking.
= The biggest Shinto shrine surrounded by a sacred forest.
= Let's learn more about Japanese culture and religion.
= Home of the world’s busiest pedestrian crosswalk
= Site of Hachi-ko statue (the faithful dog)
= Popular shopping street. This is much like Times Square in Manhattan.
1 hour = 5,000JPY
2 hours = 9,000JPY
= Traditional castle buildings
= Imperial East Gardens, if we have time.
= One of the biggest temples in Tokyo. Huge 400-year-old wooden entrance gate.
= Excellent views and numerous photo opps.
= High-end shopping area
= If time permits, we’ll go to Mitsukoshi Department Store and other smaller stores in the area which sell Mikimoto pearls, Japanese swords, washi paper, etc.
= Most popular among the younger generation and Instagrammers.
= Harajuku - the center of Kawaii Culture (i.e., cute culture).
= Shibuya Sky Observatory - features an open air deck with a 360-degree view of Tokyo. Entrance = 2,000JPY/person (the guide has a pass for it.)
= Traditional garden with ponds and pine trees.
= Tea ceremony (Match green tea) is available. = 850JPY/person
= Entrance fee = 300JPY/person (the guide has a pass for it.)
= Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine and Nakamise shopping street
= You can learn about Japan's history, culture and religion in one place.
Haneda Airport or the last stop in the itinerary
= Scenic spots and good food within a 30-minute range from Haneda Airport.
= Excellent views and plenty of photo opps.
= Perfect for people of all ages!
Guide fee
The following are PAID IN CASH on the day/s of the tour.
= Transportation during the tour (you & guide) = approx.2,000++JPY/person
= Lunch / food / drinks (you & guide)
Tour extension = 1 hour 5,000JP
Multiple-day bookings are encouraged. I might have greater flexibility in opening closed slots in this case. Let's talk about it. Send me a message! :‑)
MORE INFO:
= We use public transportation (train, subway, bus and/or taxi) in my tours as it's the best way to see the city.
= A custom tour = Please book at least SIX HOURS = 45,000JPY
= The meet-up time marks the official start of the tour.
= Hotel pick-ups = only in Central Tokyo, Yokohama, and a few hotels in Kawasaki.
= Four-hour tours available = Tokyo, Harajuku & Shibuya, Odaiba, Shinjuku, Ueno, Yokohama, and antique flea market. Please check out the corresponding tour pages.
(1)As a special consideration if your flight is delayed, I can give you an extra hour for free while I wait. I will have to start charging after an hour’s wait. (2) To get a feel for the 'real Tokyo', we'll be taking public transportation--monorail, subway, and taxi. (3) This is a relatively quick tour which doesn't allow us to linger much.
The tour which starts after 3 pm may have a modified itinerary. As it gets dark at 5 pm. between November and January.
Toshi spent 12 hours with us and did a wonderful job orienting us to Tokyo. We changed our itinerary and she was very flexible. We really enjoyed our time with her
Thank you very much for your wonderful review, Neha. I am truly delighted to hear that you had a positive experience exploring Tokyo together. I appreciate your kind words about my flexibility in accommodating your itinerary changes. Hope to see you again.
If you're looking for a customized tour, reach out to Toshi. She was flexible, organized, and very pleasant company. I had a day to myself in Tokyo while my husband was at a conference. I booked a custom tour with Toshi, and am so glad that I did! Our trip was at the tail end of cherry blossom season, so weren't seeing very many blossoms near our hotel. Toshi took me to the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden where there were other varieties in full bloom. It was beautiful! I'm an artist and had scouted out a couple of art supply stores before our trip. Toshi advised which ones would be feasible to visit during our timeframe, and then offered suggestions of other things we could do/see in the area near the shops. We saw some 'hidden gems', including a local Shinto shrine, Godzilla, and Omoide Yokocho. Toshi was constantly sharing information about the area and its history as we explored. She made sure I was comfortable, filled the role of interpreter, and ensured I had a great day. Thank you, Toshi!
Arigato, Annie! I also had a wonderful time with you. So glad that we managed to hit the places you wanted to visit - shopping, cherry blossoms and sightseeing. Please come back here in late November to see the fall foliage. I'm sure it will give you a lot of inspiration for your paintings. Hope to see you again.
We arranged to meet Toshi at the station and were immediately put at ease after meeting Toshi. Her knowledge and English were excellent and we experienced many aspects of Yokohama. We enjoyed a Chinese lunch (inexpensive) in China Town followed by a taxi ride to Sankeien Gardens. Again Toshi had very good knowledge of the most interesting aspects of the garden . In summary, we can highly recommend Toshi to provide an excellent private tour of Yokohama.
Thank you, Peter! It was a pleasure meeting you and your wife. Yokohama is one of my favorite places as the bay area is postcard pretty. Yokohama being historically significant yet considered a trend setter makes it very interesting to many visitors. Take care and I hope to tour you to other places in the future!
We highly recommend Toshi. We asked for a customized tour for me and wife. A tour that would match our preferences and abilities. Toshi planned and executed just the right tour for us. She even adjusted it on the fly when needed. Toshi proved to be a knowledgeable guide well versed in the history of Japan in general and Tokyo in particular. She is also great fun to spend time with.
Thank you very much, Ami! I'm truly delighted to have you here in Tokyo. We were able to see a variety of places in one day. Our day began with a sense of reverence at Meiji-jingu Shrine. At Harajuku, we witnessed the vibrant fashion trends among the youth. Asakusa provided us with a unique blend of traditional charm and bustling energy. The Imperial Palace stood majestically beside the business district. Tokyo is full of surprises, isn't it? I sincerely hope you continue your Japanese adventure filled with joy and excitement. Enjoy the rest of your Japan adventure! Please take care of yourself.