How to Tackle Tokyo as a First Timer
Tokyo is an undeniably exciting city, but it’s so big and sprawling that visitors often get overwhelmed. From sampling street food to watching sumo wrestlers, here’s how to make the most of your first visit to the Japanese capital.
Have a Foodie Experience
Japanese food is extremely varied, from fried and skewered street food to delicatekaiseki ryori haute cuisine. Take a cooking class, explore a market or two, or join a food-themed walking tour.
Stroll Around the Imperial Palace
The inner grounds of the Imperial Palace are open only a couple days a year, but a walk around the spacious gardens and along the moat is a good way to get your bearings in central Tokyo. Rent a pedal boat and admire the cherry blossoms in spring.
Tour Asakusa
Asakusa is one of the most traditional neighborhoods in the city. Visit the Senso-ji temple, and shop for food and souvenirs in the surrounding markets. A rickshaw tour is a fun and easy way to discover the area.
Watch Sumo Wrestling in Ryogoku
Sumo wrestling is Japan’s traditional national sport—if you’re an enthusiast, go to the Ryogoku neighborhood. Catch a tournament, tour the stables where the wrestlers live, and feast onchanko nabe hot pot.
Shop (or Window-Shop) in Ginza
One of Tokyo’s chicest areas, Ginza’s wide boulevards are lined with multilevel stores selling luxury fashion items. Window-shop, or part with some cash on a customized shopping tour.
Get Up High for a City View
To see just how vast Tokyo is, head to one of the city’s observation platforms. Visit the red and white Tokyo Tower, get a free view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, or enjoy some art with your view at the Mori Tower.
11 Tours and Activities | All Tokyo Tours
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Tokyo by Night: Japanese Food Tour
Combine the cultural delights and delectable bites of Tokyo on this 3-hour food tour of Japan’s capital. Accompanied by a guide, delve into the culinary scene of the city by visiting several popular bars and restaurants. Sample local specialties like succulent grilled meat skewers, sweet cakes and refreshing sake. Deepen your knowledge of Japanese culinary and cultural traditions and enjoy personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour limited to 12 people.
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From
$137.97
From
$137.97
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
Walking Food Tour of Shibuya at Night
Get a taste of Japanese food and culture during this walking tour of Tokyo’s Shibuya district. Escape the tourist hordes as you eat like a Japanese local, sampling favorites like ‘okonomiyaki’ (savory egg pancakes), Wagyu beef skewers and more in the area’s off-the-beaten-path eateries and hangouts. Toast your adventure, and new friends, with an included glass of beer, ‘shochu’ (rice liquor) or soft drinks.
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From
$178.72
From
$178.72
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Traditional Group Geisha Experience and Dinner Show in Tokyo, Fukagawa District
Spend your evening at a teahouse in Tokyo and enjoy a dinner banquet while two highly trained geisha entertain you with a traditional dance and musical performance. Spend a leisurely 2-hour meal feasting on traditional Japanese dishes while you converse with the geisha who are skilled in the Japanese arts as well as the art of communication. Learn about Japan’s age-old traditions while you dine.
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From
$159.95
From
$159.95
Tokyo Asakusa Rickshaw Tour
Climb aboard a traditional Japanese rickshaw for an unforgettable view of the Asakusa district in Tokyo. Your knowledgeable guide will steer you to some of Tokyo’s many iconic sites, districts, temples and shrines while illuminating the history behind them all. Enjoy scenic views of maple and cherry trees, gardens, soaring skyscrapers, and traditional businesses. If you’re looking for a carefree, customizable way to see Tokyo, this is it.
Apart from the above courses, we have other special course for guests who really want to get away from the city.
If you have already seen the crowds and buildings in Tokyo, let’s get away from that and enjoy the view across the sumida river and go into places where you can refresh your mind under the quiet trees and monument of Asahi beer headquarter! We shall go across the bridge to the peaceful area of sumida park and Ushijima shrine where you can enjoy the Japanese garden park and lucky fortune cow shrine.
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From
$47.99
Price varies by group size
From
$47.99
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Tokyo Private Food Tour: From Ramen Bars, Vending Machines To Cat Cafes
Go beyond the typical dining establishments frequented by tourists and get a real taste of local life on this guided food tour in Tokyo. In the company of a local host, discover local ingredients and dishes you have never heard of, and visit eateries you'd never find on your own. Eat your way around the city, visiting 6-8 different places that might include from side street yakitori, tiny sushi joints, and lively izakaya, while your host shares insights into Tokyo food culture.
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From
$171.06
Price varies by group size
From
$171.06
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Private Ginza Architecture Walking Tour
The Ginza district of Tokyo is one of the best places to enjoy seeing a blend of both new and historic architecture. A tour guide will make sure you don’t miss a single opportunity to learn about these iconic buildings. This private walking tour is customizable to your interests and knowledge base, and will take you to sights you may not be able to access on your own. You’ll end the tour with great photos, feeling like a Ginza expert yourself.
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From
$102.87
Price varies by group size
From
$102.87
Price varies by group size
Japanese Style Dinner Cruise by Yakatabune by Tokyo Bay
Get the best views of Tokyo Bay from the water on a luxury cruise, the ideal choice of sightseeing experience for first-time visitors. On a boat designed according to Edo tradition, you’ll float past waterfront Tokyo attractions such as the Tokyo Skytree while dining on seasonal Japanese specialities like sashami, tempura prawns, and clam stew, with premium dishes available to order. Plus, free-flowing beer, whiskey, wine and sake are included.
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From
$158.07
From
$158.07
Celebrate Cherry Blossom Season
For visitors to unfamiliar cities, it can be difficult to get a glimpse into local culture. This private and personalized guided tour allows you to do just that. In the company of your host, you will explore Tokyo and discover the locals' favorite spots for cherry blossom-viewing and enjoy a picnic under the "sakura."
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From
$211.79
Price varies by group size
From
$211.79
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Private Custom Shopping Tour with a Geisha
Treat yourself to a day of shopping, indulgence and Japanese culture during this customizable 2-hour private retail session with a real geisha. Explore handcrafted products like carved hair ornaments, hand-painted fans, silk bags, woven fabrics and more among the historic geisha shops of Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood. As you shop you'll gain new insight into the beauty routines and shopping habits of this iconic Japanese community. Your experience is led by Sayuki, the country’s first western geisha practitioner, or one of her trainees.
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From
$250.90
per group
From
$250.90
per group
Private Tokyo Custom Shopping Tour by Chartered Vehicle
Shop until you drop in the retail paradise that is Tokyo during this 8-hour private shopping tour aboard a chartered vehicle. Climb aboard your comfortable bus, limo or van as you shop for finds at some of the Japanese capital’s top department stores, boutiques and electronics centers. Choose four stops from among top tier stores like Isetan Shinjuku, Takashimaya, LAOX and many more. A driver, private vehicle, and round-trip transport from your hotel or central meeting point are included.
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From
$740.07
per group
From
$740.07
per group
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Soba Cooking Class with Tsukiji Soba Academy Chef
Take part in a private Tokyo cooking class, and hear the tips and secrets of Japanese cuisine from one of Tsukjii Soba Academy’s master chefs. With your private group, you’ll watch a soba-making demonstration, and then follow it up by creating the buckwheat noodle dish yourself. Mix and knead the dough, cook it in a steaming broth, and then the best bit: enjoy your creation for lunch.
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From
$278.50
Price varies by group size
From
$278.50
Price varies by group size