Yanaka Walking Tour: Historic and Traditional District of Tokyo

a wonderful experience! we were lucky enough to have Masa san as our guide - what a lovely man is he, he couldn’t have been more informative, helpful, kind and so friendly! we had the most amazing time with him, and discovered parts of Tokyo that we would never have otherwise found - we felt like we discovered a little bit of the “real Japan” . can’t recommend this tour highly enough - you won’t be disappointed!

We had such a delightful time on the Yanaka Walking Tour with our amazing guide, Ms. Yumi. Our group was a small mix of our family of three (including our 4-year-old son) and two lovely retired couples we had just met, but Ms. Yumi made everyone feel comfortable right from the start. She has a wonderful way of making the atmosphere light and friendly, so there was never a moment of awkwardness. What touched us most was how thoughtful and considerate she was, especially to our little boy. She even gave him chocolates and made sure he was included throughout the tour. Her warmth, patience, and engaging stories about Yanaka’s culture and history made the experience truly memorable. It was such a pleasant and heartwarming walk through one of Tokyo’s most charming districts. Thank you, Ms. Yumi, for making our day so special! 🤩😍

This tour was a wonderful insight into a part of the city that I would not have otherwise ventured to visit. The Yanaka Cemetery was very interesting and not just because I am closer to occupying a space in one. The dynamics of who maintains the gravesite and the rituals were very interesting. The zen garden at Tennoji Temple as well as the large seated Buddha was impressive. The visit to the Enjuji Temple was also very enlightening. I can definitely use the blessing for healthy legs. The Nezu Shrine was particularly impressive with its many Torii Gates and colorful buildings it was a particular highlight personally. Rie was a fantastic guide who was able to give insight into the area and explain the significance of what we were seeing. I felt particularly honored to have prayed with Rie at a shrine as she walked with me back to my subway at Nishi-Nippori station. All in all an absolutely wonderful experience that I highly recommend.

If you want to experience Japanese culture, peaceful living and life values, and stand in Tokyo history , take the tour of the Yanaka Ginza neighborhood. Our walking guide, Ken Ario was wonderful. Walking pace was thoughtfully adjusted for our capability to walk the streets with steep grades and numerous steps typical of every shrine and castle throughout Japan. This is an excellent, not to miss walking tour which meanders through a quiet neighborhood, hidden in the shadows of a busy Tokyo city. Do pause to enjoy street food. Do not miss Kayaba Bakery, Oahu Olive and scrumptious Musubi!

I was the only person on the tour, and so it felt much more personal. Tour guide was able to answer my questions (and actually returned to one post-tour). For me, it was an absolutely perfect introduction into religion in Japan. It’s best enjoyed when your itinerary is relaxed.