
Explore a different side of Tokyo with your local host! Discover my favorite hidden gems in Central Tokyo
Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.
I’ve carefully curated this experience based on the places I absolutely adore in Tokyo! You can expect to step off the beaten path and discover places other travelers like you don’t even know about and discover the real heart of Tokyo as a local would..
Be prepared to join the elite explorer club as you explore one of Tokyo’s most hidden but beautiful shrines, the Hanabusa Inari Shrine, trust me when I say that it is a real hidden gem that you need to see! Surrounded by high-rise skyscrapers and nestled in a tiny side alley, this shrine was left intact as a reminder of Tokyo’s fast post war growth. When I first visited it, it was so hidden in fact, that it took me three tries to find it. Your host will make sure you get there first time though so you maximize the rest of your experience time.
Experience the future as you explore the neighborhood of Akihabara Electric Town which is famous for its anime and manga scene but what amazes me the most is the wide variety of related shops! Life sized figures, impressive art and larger than life characters means this is a stop with great stories and even better photo opportunities.
Discover one of my favorite hidden gems in Tokyo, (I know I say that a lot, I have a lot of favorites) the Yushima Seido, a Chinese Confucian temple tucked away in the busy backstreets of Akihabara. Despite being so beautiful and centrally located, this temple sees very few visitors. Each time I come here, I expect it to become more popular with tourists and to see it full of people, but each time it is quiet but it is still a nice hidden gem when it's busy in Tokyo. A special secret I am sharing with you!
Remember that Anime Movie called “Weathering With You”? Visit the amazing Hijiribashi Bridge at Ochanomizu Station. A beautiful location immortalized thanks to the movie and really popular for photographers. From the unique viewpoint, you can see up to 6 different trains run through the Tokyo scenery, try to catch them all in one photo for ultimate bragging rights! Although you could probably just spend hours watching the scenery over Tokyo (trust me I did that before). As a challenge, make sure to get a photo with at least 4 trains in the same frame; I am sure you can do it!
Find serenity in an unexpected place, the Jimbocho Book Town, one of the oldest book towns in the world! This area of Tokyo managed to withstand fires and wars while maintaining its old school charm. A must see store is Kitzawa Shoten, its atmosphere and selection of English books it’s amazing. What I love about this bookstore is this cute and cozy cafe there! It is so peaceful to enjoy a cup of coffee while reading one of my favorite books. Expect to see people reading right on the sidewalks, they take reading pretty seriously here! Your host will share with you all the special magic this area holds.
Wander through the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, the former site of Edo Castle and the only publicly accessible part of the Imperial Palace. These gardens are especially beautiful during the Sakura Season. This is probably one of the few places in the city where you can see wide open spaces. If you’re lucky you may even spot some turtles, koi fish and of course you can expect to see some beautiful birds, probably my favorite thing about the East Gardens. There are many great photo opportunities here, make sure to share your favorites with me.
Just a short walk away you will find one of the most iconic buildings in Tokyo, the Tokyo Station. This famous red brick station stands out from the rest of the city with its unique architecture and appearance. Definitely one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. While Tokyo Station doesnt look big from the outside, it’s nothing compared to what is underneath it: the incredible maze of train stations is so massive, it once took me almost an hour to find the right exit! You’ll have more luck with your host though.
While it's unfortunate that you’ve reached the end of your journey, you have to experience the Kitte Mall as our final stop. This is a former post office turned into an upscale mall which makes it completely unique to other malls in Tokyo. Check out the big open-air rooftop garden with amazing views out on Tokyo Station, including train watching. I could honestly spend days just watching the trains go by from this spot.
I really hope you enjoy this experience I have created, highlighting some hidden gems that only a local would know. With your talented local host by your side, you’re almost guaranteed a wonderful experience.
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After a disastrous first tour with city unscripted I was very anxious about what today would be like. Ayaka was punctual, knowledgeable and efficient. We loved seeing Tokyo with her. We realised just how bad our previous experience was by having a good guide today. Cecily
Show moreTaking us through street food markets and shops and rooftops with stunning views
Show moreKieran went above and beyond to show us some interesting spots in Tokyo that were a little bit off the beaten track
Show moreMarek was our guide and he was great! Gave a very good insight into the history and culture which was at the right level for us. He was engaging and took us to places we wouldn’t have thought to go.
Show moreWhat a fabulous day touring Tokyo with our guide, Megumi. A native of Tokyo, she took us all over town, hopping from place to place on the ubiquitous Tokyo Metro. (We are experienced international travelers, but without a guide we could not possibly have seen as much, or learned as much about Tokyo and Japanese culture.) She met us at our hotel, and we rode the metro to the Tokyo Outer Market/ Fish market - from there to a lively shopping area. Now it was lunch time - Meggy took us to an area with many small restaurants and we enjoyed interesting Japanese fare made in front of us on a teppan. Along the way we also visited a number of temples and gardens, and learned about the proper way to approach a temple, to pray, and leave a request for good fortune. Along our walks and over lunch we spent a lot of time learning about life in Tokyo and for Japanese youth. Megumi was so knowledgeable and personable. We had a fantastic day. Highly recommended!!
Show moreWe did a day trip to Hakone and Fuji with our guide Mari. What a wonderful experience! We met Mari at the Shinjuku station just west of our hotel, and hopped on the 2 hour train to Fuji. Visitors to Fuji don't always see the peak but we knew we had a good chance as it was a bright sunshine filled day. Mari seated us on the right of the train and on the ride up, Fuji burst into view in all its glory. We then transferred to a special railcar that climbs the mountain switchbacks to Hakone. We were there mid April and cherry blossoms in Tokyo were starting to fade, but at the higher altitude and cooler temps of Hakone they were in full bloom! We took a break and Mari walked us around some cherry blossom stands near the Hakone station, then next, a short ride up the steep hill on a funicular. At the top we disembark to transfer to cable car gondola for the final ascent to Fuji - Mari knew just where to stand and sit for the best views - and mid way along the Ropeway, Fuji appeared from behind a ridgeline - huge and snow covered. The ropeway ends at a large viewing station - we spent awhile walking around, admiring the unobstructed views of Fuji and taking plenty of pics. Despite the warm temps of Tokyo, and the sun, at Hakone it was cool and very windy - so if you are going be prepared and bring down jackets or raincoats against the wind. The winds built up to point that the Ropeway was shut down, resulting in a huge line for busses - but with Mari's help, we called a cab and got back home at a reasonable time. A great day with lots of memories.
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