Full Tokyo: Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace, Asakusa & Skytree
Description
The tour begins in Shibuya, from where you will visit the famous Shibuya Crossing, one of Tokyo’s most iconic landmarks. The tour then continues to Meiji Shrine, a peaceful sanctuary surrounded by forest and dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Next, you will take the train to the Imperial Palace, the main residence of the Japanese imperial family, where there will be time to admire the surroundings and take photos. After that, you will explore Akihabara, known as the center of anime and manga culture. The next stop is Asakusa, home to the historic Senso-ji Temple and a lively shopping street filled with traditional snacks and souvenirs. Guests who select the lunch option will enjoy a local meal, while others will have free time to explore and eat at their leisure. The tour ends in Asakusa for those who choose the Basic option. If you select the Skytree ticket option (with or without lunch), the tour continues to Tokyo Skytree, where you can go up and enjoy panoramic views of the city.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We’ll start the tour by meeting the guide at the Hachiko statue. Then we will discover the Shibuya crossing before going to Meiji Shrine—approximately a 40-minute ride. Enjoy an introduction to the vibrant energy of the city before arriving at the peaceful surroundings of our first stop, Meiji Shrine.
Step into the peaceful forest surrounding Meiji Shrine, a serene Shinto sanctuary offering a moment of reflection and a deep dive into traditional Japanese spirituality.
We’ll then head to the Imperial Palace. Here, we’ll have a 30-minute stop to admire and photograph the majestic exterior of the Emperor’s official residence. While we won’t enter the palace itself, you’ll be able to enjoy views of its impressive gates, traditional architecture, and the surrounding moats and gardens. From there, we’ll continue to the nearby Hamarikyu Gardens, a tranquil oasis by Tokyo Bay. We’ll spend about 40 minutes here enjoying a peaceful walk among traditional Japanese landscapes, teahouses, and seasonal flowers—all set against a backdrop of the city skyline.
See the lively streets of Akihabara, Tokyo’s hub for electronics, anime, and pop culture, known for its dazzling lights and vibrant energy.
Visit the historic district of Asakusa and explore Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. Enjoy free time for sightseeing, shopping, or a traditional lunch (if selected). If you have selected the Basic option, the tour ends in Asakusa. If, on the other hand, you have selected the option with tickets or with tickets and lunch, the tour continues to the Skytree Tower.
The tour concludes at the iconic Tokyo Skytree, one of the tallest structures in the world. Guests who select the ticket-included option will have the opportunity to ascend to the observation deck and enjoy panoramic views of the city with their guide.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please note that the tour ends at the Tokyo Sky Tree.
Reviews(118)
Melody and Fran were fantastic guides! Very knowledgeable, kept us comfortable in scorching heat and provided such an incredible experience. It was our first time in Japan and could not recommend this tour more! Thank you!
Lili, our guide, made the tour a wonderful experience. She taught us a ton of things about Tokyo, its history and its culture, and she was very approachable and friendly. Everything was phenomenal. Thank you very much Lili for everything!
Very good guide, very kind Lili
This is a great intro to Tokyo, with multiple stops to places of interest throughout! Our tour guide, George, did an amazing job of translating everything in multiple languages - even though I was the only person completely reliant on English! The tour was fun, informative, and covered a lot of bases. A perfect choice for my first day in Tokyo!
Great tour with Lily! She is polite, professional, and very attentive.
Excellent tour and the guide Lily was very attentive 😍
Lily was very good, friendly and easy to get along with!
There’s lots of walking involved but great for seeing a lot. George was great and very informative about Japanese culture and history of the shrine and the palace. Also showing us where to get good souvenirs. It was great to have time to explore Akihabara and know where to come back to.
Excellent service. The guide Lily was very attentive, knowledgeable, and patient. Recommended.
You see a lot in a relatively short amount of time, which was fantastic. And our tour guide was quite knowledgeable and gave us a lot of useful history that made what we saw come alive. However, be prepared to walk a lot if they switch the mode of transportation from a bus to the local rail system as they did with our tour group at the last minute.
