Yanaka Historical Walking Tour
From¥12,300
2 hours
Tokyo, Japan
About this activity
Discover Tokyo's rich history on a guided 2-hour walking tour through Yanaka, featuring ancient cemeteries, local markets, and traditional architecture.
Highlights
- Explore Yanaka's historic streets
- Visit Yanaka Cemetery's ancient tombs
- Stroll through Yanaka Ginza's local shops
- Learn about Tokyo's Edo-period history
- Experience traditional Japanese architecture
Full description
Step back in time and immerse yourself in Tokyo's Edo-period charm with our Yanaka Historical Walking Tour. Over two engaging hours, you'll wander through the serene streets of Yanaka, one of Tokyo's few districts that survived the bombings of World War II. Visit the tranquil Yanaka Cemetery, home to ancient tombs and the resting places of notable figures. Explore the bustling Yanaka Ginza shopping street, where you can sample local delicacies and shop for unique souvenirs. Along the way, our knowledgeable guide will share captivating stories and historical insights, bringing the past to life. This tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and local flavor, making it an unforgettable experience for history buffs and casual travelers alike.
Included / Excluded
- Guided walking tour of Yanaka district
- Visit to Yanaka Cemetery and Yanaka Ginza shopping street
- Insights into Tokyo's Edo-period history
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
1
You'll see the continuous Torii gates, which reminds you of the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Feel the Shinto vibe as you cross a vibrant red arch in Nezu Shrine, a portal into another world After meeting at Nezu station, we'll head for Nezu shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Tokyo. You may recognize it, as it's a place famous for its tunnel of vermilion torii gates, also seen at Kyoto's Fushimi Inari shrine. While your guide shares cultural and historical tidbits about Japan, we'll take great photos in and around the tunnel. You can learn how one can pray at shrines and how to behave at them.
Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
2
See around Yanaka area and have a traditional Japanese lunch. We'll stroll through a residential area where you can get a sense of real, local lifestyles. Sample a variety of local foods as you stroll around Yanaka Ginza and find yourself in a cozy house that serves Soba lunch, a food engrained in Japanese culture
Duration: 1 hourAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
3
Pass by: Pass by Nezu Museum
Admission: NOT_APPLICABLE
4
Experience painting Japanese cat doll while having dessert and drink in a good Japanese old house cafe. Craft a lucky cat for your travel memory in a cafe of an old folk house After a nice long walk, we will rest in a cafe with a drink and sweets. This is the first cafe in Japan that provides workshops to craft lucky cat statues that bring luck and happiness. Paint a cat statue with your favorite color and patterns, and make your cat keep your memories from Japan for good.
Duration: 1 hourAdmission: YES
5
A shopping street which has a nostalgic atmosphere. We will sample some street foods. We'll stroll through a residential area where you can get a sense of real, local lifestyles. You can pop into small places such as antique stores and sweets shops that line the streets.
Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in English; proficiency in the language is recommended.
- The tour operates rain or shine; please check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
- The meeting point is at the Yanaka Station; please arrive 10 minutes early to ensure a timely departure.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
- Bring a camera to capture the scenic beauty and historic sites.
- Be prepared for a leisurely walk; the tour covers approximately 2 kilometers.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- The itinerary for this tour includes some locations that are not accessible by a wheelchair or stroller.
- While you’ll enjoy some tasty food samples on this tour, a full lunch or dinner isn’t included. We suggest having a meal beforehand to make the most of your experience.
- Out of respect for other guests and to ensure the best tour for everyone, we must start the tour on time.
- You will not be able to join the tour, get a refund or reschedule if you are late for the tour and miss the group.
- Dietary requests made on the day of the tour cannot be accommodated. Please inform us at least one day before the tour if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.
Traveler reviews
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Good tour but try to get a tour guide with good English!
The tour was okay, compared to other ones we took in Kyoto and Osaka. The tour guide was very friendly and he gave us a good overview of Japanese culture, customs and society in general. Unfortunately we had a problem with communication as his English was not very good. But overall it was okay.
bluesky0697May 18, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Get a unique view of Tokyo
This is a special and unusual tour because you get to explore a historic part of Edo (old Tokyo). You get to see how people live outside the neon world of the Ginza and Shinjuku. Mark is a gracious and knowledgeable guide. We got to visit the Azalea Festival and the Nezu Temple shrine, which were wonderful. We also got to snack on local treats, Takoyaki and grilled mochi balls, which we thoroughly enjoyed as adventurous eaters. Neither were new for us. We also went to a cafe where we got to paint our own personal "Lucky Cats". So much fun. We also explored interesting local shops and engaged in "retail therapy". We opted to make this a private tour and have Mark meet us at our hotel and then we took a taxi to Yanaka and then a taxi back.
Monica BApr 18, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Highly recommend this tour
Molly was amazing! Very personable and knowledgeable. Nezu Shrine was a highlight! Highly recommend.
rachelrC8134QWApr 8, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Tokyo walk
Guide very interestinh, knowledgeable and helpful. A wonderful experience.
brynm650Mar 29, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Yanaka nezu shrine tour
Good experience with plenty of stops to savor the flavors and sights in yanaka
kamala1975Mar 29, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Additional information
The itinerary for this tour includes some locations that are not accessible by a wheelchair or stroller.
While you’ll enjoy some tasty food samples on this tour, a full lunch or dinner isn’t included. We suggest having a meal beforehand to make the most of your experience.
Out of respect for other guests and to ensure the best tour for everyone, we must start the tour on time.
You will not be able to join the tour, get a refund or reschedule if you are late for the tour and miss the group.
Dietary requests made on the day of the tour cannot be accommodated. Please inform us at least one day before the tour if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.