Concise Japanese history tour. Recommended especially for those who like to overview Japan’s history and art at the start and the end of your trip. Focusing on the early modern era in Ueno Park, we survey the entire history at Japanese Gallery in Tokyo National Museum. It’s not in a lecture style, but in relaxed, interactive way. Why don’t you share its real treasures with me, an Ueno local?
At Parkside Exit (Koen-guchi) of JR Ueno station *I will be waiting just across the street from the exit with a signboard or something you can recognize me
At Tokyo National Museum
1.Fun Walk at Ueno Park: Ueno Park is a spacious public park enjoyable to walk around and many excellent museums and Japan’s oldest zoo are located here. Not only that! The whole area was once the grounds of Kaneiji temple, the city’s largest, wealthiest temple in 17th to 19th century. Many historical events happened here. Let’s spot such remains* while walking in beautiful nature with seasonal flowers blooming.
(* statue of Saigo Takamori, Shinobazu Pond, Kiyomizu Kannon hall, Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Great Buddha of Ueno, etc.)
2. Tokyo National Museum (Japanese Gallery): We are to appreciate the museum’s Highlights of Japanese Art exhibition. While exploring the exhibition rooms with Japan’s authentic treasures, you can travel from over 10,000 years ago to the late 19th century. Sharing my personal views and answering your questions, I would like to deepen your understanding and make your travel experience unforgettable!
※ In the large museum complex, there are 5 more buildings and a nice gift shop. If you are interested in other exhibitions or have request to extend the tour, I would be glad to be your company.
- guide fee
- transportation fee (you and guide),
- admission fee of Tokyo National Museum (1,000 yen / adult , if you are under aged 18 or 70 or over, showing your ID will make your admission free)
□ admission fee of Ueno Toshogu Shrine if you want to take a close look at it. ( 500 yen / person) * You can have its general view from outside
□ lunch if needed
Not available on Mondays or the Tuesdays just after National holidays as Tokyo National Museum is closed
■ Please wear comfortable shoes and outfits for walking.
■ I could extend the tour and guide you to Yanaka * if requested.
＊Yanaka is a nostalgic residential temple town with old houses and lifestyle remaining, just adjacent to Ueno.
■ Maximum number of participants is 6 (taking the convenience of other visitors to the museum considered.)
We had an amazing time with Tomoko touring and hiking through Kamakura. It was a very hot day but Tomoko helped us take a route with an abundance of shade and places to rest along the way. This is the town where she grew up so our time was filled with stories and insights from her first hand experiences. Our favorite part of the trip was finishing the hike and seeing the great Buddha statue, it was even more enjoyable after a hot hike than it would have been just taking the train or cab. Tomoko is by far the best guide for this excursion from the bigger metro area of Tokyo to a local charming seaside town. Thank you Tomoko
Thanks for sending me a separate review of the Kamakura hike. I had mentioned the hike in my previous reply! At first, I wondered if it would be safe to hike on such a hot day, but then I realized that Kamakura is a town full of greenery and shady places with rich history. Rather than visiting places full of people and scorching sun, your choice was the right one. About the same year as Bailey, my classmates and I planned to visit all the temples and shrines in Kamakura, and we walked around for a week with bentos (packed lunches). I realized that Kamakura is a walkable town and that it is fun to walk around. Other than that, over the years, Kamakura has been a place where I have walked with my family daily as my hometown, and I also have memories of my friends at Daibutsu, the small Zen temple where my mom stays asleep, and etc. As a small town, it has an overtourism problem, but I am grateful for your respectful visit to the citizens' lives. Thank you again, Josh, Bailey, and Tia.
Our trip to Tokyo was made so much easier with Tomoko. She wasn’t just a guide she quickly turned into a friend. Her communication was excellent, her itinerary was spot on, she helped teach us about the local history and culture, and she let us go at our own pace. My family had never been to a big city like Tokyo, so having Tomoko help us with the trains and give us advice was invaluable. She is friendly and funny and if I ever get a chance to go back to Tokyo I will reach out to her again to have new adventures. Our favorite part of the this tour was enjoying lunch together at a local katsu restaurant. Thank You Tomoko!
Josh, thanks for the positive review. It was a hot season, but I enjoyed the two days I spent with you, your daughter and sister. I was really impressed with how much of this trip was researched and planned by Bailey. It is amazing! Also, watching your interactions with Tia, I thought about my own brother and had a very happy feeling. I remember the serenity of Engakuji Temple in Kamakura, the cool breeze when we took a break on the hiking course while sweating, and the delicious ice cream we had after descending to the Great Buddha. I look forward to your next visit to Japan and also my visit to the beautiful places in Nevada. Thank you again:) Tomoko
Beautiful Tomoko took my husband and I and our three young boys around Tokyo for the day. Not only was her knowledge vast, but she quickly became part of the family and the boys adored her. Thank you Tomoko for a memorable and wonderful day! We will miss you and hopefully get to see you one day soon.
Thank you for your warm-hearted review, Emma. As I had heard that you have three boys around 10 years old, I thought I surely had to give more energy than usual. But unlike what I expected, I felt much more relaxed and enjoyed the time with them and you parents. They are so adorable, each with their own personality and caring for each other. I am grateful that I was able to spend time with you in Tokyo. Cheers to your family as pleasant as the sunshine and breezes of Sydney! Would be wonderful if I could see you all soon, James, William, Alexander, Emma, and Lachlan!
Tomoko is perfection as a guide. She is very knowledgeable, professional, flexible, prepared, and most of all a kind and fun companion. Our family of 4 (2 kids aged 12 & 10) wanted to have one day-trip out of Tokyo and chose to have Tomoko accompany us to Hakone, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I made in planning our trip. I know that many people undertake this trip on their own, but I am certain that without Tomoko, we would not have had the ease, efficiency, and pleasant experience we did. Tomoko really went out of her way to make sure that we had a great day. She had contingency plans for bad weather, she purchased our train tickets and kept track of them all day, translated for us all day, and even accompanied us around the gift shop in case we had a question about what something was :) I could not recommend her more highly and would not hesitate to hire her again for any adventures we have in Japan!
Thank you for the lovely review, Heather! It was raining and Hakone was crowded on one of the three-day weekends, so there were some difficulties, but I was relieved to hear that you enjoyed the trip. We enjoyed learning together about the unique scenery at Owakudani, the formation of Hakone, and the process of making black eggs. Black ice cream that I enjoyed with Zoe and Hannah was also fun! Although Hakone is a tricky place because wind and rain can sometimes cause the area transportation to stop running, we were glad to be able to return home comfortably on the Shinkansen at the end of the tour. Thank you again, Heather, Jim, Zoe, and Hannah sharing great time and lots of fun with me!