Ueno and Yanaka Culture Art Walking Tour in Old Tokyo

5.0 (8 reviews) 7 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

8 reviews

5.0

Ueno and Yanaka Culture Art Walking Tour in Old Tokyo — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Ueno and Yanaka Culture Art Walking Tour in Old Tokyo, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

*Please note that this tour does not use a private vehicle. This tour involves several hours of walking in the outdoors.

*Travel to Ueno station using the JR Yamanote Line to be closest to the PARK GATE exit.

The tour will provide guests with a well-balanced itinerary including museums, a park and nature, shrines and temples, and traditional architecture.

You will walk around the popular and expansive Ueno Park to visit its many temples, shrines, and beautiful landscapes. Known as the place to go if you’re a culture vulture due to its many museums and heritage attractions. You will then visit a bustling and lively retro area of Ueno famous for its old-style shopping arcades and restaurants.

You will then visit a perfect example of a Shitamachi or ’lower city’ in Tokyo, Yanaka. A cozy and traditional neighborhood, not many tourists know about, you will step back in time and enjoy an atmosphere that is very different from many parts of Tokyo.

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At a glance

Duration: 7 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)

Ages: Infants (0–5 years) · Children (6–12 years) · Adults (13–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Admission fees for the museums and Toshogu Shrine
Included: Local English speaking guide

Not included

Not included: Food and drink
Not included: Trains and transport before and after the tour

Itinerary

National Museum of Nature and Science

one hour Admission included

You will have an introductory guide to the Museum and its history, as well as being shown some of the main attractions there, including a life sized Blue Whale model, a steam locomotive and the taxidermied body of the beloved and legendary dog Hachiko. The architecture of this Meiji period building is also impressive. The museum is large, so we won’t have time to explore it all, but you can enjoy some free time to explore yourself before we meet back up for our second destination.
Ueno Park

1 h 30 min Admission included

We will then head to Ueno Park to explore the beautiful temples, shrines, and lake to enjoy nature and escape from the busyness of Tokyo. The walk around the park is peaceful and you can enjoy a relaxed and slower pace as your guide tells you all about the history and culture of the area. You will experience a variety of temple and shrine architecture, from a large bronze Buddha face, a walkway of red Torii gates, and even a golden shrine! At the lake, you can enjoy seeing many birds and Koi Carp against the backdrop of high rise buildings.
Ameyoko Shopping Street

1 h 20 min

Our final stop in Ueno will be Ameyoko, a retro area known for its shopping and restaurants. You will have a guided tour on the history and significance of the area, before enjoying your lunch break to explore, eat and go shopping if you wish. After lunch, we will have a 20 minute walk to our next destination of Yanaka.
Yanaka District

1 h 10 min Admission included

For our first Yanaka stop, we will visit a well known museum in Yanaka’s history and art scene. The museum was both the workshop and family house of a famous Japanese Sculptor. You can enjoy viewing the artist’s amazing and unique works on display, but also the architecture of the beautiful traditional Japanese house you will walk around. The museum also has a Japanese style garden built in the centre of it, and a rooftop terrace where you can enjoy views of Yanaka and surrounding Tokyo. You can spot the Tokyo Skytree on the expansive horizon!
Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street

one hour

You will then enjoy a guided walk around the shopping district of Yanaka Ginza, where you can feel the cosy and calm atmosphere. Known as Cat town, look out for the many cat statues and cat themed items on display and for purchase! Sample delicious street food, traditional Japanese standing bars, baked goods and visit unique shops to pick up the perfect souvenir. There is even a vintage Kimono shop where you can buy items for as low as 500¥. You will have free time here to enjoy the area at your own pace.
Yanaka Cemetery

one hour

Finally, we will pay a visit to a beautiful and peaceful Buddhist temple with impressive statues of Buddha. You can enjoy a rest here among the tranquility. We will then walk through Yanaka Cemetery and Sakura Dori. Don’t be alarmed, this cemetery is very popular with the locals to stroll through and enjoy nature. In Spring, Sakura Dori is filled with blooming Cherry Blossoms and makes for a magical sight. Yanaka Cemetery is also known for its many famous people laid to rest, including Sumo Wrestlers, Samurai and aristocrats!

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet your tour guide outside of Ueno Station’s park gate exit. Please follow the signs in Ueno station for the park gate exit and go through the ticket gates and come outside of the station. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag.