Tokyo Landmarks by Water Bus Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Description
With a government-licensed and experienced multilingual guide, catch a unique perspective of Tokyo, riding aboard a comfortable water bus. Cruise through narrow canals and open sea, venturing from an old historic center all the way to a modern reclaimed island. Some of the best views of Tokyo are from the water. This extended Sumida river cruise goes all the way around old and modern Tokyo from Asakusa to Odaiba district. Tokyo’s landmarks are iconic masterpieces. See the city’s best sights on this relaxing sightseeing cruise. Let us know what you would like to experience, and we will customize a six-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Asakusa (浅草) is the center of Tokyo's shitamachi (literally "low city"), one of Tokyo's districts, where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives. Asakusa's main attraction is Sensoji, a very popular Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. The temple is approached via the Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries.
Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples. The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.
Kappabashi Street (かっぱ橋道具街, Kappabashi Dōgugai) is a shopping street between Ueno and Asakusa, which is lined with several dozens of stores selling everything needed by restaurant operators, with the exception of fresh food. You will find specialized stores for dishes, pots, pans, cooking utensils, stoves, tables, chairs, signs, lanterns and more. There are also a few stores which sell plastic and wax food samples, used by many restaurants in their show windows.
Home of the heavyweights—sumo's main stadium The huge stadium known as Ryogoku Kokugikan dominates the sumo-obsessed neighborhood of Ryogoku , and is the focus of big excitement during the tournament season.
Hama Rikyu (浜離宮, Hama Rikyū), is a large, attractive landscape garden in central Tokyo. Located alongside Tokyo Bay, Hama Rikyu features seawater ponds which change level with the tides, and a teahouse on an island where visitors can rest and enjoy the scenery. The traditionally styled garden stands in stark contrast to the skyscrapers of the adjacent Shiodome district.
Odaiba (お台場) is a popular shopping and entertainment district on a man made island in Tokyo Bay. It originated as a set of small man made fort islands (daiba literally means "fort"), which were built towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868) to protect Tokyo against possible attacks from the sea and specifically in response to the gunboat diplomacy of Commodore Perry. More than a century later, the small islands were joined into larger islands by massive landfills, and Tokyo began a spectacular development project aimed to turn the islands into a futuristic residential and business district during the extravagant 1980s. But development was critically slowed after the burst of the "bubble economy" in the early 1990s, leaving Odaiba nearly vacant.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
This private tour is a walking day tour. A private vehicle is not included. Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with the guide after a reservation is finalized. Please have Japanese Yen on hand for your transportation costs. If you wish to arrange for a private vehicle, please contact us directly. All Private vehicles must be booked 5 days in advance. Maximum number of passengers: 7.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Reviews(8)
I still can’t believe how much we saw in one day. Take is extremely knowledgeable about Tokyo and Japanese history. We went to the cherry blossom festival, Nezu Shrine, Senso-Ji Shrine, East Garden of the Emperial Palace and Ameya Yokotyo. Take took plenty of time to stop and explain things and answer our many questions. We also got lunch and Take showed us how to cook Shabu Shabu. Thank you so much for the amazing experience.
Thanks for your great review! Cherry blossom season is one of best season in Japan. Taka
Thank you Take! We have a great time touring Tokyo thanks to Take. He was very kind and patient with us as we fumbled around the city. We got to see all of the attractions on the list and enjoy several Japanese dishes. I don't think this could have been better unless it wasn't raining. Definitely recommend especially during cherry blossom season.
We spent the day with Mio Izutsu touring the sights and learning about the culture of Tokyo. Mio was lovely and very knowledgeable about all of the locations we visited and was able to answer all of our questions. We loved our tour and the itinerary she planned for us and would recommend this tour to others looking for a laidback and informative tour of some Tokyo highlights.
Thank you very much for joining the tour and for the wonderful review! I’m delighted to hear that you had a great time and a memorable experience. Your kind words and recommendation mean a lot to us. I also enjoyed being with you and guiding you through Tokyo! Best regards, Mio
I had an incredible day with Miho. She made sure I saw the things I was interested in, and share lots of information and history. We had a few surprise encounters with a Sumo wrestler, a Manaray and jellyfish as we walked the bayside. We share a lovely traditional Japanese lunch. I truly enjoyed the day !!!
Thank you for send us such an awesome review! I also really enjoyed every single moment with you ! Especially, We met Sumo wrestlers at RYOGOKU, chatted with them, and saw a few kinds of sea creatures at the Tokyo bay. When we had a lovely lunch, you tried to take chopsticks very much, that impressed me! Hope you come back and continue exploring JAPAN! See you soon！ MIHO
I think we liked the beauty of Hama Rikyu Garden best. Our guide Seizo was very helpful in providing background information for each place we visited. He was very welcoming.
Thank you very much for your very valuable and favorable comments on my guiding. It was a great honor for me to have the opportunity to guide you in Tokyo. I myself enjoyed visiting popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo including Sumida River Cruise and Hama Rikyu Garden with you. I wish you the very best for the future. Best Regards Seizo Kamiuto
Our guide, Shuji, was the best. He paid attention to our 10 year old twin grandsons, made sure they were having a good time, even taught them how to pray at the shrine & temple. Fabulous day!!
Hi! Thank you very much for your high evaluation of my guide. I am glad to know that your party have had a good time during the tour. I clearly remember I also spent a wonderful time visiting Nezu Shinto Shrine, Asakusa Semsoji Buddhism Temple and Hama-Rikyu Garden with your family, especially with your lovely twin boys. Please give my best regards to your family. Thank you！ Shuji
The best part was the fact the tour was not a cookie cutter tour but our guide tailored it to our wishes. We focused on going only to places we requested. The complexity of the Tokyo Transport System cannot be exaggerated; we could not have navigated it without the guide’s help. Our guide, Seiji was helpful, mindful of our wishes and knowledgeable of the city. A delight to know.
Thank you for giving me a such a high evaluation. I hope you back to Keio Plaza hotel safely. Please find a time to visit Japan again. I will arrange to show you more Hokusai’s and Lions.
I was picked up from the hotel by my wonderful guide Nobuko (Cindy). From there we went to the Sky Tree tower for some amazing 360° views around Tokyo. Even Mt. Fuji was visible that day. Then we visited Asakusa shrine and the multitude of stores around the area. Later we've had some refreshments and we went down the Sumida river on the Hotaluna and 45 min later we landed in Hinode where we got on the monorail to Shimbashi station. The tour ended up in Giza with a wonderful tasting of a fresh grape mochi. Nobuko was very accommodating, knowledgeable and it was a pleasure to walk with her the whole day.
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I had great time, too. I hope your wife and your children enjoyed the souvenirs you had picked up in Asakusa. Please come back to Japan with your family next time. Nobuko (Cindy) ♪( ´▽｀)