Share this tour
Offered languages
- English
[11/15 - 12/5 Only Seasonal Tour]
Experience Tokyo's autumn colors with a private guide and Ginta, our friendly Shiba Inu, while discovering a quieter side of the city.
While Kyoto's famous autumn spots can become crowded during peak season, enjoy Japan's beautiful fall foliage at a more relaxed pace in the heart of Tokyo.
Escape the busy sightseeing districts and explore three beautiful autumn spots near the Imperial Palace. Begin at Kitanomaru Park, a peaceful former area of Edo Castle, where maples, ginkgo, and zelkova trees paint a colorful autumn landscape.
Continue to Yasukuni Shrine, where golden ginkgo trees tower over you. Then slow down at Shinchi Teien, a traditional Japanese garden where autumn leaves are reflected across the pond.
Along the way, spend time with Ginta, take memorable photos, and even hold the leash as you stroll through the colorful scenery. Your local guide will introduce Japanese shrine etiquette and share cultural insights throughout the walk.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet your guide at the entrance to Kitanomaru Park at the location shown on the map. Your guide will be waiting with a Shiba Inu and holding a fan featuring the Shiba Inu logo.
Itinerary
-
1Tayasu Gate
Begin at Tayasumon Gate, built in 1636 and designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. As the oldest surviving structure of the former Edo Castle, it forms a striking entrance to Kitanomaru Park in the Imperial Palace Outer Garden. Take a close look at this nearly 400-year-old gate while your guide briefly connects its Edo-period past with today's Imperial Palace area.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Nippon Budokan (Pass by)
Pause outside Nippon Budokan and look for the onion-shaped ornament on its distinctive roof, affectionately known in Japan as the “Big Onion.” Built for the judo competition at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the Budokan remains a center for Japanese martial arts. It also became a legendary music venue after The Beatles staged the venue's first rock concert here in 1966. Today, performing at the Budokan is a dream and major milestone for many Japanese artists.
Admission ticket free -
2Kitanomaru Park
Shiba Inu Autumn Walk in Kitanomaru Park. Explore the former northern enclosure of Edo Castle, now a forested park in the Imperial Palace Outer Garden, with a friendly Shiba Inu. Around 300 maple trees and 100 ginkgo trees create layers of red, orange, yellow, and green. Pet and cuddle the Shiba Inu, take memorable photos together, and hold the leash as you walk through Tokyo's fall foliage.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Yasuni Shrine - the First Torii
First Torii Gate and Golden Ginkgo Avenue. Look up at Yasukuni Shrine's monumental 25-meter-high torii gate and experience its powerful scale. Your guide will show you the respectful way to pass through a torii before you step into the sacred grounds. Just beyond the gate, tall ginkgo trees line both sides of the broad, straight approach, creating a dramatic golden avenue in autumn. The Omura Masujiro Statue rises ahead at the far end of the view.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
Continue along the golden ginkgo avenue to the Omura Masujiro Statue, a commanding landmark at the center of the shrine approach. Pause beneath the towering figure while your guide briefly introduces who he was and why his statue stands in this prominent position, leaving the fuller story for the live tour.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
Purification, Shinmon Gate, and the Noh Stage. Before entering the inner grounds, your guide will show you how to cleanse your hands and mouth at the massive granite purification pavilion. Pass through Shinmon Gate, known for its large chrysanthemum crests, and discover historic structures including the Noh stage. Your guide will explain each step so you can experience the approach to a Japanese shrine respectfully and with confidence. Visit the Main Worship Hall with your guide and take part in a respectful shrine visit. Learn the basic etiquette and Shinto customs, then offer your own prayer. If you wish, you can also browse protective charms or try an omikuji fortune, giving you a personal and approachable introduction to Japanese culture.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Shinchi Teien
Unwind in Shinchi Teien, a peaceful strolling garden created in the early Meiji era. Follow the stepping-stone path past a pond, waterfall stonework, teahouses, and autumn colors reflected on the water. Colorful Nishikigoi carp from Niigata glide through the pond, and when feed is available, you may be able to feed them. It is a quiet, intimate finale after the grand torii, golden ginkgo avenue, and shrine visit.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
Browse Japanese souvenirs at SAKURA after your shrine visit. Your guide may also point out other souvenir shops around Yasukuni Shrine, including the Yushukan shop.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Popular Countries
Get our app
