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Offered languages
- English
What if one short walk in Asakusa could explain all of Japanese history?
This tour goes far beyond sightseeing. At every landmark, your expert guide explains not only what you’re seeing, but why it matters—using each site as a gateway to Japan’s history, beliefs, and global connections. By the end of the walk, you’ll have a clear, big-picture understanding of how Japan evolved from a closed feudal society into the country you see today.
This tour features:
- History in context: Each site is a stepping stone to understanding Japan as a whole
- Clear, engaging storytelling: Complex history made accessible and memorable
- Perfect for first-time visitors and history lovers alike
- Walk away with a true overview of Japanese history, not just photos
This is more than a sightseeing walk through Asakusa—it’s a guided journey through Japan’s past, beliefs, and global connections, all woven seamlessly into one unforgettable experience.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The meeting place is in front of a Burger King restaurant right next to Exit 4 of Asakusa subway station (G19) on the Ginza line. Please step outside when you reach Exit 4. Please follow the photos and directions that the local operator will send you right after booking.
The tour will end at Asakusa Shrine, right next to Senso-ji temple. The endpoint is just a 3-minute walk from the Asakusa metro station.
Itinerary
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1Sumida River
Begin along the Sumida River, where the story of Japan’s isolation and opening to the world comes alive. Learn why the Edo shogunate sealed the country for over 200 years, why the Netherlands alone was permitted to trade, and how Admiral Perry’s arrival forced Japan to reopen. The guide connects this past to modern Tokyo—right down to Odaiba’s former gun batteries and today’s Statue of Liberty replica facing the Pacific.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
Get a clear introduction to Japan’s two major religions, Buddhism and Shinto, setting the foundation for everything you’ll see ahead.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Kaminarimon Gate
At Asakusa’s iconic gate, explore the fascinating contrast between Japanese and Western dragons—and learn why the Japanese dragon plays exactly an opposite role from the Western one.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Nakamise Shopping Street (Kaminarimon)
Stroll through one of Japan’s oldest shopping streets while learning about Buddhist symbols like the vajra (tokko) and the world-changing impact of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Discover how these prints unexpectedly reached Europe—and inspired Western Impressionist painters.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
Here, your guide reveals a surprising truth: people in Japan and the West shared remarkably similar ways of thinking 1,000 years ago.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Senso-ji Temple
Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple offers another striking comparison between medieval Japan and Europe, along with a clear explanation of how prayer differs in Buddhism and Shinto.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Asakusa Shrine
End the tour at a place that amazes many visitors: a Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple sharing the same grounds, worshippers, and history—peacefully coexisting for over a millennium. Learn why.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
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Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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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.
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