Book your own private Tokyo tour with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide to explore the after-work world of Tokyo.
Shinjuku Golden Gai © Antonio Tajuelo | CC BY 2.0
This private Tokyo tour is perfect for those who want to experience the “after work” side of Tokyo. It includes both traditional and modern entertainment areas.
The Tour Itinerary
You’ll start on the east side of Shinjuku Station where you’ll experience the neon madness that makes Tokyo famous. After wading through the sensory overload of Kabukicho, Shinjuku’s raciest entertainment district, you’ll find yourself in Golden Gai, a warren of tightly packed little bars that is something of a world unto its own. If you feel like it, you can duck into one of these joints for a quick drink.
Next, you’ll jump on the train for 20 minutes and find yourself in a completely different nightlife zone: Kagurazaka, an atmospheric collection of traditional restaurants and bars located along pedestrian-only lanes on Kagurazaka Hill.
For the last 20 minutes or so of your tour, you have the choice of stopping at a real local izakaya where your guide can help you order drinks and dishes typical of a Tokyo izakaya. Or, your guide can accompany you onward to wherever you’d like to end your tour.
Your Own Private Tour Guide
Don't forget this is a private walking tour, just for you and your friends and family. There will be no-one else on the tour with you, so you have the guide to yourself. We have some of Tokyo's best English-speaking guides, helping you maximise your time and enjoyment of the city and also get a deeper understanding of the history and significance of each place you visit. The tour price is for the whole group, not per person!
- Time: Two hours
- Cost: ¥35,000 for 1 to 6 people per private group. The cost is NOT per person
- Highlights: Kagurazaka, Shinjuku and Kagurazaka
- Ideal starting time: 5:30pm (walk concludes at 7:30pm); this tour is only conducted on weekday evenings.
Kagurazaka by night © cloneofsnake
How To Book A Tokyo Private Walking Tour
Please send us an inquiry using the form below. We will then quickly respond to you by email confirming availability and any other requirements you may have. You can pay either in advance online using your credit card, or you can pay at the conclusion of the tour in cash. Japanese Yen, US Dollars or Euros are acceptable for cash payments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why Hire A Private Guide?
You don’t need a guide to enjoy Tokyo, but having a guide will add a lot of depth to your understanding of the city. A guide will also free you from having to think about the logistics of getting around and making the most efficient use of your time. A guide can also help you enjoy local restaurants without any communication difficulties. Hiring a guide for a tour on your first day will give you the confidence to explore on following days on your own and a guide can give you some advice about what to see later in your trip.
Who Runs These Tours?
My company Chris Rowthorn Tours provides these tours. We have been running licensed tours in Tokyo for 10 years. I have spent years finding and training the best guides in all of Tokyo. Licensed, professional bilingual guides who love Tokyo as much as I do. But, don’t take my word for it, have a look at reviews of Chris Rowthorn Tours on TripAdvisor.
Is The Price Per Person?
No! This is the PER GROUP price, i.e., it’s the price for a private group of 1 to 6 people. If there is one person booking the tour, the price is ¥60,000 total. If there are six of you, the price is still ¥60,000 (making it much cheaper per person). The tour group is private. That means there is only you and your family or you and your friends on the tour and no one else. Please note that we do NOT put different individuals or groups together, even upon request.
Do I Get A Discount If We Are Less Than 6 People?
The price is for a private group for 1 to 6 people. There are no discounts if there are less than the maximum number of people.
How Do I Pay For My Private Tokyo Walking Tour?
Payment is in cash at the conclusion of the tour or by credit card in advance of the tour (we can set up credit card billing). If you choose to pay in cash, please note that we accept yen cash or the equivalent amount in US/Euro cash.
Can I Cancel A Tour After Booking It?
You can cancel a tour with no penalty up to 48 hours before the scheduled start of the tour. If you cancel between 24 and 48 hours of the scheduled start, we charge you 50% of the price of the tour. Cancellations made fewer than 24 hours from the scheduled start of the tour incur a full 100% charge.
What’s Not Included In The Tour Price?
The tour fee covers the price of the guide. Transport to and from the tour and during the tours, drinks and snacks along the way, and temple/garden/entrance fees are not included in this price (these costs are usually minimal). Please note that for full-day tours and six-hour tours, the guide will join you for lunch and we ask that you cover the cost of the guide’s lunch and their transport during the tour (usually a minimal expense).
How Do We Meet With Our Guide?
Your guide can meet you in the lobby of your hotel, ryokan, guesthouse or at any other convenient spot. They can also drop you off there if you wish at the conclusion of the tour.
Will My Guide Speak Fluent English?
My guides all speak high-level international-standard English and most have studied abroad. They have all passed the Japan National Guiding License, which includes a very strict English language section.
Do We Stop To Eat?
On two- or four-hour tours, you most likely will not stop for a proper sit-down meal (although, since it’s a fully private tour, if you chose to do so, you could). On six- and eight-hour tours, you will most likely stop for lunch en route. You might also stop for a drink at a teahouse or coffee shop en route. Please remember that these are fully private tours – the choice is up to you!
Where Can I Rest Along The Way?
Please do not feel that you have to walk at a certain pace for the entire tour. Or, for that matter, that you have to walk the complete distance or even finish the tour. Because these are fully private tours, you can rest as often as you wish: on park benches, in teahouses, at temple gardens, in restaurants and so on. And, if you tire of walking, you can always jump in a taxi.
Is It Easy To Find A Restroom?
Restrooms are very easy to find in Japan. Almost all attractions like temples have them, as do parks and shopping malls.
How Do We Get Home At The End Of Our Tour?
It is your choice: Your guide can escort you back to your lodgings or can simply explain the best way to get there on your own. Or, if the day is not yet over, your guide can point you in the direction of additional sightseeing. Please keep in mind that if you choose to have your guide accompany you to your lodgings, this will be on the clock, so that you will have to leave some of the sights a little early to make it back before the end of the tour.
Tokyo Walking Tours
- Tokyo Tour Overview
- Tokyo Tour 1: Traditional and Modern Tokyo
- Tokyo Tour 2: Modern Tokyo
- Tokyo Tour 3: Traditional and Modern Tokyo Evening Tour
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
