1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Kagurazaka : Tokyo Hot Spots and Hidden Gems

This tour will give you the opportunity to experience both traditional culture and pop culture in Tokyo, combining the bustling area of Shinjuku with the lesser known but trendy and historic area of Kagurazaka.

The tour will provide guests with a well balanced itinerary including a museum, a garden and park, shrines and temples, and modern architecture. 

To begin, enjoy travelling back in time to learn all about Shinjuku’s development from early Japan to present day at a local museum, setting the scene for the rest of your time in Shinjuku! The museum has life sized replicas of a traditional Japanese shop, house and train carriage where you can immerse yourself in old Tokyo and take great photos! Next, we will walk to one of Shinjuku’s beautiful local shrines hidden away from the fast paced centre of the city. This off the beaten path gem is a must see and is hard to spot unless you know where to look! Our final stop in Shinjuku will be at the very centre of this entertainment district where you will enjoy a guided tour and your lunch break to explore and eat at your leisure. Enjoy the skyscrapers, bright signs and high energy…and look out for Godzilla! 

We will then take a short train journey to nearby Kagurazaka, one of Tokyo’s traditional yet trendy neighbourhoods with nods to the past steeped in history and culture. You will head to a beautiful Japanese garden and tea house to enjoy a traditional tea and Japanese sweet experience before having a guided tour of the area and some free time to shop and explore. Our tour will then conclude in Kagurazaka where your guide will happily assist you with any transport questions should you have any.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn all about Shinjuku’s history at a local museum with life size replicas of a traditional Japanese shop, house and train carriage!
• Enjoy nature by exploring one of Tokyo’s beautiful parks and gardens!
• Experience a traditional Japanese tea house and enjoy drinking matcha (green tea) and eating Japanese sweets (wagashi) 
• The opportunity to explore an historic hidden gem and trendy neighbourhood in Tokyo! 

DESCRIPTION

The tour will begin at 9.30am inside Yotsuya-Sanchome train station where you will meet your tour guide. You will meet directly outside of the ticket gates at the yellow information board directly in front of you to the left side. Once everybody has arrived, you will officially start the tour and your tour guide will escort you to the first destination! Enjoy a guided tour at a local history museum dedicated to Shinjuku’s past and development over time. We will journey from early Japan all the way to modern times to understand how Shinjuku has become one of the busiest and most exciting entertainment districts on earth. Remember to take photos with the impressive to scale replicas at the museum! 

We will then walk to and make a quick stop at a local shrine tucked away from the craziness of the city. This beautiful shrine will make you feel like you’ve stepped out of Tokyo where you can enjoy the peace and stunning shrine architecture. 

It is now your lunch time! Here, we will walk to Golden Gai and Kabukicho, Shinjuku’s lively entertainment centre. Golden Gai is a small area lined with small traditional Izakaya and bars, and makes for a great photo opportunity. You will have a guided tour with an introduction to the history of the area and how it became the entertainment district of Tokyo and Izakaya culture. You will then enjoy exploring and trying some local food at your leisure on your lunch break! Remember to look up and wave to Godzilla! 

We will now take a short train journey to Iidabashi station in Kagurazaka. Nicknamed as Tokyo’s Little Paris due to the many French style eateries and cobbled streets. It is a fashionable and trendy area with many shopping and dining options. We will make our first stop at a nearby traditional Japanese garden and tea house where you will enjoy a guided tour and a matcha and wagashi experience. 

Next, you will have a guided tour walking the streets and historic alleys of Kagurazaka. Kagurazaka is one of the Hanamachi neighbourhoods in Tokyo meaning it was once a lively Geisha district during the 20th Century, and several of the original Geisha house structures remain today in the beautiful narrow alleys. We will visit a shrine and temple, a beautiful traditional Japanese sweet shop, and go back in time walking in the steps of Geisha through yokocho or alleyways that still hold onto their historic charm and architecture. Finally, you can enjoy some free time to check out the beautiful shops and scenery at your own pace.  We will then all meet back up to conclude the tour. 

MEETUP POINT

Inside Yotsuya-Sanchome Station @ 09:30am

You will meet your tour guide at Yotsuya-Sanchome station. When arriving at Yotsuya-Sanchome station, you will need to come out of the ticket gate and the meeting point is directly in front of you by the big yellow information board. The exact meeting point location is pictured above.

Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag. Once everybody has met at this location, you will officially start the tour

For your information, Yotsuya-Sanchome can be reached from Shinjuku station in 5 minutes and from Tokyo station in 14 minutes using the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (the red line with the letter ‘M’)

NOTES

Included

• Admission fees for Shinjuku Historical Museum and Koshikawa Korakuen Gardens

• Train fee from Shinjuku Sanchome Station to Iidabashi Station
  

• Koshikawa Korakuen Gardens Tea House Experience 

• Local English speaking guide

Excluded

• Trains and transport before and after the tour

• Food and drink

OTHER INFORMATION

• This tour involves several hours of walking in the outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or rain coat if necessary.

• There will be free time at Kagurazaka, and the lunch break/free time for guests to enjoy the locations at their own pace. However, please make sure that you are at the respective meetup points at the time stated by your guide on the day of the tour. If you get lost or need assistance, feel free to call the number which is listed on your tour pass, and our staff will assist you immediately.

• The Shinjuku Historical museum and Japanese gardens are closed on Mondays, and Japanese sweet shop is closed on Wednesdays, therefore this tour is only available for bookings Tuesday, Thursday – Sunday.

• Due to this being a walking tour, it is advised that you do not bring any luggage or large bags with you on the tour. It is advised that you check if your hotel can store your luggage for you until after the tour, or you store your luggage at lockers at a suitable location such as selected train stations with appropriate storage. For example, many stations in Tokyo will have lockers, especially the larger train stations such as Shinjuku, Shibuya and Tokyo.