Yanaka Walking Tour in Tokyo: Historic and Traditional District with Temples, Cemetery & Shopping Street
by Trip Designer Inc.
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.¥22,000Overview
This 3.5-hour walking tour explores Tokyo's Yanaka district, known for its temples and Edo-period atmosphere. The tour begins in Yanaka, where participants see temples, cherry blossom trees, and the traditional reien cemetery while guided with historical and cultural commentary. Next, the group visits Tennoji Temple, founded in 1274, located beside Yanaka Cemetery, which features a 1690 bronze Buddhist statue called "Tennoji no Daibutsu". The tour includes a 40-minute visit to Yanaka Cemetery, a 100,000 square meter site with over 7,000 graves mostly Buddhist, established in 1871 after the Meiji Restoration's separation of Buddhist and Shinto burial sites. In the afternoon tours, participants can optionally attend a tea ceremony in the Gallery Okubo building's tatami mat room for an extra fee, where a host prepares traditional Japanese tea. Afternoon tours also include visits to SCAI The Bathhouse, a contemporary art gallery in a 200-year-old public bath, the Shitamachi Museum Annex "Old Yoshidaya Sakayaten" with seasonal exhibits of traditional household items and furniture, and Edokoro Alan West, a traditional Japanese painting studio housed in a former auto body garage. The tour finishes with a stop at Nezu Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest shrines featuring azalea shrubs, ponds, pathways, and vermillion-colored torii gates. Finally, the group visits Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street for about 30 minutes to explore local shops and try snacks. The tour is limited to 8 people, includes all fees and taxes, an English-speaking guide, and participant photos. Hotel pickup and food are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Yanaka District
Walk through the Yanaka area, a part of Tokyo that retains its Edo period character from the 17th to 19th centuries. See temples, cherry blossoms in spring, and the traditional reien cemetery. An English guide provides historical background and cultural insights.
10 min
Tennoji Temple
Visit Tennoji Temple, a Buddhist temple established in 1274. It sits next to Yanaka Cemetery and is surrounded by a garden behind an old wooden gate. The grounds contain a 1690 bronze Buddhist statue known locally as "Tennoji no Daibutsu."
20 min
Yanaka Cemetery
Explore Yanaka Cemetery, covering 100,000 square meters with over 7,000 graves. Created in 1871 mostly for Buddhist burials after the Meiji Restoration separation of Buddhist and Shinto graves, it remains a significant historic site.
40 min
Optional Tea Ceremony at Gallery Okubo
On the second floor of the Gallery Okubo building, a small tea room offers a traditional Japanese tea ceremony seated on tatami mats. This experience costs an additional ¥3,000 per person, payable in cash at the venue. A professional host prepares authentic tea and explains its basic customs. The tea room opens at 11:00 a.m., so only afternoon tours can include this. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
30 min
SCAI The Bathhouse
Available on afternoon tours only. Visit SCAI The Bathhouse, a contemporary art gallery located in a historic public bathhouse with a 200-year history, situated within Yanaka’s old Tokyo atmosphere.
15 min
Shitamachi Museum Annex "Old Yoshidaya Sakayaten,"
Optional stop at this museum showcasing the Shitamachi culture. Exhibits include household items and furniture placed in their original contexts, some of which visitors can touch. Displays change seasonally to show variations in Shitamachi life.
20 min
Edokoro Alan West
Afternoon tours include this traditional Japanese painting studio located in a former auto body garage. The artist Alan West, originally from the US, studied Japanese painting at Tokyo University of the Arts and operates the only studio of its kind open to the public.
10 min
Nezu Shrine
Visit Nezu Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest shrines, set among large trees, flowering azalea shrubs, ponds, and pathways. The shrine features traditional vermillion-colored wooden structures and a succession of small torii gates.
Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street
Spend about 30 minutes walking this local shopping street, known for retaining Tokyo’s old Shitamachi atmosphere. Explore shops and try local snacks.
30 min
Meeting point
The meeting point is Nippori station, north ticket gate located on the 2nd floor of the station building. You can access the meeting point by JR Line and Keisei Line. Please be ready 10 minutes prior to the meeting time. Your guide will be waiting for you there with a sign board.
End point
The meeting point is Nippori station, north ticket gate located on the 2nd floor of the station building. You can access the meeting point by JR Line and Keisei Line. Please be ready 10 minutes prior to the meeting time. Your guide will be waiting for you there with a sign board.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Yanaka Walking Tour in Tokyo: Historic and Traditional District with Temples, Cemetery & Shopping Street
by Trip Designer Inc.
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.¥22,000Overview
This 3.5-hour walking tour explores Tokyo's Yanaka district, known for its temples and Edo-period atmosphere. The tour begins in Yanaka, where participants see temples, cherry blossom trees, and the traditional reien cemetery while guided with historical and cultural commentary. Next, the group visits Tennoji Temple, founded in 1274, located beside Yanaka Cemetery, which features a 1690 bronze Buddhist statue called "Tennoji no Daibutsu". The tour includes a 40-minute visit to Yanaka Cemetery, a 100,000 square meter site with over 7,000 graves mostly Buddhist, established in 1871 after the Meiji Restoration's separation of Buddhist and Shinto burial sites. In the afternoon tours, participants can optionally attend a tea ceremony in the Gallery Okubo building's tatami mat room for an extra fee, where a host prepares traditional Japanese tea. Afternoon tours also include visits to SCAI The Bathhouse, a contemporary art gallery in a 200-year-old public bath, the Shitamachi Museum Annex "Old Yoshidaya Sakayaten" with seasonal exhibits of traditional household items and furniture, and Edokoro Alan West, a traditional Japanese painting studio housed in a former auto body garage. The tour finishes with a stop at Nezu Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest shrines featuring azalea shrubs, ponds, pathways, and vermillion-colored torii gates. Finally, the group visits Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street for about 30 minutes to explore local shops and try snacks. The tour is limited to 8 people, includes all fees and taxes, an English-speaking guide, and participant photos. Hotel pickup and food are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Yanaka District
Walk through the Yanaka area, a part of Tokyo that retains its Edo period character from the 17th to 19th centuries. See temples, cherry blossoms in spring, and the traditional reien cemetery. An English guide provides historical background and cultural insights.
10 min
Tennoji Temple
Visit Tennoji Temple, a Buddhist temple established in 1274. It sits next to Yanaka Cemetery and is surrounded by a garden behind an old wooden gate. The grounds contain a 1690 bronze Buddhist statue known locally as "Tennoji no Daibutsu."
20 min
Yanaka Cemetery
Explore Yanaka Cemetery, covering 100,000 square meters with over 7,000 graves. Created in 1871 mostly for Buddhist burials after the Meiji Restoration separation of Buddhist and Shinto graves, it remains a significant historic site.
40 min
Optional Tea Ceremony at Gallery Okubo
On the second floor of the Gallery Okubo building, a small tea room offers a traditional Japanese tea ceremony seated on tatami mats. This experience costs an additional ¥3,000 per person, payable in cash at the venue. A professional host prepares authentic tea and explains its basic customs. The tea room opens at 11:00 a.m., so only afternoon tours can include this. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
30 min
SCAI The Bathhouse
Available on afternoon tours only. Visit SCAI The Bathhouse, a contemporary art gallery located in a historic public bathhouse with a 200-year history, situated within Yanaka’s old Tokyo atmosphere.
15 min
Shitamachi Museum Annex "Old Yoshidaya Sakayaten,"
Optional stop at this museum showcasing the Shitamachi culture. Exhibits include household items and furniture placed in their original contexts, some of which visitors can touch. Displays change seasonally to show variations in Shitamachi life.
20 min
Edokoro Alan West
Afternoon tours include this traditional Japanese painting studio located in a former auto body garage. The artist Alan West, originally from the US, studied Japanese painting at Tokyo University of the Arts and operates the only studio of its kind open to the public.
10 min
Nezu Shrine
Visit Nezu Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest shrines, set among large trees, flowering azalea shrubs, ponds, and pathways. The shrine features traditional vermillion-colored wooden structures and a succession of small torii gates.
Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street
Spend about 30 minutes walking this local shopping street, known for retaining Tokyo’s old Shitamachi atmosphere. Explore shops and try local snacks.
30 min
Meeting point
The meeting point is Nippori station, north ticket gate located on the 2nd floor of the station building. You can access the meeting point by JR Line and Keisei Line. Please be ready 10 minutes prior to the meeting time. Your guide will be waiting for you there with a sign board.
End point
The meeting point is Nippori station, north ticket gate located on the 2nd floor of the station building. You can access the meeting point by JR Line and Keisei Line. Please be ready 10 minutes prior to the meeting time. Your guide will be waiting for you there with a sign board.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.