Japan · WALKING TOURS
81 reviewed
Japanese cities give up their good parts on foot: the alley behind the shrine, the shop that has made one thing since 1902, the shortcut through the covered arcade. Below are the 15 walking tours worth the money, with route, length, group size and price for each.
2-hour Gion Kyoto geiko and maiko walking tour, temple stops like Kennin-ji, and local food and shop tips for $25.
“Thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot. Thank you so much to Michael!”
Walk Tokyo’s Tsukiji markets with a local guide, taste seafood and wagyu, and end with sushi or a seafood bowl at the iconic Fish Market.
“Fantastic guide through the market! Hanako was a terrific guide. The market can be intimidating and having a local being is to the most delicious spots and best shops was a must. Also lovely To see the temple which I am not sure I would have gone into myself . Highly Recommended! Also appreciate small group size”
Walk Gion by lantern light with an English guide, geisha trivia, shrine stops, and a small group vibe, plus included photography.
“The tour was excellent and the experience was something that I will never forget, the guide was very professional and knowledgeable of the area and I learned things I did not know before. I would and will definitely recommend this tour and guide to anyone that wants to go.”
Small-group walk through Tokyo’s Imperial Palace East Gardens, Edo Castle ruins, and Ninomaru Garden with live guide stories.
“Miguel and maitaki were amazing and super informative. They were very patient with the entire group. They were very open to questions we had. I would recommend. It was a great way to introduce us to Japanese culture.”
Night walk through Gion and Pontocho in Kyoto, with stories, key shrine stops, and chances to spot geiko and maiko.
“Seeing authentic locations, hearing the history, seeing a Maiko!!!!”
A 100-minute night walk in Kyoto’s Gion with a licensed English guide, geiko and maiko etiquette, and possible sightings.
“Great experience! It was beautiful at night, and we saw many geishas because our guide had previously taken us to a less crowded district.”
Walk Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai with an English guide, ending at karaoke, with local bar access.
“A great experience to experiment going out like a local . Toshi is great your guide that went with us in 3 nice places . I totally recommend!”
Tsukiji Fish Market food walk with a local guide. Choose your own bites, learn sushi ingredients, and visit Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple.
“Great opportunity know what you are seeing in the market and great suggestions to get a taste of fish and more. Our guide Rie was fantastic. Great command of language. Well worth both time and money.”
2-hour Asakusa walking tour with an English guide: Sensō-ji, Kaminarimon, Nakamise Street snacks, Hoppy Street, finish at Azuma Bridge.
“Keiko was so patient and responsive. She answered our many questions with extensive knowledge of Japanese culture and historical facts. She made sure everyone could clearly hear her and was aware of the pace of the group. She was darling with kids and pointed out things they would be interested in, as well as engaging with our fourteen year old. I highly recommend a tour with her!! Tiffany from San Francisco”
A small-group after-dark walk through Kyoto’s Gion, with geisha-focused stories, lantern-lit streets, and key cultural stops in about 2 hours.
“Got an inside look that we never would have gotten or found on our own! So so worth it!! It was so cool learning about geisha culture and walking the old city streets.”
Walk Tsukiji with a small English group, start at Tsukiji Station Starbucks, visit Hongan-ji, then snack through the Outer Market.
“Nicolas was great! He was informative and did a great job pointing things out.”
Kyoto Nishiki Market brunch walking tour with 7 tastings, a sit-down meal, Gion and alley stops, and photos for easy morning exploring.
“Great tasting and recommendations from our guide Takaya!! He answered all our questions and gave us lots of food tips”
A guided walk through Osaka’s seafood markets, neon streets, and hidden alleys, with tastings, takoyaki, and a drink.
“It was fun and insightful, and very flexible! We were two couples independently joining the tour led by Stephanie, and she was a gem explaining and answering our questions, including great tips for dinner, shopping, and taking pictures of us. Flexible, as we all wanted to visit a cute vintage store in Amerikamura, where she also shared some extra knowledge about it! We can only recommend this tour to understand the way of life and the vibes of Osaka better. The 3-hour tour covered a lot of different aspects, and we could discover a lot of hidden gems! Thank you for making this evening special!”
Arashiyama bamboo and monkey hike with included tickets to Tenryu-ji, Okochi Sanso, and Togetsukyo bridge, in a small group.
“I am glad we booked this because it was easier to be guided in a place as big as this where you don't know where to go or what to see first.”
Walk Kyoto’s Gion in 2 hours, from Hanamikoji to 1,000-year-old Yasaka Shrine, with a small guide-led hunt for geisha sightings.
“Great experience with Dan who was very kind and knowledgeable about the history and a good storyteller. It was fun.”
