I'd be totally remiss if I did not mention a great little tour company I stumbled upon while searching for places to go, things to do, and classes to take while we're here in Tokyo. Traditionally, I've used Viator when in other countries and I've been quite satisfied. There is another outfit called Klook.com that is based out of Hong Kong. It is very popular in this part of the world and appears to be a very close cousin to Viator. However, the company I found is call tokyolocalized.com and it offers both free and paid walking tours across the city that are conducted by locals. The outfit also offers tours in Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka.
We've taken two free tours so far - and by "free" they mean you are strongly encouraged to tip your guide generously at the end. Both tours were three hours long and very informative. Ironically, we had the same tour guide, Mi Tu, both times. She was fabulous.
The first tour I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs. We toured the beautiful grounds of the Imperial Palace, and learned a great deal about Japan's history - including the emperors, shoguns, and samurai.
There are a number of historic structures and lovely gardens to take in. We found this tour to be a great introduction to the "new" capital city of Japan.
Our second tour was "The Original Free Walking Tour of Tokyo." During this one, we experienced both new and old Tokyo - its food, culture, history and religion. It began in an area of the city called Akihabara (aka Electric Town - home to Geeks and all things anime and video games), then we walked to Yushima Seido (a Confucian temple), Kanda Myojin (a Shinto shrine), Ameyoko shopping arcade (very popular with the various Asian communities here and CHEAP), and Ueno Park (which offers some of the best cherry blossom views in the city which we plan to take in in about six weeks).
Mi Tu was as charming and informative as she was during the first tour, sharing her personal experiences having lived in this area of Tokyo before getting married, having children and moving to the suburbs.
We intend to do the other free walking tours that are offered here in Tokyo because, well, why not? In fact, we have one scheduled during our stay in Kyoto on Saturday. So, if anyone is looking for an easy way to take in the sights and gain the perspective of a local, this is a great way to do it. Just be sure you wear comfy shoes! And, grab enough Yen beforehand so you can tip appropriately. Our guide told us she left her career in IT when she had children and became a tour guide for the flexibility it afforded her (plus it was a lot less pressure). Given that her tips are now her income, we made sure to compensate her well for her time and insights.
I'll be sure to fill you in on the Kyoto tour upon our return. Until then,
Sayonara!
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