Many thanks for joining us on our tours at Asakusa in the morning and Ueno Park in the afternoon on April 2nd, 2023. We welcomed 44 guests from USA, Singapore, Greece, Australia, India, Canada, Hongkong, Chile, Thailand and Indonesia. It was a tremendous opportunity for us to meet wonderful guests from many countries and to share interesting conversations. Also, it was really nice seeing some of you in both tours. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached so that you can remember the fun we had during the tour. Asakusa was as crowded as ever. But, our skillful guides got by easily and showed you around Asakusa thoroughly. With our guides, you won’t miss highlights even in the hestic time of year. Senso-ji temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo and Asakusa shrine is right by the side. It’s the best start to learn about Japanese religion. When you visit temples and shrines in Japan, there are certain manners to follow and we can show you how. You will be comfortable visiting temples and shrines later days in Japan. In the afternoon, Ueno park tour welcomed some guests from morning Asakusa tour and some newly joined guests. Ueno Park […]
Today’s tours were featured by a constant rain fall in the morning and afternoon. We were not greeted by Tokyo Skytree being invisible in the thick clouds. Yet we were able to host several groups of avid visitors who were eager to know more about Asakusa and Ueno Park. We were glad that nobody got lost in the umbrella jungles. Thank you for your attentiveness and patience. We’d like to say this rainy day was not very bad with a rain-soaked cherry blossom showing different beauty of transition, but we honestly hope that we’ll see you again under the fairer weather next time. Till then. I hope our guides were able to help you spend a better rainy day. Recall you memory in the photos below: For more information about our tour, please visit our website at https://tfwt.jp/top/asakusa/, https://tfwt.jp/top/ueno/, https://www.facebook.com/TokyoFWT or Tokyo Free Walking Tour at at https://www.tripadvisor.jp/.
The restrictions of COVID-19 have been finally coming off, and Japan’s life is returning to its usual liveliness. Thank you very much for your choosing TFWT tours among various volunteer guide groups. We welcomed 9 guests together from USA (Ueno), Australia, England and Canada (Asakusa). We really hope all of you enjoyed our tours and obtained one of nice memories of Japan. Asakusa is a place which has an old history going back over 1000 years, centered on Sensoji Temple. Although the remnants of its prosperity during the Edo period had been lost once by the war, but the main architectures has already been rebuilt and refurbished. It is really a place where traditional Japanese culture that has continued since the Edo period were condensed. Construction of Tokyo Sky Tree, the world tallest self standing broad casting tower, in 2012 brought additional attraction to this area. Ueno Park is well-known as one of Tokyo’s leading cherry blossoms viewing spot, and we have received a lot of guest entries for the cherry blossom season that will soon start. However, please let me note, even Japanese people living in Tokyo, they don’t know so much about historical sites located at Ueno […]
Ueno Park is full of greenery and a famous cherry-blossom spot in Tokyo. Its season is coming soon. They usually flower toward the end of March. However, The Park has many other unique and mysterious spots. The statue of Takamori Saigo is, perhaps, one of the most famous statues in Japan but it is mysteriously wearing a casual outfit. Saigo was an outstanding samurai in the late 19th century. He became a hero as a general in the civil war against the Edo government forces and greatly contributed to the Meiji Restoration. However, he revolted against the Meiji government in the following civil war. Most statues of the influential figures in history are depicted wearing formal or military clothing. The statue is quite unique because it is wearing casual clothes for hunting. The casual clothing on the statue is actually helping common people gain sympathy and make them feel a connection to Saigo. The Buddha statue of Ueno is extraordinary. The statue has only the face without the body. A six-meter Buddha statue was built on the little hill about 400 years ago. It was toppled by the earthquakes and a fire, and the bronze body was donated to the […]
Thank you for joining our Tokyo Free Walking Tour. On the day of our two-guided tours at Asakusa and Ueno, we welcomed a total of 7 guests from the U.S.A., Australia and Finland. A cold but sunny weather condition prevailed and lasted the entire day all over Tokyo. The rooftop of the Asakusa Information Center building is a vantage point to look at the stunning view of the areas around Asakusa and its neighboring locations. This includes the following: Tokyo Skytree, Sumida River, the headquarters building of Asahi beer brewery and its icon. Tokyo Skytree stands appealingly against the backdrop of blue sky. In another direction, the luxurious gate of Sensoji Buddhist Temple and a 250-meter shopping street are seen.These well-known spots are usually great topics to break the ice during our Asakusa tour. Experiencing this breakthrough vies, we went down and started our 90-minutes strolling from the distinctive Buddhist temple gate, Thunder Gate, to Asakusa Shinto Shrine building. On the same day, Ueno Park was full of enthusiastic park visitors. In the middle of the park, a statue was calmly observing a lot of visitors. His name is Anthonius Franciscus Bauduin, a Dutch medical doctor, who is referred as “the Father of Ueno […]
As we notified on our website, there will be the morning and afternoon tours in Asakusa and the afternoon tour in Ueno Park on February 5. We are delighted to advise that there will be more tour opportunities for our guests from February. February ５ schedule: The Asakusa tours Morning tour: start at 10 am and finish around 11:30 am Afternoon tour: start at 1 pm and finish around 2:30 pm The Ueno Park tour Start at 1:30 pm and finish around 3:30pm Asakusa and Ueno are close to each other. Two tours may be combined. Asakusa has many sightseeing spots around the Sensoj Temple. The Denpoin Street is one of them. Crossing the Nakamise Street, the atmosphere is different from there. The length of the street is 200 meters. The Denpoin Street is wider, less crowded and easier to walk in. You’ll feel like traveling back into the Edo period. They have a variety of traditional crafts such as glass craftwork, combs and brushes. During the Edo period there were notable thieves. Their dolls are displayed on the street. The most famous ones were the five master thieves. The man striking a pose is their boss. The other […]
Many thanks for joining us on our tours at Asakusa in the morning and Ueno Park in the afternoon on December 4. We welcomed 12 guests from the USA, UK, New Zealand, Germany, Spain, and Hungary. It was a tremendous opportunity for us to meet wonderful guests from many countries and share interesting conversations. Also, it was really nice seeing some of you on both tours. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached so that you can remember the fun times we had during the tour. ＜Asakusa＞ <Ueno Park> In the winter season, Japanese students struggle to pass the entrance examination. Their parents can only wish them success. We can see many Ema from students at the Asakusa shrine, Ueno great Buddha, and Ueno Toshogu. Do you know Ema? Ema is a small wooden plate that people write down their wishes and dedicate to the shrine. We hope that their dream come true. The combined tour with Asakusa in the morning and Ueno Park in the afternoon is not mandated, but it is just our recommendation. You can choose either of the tours as you wish. Once again, thank you for choosing Tokyo Free Walking Tour during your precious […]
Thank you so much for joining our tours at Asakusa in the morning and Ueno Park in the afternoon on Nov 20th. We welcomed 24 guests in total from Singapore, India,Puerto Rico, US and UK. How global! It was a little chilly and rainy day, but all of guests was with us till the end. We really appreciate all guest for sharing precious time and inspiring us with interesting conversations. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached so that you can remember the fun we had during the tour. I hope you enjoyed out tour as we did very much. (Asakusa) (Ueno Park) During the tours, we encountered many children cutely-dressed in Kimono. They visited to Asakusa Shrine with their family to celebrate Shichi-Go-San ceremony. Shichi-Go-San literary means 7, 5 and 3, and it is a traditional Japanese annual event for praying the healthy growth of children aged 3, 5 and 7. It was traditionally held on Nov 15th , we can see them around this period. The family uses this opportunity to take commemorative photos at a photo studio. Seeing such happy families make me warm and remind the gratitude for the peace. We always strive to give […]
Many thanks for joining us on our tours at Asakusa in the morning and Ueno Park in the afternoon on October 23. We welcomed 9 guests from the U.S.A., India, the Netherlands, and the Philippines. It was a tremendous opportunity for us to meet wonderful guests from many countries and share interesting conversations. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached so that you can remember the fun times we had during the tour. Our guests challenged the fortune slip. Unfortunately, some members got bad luck “Kyo”, then tied the strip on a branch of a tree and left it. You don’t need to be seriously concerned about it. Because no more bad situations will happen from now on. Think positive!! Tokyo National Museum (TOHAKU) is the oldest and largest museum in Japan. To commemorate its 150th anniversary, 89 national treasures in the Tohaku collections are now open to the public from 18th October to 11th December. This is a very rare opportunity, then we highly recommend visiting if possible. Advance reservations with a specific date and time online are required. The admission fee is 2,000 JPY for adults. The combined tour with Asakusa in the morning and Ueno Park […]
It is a great pleasure for us to restart the walking tours in Tokyo after a two-and-a-half-year absence. The Asakusa and Ueno Park tours are scheduled on September 25. Since Asakusa and Ueno are close each other, we recommend the combined tour of Asakusa and Ueno Park. Asakusa and Ueno Park are among the major tourist spots in Tokyo. You can experience Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, the Sensoji Temple and nature and culture at one of the oldest parks in Japan, Ueno Park, with us. 9:45 Meet our friendly guides holding our flag beside the Police Box by the Kaminarimon gate of the Sensoji Temple. 10:00 Tour start at the Sensoji Temple First, we’ll go up the building of the Culture Information Tourist Center for a panoramic view of Asakusa and the Tokyo Sky Tree. Coming down, we will pass the Kaminarimon gate with an enormous lantern. Beyond the gate is the Nakamise Shopping Street, one of Japan’s oldest shopping streets. Then, the Hozomon gate with the massive waraji straw sandals. Right next to the gate is the five-story pagoda, a symbol of the Temple. We’ll visit the main hall of the Temple which was originally constructed 1,400 years ago. […]
