When you’re planning a trip to a new country, everything is strange and unfamiliar. Most people end up with the same similar itinerary, based off of whatever top ten lists are popular online. While this is a completely valid way of traveling, and sometimes preferred, it does prevent you from discovering areas with more local charm.
Whether this is your first or twentieth trip to Japan, why not consider exploring the country with a guided tour? With a guided tour you can more easily explore new sights, learn about Japanese history, and communicate with locals, all without the burden of logistics and planning.
Benefits of Choosing a Guided Tour
Discover New Places
It’s easy to default towards the most tried and true tourist hotspots, like the Shinjuku crossing and the Asakusa shrine. While these are places definitely worth a visit, how about also weaving in a few spots off the beaten path?
Discovering new places doesn’t even necessarily mean traveling hours on train, there are plenty of small shops and quiet alleyways that exude charm, but unfortunately aren’t known to tourists. For example, instead of going to the Ichiran Ramen in Shinjuku, why not grab a bowl in Suidobashi, an area famous in Japan for its exceptional ramen. Or visit one of the many live music bars with great drinks and even better music dotted around Shimokitazawa and Kichijoji.
There are plenty of places to visit outside of the most populous city centers, you just have to know how to look for them. This is where a guided tour can help you.
Guided Tours in Tokyo
Culinary Tours
One of the greatest reasons to come to Japan is for the cuisine, and the food never disappoints. There is so much variety, from the very high end omakase in Ginza, to mouth-watering street foods along the bustling streets of Tsukiji, there’s something for everyone. Can’t decide what to try? Book a culinary tour that leads you away from the crowd and introduces some hidden gems that are delicious yet still affordable.
- Local bars and izakayas: If you want to experience what it’s like to end a day at work and get a drink and some skewers at an izakaya (Japanese bar), there are plenty of such tours to choose from.
Best Experience Japan offers a tour that focuses on going to local izakayas where you can enjoy drinks and dishes for a set price, and leads participants to Ueno rather than the central night life hubs of Shibuya and Shinjuku. There’s an emphasis on going to local spots rather than tourist destinations, where you can talk to the chef and savor dishes that are more authentically Japanese. End the night with a steaming bowl of ramen that soothes the soul!
- Tsukiji Fish Market: There are also guided tours for some of Tokyo’s famous markets, including the Tsukiji Fish Market. Although the wholesale market has been moved to Toyosu, many vendors remain, and in the mornings, you can still catch whole tuna being prepared for sale. A guided tour will lead you to the vendors with the best food, and explain the origins and history of this long-standing market that’s been in operation since 1935.
Special Interest Tours
Sumo Tours
Sumo is the national sport of Japan, and it’s not everyday that people get to see a live competition as these strong, burly grapplers exert their whole bodies to overpower the opponent. If you’re ever in Tokyo, there are tours that allow you to gain closer access to sumo, such as the Tokyo sumo tournament tour, as well as various sumo heya (the stables that sumo wrestlers belong to) training tours.
- The Tokyo Sumo Tournament Tour: The Grand Sumo Tournament is held only during odd months; therefore, this tour is offered similarly. When you book the tour, you can select the type of seating you would like, and attend the event with the guidance of a tour guide who will introduce the history of the sport, as well as provide translations and commentary on the state of the competition. It’s a great opportunity to participate in the sport and learn more about its history.
- Sumo Morning Practice Tours: There is a variety of similar tours offered in Tokyo that brings you to a sumo stable to witness the sumo wrestlers’ morning training session, a rare opportunity since access to these stables is strictly limited to the general public. After practice, you can also enjoy a meal with the sumo wrestlers.
If you’re interested in learning more about Sumo, these tours are a fantastic way to do so. Because it’s such a uniquely Japanese sport, a guided tour would be the perfect opportunity to understand the cultural roots of sumo as a nationally adored sport, and fully appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that goes into training to become a sumo wrestler.
Traveling in a local guided tour offers the opportunity for cultural immersion that’s difficult to obtain if you’re only following the instructions of Google Maps or TripAdvisor. It’s incredibly valuable to have a guide who can navigate language barriers and cultural norms, while providing information that allows for a deeper appreciation of the beauty of local scenery and cuisine.
A guided tour can help you discover parts of Tokyo that aren’t crowded with visitors, learn about the history and the culture, and understand the city on a more intimate level. Try booking one today!