Tour Details
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Senso-ji
- Asakusa
Photos & Highlights
- Tour of Asakusa district led by an expert in Tokyo history
- Gain deeper insight into the city's transformation from village to metropolis
Select a date
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
2324252627281234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303112345
Tour Description
During this two-hour Asakusa tour, we'll join a local historian and Tokyo expert to explore this exciting neighborhood sitting in the "low" area of the city, away from Tokyo’s flashy lights and business centers. Also known as the geisha district, the Asakusa area was well established before the Tokugawa Shogunate began to rule from Edo—what later became Tokyo—in 1603. We will discuss this national narrative as we walk through this area that still hints at some of the characters of old Japan. We'll explore the role of Asakusa as a sleepy fishing village turned geisha district, and look at larger themes of pleasure and entertainment in the history of Tokyo, all the while getting a great feel for the atmosphere and culture of this popular area of Tokyo.
Experts
To frame the story of Asakusa's place in Edo (now Tokyo), our Tokyo walking tour revolves around Buddhist temples. We'll weave between Asakusa's past and present, discussing its importance and significance to Japan’s distant history, but also such recent topics as the after-effects of WWII and the birth of the plastic food that can be found across Japan. We'll come to better understand how the neighborhood has evolved—and stayed the same. We’ll discuss Asakusa's role as an entertainment district, ukiyo (the "floating world" pleasure-seeking culture of Edo-era Japan). This is one of the main reasons why Asakusa became what it is: without the trade and development of the merchant houses, there would have not been enough money to float around in the "floating world."
We'll walk briefly along the shopping street Nakamise Dori, discussing how Asakusa was rebuilt after the WWII firebombing. Our Asakusa tour ends, however, at Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji. This is one of Tokyo's most important religious sites, badly damaged during WWII but eventually rebuilt. We may also discuss the Asakusa shrine, which lies on the grounds of the Buddhist temple showing that unique mixture of Shintoism and Buddhism that has, in many ways, made Japan what it is today. Senso-ji and its Japanese-style garden make for a quiet place of contemplation, and it's here that we'll wrap up our walking tour.
Wrapping up your Tokyo Asakusa Tour, you'll emerge with a stronger understanding of the many roles this neighborhood has played in the history of Edo/Tokyo as well as the area’s overall connection to the rest of the country.
- You like to walk and want to cover a lot of ground while learning from an expert
- You're a history lover wanting to follow in the footsteps of famous figures
- You want to satisfy your thirst for knowledge while immersing yourself in the history of the city
- Senso-ji - It is Tokyo's oldest-established temple and one of its most significant. It is dedicated to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion.
- Asakusa - It is a historic neighborhood in Tokyo and a popular tourist destination known for its unique blend of traditional and modern cultures.
Is this tour suitable for visitors with mobility issues?
This tour is very walking intensive, we recommend visitors with mobility issues to reach out to us to ensure we can alter the tour to accommodate their level of mobility.
What happens if it's raining?
This tour is very walking intensive, we recommend visitors with mobility issues to reach out to us to ensure we can alter the tour to accommodate their level of mobility.
What happens if it's raining?
Our tours happen rain or shine. Our guides are great at adapting their route during changes of weather. Please bring an umbrella.
Is it okay to tip my guide in Japan?
Is it okay to tip my guide in Japan?
Yes. Context clients generally tip anywhere from 10-25% of the purchase price of a personal service such as this, depending on the quality of the experience and their tipping habits.
Where You'll Start
–
97 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
We enjoyed a wonderful tour of Asakusa with Olesia. On a cold and rainy afternoon, she walked us through the neighborhood and explained the history of the Senso-ji temple. We entered the temple complex, paid our respects, and received stamps in goshiun books. Olesia was knowledgeable and gracious!
Misty
Mar 26, 2025
The Asakusa Route: Edo History and Senso-ji Temple tour with Jefferson (Jeff) was fantastic! Jeff was a great tour guide, well informed, great communicator, good sense of humor and fun to be with. We learned so much about the development of the modern city from ancient times to the significance of religion and how Buddhism & Shintoism evolved. No detail was too small to discuss…including candy, food, theatre and politics. What a fun and informative tour. We would definitely recommend this Context tour…we have never been let down by a Context tour.
Peter
Mar 23, 2025
Elena was very knowledgeable about the history of Edo and took the time to explain to us the cultural differences between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, which was especially interesting to us since we were traveling to Kyoto the following day. When out and about at the Temple and marketplace, she also went out of her way to point out traditions and things that the local people were doing which was very neat to learn.
Jasmine
Mar 18, 2025
