Uncover the fascinating history of Tokyo’s development from a village called Edo into Japan’s largest metropolis in this introductory tour of the city led by a local expert. Your tour will center around the Nihonbashi area and the neighboring Imperial Palace Gardens - an area that had flourished into a mercantile center even before Japan’s capital was officially relocated from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1868.

Please note: This tour visits the Imperial Palace East Gardens on the days they are open to the public. If your tour falls on a Monday, Friday, or national holiday, you will visit the Imperial Palace Outer Gardens (Kokyo Gaien National Garden) instead.
Our Introduction to Tokyo tour is an entirely outdoors walking tour, so we will only look at the exteriors of the venues mentioned. Also, although the gardens surround the palace, the view of the Imperial Palace is blocked by high protective walls.

Starting at Tokyo Station, your expert will peel back the layers of history in this district, showing you how the city changed and developed over time. From here, you’ll make your way over to the Imperial Palace Gardens, where you’ll learn the fascinating story of Japan's capital relocation from Kyoto to Tokyo, a pivotal moment in the nation's history.

The next stops on your route will vary depending on your interests and your guide’s expertise, but you may make your way down to Ginza, Tokyo’s premier shopping district, or head straight up to Nihonbashi to take a look at the Tokyo Stock Exchange or the Bank of Japan’s Currency Museum to learn about the evolution of Japanese commerce. You’ll finish with a visit to Nihonbashi Bridge, where you’ll learn about the city’s changing relationship with water, and Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi - Japan’s oldest department store. You’ll part ways with your expert, having gained a newfound understanding of how Tokyo came to be.