Home > Tokyo > Tokyo Tower, Tea Ceremony and Sumida River Cruise Day Tour
USD $111.00
Tokyo Tower, Tea Ceremony and Sumida River Cruise Day Tour
Tokyo, Japan
See Tokyo at its dynamic best on this jam-packed day of sightseeing — perfect if your time in Tokyo is limited. A professional guide points out highlights such as the Imperial Palace, Nakamise shopping street and Asakusa Kannon Temple. Soak up the views from Tokyo Tower, take part in a traditional tea ceremony in a Japanese garden and enjoy a relaxing 40-minute cruise on the Sumida River. Hotel pickup, lunch and a souvenir map of Tokyo are all included.
After hotel pickup from selected Tokyo hotels in the morning, depart from Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal by comfortable coach. Each stop during your full-day sightseeing tour of Tokyo takes approx. 30-40 minutes. Your first highlight of the day is Tokyo Tower, which provides panoramic views of Japan’s capital from the main observatory. Climb to the 476-foot-high (145-meter) viewing platform in Japan's second tallest structure, and be sure to stand over the glass-floor ‘lookout window.’ Next, you’ll appreciate nature from every angle as you take part in a traditional tea ceremony. While you sip tea, admire bonsai trees in the Japanese garden, which has carefully preserved the lovely Edo-style ambience throughout the centuries. After a Japanese-style lunch, your guide drives you past the Japanese Capitol (House of Parliament). Make a brief photo stop at the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, and cross the symbolic, double-arched Niju-bashi Bridge, which originally led to Edo Castle (aka Chiyoda Castle) before fires destroyed much of its wooden structures. Hear how the emperor of Japan claimed the site as his official residence in 1863. When you reach Hinode Pier on Tokyo Bay, embark on a boat ride to Asakusa. Your 40-minute river cruise passes beneath a total of 12 bridges on the journey along the historically significant Sumida River. Upon arrival, follow your guide on a walk along Nakamise shopping street, a narrow, paved promenade crammed with traditional food and souvenir shops leading up to Asakusa Kannon Temple (also known as Senso-ji). Take a guided tour of Tokyo’s oldest and most significant Buddhist temple, whose history spans more than 1,300 years. Finally, enjoy a drive through Ginza, Tokyo's most luxurious shopping district, filled with towering department stores and a vast variety of brand-name shops. Before drop-off at Tokyo Station, you'll receive a souvenir map of Tokyo to help you explore the exciting city on your own.
Truthfully, you could manage all these stops by yourself as long as you have a good map and don't mind self exploration. Every stop was close to subway lines. But the convenience of having it all done for you, in my opinion, was worth the price. After each stop, you just hopped back on the bus and were whisked to your next destination. The view from the top of the Tokyo Tower was breathtaking - and they have those class floors you can stand on and look straight down. The tea ceremony - to be honest - was a bit slow and uncomfortable. You sit in an enchant tea hut on backless benches where you aren't allowed to lean on the walls - so if you're like me and have back problems, you might request to stand for the ceremony. But for me, the best part was the river cruise - for a unique and open view of the otherwise crowded and claustrophobic city. On the river, I felt like I could actually catch a breath of fresh air.
Review by: Ronald W, May 2018
good experience
Review by: Nakia F, April 2018
This was awesome and I recommend it to everyone. The lunch is certainly a highlight!
Review by: Cormac W, April 2018
Considering the adverse weather conditions, Very satisfactory, tour guide was excellent. High lights lunch and tea ceremony.
Review by: Gaurav S, April 2018
Great experience, professional guide with a traditional Japanese BBQ included.
Review by: Michael S, April 2018
I took both this tour and the other tour of Tokyo. For me, there's no comparison: this was the better tour. The only thing that would have made this tour perfect is if it included the Meiji Shrine.
Review by: Bruce F, March 2018
Sako was an excellent guide. This is a great tour for the money.
Review by: Rafael Olivares, March 2018
I was very disappointed with this tour. I feel it does not showcase the best of Tokyo. The river cruise was not worth the time at all. The best part of this tour was the tea ceremony and the temple. Other than that, I feel it does not highlight the best of the city. Very disappointing.
Review by: LCP, March 2018
Great tour to see many popular sites in Tokyo. Lunch was fantastic!
Review by: Chamaria C, February 2018
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Gregory H, February 2018
Enjoyed all of it. Excellent organisation and wonderful host. An easy way to see some highlights of Tokyo, lunch was great too.
Review by: PILAR V, February 2018
Every single part of this day tour was great. Our guide Minna san was fantastic, very knowledgeable, nice, and funny. We would've loved to have her as our guide all the time we were in Japan. Arigatou Gozaimasu!!!!
Review by: Amy R, February 2018
This tour was spectacular! Way more than I expected. I got to see some of the top sights in Tokyo and thoroughly enjoyed the things the guide taught us about Japanese history and culture. The lunch was spectacular and the tea ceremony unforgettable! I highly recommend this tour!
Review by: jenny, December 2017
This was a very enjoyable day tour despite it raining for most of that day which did reduce visibility from the Tower!! The highly entertaining Tea Ceremony was in a small building set in beautiful Japanese gardens with a pond full of colourful koi. A special garden feature was several dozen exceptional bonsai trees, just stunning to enjoy. Lunch was a sumptuous Japanese BBQ in a delightful garden restaurant section of a lavish 5 Star hotel. Added bonus was seeing the stunning Japanese couple being photographed after their wedding.
Review by: Roslyn f slade S, November 2017
Absolutely amazing. Hotel pick up prompt and all attractions listed in brochure visited. Despite my fear of heights the visit to the Tokyo tower was indeed wonderful. Being able to photograph the tea ceremony gave me memorable photographs as well. The view from the Edo Castle was spectacular despite the 105 steps to the balcony.With my interest maritime the high point of the day was the Sumida River cruise.In terms of history the visit to the Asakusa Kannon temple ticked my Tokyo bucket list. I would highly recommend this day tour to anyone visiting Tokyo as a prelude to further investigate this magnificient city.
Review by: Thomas P, November 2017
This was an amazing tour and far exceeded or expectations. Tour guide, Tomoku, was charming and spoke fluent language. She had many jewels and tidbits of info and was able to answer every question.
Review by: Kelly W, November 2017
This was such an enjoyable tour! The guide was really great and made every stop a lot of fun. I felt like I knew Tokyo much better. Perfect for a quick overview of the city!
Review by: Philip C, November 2017
Very good tour giving a good flavour of Tokyo
Review by: Peter G, November 2017
Loved Japan great food, clean polite one of my favourite places
Review by: Heather N, November 2017
Very enjoyable tour! Guide was very informative and spoke great English. I wish I would have known in the beginning that you could switch seats.
Review by: Glenda G, October 2017
Great destinations and attractions to see. It rained all day due to a typhoon approaching and so we ended up drenched but made the most of a good tour. My highlight was the tea ceremony and garden.
Review by: CHERYL D, October 2017
This tour offers an amazing package of activities and sights. I especially loved the tea ceremony. The lunch was outstanding. We were given lots of time to walk around the Japanese gardens and the grounds of the Imperial Palace. The Tokyo Tower and river cruise offered great views of Tokyo. One negative note: After riding the 7:30 am pick-up bus for two hours the tour guide said that there was no time allotted to use the restroom. We were herded to the next bus and first tour stop. It was another hour before I could leave the group and find a restroom on my own.
Review by: RMayhorn, October 2017
The tea ceremony was great for those looking to get in a taste of Japanese culture. The two gardens that we went to were beautiful and lunch was both delicious and a pleasant experience. Asakusa and the river cruise were a little crowded due to going on a weekend, so I would recommend going on a weekday if possible.
Review by: tsinkis, October 2017
Really enjoyed the whole day
Review by: Kyomi B, September 2017
Great guide Haru san and recommend itinerary if pressed for time.
Review by: Natalia K, September 2017
Extraodinary! I will take this tour again when I come back to Tokyo! Very charmed :-
Review by: Christos K, September 2017
poor english of guide, not much to see.
Review by: Suzan S, September 2017
This was one of the best tours I have ever taken- the tour guide was amazing. I highly recommend it!!!
Review by: Aileen F, September 2017
It was pouring hard so did not enjoy much the tour. Tea ceremony is the highlight of the tour.
Review by: JDeV1988, September 2017
I had an amazing visit at Tokyo Tower. I got to see a panoramic view of all Tokyo. Definitely would do Tokyo Tower again soon. I had got myself a souvenir of the Tokyo Tower. I have to say that Atsushi was the amazing tour guide for this tour. He gave people on the tour including myself a gift of sweets which were the Tokyo banana filled cakes from the shop in the tower. The tea ceremony was also great too and my first one. I was the lucky one that I got to have small conversation with the tea master. I was also learning how to do the art of what to do during the tea ceremony. I also went to both the Imperial Gardens and Asakusa Temple for both tours I had on Saturday and Sunday. Amazing views of both attractions. Before visiting the Asakusa Temple again for a 2nd time there was the Sumida river cruise which was another way to see the panoramic views of the city. Would love to do this tour again someday.
Review by: Sansal O, September 2017
with more knowledgeable guide, this tour would be much better.
Review by: Lincoln U, September 2017
I've done this tour twice now because it's a decent way to see the required stops in Tokyo, but if you want to just visit these stops on your own, you might have a better time.
Review by: Armina C, September 2017
We only had a few days in Tokyo and booked this tour to get an overview of Tokyo main attractions. Our concern was that it will be very packed and highly touristy. As you are a part of a group bus tour with a large crowd, the tour is organised in a way to allow you space, privacy and even intimate experience. All the locations including the tea ceremony where nice and enjoyable. If you are looking for an overview of Tokyo in a relaxing atmosphere this is a good choice
Review by: bernard d, September 2017
It was my first time here in Tokyo, Japan and we had the most amazing Hato Bus Tour experience.
Review by: Michelle H, August 2017
Got to see some great stuff, and the tour guide, Tomoko, was absolutely fabulous with a great sense of humor. Not only did we get to see some key tourist attractions in Tokyo, Tomoko also gave us lots of cultural tidbits that wouldn't have been found elsewhere. This tour was a great way to get a quick and elaborate experience of Japanese culture.
Review by: Marie H, August 2017
Again, another Tokyo wonder, great tour, guide, places to see and to learn about the significance of the tea and maccha in Japanese culture and tradition. Would definitely do it all again.
Review by: Beverley C, August 2017
Absolutely super trip and well worth the money. We got to see a lot of Tokyo in one day and the lunch that was included was fantastic - teppanyaku style! Would definitely recommend.
Review by: Sam M, July 2017
This was a fantastic tour with so much to see! The lunch was delicious, with a good variety for picky eaters. The pace was pretty good. I'd wish for a little bit more time on Tokyo Tower, but it was still a good amount of time. The tea ceremony was really interesting, and the cruise was a nice break, with cool information a delicious ice cream!. Asakusa Temple is always a must see when going to Tokyo, and it's a great place to pick up small gifts. Though, the lucky charms I bought haven't brought me much luck! :P
Review by: Nancy S, July 2017
super glad i joined this tour, efficient way to see some important spots in tokyo in such a short time. our tour leader, atsushi is amazing leader, he took care around 30 pax of people in a very organize and caring way. lunch is also super great, had delicious Japanese barbecue. some advice for other travelers: this tour offer a few choice of meeting point, i suggest to choose the pick up point in some hotel nearby you stay, because it's very easy to do so, just wait at the concierge area and the tour people will come and get you, much easier than meeting in any bus or train station.
Review by: GARY W, May 2017
This is a good introduction to Tokyo. We are glad we did this our first day there. Our guide was superb and did a great job of keeping us together and herding us around town. The lunch was considerably more upscale than we expected. The lesson at the end on how to use the JR train system proved invaluable.
Review by: Selim R, May 2017
Very nice tour, interesting
Review by: Tene O, May 2017
This is a great tour to get a lay of the land early in your Tokyo travels. You may want to take notes on a map / paper so that you can revisit some areas highlighted on the tour. Perhaps ask your guide things to see in areas you may be interested in. Get your rest the night before this tour- Its a jam packed sight seeing session! Catching a nap on the bus may have you miss certain but not major sites along the way to venues.
Review by: Susanne C, May 2017
Great tour guide, wonderful tour and perfect weather. A long but extremely enjoyable day, highly recommend this tour!!
Review by: Leesa, April 2017
I highly recommend this tour for a great overview of Tokyo and the guide was really knowledgeable which made it more enjoyable. The tea ceremony was very interesting and the tea tasting not too bad. It was amazing to see how big the city really is from the top of the Tokyo Tower.
Review by: Avrilnettleton, April 2017
Yukon our guide was very good, very informative and friendly. She added to the tour by coming prepared with info on the imperial family too. Tokyo tower was interesting and not at all busy. The tea ceremony was great and lunch very good - Japanese style. The river cruise too was great. All in all a very good day and a very good tour
Review by: Donald James S, April 2017
In giving this feedback it is hoped your company will endeavour to improve this service. _br/_ 1. If you are going to allow e vouchers make sure the people they are going to be presented to understand this. JTB were unprepared for e vouchers and asked for a paper copy._br/_ 2. Could you please use the same name for the tour you list as the one provided by the tour operator, as navigating to find where you should be is nearly impossible and makes you wonder if you are on the correct tour._br/_ 3. If you say to be ready 20 minutes prior to departure why were we waiting 20 minutes after scheduled departure for late comers this puts undue pressure on guide and driver and rushes the tour. _br/_ 4. Naomi was a lovely guide but seemed flustered in organising the group and what was required of us, also local knowledge seemed lacking, at first stop Tokyo tower information of what was able to be seen was non existent._br/_ 5. For the size of the group 2 guides and splitting the group would have worked better, the Tea Ceremony too many people and explanation of procedure was lacking. The lunch which was Shabu Shabu should have been explained as to process to obtain full benefit of experience._br/_ 6. To try and have a over view of Asakusa in 30 minutes in Sakura season is not enjoyable at all due to time lost at the start.
Review by: Badwolf86, April 2017
First off shout out to our Tour Guide Yoko-San! She was awesome and made this trip great for us. She was very knowledgeable about all the areas we went to. Unfortunately We had some people in our group that were late getting back to the bus at every stop which made many of our stops have less time than I would have liked, but that was hardly the fault of the tour company or our guide.
Review by: Magoo, April 2017
Any Tea Ceremony is a moving experience and the Sumida River Cruise is a wonderful sightseeing opportunity on a different level. The Tokyo Tower is exhilarating but visiting the Skytree Tower instead is breathtaking.
Review by: jstone6341, April 2017
Really loved this tour. Getting from the hotel-pickup bus to the main bus was a little confusing, but everything else was great. Very knowledgeable tour guide and great sights - fit a lot in within a short time.
Review by: viaje, March 2017
Excellent tour...loved the tea ceremony, the tower...the river cruise is wonderful. Stay in the old city after the tour is over and explore.
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