What to do and see in Shinjuku, Kanto: The Best City Tours

May 21, 2021 Deane Carmody

In busy Shinjuku, you’ll find some of the tallest buildings in Toyko, as well as tons of shopping malls, bars and clubs. To escape the hustle and bustle, TripAdvisor travelers recommend visiting Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a beautiful and peaceful park in the middle of the city.
Restaurants in Shinjuku

1. Tokyo City Tour: Private Chauffeur Guide with Chartered Car

Tokyo Star Agency
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5.0 based on 10 reviews

If you see salary-men (men in their suits) coming out from the skyscrapers, heading to have a couple of beers in local izakaya (Japanese bar restaurant) after-hours, you might feel like Deja Vu, which is very similar to the ones you've seen in the movie "Blade Runner". You are in for a local experience - a day to explore the diversity of Tokyo, from high tech to tradition, the contrast of the futuristic aspect to old school life all on this private car service with your private licensed guide. Please select the places you would like to visit or ask your guide to give you recommendation.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup/drop-off, Round-trip private transportation by air-conditioned minivan, Private guide (English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean professional guides are available), One bottled water per person, DVD player in minivan

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Lunch, Admission to facilities

Reviewed By Tigerland83

We had a wonderful day with Takashi as our guide. We visited Arakura Sengen Park and Shrine, 4th Station, Wind and Ice Caves, Mt Fuji Panoramic Ropeway and Oishi Park. We were very lucky and got to see Mt. Fuji all day. Takashi was very knowledgeable about all sites and the history of Japan and we would highly recommend this tour.

2. 1 Day Private Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Car/Van with “English Speaking Driver”

Ohayo Travel
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

-What You Can Expect- Explore traditional Tokyo in a single day without the hassle of public transportation. Relax in a chartered car with private English speaking chauffeur and take the liberty to customize the default itinerary to best fit the needs of your group. Our private chauffeurs are knowledgeable, friendly, flexible and English speaking general guides will help create unforgettable travel experiences in Tokyo. Tokyo has a lot of charms due to a mixture of current and historical cultures with most famous and photographed landmarks such as Meiji Jingu Shrine, Imperial Palace, Asakusa & Sensoji Temple, Skytree, Akihabara, Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya Crossing & Hachiko Statue and Tsukiji Market. -Highlights- . Private Chartered Car/Van . Hotel pickup and drop-off provided inside 23 wards Tokyo . English Speaking Driver . Flexible Itinerary

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Parking Fee, Highway Tolls, Modern and Clean Vehicle, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Other Fees that are not mentioned

Reviewed By F3672BTkarenw

We booked a day trip in Nikko with Ohayo Travel and highly recommend it. It was really convenient to have a private car and we managed to see many sights as a result. The tour guide/ driver was polite and punctual, and gave us good suggestions at each spot to enhance our experience.

3. Licensed Guide Shinjuku Underground Mall Tour (tokyo)

7-Eleven, 1-chōme-17-2 Kabukichō, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021, Japan Licensed Guide Volunteer Group in Shinjuku Walking Tour
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Shinjuku Station underground mall is super large. It is no exaggeration to say that the one who knows Shinjuku Station underground mall will know about Tokyo very well. By mastering the underground mall, you can become a true Tokyo dude. And you can also say, I know Tokyo very much. Moreover, there is no need to worry about the rain, hot, cold weather. Air conditioners there. You can also find food only sold in Shinjuku Underground mall. Super delicious! There is also a shrine on the roof of the building. New discoveries are everywhere. Please try to taste this impression by all means

Inclusions: Masks and sanitizers and so on

Exclusions: 軽食や飲料水等は料金に含まれておりません。入場料等必要なところは一切行きません

Reviewed By Z6456UPmichael

Terry can lead you to interesting and safe places in Kabukicho without any of the hassle that you’ll get from unlicensed people who will approach you. Worth your time.

4. Tokyo Wackiest & Weirdest Places Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private

Shinjuku Station, 3-chōme-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan City Unscripted Tokyo
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Allow your host to introduce you to the quirky underbelly of one of the world’s most wonderful and outlandish cities as you go to places like the Museum of Parasites (informative, and slightly crawly, we admit) or the crazy, committed cosplay districts like Akihabara. Head to a themed snake cafe where you can cuddle up to a slithery friend over coffee and if that's not for you there’s also hedgehog and owl cafes! Round off your time in Piss Alley which despite its misleading name, is actually a super eccentric alleyway home to many izakaya pubs! Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You'll also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

Inclusions: Private & personalized itinerary, 4 hours in the city with a host, 2 beers, coffee or soft drinks, 3 tastings of unusual foods, Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options), Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

Exclusions: Food & drinks (other than the ones included above), Cover charges to additional venues (other than the one included above), Transportation costs, Gratuities (optional)

Reviewed By eugenius101

Kento is most definitely the perfect guide for late night adventures around Shinjuku. Highly personable with an enquiring mind and a lot of fun , I’m sooooo glad I stumbled into one of his tours . If a traveller wants to get to know the Golden Gai area , this is most definitely your man . The meal before was wonderful and somewhere I would never have discovered by myself - and cheap as ! This is the real thing , with a brilliant guide .

5. Tokyo Half-day Customized Private Tour

Tokyo, Japan Gaijin Tours
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This is the perfect tour for keen explorers that have already done a bit of research on Tokyo and have a rough idea of the places that interest them but still need a local expert to assist with navigating the streets, overcoming the language barrier, or to simply gain some additional recommendations and insider local knowledge. Give us an overview of your interests and We will transform them into a tour that is unique to your needs. Conversely, if you require a customised private tour but have absolutely no idea about where to go or what to see, then this tour is also for you! From delivering countless tours to hundreds of tourists over the years, We knows the key places that travellers love (and the spots to avoid) so get in touch and We will do the hardwork of planning your itinerary so that you see and experience Tokyo the way you want!

Inclusions: Professional Guiding Services

Exclusions: Lunch, Dinner, Transportation and Entrance fee..etc

Reviewed By Mtr1955

Last year we made four day tours with Satoko to discover Tokyo and it was a fantastic experience. She has a great knowledge and unrivalled love for traditional Japanese culture but she is also familiar with modern Japan, being able to offer the best of both worlds. She was a friendly and enjoyable company from the human point of view, very generous with her time and always trying to give more than a simple touristic package. She is an invaluable asset to feel part of Japan which we decisively recommend to anybody wishing to visit Japan. We stayed in touch since then, and when we go back to Japan, it will not be without Satoko since she is an extra gift on top of the beauties of her country. Don't hesitate, go for Satoko and enjoy!

6. Tokyo 6 hours Customized Private Tour

Tokyo, Japan Gaijin Tours
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This is the perfect tour for keen explorers that have already done a bit of research on Tokyo and have a rough idea of the places that interest them but still need a local expert to assist with navigating the streets, overcoming the language barrier, or to simply gain some additional recommendations and insider local knowledge. Give us an overview of your interests and We will transform them into a tour that is unique to your needs. Conversely, if you require a customised private tour but have absolutely no idea about where to go or what to see, then this tour is also for you! From delivering countless tours to hundreds of tourists over the years, We knows the key places that travellers love (and the spots to avoid) so get in touch and We will do the hardwork of planning your itinerary so that you see and experience Tokyo the way you want!

Inclusions: Professional Guiding Services

Exclusions: Lunch, Dinner, Transportation and Entrance fee..etc

Reviewed By Mtr1955

Last year we made four day tours with Satoko to discover Tokyo and it was a fantastic experience. She has a great knowledge and unrivalled love for traditional Japanese culture but she is also familiar with modern Japan, being able to offer the best of both worlds. She was a friendly and enjoyable company from the human point of view, very generous with her time and always trying to give more than a simple touristic package. She is an invaluable asset to feel part of Japan which we decisively recommend to anybody wishing to visit Japan. We stayed in touch since then, and when we go back to Japan, it will not be without Satoko since she is an extra gift on top of the beauties of her country. Don't hesitate, go for Satoko and enjoy!

7. For BUSINESS TRAVELER - Business+Leisure with JPY⇄ENG INTERPRETER Service

Tokyo Station, 1 Chome-9 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan Tokyo Bleisure Trip
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

This tour is Bleisure(Business + Leisure) service for a Business traveler who has a business meeting with Japanese and need an help for Japanese⇆English interpretation. It is possible to decide how to divide 7 hours into business & leisure. The business schedule can be changed suddenly but we can be flexible to shift the schedule and utilize free time to enjoy walking around Tokyo for food & drink, shopping and cultural activity. And to hire a proper level of business interpreter in Tokyo, it will cost more than US $700. Our leisure tour gives you very reasonable price to support your business. This is a walking tour and we use metro(subway) for the transportation. You buy Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket (600 yen/ person). Using this ticket, we can visit anywhere in Tokyo as much as possible. If you would like to visit the place where Tokyo metro does not reach, you may need to purchase other tickets. If you would like to use taxi, it is possible but it will be on your account.

Inclusions: Guide Fee for private group, Business Interpretation Service between Japanese⇆English, Customize an itinerary & meeting point, Private tour only for one group (max.6 persons) per reservation

Exclusions: Any food & drink fee both for guests and guide, Any transportation fee both for guests and guide, Any entrance or admission fee both for guests and guide, Airport pick up service (Option), Translation of Business Presentation from English to Japanese (Option), Confirming an appointment with Japanese companies (Option), Business lecture about Japanese business practice (Option)

Reviewed By nandinirishi

We chose Tokyo Bleisure Trip for a private tour of the live tuna auction at Toyosu Market followed by a food walk of the old Tsukiji Market. Takashi was a warm, friendly and informative guide. From timely prior communication to sharing restaurant/sightseeing recommendations afterwards, it was a pleasure interacting with him from start to finish. Takashi met us at our hotel and we promptly started our tour at 5 AM. We first headed to the new wholesale fish market, Toyosu Market, and viewed the auction from the upper observation deck. Takashi patiently explained the entire process and shared some interesting facts and figures about the auction. Being Christmas eve, we were lucky to witness the auction on one of the busiest days of the year, where thousands of tuna were up for sale. This was followed by an omasake sushi breakfast at the famous Daiwa restaurant. We ended the tour with a food walk of the old Tsukiji fish market, where we savoured local street snacks like daifuku, taiyaki, karage and tamogoyaki. Takashi even helped us purchase local spices and Japanese pottery. A great experience overall and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Tokyo! Tip: Plan at least one month in advance if you would like to view the auction from the lower observation deck. Make sure to reach on time, or the auction will get over within half an hour on the days with less catch.

8. For FAMILY with BABY & KID - ONE DAY Tokyo Unmissable Places Custom-Made Tour

Tokyo Station, 1 Chome-9 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan Tokyo Bleisure Trip
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Welcome to bring a baby STROLLER. This is a private walking tour. You can make your own itinerary including meeting points and time as you wish. There are several highlights in Tokyo. You can pick 3 or 4 sites to visit in the tour. During the tour, you can learn about Japanese culture, lifestyle and history. We can visit a local Japanese restaurant for lunch together upon your request and enjoy Japanese local food! This is a walking tour and we use metro(subway) for the transportation. You buy Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket (600 yen/ person). Using this ticket, we can visit anywhere in Tokyo as much as possible. If you would like to visit the place where Tokyo metro does not reach, you may need to purchase other tickets. If you would like to use taxi, it is possible but it will be on your account.

Inclusions: Guide Fee for a private group, Private tour only for one group (max.6 persons) per reservation, Customize an itinerary & meeting point

Exclusions: Any entrance or admission fee both for guests and guide, Any transportation fee both for guests and guide, Any food & drink fee both for guests and guide, Airport pick up service (Option)

Reviewed By nandinirishi

We chose Tokyo Bleisure Trip for a private tour of the live tuna auction at Toyosu Market followed by a food walk of the old Tsukiji Market. Takashi was a warm, friendly and informative guide. From timely prior communication to sharing restaurant/sightseeing recommendations afterwards, it was a pleasure interacting with him from start to finish. Takashi met us at our hotel and we promptly started our tour at 5 AM. We first headed to the new wholesale fish market, Toyosu Market, and viewed the auction from the upper observation deck. Takashi patiently explained the entire process and shared some interesting facts and figures about the auction. Being Christmas eve, we were lucky to witness the auction on one of the busiest days of the year, where thousands of tuna were up for sale. This was followed by an omasake sushi breakfast at the famous Daiwa restaurant. We ended the tour with a food walk of the old Tsukiji fish market, where we savoured local street snacks like daifuku, taiyaki, karage and tamogoyaki. Takashi even helped us purchase local spices and Japanese pottery. A great experience overall and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Tokyo! Tip: Plan at least one month in advance if you would like to view the auction from the lower observation deck. Make sure to reach on time, or the auction will get over within half an hour on the days with less catch.

9. Tokyo Full-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide

Japan Guide Agency
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4.9 based on 11 reviews

Enjoy an efficient, one-day tour of Tokyo accompanied by a nationally-licensed and experienced multilingual guide! Your guide will introduce both modern and traditional aspects of this dynamic Japanese capital. Due to the enormous size of Tokyo, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, a one-day tour would probably focus on one small area, which would still leave you in awe at the scale of the city. Tokyo is where you can experience both modern and traditional, and your expepienced private guide will help you efficiently enjoy a full day in this dynamic Japanese capital. Let us know what you would like to experience, and we will customize a six-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

Inclusions: Licensed Local Guide, Free Photos, Hotel Pick up and Drop-off

Exclusions: Transportation fee (for yourself and your guide), Entrance fee (for yourself), Lunch (for yourself and your guide), Other personal expenses, Private transportation

Reviewed By Cwshaman

The flexibility to chose locations that suited our wants and abilities was great. Hiro San was very quick to put together an itinerary that accommodated a family with a stroller-baby (no monkey park due to long unpacked walking paths). Taking in the beautiful temples and view of the Kyoto from the west was breath taking and the guide was able to explain many things we as new Japanese learners could not read or know through cultural knowledge. Overall a great experience, a wonderful and lively guide, and some great memories.

10. Tokyo Tours By Locals: Private & 100% Personalized- See the City Unscripted

Tokyo, Japan City Unscripted Tokyo
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4.8 based on 22 reviews

You couldn't possibly see all of Tokyo’s must-sees in one day but you can see what you think is unmissable. Get lost amongst the madness of Shibuya Crossing, feast on sushi at the top of a skyscraper, take in the views from the top of the Tokyo Skytree or pay your respects at Sensō-ji. Feeling peckish? There are dozens of noodle outlets and sushi dens. Just tell us what you’re into and we’ll do our best to make it happen. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do

Inclusions: 8 hour Private and personalised experience, Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options), Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Tickets to any attractions, Transportation costs, Gratuities

Reviewed By eugenius101

Kento is most definitely the perfect guide for late night adventures around Shinjuku. Highly personable with an enquiring mind and a lot of fun , I’m sooooo glad I stumbled into one of his tours . If a traveller wants to get to know the Golden Gai area , this is most definitely your man . The meal before was wonderful and somewhere I would never have discovered by myself - and cheap as ! This is the real thing , with a brilliant guide .

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