11 Temple Walking Tours in Tokyo Worth Flying For

1.Asakusa Walking Tour with Sensoji Temple Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,583 reviews · 2 hours · from $22Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kaminarimon Gate for a two-hour walk through Asakusa. See Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Nakamise and Shin-Nakamise streets, Hoppy Street, and finish near Azuma Bridge. Guides such as Aya, Keiko, Hiroko, and Glenda are praised for clear explanations and useful food tips.

“An unforgettable experience. Aka—if I’ve recalled her nickname correctly—was absolutely fantastic. She offered a rich tapestry of insights and anecdotes, all conveyed with radiant enthusiasm and a charming personality. Her warmth, energy, and depth made the experience truly memorable. I wholeheartedly recommend her, Francois.”

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2.Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shinto & Imperial System

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 266 reviews · 90 - 135 minutes · from $23

Walk from Harajuku Station through Meiji Shrine’s 100,000-tree forest with an English-speaking guide such as Keiko, Yuuka, Ayaka, or Yuki. Learn shrine etiquette, the imperial system, Meiji-era change, sacred sake traditions, and how to read an Omigokoro poem before relaxing at Café Mori no Terrace.

“Highly recommended tour! Kaido was our guide and she walked us through the Shinto and imperial systems in Japan. Had so much background knowledge of the Meiji shrine and it was quite easy for us to navigate the whole place. We also had her help to write wishes and pray and get Hakas for the new year.”

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3.Meiji Jingu Shrine and Shinto Culture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 245 reviews · 2 hours · from $19Top rated

Meet your English-speaking guide near Harajuku and walk through Meiji Jingu Gyoen to Meiji Shrine. You’ll learn Shinto customs, see sake and wine barrels, and get photos and local Tokyo tips from guides such as Maya, Yota, Andres, and Ryota.

“Rio was the guide and he was super informative and friendly. Full of energy and a good attitude. Tour was great!”

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4.Meiji Shrine and Shinto Culture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 225 reviews · from $18

Meet near Harajuku and walk with a guide through Meiji Jingu’s forested grounds. You’ll learn how to bow at the torii, purify yourself, pray at the shrine, and understand Emperor Meiji’s role in modern Japan. Guides have included Yumi, Sara, Haydn, Matt, and Benjamin.

“We had a great walking tour of the Meiji Shrine through the forest with Sara, our guide. She was very friendly and knowledgable and explained the important facets of the Shinto religion and customs. We had been on other tours, but hRead more”

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5.Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shintoism & Imperial System

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 209 reviews · from $21

Join a small group of up to 15 at Harajuku Station for a 90-minute walk through Meiji Shrine and its forested grounds. Your guide explains Shinto rituals, the imperial system, torii gates, sake barrels, omikuji, ema, and shrine charms. Guides may include Yuuki, Nana, Keiko, or Nanami.

“The Tour with keiko as a guide has been a wonderful experience,she showed us the shrine and garden,as well her love and passion for the place,the culture and history of Japan.”

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6.Asakusa Temple & Shrine Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · 2 hours · from $30

Spend two hours in Asakusa with a small group of up to eight people and a local guide such as Nicolas, Erik, or Lino. Visit Sensoji, Asakusa Shrine, smaller temple sites, and a high viewpoint, while learning prayers, purification rituals, fortune telling, and the difference between Buddhism and Shinto.

“He is the best. I love his ambitions and kindness. Such a mature person for his age.”

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7.Tokyo’s Kitchen: Tsukiji Market Food & Culture Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 74 reviews · 3 hours · from $80

Start at Higashi-ginza and follow an English-speaking guide through Tsukiji Outer Market, tasting sushi, tamagoyaki, snacks, Wagashi, and more. Guides such as Mikki, Oku, Mihori, and Shino explain market customs, sushi history, and shrine rituals in a group of no more than six.

“Unfortunately it was raining and windy and we would have been ill prepared for the tour.”

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8.Tokyo Asakusa & Senso-Ji Walking tour With A Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 40 reviews · 2 hours · from $53

Walk through Asakusa with a private local guide, visiting Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise Street, Senso-ji, Sumida Park, and Tokyo Skytree. The tour can be customized, runs in English, French, Spanish, or Italian, and may include guides such as Nicolas.

“La guida sicuramente una brava persona, senza però dare un quadro esplicativo del quartiere e delle curiosità del posto.”

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9.Asakusa & Tokyo’s Oldest Temple Senso-ji Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 21 reviews · 2 hours · from $11Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kaminarimon Police Station for a two-hour small-group walk through Asakusa. Expect Senso-ji, Nakamise Street, local stories, photo stops, and guides such as Lax and Shoma. The $11 price makes this a simple, low-cost introduction to old Tokyo.

“We had a wonderful time with LAX. He was so interesting and passionate about sharing his love and knowledge of his city. On top of that we had the chance of having him all to ourselves that particular day, which made the visit even more special and personalized. I can only recommend that you book a tour with him if you want to have a fun, interesting and original experience of Asakusa.”

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10.Meiji Shrine Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 9 reviews · from $20

Walk through Meiji Shrine’s sacred forest with an English-speaking local guide. Learn the proper way to bow, cleanse, and pray, then visit the quiet Imperial Fishing Platform and lesser-seen shrine details before finishing near Harajuku Station. The tour costs $20 per person.

“We learned about the history of Meiji Jingu, the custom of bowing when passing through the torii gate, and that the central part of the approach is where the gods walk, so visitors should walk on the left side. The guide explained the highlights of the torii and the approach to the shrine, and my interest in Meiji Jingu Shrine grew. The artificially created space of the approach creates a sacred space, and it's really wonderful, and there's no doubt that your heart will be cleansed. The guide showed us the back of the main hall and explained the turtle stone and the sazare stone. I thought that if I…”

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11.Asakusa Sensoji Night Walk with a Local Brandy

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7 reviews · from $48

Walk Asakusa after dark with an English-speaking local guide, stopping for Denki Brandy at a historic bar before exploring Nakamise Street, Senso-ji, and Hoppy Street. Guides such as Hiro and Inok bring local stories, family-friendly conversation, and lesser-known photo stops to this relaxed evening tour.

“INok was friendly, flexible and great at interacting with the kids to show them what they were looking for.”

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