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Japan Explained: A Big-Picture History Walk in Asakusa

By Arumachi
9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
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Overview

What if one short walk in Asakusa could explain all of Japanese history?
This tour goes far beyond sightseeing. At every landmark, your expert guide explains not only what you’re seeing, but why it matters—using each site as a gateway to Japan’s history, beliefs, and global connections. By the end of the walk, you’ll have a clear, big-picture understanding of how Japan evolved from a closed feudal society into the country you see today.
This tour features:

  • History in context: Each site is a stepping stone to understanding Japan as a whole
  • Clear, engaging storytelling: Complex history made accessible and memorable
  • Perfect for first-time visitors and history lovers alike
  • Walk away with a true overview of Japanese history, not just photos
    This is more than a sightseeing walk through Asakusa—it’s a guided journey through Japan’s past, beliefs, and global connections, all woven seamlessly into one unforgettable experience.
Activity location
  • Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
    • 2-18-9 Kaminarimon
    • 111-0034, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Meeting/Redemption Point
  • Burger King Asakusa Azumabashi
    • クロスビルロイヤルパレス 20
    • 111-0034, Taito City, Tokyo, Japan

Check availability

Sorry this activity isn't available on Sun, 15 Feb
Please choose a different date

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Live guiding in English by a local certified expert guide
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Hotel pickup

Know before you book

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Sumida River
  • 15m
Begin along the Sumida River, where the story of Japan’s isolation and opening to the world comes alive. Learn why the Edo shogunate sealed the country for over 200 years, why the Netherlands alone was permitted to trade, and how Admiral Perry’s arrival forced Japan to reopen. The guide connects this past to modern Tokyo—right down to Odaiba’s former gun batteries and today’s Statue of Liberty replica facing the Pacific.
Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
  • 15m
Get a clear introduction to Japan’s two major religions, Buddhism and Shinto, setting the foundation for everything you’ll see ahead.
Kaminarimon
  • 15m
At Asakusa’s iconic gate, explore the fascinating contrast between Japanese and Western dragons—and learn why the Japanese dragon plays exactly an opposite role from the Western one.
Nakamise Shopping Street (Kaminarimon)
  • 30m
Stroll through one of Japan’s oldest shopping streets while learning about Buddhist symbols like the vajra (tokko) and the world-changing impact of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Discover how these prints unexpectedly reached Europe—and inspired Western Impressionist painters.
Hozomon
  • 15m
Here, your guide reveals a surprising truth: people in Japan and the West shared remarkably similar ways of thinking 1,000 years ago.
Senso-ji Temple
  • 15m
Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple offers another striking comparison between medieval Japan and Europe, along with a clear explanation of how prayer differs in Buddhism and Shinto.
Asakusa Shrine
  • 15m
End the tour at a place that amazes many visitors: a Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple sharing the same grounds, worshippers, and history—peacefully coexisting for over a millennium. Learn why.

Location

Activity location
  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
    • 2-18-9 Kaminarimon
    • 111-0034, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Meeting/Redemption Point
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Burger King Asakusa Azumabashi
    • クロスビルロイヤルパレス 20
    • 111-0034, Taito City, Tokyo, Japan

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