Route 11: Introduction to Japanese Gardens, Tea, Food, Craftsmanship, and Japanese Culture

Introduction to Japanese Gardens, Tea, Food, Craftsmanship, and Japanese Culture

Courses

January-June, October-December

July-September: Hama-rikyu Gardens (shortened route)

July-September: Ozu Washi (shortened route)

This tour allows you to come into contact with traditional Japanese culture. In the Hama-rikyu Gardens with more than 360 years history, while strolling in the Japanese gardens, you will call at a teahouse where you can enjoy matcha green tea with Japanese confectionery. Then you will experience the ancient Japanese art of making washi paper by hand. On Saturdays and Sundays when the handmade washi paper-making classes are not offered, you will walk around Tsukiji Outer Market with many stores, notably restaurants and also visit the distinctive Tsukiji Honganji Temple, with a main hall whose exterior imitates the ancient Buddhist architecture of India.

*On Saturdays and Sundays, as handmade washi paper-making classes are not offered, the tour ends at Higashi Ginza Station after visiting the Tsukiji Outer Market and Tsukiji Honganji Temple.
In this case, the tour fee is 2,830 yen (breakdown: 1,370 yen per participant + 1,460 yen for the accompanying two guides) and it will take about 2.5 hours.

Route

Tokyo Tourist Information Center at Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal → Shinjuku Station → Shiodome Station → Hama-rikyu Gardens (Japanese confections and matcha green tea experience) → Shimbashi Station → Mitsukoshimae Station → Ozu Washi (handmade Japanese paper making class) (closed on Saturdays and Sundays) (end)

*We will conduct either a visit to Hama-rikyu Gardens or an Ozu Washi experience (handmade Japanese paper-making class), depending on your choice, from July to September to avoid the heat.
However, on Saturdays and Sundays from July to September, only the Hama-rikyu Gardens route is available (Ozu Washi class is closed).
*This tour will end at Ozu Gallery (around Nihonbashi) for the Ozu Washi (handmade Japanese paper-making class) course or at Toei Shiodome Station for the Hama-rikyu Gardens course.

Regarding Guide Services

• This guide service is provided by volunteers, and transportation is mainly by public transport or walking.
• The participants for the guide service are up to 5 people.
• It will be accompanied by 2 tour guides.
• Participants are required to pay the costs for 2 tour guides.
• The fees shown here are for 1 participant. The price changes depending on the number of participants. We will notify you of the actual fee by email.
• The fee for guide services should be paid with Japanese Yen.
• Among the participants, there must be at least 1 person over 20 years old.
• Some facilities may be closed depending on the day of the week.
• The time and date of departure changes depending on the route, so please check the details for each route.
• Please note that the tour guides will not be present or make reservations at eating and drinking establishments.

*The fee is the amount required for transport and attraction admission fees. (Including the fees for 2 guides). It also includes the amount required for the guides to return to Shinjuku after the guidance finishes. The guidance itself is free of charge.

Regarding Bookings

1. To apply for a tour, click the “Apply here” button.
2. We require you to inform us of your first and second preference for route and time/date. Please understand that we may be unable to offer guidance on your preferred date depending on volunteer schedules.
3. Bookings are required from 1 month to 3 days prior to your preferred guidance date.
4. After submitting your booking, we will send a response within a week. For bookings made from 1 week to 3 days before, we will respond the day before your preferred date at the latest. Be sure to include your contact details in Japan.
5. To cancel a booking, please contact us at least 1 day prior.