5 Best Sightseeing Tours in Tokyo: Which One To Book

Thinking about booking a sightseeing tour in Tokyo? You totally should!

Tokyo is a real megacity with everything from ancient temples and peaceful gardens to futuristic skyscrapers and bustling fish markets. No matter how long you’re staying, you’ll never run out of places to explore. But we’ve learned that the hard part isn’t finding something to see; it’s choosing the right tour that includes everything you want. That’s where we come in.

We’ve narrowed it down to the five sightseeing tours we think are actually worth your time. Whether you’re into history, museums, temples, local markets, or want a little bit of everything, you’ll find one here. Let’s explore Tokyo!

Best Sightseeing Tours in Tokyo 

1. See Tokyo on a relaxed bus tour

There is SO much to see in Tokyo, and this full-day sightseeing tour helped us to get our bearings in the city!

It’s honestly a must-do because it makes exploring this huge city so much easier. We got to see a ton in just one day, without spending hours planning and researching, and we had a blast! 

We visited so many iconic highlights, including the Meiji Jingu Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Takeshita Street, which is the epicenter of the Harajuku fashion district. We loved people-watching here! We also went to the Asakusa Palace to enjoy a matcha experience. We got to grind matcha, participate in a traditional tea ceremony, and try some matcha beer and ice cream. 

After lunch, we visited the Senso-ji Temple, which is the oldest in Tokyo, and headed up the Tokyo Skytree to enjoy panoramic views from the Tembo Deck. Finally, the day wrapped up with a cruise through the Odaiba District. 

I still can’t believe how much we got to do in just one day! I highly recommend this tour if you’re short on time. It makes it so easy to visit must-see attractions, and our guide, Ria, was excellent. Honestly, I’m not surprised that it has over 15,000 5-star reviews! 

This full-day sightseeing tour includes a delicious lunch with karaage, aka Japanese fried chicken, in the grounds of the Asakusa Palace. I definitely suggest booking this tour for your first full day in Tokyo (and doing so before it sells out!).

2. Explore Tokyo on a private, customizable city tour

If you’re excited to visit as many sights as possible while still choosing exactly what you want to see, this customizable private tour is the perfect choice. Since everyone in Tokyo always seems to be rushing somewhere, this tour is the complete opposite, with a relaxed pace and a personalized experience led by a licensed local guide, which is a huge bonus.

Although it’s mostly walking, with the occasional public transport ride, and lasts around six hours, it doesn’t feel long or exhausting. There’s plenty of time to take a break, snap some great photos, and really enjoy each stop. And if you’re not sure which sights to include, you can simply leave it to your guide to put together the perfect itinerary. Trust us, they know exactly what they’re doing!

The list of sights in Tokyo is pretty long, though. You could start with a visit to the peaceful Meiji Jingu Shrine, see Tokyo Imperial Palace, head up Tokyo Tower for the views, or wander through the narrow alleys and food stalls of Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane).

Along the way, you’ll learn so much about Tokyo’s history, traditions, and everyday life that you’d probably miss if you were exploring on your own. So, if it’s your first time in Tokyo, or you’re just short on time but still want a high-quality experience, this tour is hard to beat!

3. Discover Asakusa in a rickshaw

This rickshaw tour is one of our favorite ways to explore Tokyo, especially Asakusa, where every corner is filled with something ancient or traditional. This neighborhood is packed with street food stalls, artisan shops, temples, and shrines, so it can feel a little overwhelming on your first visit. Discovering it with a local guide made all the difference!

Riding on a rickshaw is such a fun way to get around: you get to take in the smells from the street food stalls, and get a front-row seat to almost everything you pass by. If something catches your eye, you can always come back to it later. And for us, there were lots of places worth returning to.

You can choose from a 30-minute ride to a 3-hour tour, but we found that an hour and a half was more than enough. If you’re worried about the weather, don’t be. You’re well protected under the rickshaw’s hood and rain covers, and there are even blankets to keep you warm or dry if needed.

Over the course of 90 minutes, we saw more maple and cherry trees than we’d seen in our entire lives, peaceful Japanese gardens tucked beneath towering skyscrapers, Ushijima Shrine, Honryuin Matsuchiyama Shoden, and even the headquarters of the famous Asahi Beer. Our guide, Itaru, shared so many stories about the history of Asakusa and the temples and shrines we visited. Safe to say, we enjoyed every second of it.

The tour is fully customizable, so you can tailor it to your own interests. Judging by the amazing reviews, it’s clearly a very popular one, so we’d recommend booking in advance to secure your time slot. 

Related Read: Want to experience more of Tokyo’s culture? Check out our guide to the best sumo tours in Tokyo and tips on booking the best Tokyo cooking classes for two fun ways to dive in!

4. See more of the city on an e-bike tour

We love this e-bike tour because it checks off lots of Tokyo’s sights in just a short amount of time. It’s ideal if you’re visiting for the first time, don’t want to spend hours planning the logistics, or simply love bike tours (that’s definitely us). 

It’s actually something we’d do on our first day, as it gives you a great overview of the city before deciding where you want to come back later. Sadly, the tour was fully booked on our first day here, so take that as your sign to book in advance.

There are two departures each day, one at 9 am and another at 1:30 pm. For us, the morning tour worked best because it left the rest of the day free to explore on our own. The best part is that it’s fully customizable, so you get to choose which sights are worth your time. Depending on the route, you could visit places like Tokyo Station, Akihabara, Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, and Ryogoku, while also riding through quiet backstreets you’d definitely miss on your own.

Our guide, Ninja, was super fun and with us the whole way. We loved hearing his stories about Tokyo’s history and local culture. Plus, the e-bikes make the ride nice and easy, so it’s a great option if you’re traveling as a family. 

Related Read: Looking for even more ways to explore the city? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Tokyo for all of our favorite activities and must-see sights!

5. See the city light up at night on a Tokyo Bay Cruise 

If you love both cruises and traditional Japanese shows, this Tokyo Bay cruise is the perfect combination of sightseeing, entertainment, and great food all in one. We love a good cruise, so this immediately caught our eye.

You can choose from a few different options, whether you’d rather do a tea ceremony or a dinner cruise. We went for the dinner cruise because we couldn’t say no to a hot pot sukiyaki meal. As soon as we boarded, we set off across the bay, and our first stop was the Rainbow Bridge, lit up in different colors. Definitely have your camera ready for this one!

Did you know Tokyo has its own Statue of Liberty? It’s in Odaiba and looks especially beautiful around sunset. We also cruised past the famous Fuji TV building before reaching the iconic Tokyo Tower.

A couple of things to keep in mind: you’ll need to take your shoes off before boarding, and you might be seated at a shared table. Seating is assigned at random, either on traditional tatami mats or in Western-style chairs, and if you fancy an extra drink, Asahi beer and sake are available for purchase on board (cash only).

We’re definitely not the only ones who loved this cruise. With over 550 amazing reviews, it’s clearly a popular choice, so if it sounds like your kind of evening, we’d recommend booking in advance.

Related Read: Want to make the most of your time in the city? Check out our 5-day Tokyo itinerary for the full experience, or our 3-day Tokyo itinerary if you’re short on time!

Where to Stay in Tokyo

For these Tokyo sightseeing tours, we think Shinjuku is the best area to stay. It’s incredibly well-connected by public transport, making it easy to reach meeting points and explore the city on your own. Plus, there are tons of restaurants, shops, nightlife, and fun things to do in Shinjuku when you’re not out sightseeing. We’ve picked three great Shinjuku stays for luxury, mid-range, and budget travelers.

Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower – $$$ 

Just a 1-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower is not only a super convenient place to stay, but its rooms also offer epic views of Tokyo! It’s sleek and modern, not to mention close to major attractions like the gorgeous Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and the Meiji Jingu Shrine. For us, this place wins in terms of location and comfort—what’s not to love?

Double rooms at Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower typically cost between 33,000 and 57,000 JPY ($230 and $400 USD) per night. Check prices and availability at Booking.com!

WPÜ HOTEL Shinjuku – $$

Just a 6-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, WPÜ HOTEL Shinjuku offers a friendly and reasonably priced stay in a prime location. It’s super close to Shinjuku SanPark Mall, so it’s ideal for those who want to shop ‘til they drop – when in Tokyo, right? 

Meanwhile, the hotel itself boasts a cozy lounge and shared kitchen, as well as an on-site restaurant. Plus, it has a flexible policy if you need to reschedule your booking, and there are single rooms available, which is perfect for solo travelers trying to keep their costs down. Conversely, there are also triple rooms, which are handy for groups!

Prices here range between 16,000 and 50,000 JPY ($110 and $350 USD) per night, depending on room size. Check availability and reserve your stay here!

Hotel Queen Annex – $

Hotel Queen Annex is a quirky and budget-friendly hotel just east of Shinjuku Station. Despite its affordable price tag, they really deliver the VIP treatment. You get welcome drinks on arrival, and there’s an impressive range of beauty products in the bathroom. This place was definitely designed with female travelers in mind!

The hotel is within walking distance of the station, the Hanazono Shrine, the National Garden, and Omoide Yokocho. Basically, Tokyo is your oyster when you stay here! Rooms here cost between 18,000 and 30,000 JPY ($120–$200 USD) per night. Book this great-value hotel here!

Related Read: For more accommodation options, read our guides on the best places to stay in Tokyo and the 15 best ryokans in Tokyo!

Thanks for reading!

Tokyo is HUGE, and with so much to see, figuring out where to start can feel like a challenge! That’s exactly why we love these sightseeing tours. They make it easy to check off iconic temples, buzzing neighborhoods, epic viewpoints, and hidden corners without spending your whole trip figuring out the logistics. Any of the tours on this list will help you experience more of Tokyo and have a ton of fun along the way!

For even more ideas, check out all of our Japan blogs. We’ve traveled all over the country and have plenty more tips, tours, and must-do experiences to help you plan an unforgettable trip! Or keep scrolling below to check out some of our most popular guides!

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