6 Self-Guided Tours in Tokyo to Book Now

1.Open Top Panoramic Sightseeing Bus with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 254 reviews · 1h 10m · from $11Our pick

Choose a 70-minute City Course through central Tokyo or Bay Course past Odaiba and Rainbow Bridge. The open-top bus uses GPS to trigger audio commentary in Japanese, English, Chinese, French, Korean, Vietnamese or Thai. Japanese-speaking staff help with boarding, but there is no live guide. Bring a 3.5mm headphone plug or rent headphones for 100 yen.

“Overall it was a good tour which gave us a real sense of the size of Tokyo and its culture. The drive over Rainbow Bridge was the highlight but it was good to see how the Japanese people enjoyed themselves on a Saturday afternoon in the parks. So we were satisfied with the value of the tour. The only thing that marred our satisfaction was the reception at the meeting place. I understand that the meeting place is a shared space with another company but we arrived about 20 minutes early having only arrived in Tokyo 4 hours before so we weren’t sure of the timing of the trains etc…”

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2.60min Panoramic Open Top Bus Tour with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 40 reviews · 1 hour · from $14

Ride a double-decker open-top bus from Tokyo Station past the National Diet Building, Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba, Tsukiji and Ginza. A Japanese-speaking guide leads the one-hour trip, while GPS audio is available in eight languages. Bring your own smartphone and earphones to use the audio.

“We enjoyed the one hour tour it’s very comportable”

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3.Self-Guided Tour with a special brochure

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 11 reviews · 1 day · from $6Best value

Start near Akihabara Station with Shingo Travel’s English brochure, written by an experienced local guide. Follow its Google Maps links and tips to find anime shops, English manga, retro games, ramen, batting cages, and a maid cafe. This is a self-guided, one-day experience: no guide meets you, and your charged smartphone is essential.

“It was fun, I visited all shops and played with lots of fun in Taito station. The only thing - if you come to Tanaka ramen around 12 be ready to wait in line minimum 30 min. Anyways it was good, Thank you!”

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4.Tokyo Self-Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10 reviews · from $9

Explore Tokyo with audio guides for 22 attractions, from the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine to Asakusa and Ueno Park. You choose the route, pace, start, and finish. The $9 tour provides SoundCloud audio links and a Google My Maps route, but transport and entry fees are extra.

“All good. Seasonal information would be helpful is that it shows best times to visit. Some places would be best to visit in Soring or Autumn when the leaves changes colour”

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5.Self Guided Trip to Mt. Fuji // Made by Local Guides

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7 reviews · 1 day

Sunrise Adventure sends you a PDF for a self-guided day from Shinjuku through Hakone, with transport directions, food tips, and local stops. You set your own pace, visiting Moto Hakone, Amazake Chaya, the Old Tokaido stone-paved road, Lake Ashi, and Owakudani. Transport, meals, tickets, and a personal guide are not included.

“The guide gave us a useful tip for organizing the day trip. It is very clear and easy to understand. I only recommend entering the closing time of each activity to be more flexible with the departure time and organization, considering that in Japan most of the activities close early in the afternoon.”

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6.Sumo Keiko Training Tour with Audio Guide & Photo

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5 reviews · 40 - 90 minutes · from $85Top rated

At Nakamura-beya Sumo Stable in Ryogoku, watch professional wrestlers train, follow explanations of sumo history, ranks, and techniques on your phone, then take a photo with the wrestlers. A live guide speaks English, Japanese, and Korean; no individual guide name is provided. The venue has air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, and charging stations, and JR Ryogoku Station is about two minutes away.

“Authentic Suno experience even if you know a lot about sumo. Up close and personal. Makes you appreciate the sport and enhances your appreciation for the wrestlers.”

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