Dynamic Tokyo: Tokyo Tower, Tea Ceremony and Sumida River Cruise Day Tour

Get a taste for all the amazing sights Tokyo has to offer, plus learn about Japanese cultural traditions at tea ceremony, during this full-day tour of the top attractions in the Japanese capital. If you’re short on time and looking for an easy way to sample this fascinating Japanese capital city, this is the tour for you.

Start your Tokyo experience in the morning and continue by coach on a day-long tour of the city, making stops at each site.

Proceed first to Tokyo Tower, a towering landmark of the city skyline that provides incredible views of the greater metropolitan area. Ascend to the Tower’s 476-foot (145m) observation deck, sitting atop the second-tallest structure in Tokyo as you get a bird’s eye view of the city. Make sure to check out the transparent-floored ‘lookout window,’ affording heart-pounding views down to the ground below.

Continue your tour by taking part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Visit a serene garden, filled with bonsai trees and carefully-preserved architecture from the Edo-era, as you watch this intricate ritual that is as much art form as it is a beverage preparation.

Take a break from your tour to refuel with an included lunch before heading next to central Tokyo to view the Japanese Capitol, which houses the country’s Parliament, and to the front of the Imperial Palace, where you make a short photo stop. Your tour continues across the double-arched Niju-bashi Bridge, which at one time led to Tokyo’s Edo Castle (also known as Chiyoda Castle). Listen as your guide explains the history of this site, which the Japanese Emperor claimed as his residence in 1863.

Move next to Hinode Pier, where you enjoy a short cruise on the Sumida River as you head towards Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood. Your ride on this historically significant body of water takes you underneath 12 bridges as you enjoy the unique architectural landmarks along the riverbank.

Disembark from your boat and spend some time strolling the streets of Nakamise, a thoroughfare that’s packed with vendors selling handicrafts and food. Head on from Nakamise to Asakusa Kannon Temple (also known as Senso-ji), where you have the chance to explore Tokyo’s oldest and most important Buddhist temple. This sacred site’s history spans nearly 1,300 years.

Finish your excursion with a ride through Tokyo’s Ginza neighborhood, a high-end area of department stores and luxury boutiques. Stop with your group at Tokyo station, where your tour ends and you receive a souvenir map that allows you to continue your discovery of the city on your own.