One of my favourite things to do when I arrive in a new city is a free walking tour. They’re an easy way to get my bearings, learn some of the history and discover places I probably wouldn’t find on my own.
Tokyo was no exception.
During my visit, I joined three different free walking tours covering very different parts of the city – Asakusa, Shibuya and Harajuku, and Shinjuku.
I deliberately chose tours in different areas because Tokyo is huge, and each neighbourhood has its own personality.
Rather than trying to find one walking tour that somehow covers everything, I found this was a great way to explore several parts of the city in more detail.
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All three tours were booked through GuruWalk. There’s no set price for a free walking tour – you book your place without paying for the tour upfront, then tip your guide at the end based on what you thought the experience was worth.
So which Tokyo free walking tour should you choose?
I enjoyed all three, but for very different reasons. Below I’ll share what each tour covered, what I liked about it and who I think it would suit best – plus a few more Tokyo free walking tours worth considering if these aren’t quite right for you.
3 of the Best Tokyo Free Walking Tours I’ve Tried
If you only have time for one free walking tour in Tokyo, the best choice really depends on which side of the city you want to experience.
| Tour | Best for | When I did it | My take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asakusa Free Walking Tour | Temples, traditional Tokyo and history | Evening | A great introduction to one of Tokyo’s most atmospheric areas |
| Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine Free Walking Tour | Modern Tokyo, youth culture and a mix of old and new | Daytime | Covers a lot of ground and shows just how varied Tokyo can be |
| Shinjuku Night Free Walking Tour | Nightlife, hidden stories and Tokyo after dark | Evening | My favourite of the three |
My pick: If I could only choose one, I’d go with the Shinjuku Night Free Walking Tour. Shinjuku can be overwhelming when you first arrive, and having a guide explain what you’re seeing made it much more interesting than simply wandering around on my own.
Asakusa Free Walking Tour – Best for Traditional Tokyo
The first free walking tour I did in Tokyo was in Asakusa, on the evening I arrived.
Normally I might not recommend booking something for your first night after a flight, but this worked really well. It got me out exploring straight away and gave me a much better understanding of an area I probably would have otherwise just wandered through looking at the sights.
Asakusa is one of the best places in Tokyo to get a taste of the city’s more traditional side, and the tour naturally centred around Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple.
But rather than simply walking up to the temple, taking some photos and moving on, our guide explained more about the history, traditions and little details around the area. That’s exactly what I like about walking tours – you start noticing things you would otherwise walk straight past.
We explored around Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise shopping street and Senso-ji, as well as some of the surrounding streets.
Doing the tour in the evening was also a bonus. Asakusa has a different feel once the daytime crowds begin to disappear, and Senso-ji is beautiful when it’s illuminated after dark.
Who is this Tokyo walking tour best for?
I’d choose an Asakusa free walking tour if you’re interested in Tokyo’s history, temples and traditional culture, particularly if it’s your first visit to the city.
It’s also a good tour to do early in your stay. Once you’ve learnt a little about the customs and traditions you’re seeing, you’ll start recognising them elsewhere in Tokyo too.
Book the Asakusa free walking tour I did here
Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine Free Walking Tour – Best for Seeing Tokyo’s Contrasts
My second free walking tour took me through Shibuya and Harajuku, finishing at the entrance to Meiji Shrine. It couldn’t have felt more different from Asakusa.
We started around Shibuya, including the famous Shibuya Crossing, before making our way towards Harajuku. Along the way, our guide talked about the neighbourhoods, their history and modern Tokyo culture, pointing out places such as Takeshita Street and explaining their significance.
Despite Meiji Shrine being included in the tour name, we didn’t actually enter the shrine as part of the tour. Instead, the walk finished at the gates, where our guide explained more about the shrine and what we would find inside.
For me, this worked well. We could continue into Meiji Shrine ourselves afterwards and spend as much time as we wanted there. We could also explore more of Harajuku, including Takeshita Street, at our own pace.
Who is this Tokyo walking tour best for?
I’d recommend this tour if it’s your first visit to Tokyo and you want an introduction to several of its best-known areas while learning more about what you’re seeing along the way.
It’s worth allowing some extra time afterwards. Since the tour finishes at Meiji Shrine, it’s easy to continue exploring the shrine grounds and Harajuku independently rather than immediately moving on to somewhere else.
Book the Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine Free Walking Tour
Shinjuku Night Free Walking Tour – My Favourite
Of the three free walking tours I did in Tokyo, the Shinjuku night tour was my favourite.
Shinjuku is one of those places that can feel a little overwhelming when you first arrive. There are bright lights, enormous buildings, tiny laneways, restaurants, bars and people everywhere.
It’s exciting, but there’s also a lot going on that you simply don’t understand when you’re wandering around by yourself.
That’s what made this tour so interesting.
We explored some of Shinjuku’s best-known nightlife and entertainment areas, including Kabukicho and Golden Gai, while our guide explained more about what we were seeing and how these areas fit into Tokyo life.
One of the things I particularly liked was learning about the side of Shinjuku that’s not immediately obvious to visitors.
Our guide talked about the area’s nightlife, entertainment culture and some of the quirks you might otherwise walk straight past without understanding.
Seeing Shinjuku as part of a walking tour also made me much more comfortable exploring the area independently afterwards. Once I had a better idea of how everything fitted together, it didn’t feel nearly as chaotic.
Who is this Tokyo walking tour best for?
I’d recommend this one to adults curious about Tokyo after dark or who want to understand Shinjuku rather than simply see all the neon lights.
This isn’t a tour I’d recommend for kids. In fact, kids will not be allowed.
Shinjuku’s nightlife and entertainment districts include adult-oriented businesses and themes, and some of what is discussed on the tour isn’t really suitable for younger travellers.
For adults, though, that’s part of what makes the tour so interesting. You get a better understanding of an area that’s very different after dark and can be difficult to make sense of on your own.
If I could only choose one of the three Tokyo free walking tours I did, this would be it.
Book a Shinjuku Night Free Walking Tour
Other Tokyo Free Walking Tours to Consider
The three tours above are the ones I personally tried, but they’re certainly not the only options.
There are dozens of free walking tours available across Tokyo, so it’s worth having a look at what’s running on the dates you’re visiting. Some other areas and themes you might want to consider include:
- Tsukiji – a good option if you’re interested in Tokyo’s food culture and want to explore the famous outer market.
- Akihabara and Ueno – tours here can combine Tokyo’s anime, gaming and pop culture with temples, shrines and older parts of the city.
- Imperial Palace – ideal if you’re particularly interested in Japanese history, the shoguns and the former Edo Castle.
- Ginza – explore one of Tokyo’s most famous shopping districts, including some of its lesser-known streets and history.
- Ueno – another option for history, temples and a different side of Tokyo away from Shibuya and Shinjuku.
I haven’t personally done these tours, so I can’t recommend a particular one from experience. But if you’ve already visited the areas covered by my three tours – or simply have different interests – they’re worth considering.
Find a Tokyo free walking tour
How Do Free Walking Tours in Tokyo Work?
Despite the name, a free walking tour isn’t really intended to cost you nothing.
There is no fixed tour price. You book your place for free, join the tour and then decide how much you think the experience was worth at the end.
How much should you tip on a free walking tour in Tokyo?
This is probably the biggest question if you’ve never done a free walking tour before.
GuruWalk currently suggests €15-€50 per person as a general guide, depending on how much you enjoyed the tour.
You don’t need to start converting euros while standing on a Tokyo street though! I simply think about what I would have been happy to pay for a similar walking tour and tip accordingly.
Remember that although the tour is advertised as “free”, your guide is giving you their time and knowledge and is expecting to earn money from the tour.
Do you need to book in advance?
Yes, I recommend booking rather than simply turning up.
When you book through GuruWalk, you choose your tour, date and time and receive confirmation with the meeting point and other details.
Popular tours can fill up, so if there’s one you particularly want to do, I wouldn’t leave it until the last minute.
Should you take cash?
I would.
Individual guides may accept electronic payments, but this varies between tours. Having some Japanese yen with you makes things simple.
Check the individual tour listing before you go, as it may tell you which payment methods your guide accepts.
What if your plans change?
You can cancel your GuruWalk booking if you can no longer attend.
Do make sure you actually cancel rather than simply not turning up. Your guide is expecting you and will be waiting for the people who have booked.
Browse Tokyo free walking tours
My Tips for Taking a Free Walking Tour in Tokyo
After doing three free walking tours in Tokyo, there are a few things I’d recommend.
Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be doing plenty of walking – and likely plenty more before and after the tour. Tokyo is a city where the daily step count can climb very quickly.
Check the meeting point before you leave. Tokyo’s train stations can be enormous, with multiple exits that may put you surprisingly far from where you need to be.
Don’t assume arriving at the right station means you’re only a minute or two from the meeting point. (Ask me how I know)
Allow some extra time. I wouldn’t plan something with a strict start time immediately after your walking tour.
Tours can run a little over, and you may also discover somewhere along the way that you want to go back and explore.
Dress for the weather. Tokyo can be hot and humid in summer and cold in winter, and you’ll be outside for much of the tour.
Check the forecast before you leave and take water, sun protection, an umbrella or extra layers as needed.
Have some yen with you. Even if your guide accepts another payment method, cash makes tipping at the end of the tour easy.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. One of the biggest advantages of having a local guide is being able to ask about things you’ve noticed or want to know more about.
You might also pick up some useful recommendations for the rest of your time in Tokyo.
And finally, don’t necessarily stop exploring when the tour finishes.
This worked particularly well for us on the Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine tour. We finished at the gates of Meiji Shrine and could then continue exploring the shrine and Harajuku independently.
Are Free Walking Tours in Tokyo Worth It?
For me, absolutely.
I’ve done free walking tours in cities all over the world, and I find them particularly useful when I’m somewhere new.
They’re an easy way to get your bearings, learn some of the history and understand a little more about the places you’re walking past.
That was certainly the case in Tokyo.
The three tours I did were all quite different.
Asakusa gave me an introduction to Tokyo’s more traditional side, Shibuya and Harajuku showed me some of the contrasts of modern Tokyo, and Shinjuku at night showed me a side of the city I wouldn’t have understood nearly as well wandering around by myself.
If you’re visiting Tokyo for the first time, I’d recommend fitting at least one free walking tour into your itinerary. I
f you have more time, doing tours in different neighbourhoods works particularly well because Tokyo isn’t a city that can be summed up in a single walk.
If I had to choose just one of the three I did, I’d pick the Shinjuku Night Free Walking Tour.
But that’s based on what I enjoyed most. If temples and history are more your thing, you might prefer Asakusa.
That’s one of the advantages of having so many different tours available – you can choose the one that suits the way you like to travel.
Ready to find yours? Browse Tokyo free walking tours on GuruWalk here.
Find more free things to do in Tokyo here
TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
Flights – Book direct with the airline, always.
Book accommodation – My go to is Booking.com
Hire a rental car – DiscoverCars.com is where I search many car rental companies in one place
Get travel insurance – I use CoverMore for my insurance.
Pick up an eSIM – My eSIM of choice is Airalo
Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator, Get Your Guide and Klook are my first options.
Stay safe with a VPN – I use NordVPN to keep me safe online
Manage your money – I use Wise and ING (Australia) for my travel accounts.
