15 Temple & Shrine Tours in Tokyo to Build a Day Around

1.Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, Skytree Bus Tour and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,986 reviews · 10 hours · from $122Our pick

Spend 10 hours touring Tokyo by air-conditioned coach, from Meiji Shrine and the Imperial Palace to Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree. You’ll taste Uji matcha, eat an optional karaage and tofu lunch, and take a short bay cruise when conditions allow. Guides such as Aya, Yui, Hiro, and Tsubasa add useful cultural context.

“Great tour, a good way to fit a lot into just one day. Our guide Sora was great, knowledgeable and cheery. The only thing I'd change would be to have more time at the Meiji Shrine in the morning and maybe half an hour less at the Sky Tree.”

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2.Asakusa Walking Tour with Sensoji Temple Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,583 reviews · 2 hours · from $22

Meet an English-speaking guide at Kaminarimon for a two-hour walk through Asakusa. You’ll see Senso-ji, Asakusa Shrine, Nakamise Street, Hoppy Street, and Shin-Nakamise, with guides such as Aya, Keiko, Hiroko, and Glenda explaining local customs, temple details, and places to eat.

“Really good, very informative. Aya was a lovely guide. Was great learning about the Japanese cultures and also good tips for the rest of our stay.”

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3.Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji & Toshogu Temple

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,577 reviews · 11 hours · from $89

Travel from Ginza to Nikko by air-conditioned coach with an English and Spanish guide such as Melody, Jorge, or Beru. Visit Toshogu Shrine, view Kegon Falls, stroll beside Lake Chuzenji, and enjoy lunch if you choose the premium option. January and February substitute temple views for the lake and falls.

“Fantastic day! Beautiful colors and incredible place. Melody is a very good guide, she is passionate with Japan and she wants to share Japanese culture. She gave very clear instructions.”

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4.Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Kegon Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,266 reviews · 10h 30m · from $84

Escape Tokyo for Nikko’s ornate Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji, and mountain roads. A bilingual English and Chinese guide such as Tina, Zoe, or Jeff accompanies you on a long but well-organized coach trip. Shinkyo Bridge replaces the onsen from October 1, 2025.

“What a great tour! Our guide Vicki and the driver were both excellent. The whole tour was really well organised. We spent just the right amount of time at each place and there were plenty of opportunities to get food and drinks and to use the washrooms. The shrine at Nikko was incredible and we’re so glad that we went.”

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5.Tokyo Panoramic 1 Day: Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, Odaiba and SKYTREE®

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,222 reviews · from $85

Spend about nine hours seeing Tokyo by air-conditioned bus with an English-speaking licensed guide. Visit Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, Odaiba, Senso-ji, and Tokyo Skytree’s 350-meter deck, with a Western buffet lunch included. Guides such as Mina, Keiko, and Yu Me have earned high marks for clear, caring commentary.

“Itinerary was carefully planned and it did not feel rushed at all. I am truly sorry but I forgot the Japanese name of the tour guide (I remember her English name, which I believe is Grace), she is not only very knowledgeable, but also very sweet and kind. Overall a very fun trip even when you’re going solo!”

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6.Zen Meditation at a Private Temple with a Monk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 510 reviews · 1h 30m · from $55Top rated

Meet guide Tamami or another English-speaking host near Tawaramachi Station and enter a private Asakusa temple with a 400-year history. A resident monk explains Zazen, leads meditation, and answers questions. You may also try calligraphy before matcha, sweets, and a relaxed tea discussion.

“It was nice, the tour guide was very helpful and happy to answer any questions”

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7.Mt. Fuji Heritage Tour: Traditional Villages, Lakes & Shrine

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 509 reviews · 10 hours · from $50

Spend 10 hours exploring Mt. Fuji’s best-known photo spots and cultural sites, from the thatched village of Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba to Oshino Hakkai’s spring ponds. English, Japanese, and Traditional Chinese guides, including Sia, Kazi, Wanting, and Alex, lead the shared coach tour.

“We had a lovely day visiting different sites around Mount Fuji. And our guide Sia was lovely and very kind.”

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8.Samurai Entertainment Night Show in Kanda Shrine

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 417 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $41

Spend an evening at Kanda Myojin Shrine with a live samurai theater show about Taira no Masakado. Arrive at 7 PM for drinks and optional Japanese food, watch the 8:15 PM performance, then meet the cast and take photos until 10 PM. The intimate venue is wheelchair accessible.

“The show was amazing. I would visit it again. Highly recommended.”

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9.Asakusa and Tokyo’s Oldest Temple Senso-ji Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 352 reviews · 2 hours · from $14

Spend two hours walking through Asakusa with an English-speaking guide such as Shino, Embla, or Nicolas. Visit Kaminarimon, Nakamise Street, Senso-ji, and Asakusa Shrine while learning temple customs, local food tips, Edo-era stories, and lesser-known neighborhood details.

“The guide was unlucky the half of the group was very slow, talked over when he were talking. His compassion and calmness was impressive and in the end he was more assertive that the tour needed to go on.”

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10.Imperial Palace, Sensō-ji Temple, & Tokyo Tower Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 339 reviews · 4 hours · from $40

Join Hato Bus for a four-hour afternoon tour from Tokyo Station. Ride a hybrid bus to the Imperial Palace outer grounds, Sensō-ji and Nakamise Street, then Tokyo Tower’s 150-meter observatory. English-speaking guides such as Junko, Kiki, and Saiko add history, local tips, and useful commentary between stops.

“The guide was very knowledgeable about the sites we visited. He was very funny and professional.”

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11.Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shinto & Imperial System

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 266 reviews · 90 - 135 minutes · from $23

Join a small English-speaking group of up to 10 people for a 90 to 135-minute walk from Harajuku Station through Meiji Shrine’s forest. Guides such as Keiko, Yuuka, Ayaka, and Yuki explain Shinto customs, sake barrels, imperial poetry, and Japan’s shift from samurai rule to modern life.

“The tour was outstanding. Tomo was such an interesting, informed and friendly guide and we loved the whole experience. Highly recommend him and this tour.”

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12.Meiji Jingu Shrine and Shinto Culture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 245 reviews · 2 hours · from $19

This two-hour Meiji Shrine walk begins near Harajuku Starbucks and follows an English-speaking guide through the Imperial Garden, giant torii, sake and wine barrels, and shrine grounds. Guides such as Maya, Yota, Andres, Minori, and Ryota explain Shinto rituals, Meiji-era history, and local customs in a small, wheelchair-accessible group.

“Our tour guide Andres was so informative and did an exceptional job explaing Tokyo culture to us. He also gave us amazing food recommendations and walked us through the process of how we should pray at shrines. excellent tour overall and would recommend to anyone visiting Tokyo for the first time.”

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13.Meiji Shrine and Shinto Culture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 225 reviews · from $18

Meet your guide at Starbucks Coffee With Harajuku for a two-hour walk through Meiji Jingu. Guides including Yumi, Sara, Haydn, Matt, and Benjamin explain Shinto customs, shrine etiquette, Emperor Meiji, and the meaning behind rituals often missed on a solo visit. Groups are limited to 15 people.

“Highly recommend this tour, Yumi is excellent she was knowledgeable and accommodating. She imparted a lot of useful information and tips about how to navigate Tokyo. The area itself was beautiful.”

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14.Private Tour Snow Monkey Park & Zenko-ji Temple

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 184 reviews · 1 day

Travel from Tokyo to Nagano in a private Toyota Vellfire, Crown, or Land Cruiser with an English-speaking driver such as Waqas, Bilal, or Sajawal. See snow monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple, Matsushiro Castle Ruins, Shibu Onsen, and Obuse, with hotel pickup, flexible stops, and about 10 hours on the road.

“We had a great time visiting the snow monkeys and then getting dropped off in Hakuba. They were unbelievable, and there were so many. Waqas, our guide, was great, very friendly, easy to talk to, and a safe driver. Would happily recommend Glorious Travels and Waqas, our driver, to anyone. Also, a great way to have an adventure while travelling to the ski fields.”

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15.Asakusa Temple & Shrine Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · 2 hours · from $30

Spend two hours exploring Asakusa with a local guide in a group of up to eight. You’ll see Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Kaminarimon Gate, smaller religious sites, and a high viewpoint, while learning rituals, prayer customs, and local shopping tips. Guides include Nicolas, Erik, Nana, and Lino.

“Our tour guide, Diane, was amazing! So knowledgeable and friendly. We learned so much and had a great time. Definitely take this tour!”

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