Spend your day with us browsing Ningyocho, a charming neighborhood known for its special, traditional souvenirs and goods made right here in Japan and get some insight to the foods and snacks the Japanese people eat and typical items they use in everyday life.
Highlights
Local English-speaking guide, food samplings
Additional food and drink, tips/gratuities for the guide
Mechanical clock tower near McDonald's in Ningyocho (note there are 2 clocks — meet by the one on the same side as McDonald's). In Japanese: Ningyocho Karakuri Yagura Edo Rakugo
Mitsukoshimae Station (Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line)
3 hours
For shared tours, the maximum group number will be 12 passengers. For private tours, there must be a minimum of 2 passengers. A solo traveller may still book a private experience, but they will be charged a base rate for two travellers.
While we strongly recommend that all travellers are vaccinated against COVID-19 to reduce the risk of transmission and avoid putting undue strain on healthcare services, vaccinations are not a requirement to join an Intrepid Urban Adventures tour. For further information, please review COVID-19 Health & Safety at https://www.urbanadventures.com/en/about-us/covid-19-customer-info
If you have any issues on the day of your tour, please call +81 8030129269
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity.
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
Spend your day with us browsing for traditional souvenirs and goods – made right here in Japan! Gain some insight into the foods and snacks that Japanese people eat and the typical items they use in everyday life. We’ll start the tour in the neighborhood of Ningyocho, a district known for its old traditions and, as you’ll soon discover, some very tasty treats. We’ll visit a number of shops that have been around for over 100 years, many of which are still family-owned and operated and specialise in unique goods made right here in Japan. To kick things off, we’ll try some Ningyoyaki cakes, a true Tokyo specialty. This is a small sponge cake with sweet red bean filling and made in different shapes. We’ll visit a bakery that has been around for 110 years, where the father and son welcome guests with open arms and enjoy sharing their knowledge about their cakes and craft. We’ll also visit a shop that specializes in a traditional snack: senbei (rice crackers), a favorite in many Japanese households, which is happily gluten and dairy-free. From there, we’ll head to a local tenugui shop, where they sell woven hand towels depicting different traditional Japanese scenes. These towels are used for many things from wiping your hands to wrapping gifts, tea towels, and decorations. Your Tokyo tour will next lead you to one of the eight shrines in Ningyocho. We’ll visit a shrine where virtue, longevity, learning, and wealth are worshipped. You can offer a prayer here, and wash a coin to ensure a prosperous life. Once we’ve exhausted Ningyocho, we’ll visit another neighborhood nearby, Nihonbashi. The district of Nihonbashi was a hub for merchants during the Edo period. Today, it is predominantly a financial district that houses trading firms and even the Tokyo Stock Exchange. And although Nihonbashi is very much a modern neighborhood, it features many traditional Japanese shops hidden in its alleyways and even within its department stores. We’ll visit an old-fashioned stationery shop that was established in 1912. You’ll get to browse through the display of calligraphy brushes, inks, traditional paints, handmade greeting cards, and little dolls that tie into Japanese wedding and New Year’s customs. We’ll also discover a toothpick shop that has been in business since 1704, where you will be able to check out delicate handmade toothpicks, plus other handmade items carved from Kuromoji or Lindera umbellata trees. Please note that this itinerary is subject to change. As most of the shops we visit are small, family-owned businesses, they sometimes unexpectedly close or alter their hours for the day. In such a case, we'll visit other nearby shops or attractions that still keep with the theme and essence of the tour.
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