• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Welcome to the Shinjuku District in Tokyo! Want to know the best places to eat? Which places to go to and which to avoid? Or simply get some help to navigate the city? Get the perfect introduction to the city on this private tour with a local and start your city trip on the right foot.

Destination

Tokyo, Japan

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

1.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

Español, Português, English, 日本語, 中文, Türkçe

Included

• Private Guide
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to Attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 8 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at At the East Exit in front of the Police Box - Tokyo to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. the Shinjuku District Exploring

   This Tokyo tour takes you to explore the Shinjuku District, where you can see another side of the city. Kickstart your trip in this fascinating area and get recommendations of what to do and where to go that will show you the Shinjuku District at its best!

4. City Highlights

   See Godzilla Head Statue, Memory Lane, and more landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots of the city so you can get the perfect introduction to what makes Tokyo so special

5. Local Hot Spots

   Along the way, your host will point out hangout spots and hidden gems that only the locals know about and will help you get acquainted with the city in the most local way possible

6. Food Recommendations

   Receive tailored recommendations according to your taste and where to go and what to eat while visiting Tokyo. Avoid tourist traps thanks to your local host!

7. City Orientation

   Learn how to navigate the city, and get the answers to your Tokyo questions that will help you in the following days making your time in the city much easier

8. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Jeff & Debby🇺🇸 United States

(About local Joanne)

16 April 2025

We have done Withlocals tours and many Asian countries and enjoyed them all! It’s the best way to see the area and you do it at your own pace and can change up the itinerary if needed. Joanne was one of the best we have ever had. She had a sign so we could find her easily- that was a first. She had visuals in her notebook and she really explained things in detail, but not overly so to bore you. You won’t go wrong on a tour with Joanne! Great guide and highly recommended!

Kyle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alejandro)

30 March 2025

My friends and I had a great time around Shinjuku with Alejandro! This was a short and sweet tour we had planned on our first day staying in the area and it definitely helped to get ourselves oriented. Alejandro was super friendly and casual, it felt like having another friend along for the day. He showed us around, pointing out recommendations for food and drink of all sorts. Definitely a good choice for anyone looking to fit in a shorter experience to get familiar with the area.

Olesya 🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Kennedy )

2 February 2025

Excellent English , great local insights, very authentic with lots of insights. It was a well invested time with Kennedy! Thanks Great time in Tokyo

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alejandro)

23 September 2024

We did the 1.5 hour tour and enjoyed Alejandro’s knowledge and insight into the Shinjuku area. We walked through many of the famous areas ending with the 3d cat which was a highlight. All in all a good overview of the area. Fun tour with helpful information

David 🇭🇰 Hong Kong

(About local Alejandro)

1 September 2024

Excellent work. Thank you Great host

Emma

(About local Gulay)

27 April 2025

Gulay was a fabulous guide to help us get to know Tōkyō at the start of our trip. Would highly recommend. Also provided some great tips for the rest of our stay in Tokyo. Tokyo Kickstart tour review - Gulay

Helen 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Gulay)

26 April 2025

Gulay met and spotted us as arranged. She was friendly and knowledgeable- informing us of many aspects of life in Tokyo and how to get the most out of our visit - from food , shops , best sights , how to pray at a temple etc. We tasted local made cola and other food highlights pointed out. She also sent a message with ideas for our next couple of days . We would be very happy to recommend her. Great introduction to Tokyo

Repa🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Gulay)

25 April 2025

Gulay was an exceptional tour guide. We did the history of Tokyo tour with her on a very rainy day. Her knowledge was wonderful, she took us to parts of the city that we would not have otherwise seen and she provided recommendations for the remainder of our stay in Tokyo. This included restaurant recommendations to suit my dietary needs. She went above and beyond what was required for the tour. I would highly recommend her, if you are in TokyoCannot recommend Gulay highly enough!

Repa🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Carlos)

25 April 2025

We really enjoyed our food tour with Carlos. He took us to a standing sushi restaurant and sake tasting. The sake tasting was a fun interactive experience. We experienced a part of Tokyo that we would not have experienced without him. Thank you, Carlos.Sake tasting was fun

Silvia 🇮🇹 Italy

(About local MD ABU BAKOR)

23 April 2025

Abu was very helpful even with a rainy day and made our day special

Surash

(About local Joanne)

23 April 2025

Great tour guide with excellent knowledge of the local area and history! Would highly recommend! Excellent start to our holiday

Teresa Shrighana🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Ai )

22 April 2025

Ai is an amazing guide. Not just for the food but also she explained and showed us a lot about the place and it's surroundingsGreat experience

Mary🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ai )

19 April 2025

We really enjoyed our food tour with Ai. She was very knowledgeable friendly and introduced us to some great food spots we never would have found on our own!Great food tour

Richard

(About local Ai )

19 April 2025

Ai made the booking process quick and simple. Meeting her at the designated location was easy. Throughout the entire trip Ai was friendly and helpful and nothing was too much trouble. Her English was excellent. Could not have asked for a better experience.Great Experience

SILVIA

(About local ANA GEORGINA)

19 April 2025

La experiencia con Ana ha sido genial, no podría haber elegido mejor guía. Es una persona muy amable, atenta a tus preferencias de viaje y muy conocedora de la cultura y las costumbres del país. Fue muy agradable compartir con ella el taller de kintsugi, así como la visita a varios de los templos y barrios más populares de Tokyo. En todo momento te va contando las anécdotas y la historia de cada lugar visitado. Muy agradecida y con ganas de repetir. 😊👌👌Increíble experiencia

pablo🇺🇸 United States

(About local Carlos)

18 April 2025

excelente por sus modos su amabilidad sus conocimientos y su capacidad de adaptacionn a nuestras necesidadesexcelente experiencia

Steve

(About local Alejandro)

17 April 2025

Alejandro was very knowledgeable and informative. He spoke excellent English and Japanese. Great guide

Mark

(About local Joanne)

17 April 2025

Joanne was totally excellent. Not just giving us information on the tour but helping us to improve our experience of our visit. Tha is Joanne you were amazing Totlly excellent

Joanne🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Joanne)

16 April 2025

In our first day in Tokyo this was a great way to start. We got a flavour of the city and some guidance on how to navigate the public transport which was invaluable. Really enjoyed the tour and would recommend Joanne highly. She was friendly & informed. Our only downside was trying to find the meeting point. Tokyo is so busy and the area was undergoing renovations- so give yourself double the time when trying to get where you want to go! Get to know Tokyo

William🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ai )

16 April 2025

Had a great tour with Ai. She was very friendly and knowledgeable. Had some tasty unique eats that we wouldn’t have had on our on. Highly recommend Wonderful Experience

Doris

(About local Gulay)

13 April 2025

The Tour with Gulay was perfect for is. We arrived in the afternoon in Tokio and in the evening we started the 1,5 h Tour in shibuja. Gulay gave us a lot of information about how we have to move forward in this big City and explore the best places. At the end of the tour we visited a Food court near shibuja crossing and enjoyed the evening with traditionell Japan Food. It was a pleasure for us to meet Gulay. Br guys from Austria 😊Austrians explore Tokio 🙂

Jenn🇺🇸 United States

(About local Kennedy )

13 April 2025

We had a great time with Kennedy today. Ahead of time, I told her a few things we wanted to see and she put together a great tour for us and took the extra time to talk us through using the train system and buying tickets, which was very helpful for the rest of our trip. I would definitely recommend a tour with Kennedy!Very thoughtful tour

Judy

(About local Ai )

13 April 2025

Had a great time with Ai. Well worth the trip from east tokyo. Had a lot of variety of food & very tasty. It was good to see where local Tokyo people eat & shop. Prices are so much more reasonable than the tourist area. I would suggest you skip the walk in the park bc we walked enough.Great time

Kathleen🇺🇸 United States

(About local Gulay)

11 April 2025

We had an amazing day with Gulay. She showed us some of the hidden gems of Tokyo as well as the popular attractions. She tailored the tour to our interests. And checked in often to determine if we were satisfied with the content of the tour which we appreciated. Gulay is a charming host and knowledgeable professional!Amazing Day

Friedemann🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Gulay)

11 April 2025

Thank you for such a creative and open minded view of Tokyo and japanese culture. We loved to see all these very special places, you led us to. Although thank you for guiding us safely per JapanTail (JR) from Yokahama Station to the Meeting-Point at Shibuya Crossing and around the tour. We enjoid to meet you and to hear about your expiriences, living in Japan It was more than we had expected, we would love to come back! Uta and FriedemannBest off

Susie🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Gulay)

9 April 2025

Gulay was such a great guide. Adapted our day to suit all 6 in our group and packed such a variety of sights into our 5 hours. Great knowledge on Japanese culture and history… and left us with lots of tips for local eating and vintage shopping. Such a pleasure to meet such an amazing lady. I would highly recommend you taking her tours. Gulay was amazing

Laurie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Gulay)

6 April 2025

What a delightful day we spent with Gulay. Anyone I encounter who asks me about Tokyo recommendations, I won’t talk to them until they agree to reach out to her. She knows her stuff, cares about your specific interests and is charming. We learned so much about the culture, how to get around and insider tips. Thank goodness for her. First day must in Tokyo

Renarta🇯🇵 Japan

(About local Gulay)

5 April 2025

We had the best time with our 10 and 13 year old boys. Gulay helped us to familiarise ourselves with Tokyo on our first day. She was flexible and responded to where we wanted to see. Also she helped us with our future plans which was was so kind. Would highly recommend. Brilliant guide

Kayla🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Carlos)

5 April 2025

We had lovely time with Carlos Tour ! Great guided Tour! Thanks

Ben🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Gulay)

4 April 2025

Gulay is the perfect local guide! Super friendly, flexible, understanding and took time to understand what we were looking for. Even before and after the tour she made recommendations and shared links. See you next time!Thank you!

Delphine🇫🇷 France

(About local Kennedy )

4 April 2025

We spent a wonderful time with Kennedy ! Kennedy is a cultured, smart, passionate and very friendly guide ! I highly recommend her. Kennedy is a lovely guide !

esther🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Ai )

4 April 2025

We had a lovely walk with Ai.. Book a walk with her! She’s nice, speaks very good English! Tokyo walk

Katie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Joanne)

3 April 2025

Joanne did a fantastic job showing us around the key areas of Tokyo on this tour! She showed us the highlights of Shibuya, including a secret spot to see the crossing from up high, and took us to Harajuku, which was a hit with our 3 teenage daughters. We were able to ask her tons of questions about the trains, which areas we should go to, and ones we can cross off our list (only due to our limited time in Tokyo). We asked her for a sushi recommendation for dinner that night and walked us all the way to the restaurant and helped us get a table. That dinner was one of our favorites during our trip to Japan - phenomenal food and spectacular views! Highly recommend this tour if you're heading to Tokyo and definitely book with Joanne. 10/10! We loved learning about Tokyo from Joanne!

Susanne

(About local Carlos)

3 April 2025

War supernett, informativ und hat uns die Stadt echt nähergebracht.Wir hatten eine tolle Zeit!

Karina

(About local Carlos)

3 April 2025

We took two tours with Carlos both great, exactly what we were looking for. We had the opportunity to see more than just the tourist side, and Carlos was able to understand our interests and tailor the trip according to our wishes. Keep in mind that we have two teens in our group, so we wanted the tour to be interesting for everyone, regardless of age. We never felt rushed, and Carlos took the time to answer all our questions… trust me, there were a lot.Time in Tokyo

Kyle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Joanne)

30 March 2025

My friends and I had an awesome time in and around Shibuya with Joanne! Joanne was great, very knowledgeable and friendly! She showed us around all sorts of places in Shibuya, including everything from the busiest crossing in the city to the smaller side streets hidden away. This tour is particularly good for anyone looking to get a lot of variety in on one day, as it covers the beautiful Meiji Shrine as well. It felt like its own world within Tokyo. Joanne was able to tell us all sorts of history tidbits and facts about the shrine which really helped enhance the experience. All in all, we had a great time thanks to her!Amazing variety tour with Joanne!

Carolin🇿🇦 South Africa

(About local Carlos)

29 March 2025

Had a lovely informative day with Carlos. He gave us a few good tips as well for the rest of our stay. Tokyo

vsmny8dhh6

(About local Ai )

27 March 2025

This was our second tour with Ai, and it was just as great! We went to the Sensō-ji Temple and the surrounding shrines and walked around Asakusa, including an area with beautiful pottery and knives. She had such a great knowledge of the temple's history and area. As we walked around, she pointed out places to eat, interesting facts about the areas, etc. The tour was interesting to us and our two kids. It was nice to be with just our family as opposed to a giant tour so we could stop where we wanted. A wonderful day in Asukasa!

Harry🇮🇲 Isle of Man

(About local Gulay)

27 March 2025

I cannot recommend Gulay highly enough! We did a 90mins tour starting next to the famous Shibuya Crossing and then explored the area. Gulay showed us some great hidden gems like little bars, the best ramen places and a small neighborhood where the locals live. She also really kindly bought us some matcha drinks and cake :) Gulay was super knowledgeable about the history and culture of Tokyo, answered all our questions and gave us some amazing recommendations for restaurants and sites to visit and avoid. Honestly felt like we were going around with a friend we’d known for years. 100% recommend! Thanks Gulay :) The perfect tour guide!

vsmny8dhh6

(About local Ai )

24 March 2025

We had a fantastic day with Ai. The food tour was much more of a locals experience than we could ever have pulled off on our own. Make sure you come hungry! Ai is a fantastic guide and the area where we ate was not at all touristed- a very popular area but rarely did we see caucasions and the food was AMAZING! A great experience for the whole family, our kids loved it as much as we did.Fantastic Tour

Bridget

(About local Kennedy )

21 March 2025

Kennedy was a great communicator. She was proactive for our meet up. She speaks clear English. She showed us around Shibuya crossing and Shinjuku. We also visits Meiji Shine and taught us a lot about the importance of Meiji. She accommodated the special needs of our teens, which isn’t always easy!Tokyo Tour

Geoff

(About local Ai )

19 March 2025

An unexpected spring snow storm slowed the subways but not our fantastic tour of some fine street food. Good natured and knowledgeable, Ai took us for some real treats with the katsu wagyu beef ball being a melt in your mouth highlight. AI’s tour is varied yet efficient, allowing us to cover all sorts of cuisine in three hours. We would highly recommend her tour as a quick, fun, and easy way to experience Tokyo street food and Japanese culture in the process. Neither sleet nor snow could stop our tour

Pam

(About local Kennedy )

18 March 2025

We had a great time learning about Japanese culture and exploring Tokyo with Kennedy! She is very knowledgeable and helped us get acquainted with this beautiful city.Fun time exploring the city

Charlie

(About local Gulay)

18 March 2025

Really fun time walking around Shibuya. She is very knowledgeable about the history and culture, I would recommend to anyone interested in learning about the area. Fantastic guide

Unknown

(About local Gulay)

12 March 2025

We had a great time discovering Tokyo with Gulay who showed us areas that we would not have found and who provided us with the historical and cultural background to understand Tokyo. Why do they have cat and otter cafes? Pets are typically not allowed in apartments. How do you show respect at the Meiji Jingu? You bow before entering the gate. We also learned about Harajuku fashion, discovered sushi sandwiches, candied strawberries and did the Shibuya Scramble. It was a fun day.Tokyo discovered

Danielle

(About local Joanne)

10 March 2025

Joanne was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Fantastic balance of modern and historical. She was so kind to help us with an urgent shoe stop for one of our children. Thank you so much!!!Energetic and Accommodating

JAIME

(About local Gulay)

9 March 2025

Gulay gave me and my work colleague and fantastic tour of modern Tokyo. I didn’t realize it at the time but as a foreigner (albeit one that’s a professional guide that’s lived in Tokyo for years), she understands what’s interesting for us and not. A freak snow and rainstorm interrupted our tour and she rolled with punches and took us to experience a restaurant while we warmed up. Very happy and would recommend to any foreigner in Japan interested in getting a good overview of the city and history. Great tour - unique perspective

Unknown

(About local Gulay)

9 March 2025

Gulay was very knowledgeable had a great attitude and overall a great experience Excellent

9xz5yhc4nr🇷🇴 Romania

(About local Gulay)

5 March 2025

Our experience with Gulay was absolutely phenomenal! We arrived in Tokyo a day before our planned itinerary, jetlagged and exhausted, simply wanting to get a feel for the city with the help of someone knowledgeable. From the moment we met her, Gulay exceeded all expectations—she adapted seamlessly to our small group’s needs, pacing the tour perfectly and ensuring we were comfortable every step of the way. Not only was she incredibly patient and kind, but she also went above and beyond, helping us sort out the rest of our trip with invaluable advice. The places she took us to were truly special—hidden gems we would have never found on our own. Thanks to her, our first day in Tokyo became a highlight of our journey, setting the perfect tone for the rest of our stay. We can’t recommend Gulay enough! If you're looking for an exceptional guide who combines deep knowledge with warmth and flexibility, she’s the one. A heartfelt thank you—we’ll always cherish this experience!A Perfect Introduction to Tokyo

daniela🇲🇽 Mexico

(About local Gulay)

23 February 2025

Taking this tour with Gulay was an excellent idea! She gave us so many great tips on how to explore the city and make the most of our time in Tokyo. Gulay was very kind and knowledgeable, showing us the main areas like Shibuya and giving us great recommendations on things to do and places to eat. We truly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend this tour with Gulay to anyone visiting Tokyo!Best way to start