Tokyo One-Day Bus Tour with Skytree & Tokyo Bay Cruise

Meiji Shrine in Shibuya

Meiji Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken and stands in a forest of about 100,000 trees donated from all over Japan. It is one of the most visited shrines in the country and a striking contrast to the neighbouring Harajuku and Shibuya districts. You walk under the huge wooden torii gates and along the wide gravel path to the main hall, where you can see traditional wedding processions on some days.

For anyone asking whether Meiji Shrine is worth visiting or planning a Meiji Shrine tour, this is a calm start to the day. Spend about an hour here, wash your hands at the purification fountain, and ask your guide to explain how to bow, clap and make an offering at a Shinto shrine. The coach then passes Harajuku and Omotesando.

The Imperial Palace and the old Edo Castle

The Imperial Palace is the residence of Japan's Imperial family and stands on the site of Edo Castle, the seat of the Tokugawa shoguns for over 250 years. The tour stops for around 30 minutes and visits either the East Garden, a traditional Japanese garden on the old castle grounds, or the Nijubashi Bridge in the Outer Garden, depending on the day.

Travellers looking for an Imperial Palace tour or Imperial Palace opening hours should note that the inner palace grounds are not open freely; the gardens and the bridge are the accessible highlights. Your guide explains the moats and stone walls and how the site links the samurai era with modern Japan. The drive continues through Akihabara, Ueno and Kappabashi street.

Asakusa, Senso-ji and Nakamise Street

Asakusa is Tokyo's most traditional district, centred on Senso-ji, the city's oldest Buddhist temple. You enter through the red lantern of Kaminarimon Gate, walk down the Nakamise shopping street lined with souvenir and snack stalls, and reach the main hall and its incense burner, where visitors waft smoke over themselves for good luck.

If you are searching for an Asakusa tour or what to do in Asakusa in a few hours, this stop gives you free time to explore, buy a souvenir and enjoy a matcha drink or matcha gelato, which is part of the default option. The default option also includes a set-meal lunch with a soft drink; the lunch is Japanese fried chicken and tofu, without pork or shellfish, though the stock contains fish.

Tokyo Skytree and the Tembo Deck

Tokyo Skytree is one of the tallest towers in the world, at 634 metres, and the Tembo Deck at 350 metres gives a panorama over the city, the bay and, on clear days, Mount Fuji. The entry ticket for the Tembo Deck is included, with a fast-track entrance. Below the tower stands the Solamachi shopping complex.

Many visitors ask about the best time to visit Tokyo Skytree; late afternoon light gives a warm view, but this tour visits during the day, so bring a jacket for the lifts and a camera. You have about 90 minutes here, enough to go up, look around and browse the shops.

Tokyo Bay cruise under the Rainbow Bridge

The day ends with a cruise on Tokyo Bay from the Odaiba area. The boat passes under the Rainbow Bridge and shows the skyline of skyscrapers along the waterfront. It is a relaxed way to close a busy day and a good chance for photographs. The cruise takes about 20 minutes, with time on deck for photographs of the Rainbow Bridge and the skyline, and it is a comfortable place to rest your feet after a day of walking. Weather and tides decide whether the boat can sail on the day.

On Tuesdays, and when the cruise cannot run because of tides or maintenance, the tour visits the Fukagawa Edo Museum or the Hamarikyu Gardens instead. The coach then returns to Shinjuku.