Guided cycle tour on the backstreets of the central Tokyo

Outline of the tour

This tour is our main bike tour including not only popular touristic places but also local backstreests where tourists rarely visit. This tour also will introduce off-the-beaten-path shopping streets and street foods.

Departing our tour base, we cycle along Sanyabori park and reach Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple, one of the constituent temples of Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. Then, you will also visit Imado Shrine, a power spot for couples and those looking for love.

We continue cycling on backstreets and cross the bridge on Sumida river by bikes, where is one of the best points to take pictures with the Tokyo Skytree (634m).

Then, we have a break at a Japanese traditional sweets shop “Chomeiji Sakuramochi”.

After visiting famous temple and shrine, we ariive at Sensoji temple , which is one of the most popular temples not only in Tokyo but also in Japan. Founded in 628, according to a legend, people of Tokyo have been loving to visit the temple to worship health, business success, happy marriage and so on.

You’ll get to visit Kappabashi Dougu streets (also known as “Kitchen Town” or “Kitchen Street”) in Tokyo where you can find kitchen tools, tableware, and plastic food replicas.

Finally, we visit the Yanaka Ginza shopping mall after cycling through the Yanaka cemetery.
This mall is one of the oldest malls in Tokyo, where you can find fine Japanese streetfoods.

Place to visit

Sakurabashi Bridge（桜橋）

It is one of the bridges over the Sumida river. You can take nice pictures with the Tokyo Skytree, 634m tall.

Sanyabori Park（山谷堀公園）

Soyabori Park used be a canal. Those who enjoyed Yoshiwara was red-light district established in Edo era (17th century). food and theatergoing in Asakusa moved to Yoshiwara by boat.

Matsuchiyama Shoden Temple（待乳山聖天）

This temple is a part of Sensoji, founded in 595. There are many images of a “daikon (Japanese radish)” and a pouch in the temple. The daikon represents our minds trapped in deep ignorance, emanating poison of anger, but off by a daikon to temple, that poison will be removed from our The pouch is a symbol of treasure, and it represents the gift of prosperity in business. There is a beautiful garden, which is authentic Japanese style, in the temple. You can ride a small transportation (like a train) to go to the main building instead of walking up stairs.

Imado Shrine（今戸神社）

Founded in 1063, this shrine is now a “Power spot”, that is popular for people who want lovers or marriage partners. (Power Spot = Sacred place) Beckoning Cat, Fortune Cat We say believing beckoning cats are great fortune, such as business prosperity, family happiness. Cat’s left paw brings many customers. Right paw brings money.

Chomeiji Sakuramochi（長命寺桜もち）

Sakuramochi, a Cherry Cake, is one of the most popular Japanese traditional sweets, which is wrapped in a salt-pickled cherry leaf, filled with red bean paste. They say, this shop was found the first Sakuramochi in Edo era. Why it is wrapped Probably, somebody looked to a lot of leaves on ground, fallen from cherry blossom trees, and thought to use them for some food.

Sensoji Temple（浅草寺）

Sensoji temple is one of the most popular temples not only in Tokyo but also in Japan. Founded in 628, according to a legend, people of Tokyo have been loving to visit the temple to worship health, business success, happy marriage and so on.

Handicraft Museum（江戸たいとう伝統工芸館）

This is a museum exhibiting a lot of Japanese traditional handicrfts.
You can see how wonderful our craftsmanship is.

https://craft.city.taito.lg.jp/kogeikan/

Sumida River Walk（すみだリバーウォーク）

The bridge just for walkers besides railway bridge. You will push your bike on it. You can see wonderful scene form the bridge.

Ryogoku Sumo Stadium（両国国技館）

Amongst 6 annual Sumo matches, 3 are held at this stadium. You can see the building anytime, and visit the Sumo museum when it opens.

Kirakira Tachibana Shopping Mall（キラキラ橘商店街）

Yanaka is known as one of the old-town district. Shopping mall in Yanaka is a low-key commercial area where a lot of local people live, and old shops and buildings gather.

● Itinerary

13:30 Meeting at Hikifune raiway station

https://goo.gl/maps/2m5JTwMQ5dHSh5ns8

• Price – ￥10,000 (yen)/1 person（tax incl.）
• Duration – Approx. 4 hours
• Inclusions – bike rental, 1 bottle of water and 1 Japanese sweet.
• Exclusions – transportation to/form the meeting point. Additional orders food and drinks.
• The number of passengers：4 persons max. We accept only 1 group.

☂☂☂Alternative walking tour in a rainy day☂☂☂

If it rains on the day of tour and you find it difficult to cycle, you can cancel the tour with free of charge, or you can alternatively join our walking tour below with same price.

Where we visit are almost same as our half day bike tour. We meet at the Asakusa subway station and walk to Sensoji temple through Nakamise shopping mall. Then, we keep walking to Kappabashi utensil street, Yanaka cemetery and Yanaka Ginza shopping mall through some backstreets in Tokyo. Finally, we take train and tram to Toden hotel where we Tokyo Backstreets Bike Tour has our tour base.

●Where we visit

Sensoji Temple, Asakusa

Kappapashi utensil street

Yanaka cemetery

Yanaka Ginza shopping mall

●Itinerary (☂Alternative walking tour in a rainy day ☂ )

13:00 Meeting at exit 1 of Asakusa subway station

※The itinerary above can be changed on your request.

• Price – ￥9,000 (yen)/person
• Duration – Approx. 4 hours
• Inclusions – 1 bottle of water and transportation during the tour.
• Exclusions – transportation to/form the meeting point. Additional orders food and drinks.
• The number of passengers：4 persons max. We accept only 1 group.

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