Experience the best of
Tokyo with Withlocals

"Joanne was great, relaxed and easy going no rushing around. We came armed with a few questions but were very happy to go along with the flow. We'll probably be going back to Japan next year and will be looking forward to another tour with Joanne, praise indeed."

"Great experience seeing East Tokyo with lots of insider info. (I particularly loved the sashimi donburi place he pointed me to for lunch.) "

"May 18, 2025 – A Peaceful Start, a Buzzing Finish Today, I met my guest at his hotel in the afternoon, and from there, we took a train to Harajuku Station to begin our day at Meiji Shrine. It was a calm and serene start to the tour — walking through the forested path leading to the shrine always offers a nice balance to the busy city life. After exploring the shrine grounds, we strolled down Takeshita Street, where the energy quickly shifted — full of trendy shops, quirky snacks, and the fun chaos of Harajuku youth culture. We grabbed some brown sugar and matcha tapioca drinks, which were refreshing and gave us a little sugar boost. Next, we took a taxi to Miyashita Park. The modern rooftop park was a nice place to pause and enjoy some greenery in the heart of Shibuya. From there, we continued to Shibuya Yokocho, a retro-style alley filled with izakayas and food stalls. We sat down for some yakitori, sake, and a taste of plum wine, which my guest enjoyed a lot. After eating, we explored the Shibuya shopping area, visited the Starbucks with the iconic view over the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, then crossed the famous intersection ourselves and visited the loyal Hachikō Statue, a Tokyo classic. Later, we hopped on a train to Shinjuku, where we wandered through Omoide Yokocho, taking in the nostalgic atmosphere and old alleyways. Then we headed to the bright lights of Kabukicho, Tokyo’s entertainment district, and finally ended the night with a stroll through Golden Gai, known for its tiny, character-filled bars and lively vibe. We finished the tour there, and from Shinjuku, we took the E Line back. It was a full day — a perfect blend of peace, food, culture, and nightlife. My guest had a great time, and I did too."

"Our tour with Gulay was the perfect way to kick off our time in Tokyo. From the moment we met her, it was clear how passionate and knowledgeable she is—not just about the city, but also about helping visitors truly experience it. We were a group of 8, and she managed the size effortlessly, making sure everyone felt included and engaged. Her warmth and enthusiasm made it easy to ask questions, and she always had thoughtful insights and fun facts to share. Gulay’s excitement was infectious, and her thoughtful pacing allowed us to enjoy each stop without ever feeling rushed. We left the tour not only with a deeper understanding of Sensoji Temple & Asakusa District but also with a real appreciation for the culture and people—all thanks to Gulay. Highly recommend booking with her if you're visiting the city!"

"Gulag was so kind — we were late! She had a ton of great recommendations for restaurants which we followed. She was super helpful showing us how to use the train. Super knowledgeable about culture, shopping, history. We had a great time!"

"We had the best day with Gulay. She knew so much about Japan, showed us so much and gave us many recommendations for before and after our tour as well. After our time we truly felt like we had just spent the day with an old friend. We covered so much ground and learned so much about Tokyo. I’d recommend her over and over. "

"As a WithLocals tour guide myself in Mexico I was eager to take some tours with the hosts in Tokyo for my dream trip. Carlos curated an amazing walking tour of several neighborhoods to visit. I've dreamt of a trip to Japan since childhood, so I was looking to explore, see and learn the most I could about the culture, see the neighborhoods, and really immerse myself and be able to experience Japan from the view of a local. Carlos' tour was deeply experiential, emotional, thought provoking and just overall beautiful. We began visiting a cemetery to learn about history and spirituality, this began the tour with an in-depth perspective of deep rooted beliefs and practices, allowing us to connect to a spiritual-emotional level. We visited traditional quaint neighborhoods like a street that became famous because of the cats that lived there and learned that this was the origin of the Japanese waiving cat. There were so many interesting shops there. We saw art and visited the beautiful Ueno park, enjoyed talking, exploring and eating some delicious food and drinks at a traditional Izakaya. Carlos delivered the tour in Spanish for our group of Mexicans and Chileans and it was really interesting to receive his insight on what it is like living in Japan as a Mexican, how cultures mesh and seeing Japan from the view of a local. This tour will forever be in my memory and heart, of all the tours we took in Tokyo, this was by far the best because we got to really explore and experience Tokyo and it's neighborhood from the ground up. Carlos as a guide is just amazing, he's personable, kind, approachable and generous. Spending the day with him was simply enjoyable and the experiences he curated for us were creative, versatile and fun. The best tour I have taken EVER!!!"

"We had a great time in Tokyo visiting several temples, fish market, Asakusa, saw a Buddhist ceremony, Senso-Ji Temple, learned how to ride the subway, Happy Street, visited some fun street vendors and got some custom made chopsticks engraved, had a great coffee at a local shop, ate Wagyu steak for the first time , and more! Super fun filled experience and I highly recommend it and touring with MD Abu!"

"My wife and I had the absolute pleasure of taking The History of Tokyo: Sensoji Temple & Asakusa District Tour with Gulay, and it was hands down one of the most memorable parts of our Japan trip! From the very beginning, Gulay was warm, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. She guided us through the fascinating history of Sensoji Temple and the Asakusa district with such passion and detail—it felt like walking through the past with a close friend who just happens to be a historian. What made the experience truly unforgettable was how personal and thoughtful she made it. Gulay even took us to a traditional Japanese knife shop tucked away in the district, where I was able to purchase an authentic Japanese knife engraved with my name—a one-of-a-kind souvenir that I’ll treasure forever. She also shared insights on local customs, helped us participate in temple rituals, and pointed out hidden gems we never would have found on our own. Her recommendations for food, shops, and cultural tips were spot on and really enriched our stay in Tokyo. Highly, highly recommended!"

"We spent a day with Mr. Abu, discovering Tokyo. We went through the whole of Tokyo, we saw so much that we would never have found on our own. We got to know Tokyo through the smells, tastes, habits of the people who live in Tokyo thanks to Mr. Abu. Mr. Abu put a lot of effort into showing us all of it in one day, which seemed impossible. He knew the answers to all of our questions Mr. Abu has a very good eye and a great sense for photography, thanks to that we will take home unforgettable memories. He spent twice as much time with us as he should have and we will remember that. Considering that we are a group of two moms with two twenty-three year old sons, our interests are different, but he made everything interesting for us. Mr. Abu, we are grateful to you for meeting you. You are a legend!!!!"