Tokyo Free Walking Tour - Tokyo Localized — Local services in Tokyo

As someone who’s done free walking tours around the globe, I can confidently say this one ranks among the best! Walking tours are my favorite way to get my bearings in a new city, and even though I’ve visited Tokyo many times, I’d never done one here—until now.

During a 9-hour layover in Narita, I decided to make the most of my time and explore. Long layovers have become my thing lately, and this one was perfectly timed. A quick 44-minute Skyliner ride (2,580 yen) from Narita to Akihabara Station and a short walk brought me to the meeting point: in front of the Tamashii Nations store for the 9:30 AM tour.

There, I spotted Huy, our guide, holding a small sign with a few early arrivals gathered around. He greeted me warmly and asked if I’d signed up online. While it’s okay to join without registering, it’s better to do so the guide knows how many to expect. Huy kindly waited another 10-20 minutes for more participants, pointing out nearby restrooms for anyone who needed them.

Huy spoke excellent English, making everything easy to follow. Throughout the 2.5-3 hour tour, he led us through Tokyo’s highlights with a perfect balance of historical context, humor, and charm. His laminated visual aids were a fantastic touch, making the stories and locations even more engaging.

The tour was incredibly well-organized, with stops at significant landmarks where Huy shared detailed histories. His professionalism, coupled with his friendly personality, made the experience both educational and fun. Even after the tour ended, Huy went above and beyond by recommending local eateries and other spots to explore.

Since these tours are tip-based, I gave him all the cash I had on hand—$20 USD—as I didn’t have any yen due to my transit status. Trust me, it was worth every cent.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of your long layovers but not sure where to start, follow me on Instagram @roamwithchris or shoot me a DM. I’m always happy to share tips and point you in the right direction.

If you’re visiting Tokyo, I can’t recommend the Free Walking Tour by Tokyo Localized enough. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get Huy as your guide. He truly elevated the experience and made my layover one for the books. Thank you, Huy, for a fantastic morning in Tokyo!

#TokyoLocalized #FreeWalkingTour #TokyoLayoverDoneRight...

I joined "The Original Free Walking Tour Tokyo" led by a guide named Sachi on my first day in the city, and the experience was so off-putting that I decided not to attend the other three tours I had booked. There was no way to cancel, but after that first tour, I had no interest in going back, especially since I couldn’t find out whether the other tours would also be led by her.

Sachi came across as condescending and unprofessional. Her attempt at humor, like a random joke about how old she is, felt awkward and unnecessary, but more troubling was how she treated people differently based on how they looked. I was the only East Asian person in the group, and it was very clear she favored white or Western-looking tourists. She would make eye contact, smile, and engage with them , but barely acknowledged me the entire time. Even when I tipped her at the end, she didn’t look me in the eye. It was uncomfortable and disrespectful.

I’ve heard from other Asian American friends about being treated coldly in Japan, often due to assumptions that they’re Chinese tourists from the mainland. I’m ethnically Chinese, but not from China, and more importantly, I joined an English-language tour, just like everyone else. That clearly didn’t matter to her. The subtle but unmistakable bias I experienced on this tour confirmed some of the things I had only heard secondhand.

To be fair, everyone else I’ve encountered in Tokyo has been kind and welcoming, Sachi has been the only exception. But her behavior left a lasting negative impression. If Tokyo Localized wants to offer inclusive, professional experiences to international visitors, they should seriously reconsider working with guides who treat certain tourists as less...

My son and I went on a walking tour with Sachi on July 9th from Akihabara Station to Ueno Park. I've studied Japanese language and history in college, and is somewhat familiar with the historical significance of the area, but only through classes and textbooks. I wasn't sure about what to expect on the tour, so I gave my son a crash course the night before on what might be covered on the tour, so he doesn't become lost. But, that was unnecessary because Sachi covered those topics well...Shi-Nou-Kou-Shou system, Sakoku, Sankin Koutai, nobility vs warrior...all significant to the area was covered in her tour. Sachi was also well prepared with visual aids to explain the history of the area and even provided bug repellant when needed. I only have one critical thing to say, and this is really nitpicking. She mentioned Japan's self imposed isolationist policy (sakoku) when talking about Ieyasu, but it was actually Iemitsu, who formalized sakoku. However, Ieyasu did lay the groundwork and this was a short tour, so in the interest of time, it was probably appropriate for her to mention it when talking about Ieyasu. This is just me nitpicking though. Sachi reminded me a lot of my Japanese language and history professors in college, and she really brought the things I learned from textbooks to life. My son and I learned a lot, and the tour was enjoyable and excellent in everyway! Much...