168 reviews of Tokyo Tower, Tea Ceremony and Sumida River Cruise Day Tour
Read what other Viator.com travelers think about the Tokyo Tower, Tea Ceremony and Sumida River Cruise Day Tour. What they loved, what they liked and what they think could be improved, it's all here to help you make the most of your next trip.
Reviewed by Agnelo C D, March 2013
A well paced tour with plenty of time given to see the wonders of Tokyo, enjoy a fascinating Tea Ceremony and a very sumptuous lunch with Japanese chefs cooking our meal for us in true Japanese style on our tables.
The gardens in Tea Ceremony area were filled with Bonsai and we were fortunate to witness many trees just about to blossom giving us an insight how beautiful the Cherry Blossoms must be. Recommend this tour.
Reviewed by Mr Patrick J O, March 2013
What a fantastic lunch cooked infront of us on a slab of lava from Mount Fuji, all in all a wonderful day.
Reviewed by Connie R, March 2013
This tour is highly recommended. If you've been to the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building and any other significant highrise, then the views are similar. If you want a free view of the city, I'd recommended the Tokyo Government Metropolitan building in Shinjuku since the observatory deck is free and gives you a similar view.
The tea ceremony was a good experience if you want to observe and participate in one of Japan's traditions. You only get a sampling of the tea - which is green and frothy, but as with most Japanese teas, has a bitter after taste. When attending this ceremony, participants are asked to be respectful and abide with the local tradition. The teahouse is also surrounded by a garden, so it's best to go there during Spring or Fall. There is a 300+ and 500+ year old bonsai tree on the premises, so make sure to ask the tour guide if you are interested in seeing them.
The lunch was one of the highlights of the tour - it states a "BBQ" lunch, so don't be deceived if you are used to the concept of an American BBQ. It's actually a hibachi-style lunch, a la Benihana, but not with the volcano or cutting shows. The food is freshly prepared in front of you, so it's definitely worth the experience and was the best lunch out of all 3 tours I took in Japan.
The Sumida River cruise started at the Port of Tokyo to Asakusa, where you will be given about 50 min to an hour to browse around the local shops and bakeries. Most of the vendors do not accept credit cards, so if you want to shop for souvenirs and sweets to take home, make sure you have enough yen on you. Since there is a limited amount of free time in this shopping area, make sure you have a plan of action since the tour bus leaves timely.
Lastly, the tour ends at Tokyo station, and you are responsible for finding your own way back. The guide will help you with directions but you will need to have enough money to return by train/subway. Overall - it was a good tour if you are short on tiime.
Reviewed by Frank B, March 2013
The lunch was excellent, being held at an excellent hotel. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Jaclyn K, February 2013
Excellent tour guide. We got to hit a lot of different sites in one day and didn't have to worry about transportation or lunch. The lunch was delicious and such a great experience. We loved the tea ceremony and visiting the shrine in Asakusa. Great tour!
Reviewed by Dora C, USA, January 2013
We thoroughy enjoyed our tour. Our tour guide, Mai's English was very good, and she was very informative in everything we saw. Our lunch experience was excellent and very relaxing. I would highly recommend this tour to all my friends.
Reviewed by Robert W, Nederland, December 2012
Must do tour when in Tokyo. Good guide, great gardens and views and lots of info.
Reviewed by Vincent S, December 2012
My husband and I enjoyed this tour. Our guide 'K' was dressed in a kimono and was a very gracious hostess/guide. If your time is limited in Tokyo, this tour is worth the time and money, as everything is included. The lunch was delicious at a Four Seasons Japanese restaurant.
Reviewed by Cheri D, November 2012
This was an excellent way to spend the day in Tokyo. There is no way that I could have tried to do this by myself. This tour took all the hard work, and we just enjoyed the tour. Nobu was a great and informative tour guide-great sense of humor! The Lunch was better than I ever expected to have.
Reviewed by Lisa A, November 2012
This tour was a great introduction to the city. The local tour guide was interesting and informative and the tea was delicious. Definitely take this one on your first day in the city!
Reviewed by MRS DE M, October 2012
Excellent. We all had a great time and we had an excellent guide. Recommend!
Reviewed by Eben F, USA, October 2012
Excellent and well organized tour that gave us a comprehensive overview of Tokyo, the old and the new and included a very nice lunch.
Reviewed by James D, October 2012
For someone with a limited time in Tokyo, this was a grat way to spend the day. Enjoyed all aspects of the tour. Our guide, Noboku, was excptional.
