Tokyo is amazing and should definitely be on your bucket list of places to visit. However, it seems the chances of actually doing so are getting smaller and smaller, at least for the foreseeable future.
So I was wondering, are there any alternatives? How can I get a glimpse of Tokyo and discover this amazing city without actually getting on a plane? Well, you are in luck, as I have found the answer: Arigato Japans virtual tour of Tokyo!
This small and genius tour company has created a one-of-a-kind virtual tour of Tokyo. And no, you won’t be just watching a video on youtube or a live cam. This tour is an interactive experience, which includes meeting other “travelers”, being able to ask questions, and of course an expert tour guide.
How Does it Work?
It is pretty easy. All you have to do is go to their Website and click on “Tokyo Online: Virtual Experience in Shibuya and Shinjuku with a Local Expert“. Find a time that suits you, and with a few easy clicks and a bargain price of 1500Yen (which is about 15$) you will soon receive your confirmation email. It includes all the details on how to join, a personal zoom link and anything, you may need for the tour. In this case, all I needed was a pen and some paper for some interactive fun during the session.
You may think, what if I live on the other side of the globe, surely that will be difficult? Not at all, with both morning and evening tours available, you will be able to join, no matter where you are in the world.
So, What is The Tour like?
I booked the morning “Tokyo Online: Virtual Experience in Shibuya and Shinjuku with a Local Expert“, starting at 10 am. So I got up early on my day off, showered, dressed like an adult, and prepared a pen and paper as requested in the confirmation email. The link worked perfectly and right on time our tour guide opened the zoom session for us all to meet.
We were a small group of 5 people, including myself and to be totally honest, I did not quite know what to expect. However, as our tour guide, Alex explained how it will all work, his energy was exuberating and I started to get excited about what we would see and explore in the next hour.
Soon after, we all briefly introduced ourselves and it was fun to learn where everyone else was located and why they were taking the tour.
And just like that, we set off to Shibuya. Virtually passing the famous “Shibuya Scramble”, a busy Tokyo intersection well known for its zebra crossing. Where every day thousands of people walk across the street, with neon billboards and animated screens glaring down on them.
We go to see pictures of how this crazy busy place looked 100 years ago, learned about animes that are set here, along with some great personal stories from our guide Alex.
Then we moved on to the statue of “Hatchiko”, the loyal dog who became famous because he waited for 9 years at the station after his owner passed away.
We all had a tear in our eyes and this really was the moment the tour became tangible and special. Listening to the stories, not just seeing pictures but videos, there right from the comfort of my house I was transported to Shibuya. And I guess that is what great storytelling does. Our guide did everything right.
As we all composed ourselves, we moved on to explore Shibuya’s food scene including some hidden places and where to eat the best Ramen in the area. I quickly wrote that down, because you can never have enough Ramen shops on your where-to-eat list.
Then we continued on to Shinjuku, receiving useful travel information including detailed directions on how to get there, with tips and tricks for our journey.
Once in Shinjuku, we learned the ins and outs of this busy Tokyo neighborhood. The atmosphere was light and fun as we talked about Japanese izakayas, karaoke, and of course “Gozilla”, who we discovered is towering majestically over Kabukicho, the entertainment district of Shinjuku.
We ended the tour a little later than scheduled, laughing and with a feeling of having made some new friends.
Was This Virtual Tour of Tokyo Worth It?
The short answer is: YES!
I really really enjoyed it. Having had some initial doubts, our tour guide Alex quickly brushed them off. Being fun, entertaining, and full of energy he gave us a great personal experience.
Like a captivating movie where you forget the time and everything around you, for one hour I was transported to the streets of Tokyo. Which by the way, I know very well. I had to give them massive bonus points as I discovered a place or two that I did not know yet.
And don’t get me wrong, this is not just a walk along, listen, and leave. All through the tour, we were entertained by little quizzes and games. Asked about our opinion and invited to give feedback or bring up questions. Making it the perfect small escape as well as giving you some amazing travel tips. The perfect preparation for when you get off that plane once we can all travel safely again.
Tour Details
Available Tuesday to Saturday twice a day
Time: 10:00 AM JST -11:00 AM JST and 21:00 PM JST- 22:00 PM JST
Price: 1500Yen
Bookable from: Arigato Japan
Other Tours Offered Online and Offline
And if you are looking for more, they offer another two tours online, so why not join them for their “Cocktail Connections: Online Happy Hour in Japan” or learn about how to make the perfect green tea at their “Tokyo Online: Green Teatime in Japan” experience. Both of them are interactive and fun.
Furthermore, if you happen to be in Japan or lucky to travel here soon, check out their small guided tours. You can join them in person and discover the Tokyo fish market on their “Tsukiji Insider’s Tour, with Breakfast” or join them on their “Nightlife Osaka Food Tour“.
Also, Spanish speakers listen up, as they also offer tours for you. Check out “Shinsekai, Osaka. Tour Retro de Comida Tradicional (en Español)“.
