Take a personalized bike ride through Tokyo’s Shitamachi area, giving you a firsthand taste of the traditional religious monuments, gardens, stadiums, and modern tourist landmarks that define this bustling area. Over the course of your leisurely excursion, you’ll get a taste of the many contrasts between new and old that make Tokyo such a fascinating city to visit.
Start your cycle tour in front of the neighborhood’s Quraz building just across from Kachidoki station in the morning, where you’ll meet your guide and climb aboard your comfortable bike for your exploration of Tokyo’s Shitamachi area. This historic area, which was once home to Japanese commoners during the country’s Edo period, has transformed into a busy district that’s now the site of both modern high rises and traditional Japanese buildings, often that sit side-by-side.
Make your first cycle stop at Sumiyoshi Shrine on the old island of Tsukudajima. Then head to the neighborhood’s Fukagawa-fudo Temple and Tomioka Hachimangu, a Buddhist center and Shinto shrine visited by many locals. Continue pedaling with your guide to Kiyosumi Gardens, navigating a beautiful pond where turtles and koi swim along the way. Proceed on to Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Stadium, the site of the country’s most famous sumo tournaments, where you may have the chance to see one the hulking wrestlers hanging around outside.
Take a cycling break around midday at a local restaurant, where you are free to purchase lunch at your own expense.
Finish your cycling trip in the afternoon at the base of Tokyo Skytree. At this point, your guide will point you in the direction of nearby Asakusa for more sightseeing on your own or provide directions to your next destination. If you prefer to linger in the area, browse for a few souvenirs at the Soramachi shopping mall, or head up to the 2,080-foot (634m) Skytree Observatory, where you can enjoy incredible panoramic views of Tokyo and the surrounding area beyond.
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