Tokyo Yanaka: Old Town Walking Tour & Lucky Cat Craft

Summary

Yanaka’s red gates, quiet lanes and hands-on lucky cat memory

You’ll step under Nezu Shrine’s red gates, wander Yanaka’s peaceful streets with a local guide, snack on traditional sweets, and paint your own lucky cat statue in a cozy folk house cafe. Expect small surprises—a friendly laugh over your painted cat or the smell of incense drifting through quiet lanes—that linger long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the soft clack of my shoes on the stone path at Nezu Shrine—then that sudden hush as we stepped beneath the tunnel of red torii gates. Our guide, Emi, paused to show us how to bow before entering. She had this gentle way of explaining Shinto customs without making it feel like a lesson. The air smelled faintly of cedar and incense. I tried to mimic the hand-washing ritual at the shrine basin—probably got it wrong, but Emi just smiled and said, “It’s the thought that counts.”

Afterwards we wandered into Yanaka’s backstreets, where laundry flapped from tiny balconies and an old man swept leaves into neat piles. The day trip through Tokyo’s Yanaka felt nothing like Shibuya or Shinjuku—here it was slower, softer. We stopped for a quick taste of something sweet from a little shop (can’t remember the name), and someone’s cat watched us from a sun-warmed window ledge. Lunch was in this creaky wooden house serving soba noodles; I slurped too loudly but no one seemed to mind.

The highlight for me was sitting in an old folk house cafe with chipped mugs and mismatched chairs, painting my own maneki-neko—the lucky cat you see everywhere in Japan. My hands shook a bit trying to get the whiskers right. Emi laughed when I picked purple for mine (“That’s…unique!”). There was matcha cake and tea while we waited for our cats to dry. Honestly, I still think about that little statue sitting on my shelf back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Nezu Shrine and Yanaka area

• Meet at Nezu station
• Visit Nezu Shrine and torii gates
• Learn shrine customs and take photos
• Walk through Yanaka residential area
• Pass by Nezu Museum
• Stroll Yanaka Ginza shopping street
• Sample local street foods
• Have traditional soba lunch
• Rest at old folk house cafe
• Paint lucky cat statue workshop

Top questions

How long is the Yanaka walking tour?

The tour lasts about 3.5 hours from start to finish.

Is lunch included on this Tokyo Yanaka tour?

No full lunch is included; you’ll enjoy food samples and sweets but should eat beforehand.

Do I get to keep the lucky cat I paint?

Yes, you’ll take home your hand-painted maneki-neko as a souvenir.

Are there vegetarian or allergy-friendly options?

Diets can be accommodated if requested at least one day before; some stops may not allow substitutions.

Is this tour suitable for kids or older travelers?

It’s suitable for all fitness levels but some locations aren’t accessible by wheelchair or stroller.

Where does the tour start?

You’ll meet your guide at Nezu Station in Tokyo.

What languages does the guide speak?

The local guide speaks English and will explain customs along the way.

Will we visit any famous landmarks?

You’ll visit Nezu Shrine and stroll through Yanaka Ginza shopping street.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes all guided walking around Yanaka and Nezu Shrine, food samplings of local snacks and sweets along the way, one drink with dessert at an old folk house cafe where you’ll paint your own lucky cat statue (and keep it), plus digital photos from your guide to remember it by before heading off on your own again.