Everlasting Edo: A Guide to Nihonbashi’s History

(70 reviews)

Tokyo audio tour: Everlasting Edo: A Guide to Nihonbashi’s History

This is a 1.3mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Tokyo

Japan

$11.99

Access all 29 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

During the Edo Period (1603 to 1868) Nihonbashi was at the center of all trade and commerce. It was home to the most powerful people in all of Japan.

This sightseeing tour of Tokyo will transport you back to a time when Samurais and Shoguns walked these streets.

Follow their footsteps and discover the best of Tokyo’s living history. This district is packed with age-old snack shops and traditional Japanese crafts. Yes, they are still standing, hundreds of years later! Nihonbashi is Tokyo’s best-kept secret, a treasure trove of a district overflowing with cultural and historical gems.

Highlights include:

Nihonbashi Bridge where the ’kilometer zero marker’ is located.
The Bank of Japan
Mitsukoshi, Japan’s oldest department store.
My top picks of Japan’s must-try local snacks.
Authentic souvenir shopping at a 400 years old fan shop and Washi Paper shop.

…. and much more!

This tour is sure to delight history lovers, the culturally curious, foodie explorers, and inquiring minds.

Allow 1 to 2 hours for this audio tour of Tokyo. There is a lot to discover inside our recommended stopping points plus there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and snack shops along the route for a refueling break.

Tour Producer

Laura at Hello! Tours

3 tours

Hello! Tours is a specialist private and small group tour operator covering Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo, Japan. Hello! walking tours are culturally immersive with a focus on local life, history, customs, and foodie discoveries. These audio tours have been produced by Sid who holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Asian Languages, Laura who holds a degree in Economics and simply loves telling stories, and by Kate who is our resident war history buff and TV presenter.

The Hello! Tours team understands the importance of combining ‘must-see-sights’ with hidden gems, back streets, and local knowledge for an unforgettable city exploration.

Preview Location

Location 28

Fukutoku Shrine

Welcome to Fukutoku Shrine. Before we discuss this shrine, lets discuss religion in Japan. Do you know the difference between a shrine and temple in Japan?

A shrine is for Shintoism while a temple is for Buddhism. There is one key feature that can help you distinguish betw... Welcome to Fukutoku Shrine. Before we discuss this shrine, lets discuss religion in Japan. Do you know the difference between a shrine and temple in Japan?

A shrine is for Shintoism while a temple is for Buddhism. There is one key feature that can help you distinguish between a shrine and a temple. At the entrance of the shrine, you can see a large red gate. This is called a Torii. This marks the entrance into the "world of spirits" in Shintoism. A temple will not have this.

Fukutoku Shrine, also known as Mebuki Shrine because Hidetada Tokugawa, the second Shogun of the Edo period nicknamed it mebuki meaning sprout, because of the beauty of the sprouts that he saw around the shrine. It was built sometime during the 700-800s AD. The original shrine was vast and surrounded by a lot of nature with a big farming community around it. It was enshrined as a shrine for Inari - the deity associated with foxes, rice, and fortune as it was near a lot of farmers. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun during the Edo period came to this shrine and felt a deep connection with it. So deep in fact that it is said that his spirit still resides at this shrine today.

You can go inside and pray if you'd like. Even if you're not praying, don't be afraid to take a look around inside! There's even a mini garden off to the side to retain the greenness this place once had. If you'd like to pray I'll give you a set of instructions for proper etiquette.

Once you're inside, there will be a basin of water. In the basin of water, there will be a water scoop. With the water scoop, scoop water and rinse off your left hand and then your right hand. Then add water in your left again and wash your mouth. You can just make a gesture if you don't feel clean washing your mouth. Then with water in your scoop, tilt it to yourself and rinse off the scoop. Now you're ready to pray!

To pray, bow twice, clap twice, then with your hands together, pray, then bow once again. Now you're done!

If you prefer to keep moving, with the red Torii gate to your back, continue walking straight on the road you came from. I'll meet you out on the main road. We'll be reaching the ending point soon. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Nihonbashi Bridge
Nihonbashi Bridge
Mitsukoshi Department Store
Bank of Japan
Fukutoku Shrine
Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
Bank of Japan Head Office
Fukutoku Shrine

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
1 Chome-1 Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0022, Japan
Total distance

2km
Final location
Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, 2-chōme-1 Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0022, Japan
Distance back to start location

368.12m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at the entrance of the Nihonbashi bridge. It's most accessible from Nihonbashi Station on the Ginza Line. Exit B12 will give you the easiest path to the starting point. After exiting B12, you will be by the entrance of Coredo Department Store. Enter the store and there will be an elevator on the left in front of you. Take the elevator up to the first floor. After exiting, with your back to the elevator turn right and go straight. You will arrive at the starting point.

If you search "Nihonbashi Pier" on your Google or Apple maps, it will lead you right to the starting point by the tree. It's recommended to use your Google/Apple maps to get there. Do not climb down the stairs by the bridge and stand by the tree.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

In addition to the foodie tasting stops that we point out throughout the tour we also recommend that you call into the following places:

Mitsukoshi Department Store: Basement level - The food hall is home to many of Japan’s finest sweet shops.

Coredo 1 : Kiya Knife Shop 1st floor - Established in 1792 Kiya produces some of the best quality knives in all of Japan.

Best time of day

Monday to Saturday, between 10.30am and 6pm.

On Sunday’s and public holidays several of our recommended stopping points are closed.

Please avoid taking this tour over the New Years holiday (Dec 31-Jan 3) and Obon holiday in August as most of the stopping points will be closed.

The medicine museum is closed on Mondays.

Due to COVID-19 entry to the Medicine Museum is by reservation only: https://kusuri-museum.com/reservation and Ibasen fan shop is additionally closed on Saturdays.

Precautions

As always, just ensure you look the correct way when you're crossing the roads –especially if you're used to cars driving on the right!

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”