Tokyo Historic Afternoon Walking Tour of Ueno and Yanaka

Description:

• Take a walk around Ueno and Yanaka, two of Tokyo's most historic neighborhoods, on this four-hour afternoon walking tour. You'll visit ancient shrines, temples and Tokyo's art museum, and shop for stunningly decorated fans, boxes and other handmade paper products from a store dating from the 18th century.

  Ueno was originally a temple town surrounding the Kan-eiji Temple, established in 1625 by the Buddhist high priest Tenkai who performed purification rites to protect Edo Castle from destruction by fire. On your afternoon walk you'll see the statue of Saigo Takamori, credited for bringing about the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and now a familiar Ueno landmark. You'll also see Toshogu Shrine, dedicated to the first generation of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and established in 1627.

  Next, you'll pay a visit to the Tokyo National Museum of Art, opened in 1952. You'll also visit Isetatsu, a craft store selling gorgeous items made from Japanese paper, including paper fans and boxes . The store was opened in the middle of the 18th century by the Hirose family, and specializes in chiyogami, handmade decorative paper printed with wood blocks.

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