Tokyo

Tokyo Countryside Exploration Private Tour

Name: Tokyo Countryside Exploration Private Tour
Brand: Jeremy Owen
SKU: 216288P1
Price: 262.68 USD
Rating: 5.0 (94 reviews)

Tokyo, Japan

8 to 9 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Discover a bucolic wonderland just outside of Tokyo. This small-group tour takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the city and into the surrounding countryside for a glimpse of an almost forgotten rural Japan. You'll see mountains, waterfalls, temples, and shrines that are far off the typical tourist trail.

Discover rural Japan on a day trip from Tokyo
Swap the city' hustle and bustle of the city tranquil countryside
Go off the beaten path to places few international tourists see
Small-group tour (maximum 5): A more personal experience

What's Included

Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

09:00 AM

Pickup details

Unfortunately we can not pick up from Narita Airport or Yokohama. We cannot drop off at Narita or Yokohama. I hope for your understanding.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Operated by Jeremy Owen

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

94 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 94 reviews

A Day in the Tokyo Countryside

Mary_B, May 2024

This was an outstanding tour. Our guide Jeremy was so knowledgeable, and he took us to some extremely interesting places. We saw a Shinto shrine and a temple dedicated to the Koma prince. We stopped for a delicious traditional Japanese lunch at a small local cafe. Everything about the day was wonderful. Jeremy dropped us off at our hotel, and s few minutes later, we realized that we had left a jacket behind in his car. We called Jeremy, and he returned back to our drop-off spot. This was exceptional service. We left the tour, feeling as if we had known Jeremy forever and that we were fortunate to have seen the beautiful Tokyo countryside.

Response from Host, May 2024

Thank you for your very kind review. It was a wonderful day. I really did enjoy your company. If you ever come back to Japan again I would be happy to show you other places.

Perfect mixture of history and beauty

Kelly_S, May 2024

Jeremy was a fantastic guide. I enjoyed seeing the countryside, it was relaxing and gave me a flavor or the culture outside of Tokyo. I loved the Dragon Taming Temple, it was beautiful and the history Jeremy provided was exceptional. We enjoyed a great lunch in a beautiful farmhouse, complete with dining Japanese style. The Koma temple and the history lesson again were exceptional. The statues were beautiful for the countryside they sit in. If you love to learn about culture and history, this is the tour and the guide for you.

Response from Host, May 2024

Thank you for your very kind words. If you come back to Japan I will be happy to show you something different. I enjoyed the day very much too.

Such a great day.

Marleen_R, May 2024

Jeremy Owen took us to the Saitama prefeture, a region full of nature, tradition and history. We had a marvellous day, exploring the beauty of this pre-alpine territory. He was very narrative, informative , we never had a dull moment😁. Knows all about this theme, tells wonderous stories, connecting past and present. Had a great lunch in a family-owned traditional restaurant (that serves delicious pizza!). Although I was stil dealing with a foot-injury, I could do the whole tour. Jeremy even proposed to change the itinary. Afterwards, he sent us a detailed description of this trip, which was much appreciated. This day was a highlight in our Japan-experience. Will not be forgotten. Thank you, Jeremy Owen.

Response from Host, May 2024

Thank you for your kind review. If you come to Japan again, I will be happy to show you something different.

Special, funny, good

Chauncey_L, May 2024

Had lots of fun chatting. Jeremy was funny and kind. Went to really obscure but pretty places with essentially nobody around us, which is rare around Tokyo.

Response from Host, May 2024

Thank you for your kind review. If you come to Japan again I can show you different places.

Perfect Tour!

Jennifer_G, Apr 2024

This was a wonderful experience! Jeremy is kind, thoughtful and very knowledgeable. He took my friend and I to wonderful spots and customized the tour to our needs and interests. Highly recommended!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for your very kind review. I hope to show you more places if you come to Japan again.

A real must do experience away from the crowds.

Robert_F, Apr 2024

I cannot say enough goods things about this tour and Jeremy the tour operator. Pick-up at our hotel in Akasaka on time with good communication prior to pickup. Drove out to the countryside to a most beautiful area to visit two beautiful temples 1300+ years old and a huge statue display. ( I think we shared each temple with fewer than a dozen people! No crowded rush or crush of people like the main temples in Kyoto). Jeremy shared his extensive knowledge and history of the area and much about his life during the ride out and back to Tokyo. Just stunning scenic views as you are driven up mountain roads to each location. Don’t fret about the driving as Jeremy is a pro and we felt safe the entire tour. Lunch was a really unique and cool experience of juxtaposition of cultures, brick oven pizza( 4 cheese with special local honey) in a very traditional Japanese setting with a beautiful little Japanese garden and the low style tables and Tono mats. Great coffee and melon spritzer drink ending with cherry blossom infused cheesecake! We hit the jackpot with this tour as the Sakura were all blooming!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for your wonderful review. It really makes me happy. I will send your by post on Monday.

Quiet beautiful places

Geertje_v, Apr 2024

I've visited some unforgettable places and learned a lot during the tour. It was a beautiful getaway from Tokyo, with personalized service that made the experience even more special.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for your very kind review.

More of the same

lisa_F, Apr 2024

This is not a trip for anyone with a tendency to get car sick. This is a long drive through the winding hills in the woods of the outskirts of Tokyo. You see a few shrines and get green noodles for lunch with no beverage. The guide was in a hurry to finish the tour and take us back to Tokyo . The tour was a huge waste of time.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

I am very sorry that you were so disappointed. I am very sorry that traffic was so bad on that day. The green noodles are temple food. The temple that you dined in was the Bamboo temple and the noodles are green because they are mixed with the essence of the bamboo. It is authentic Japanese temple food. It is authentic Japan.

True Japan

Leonie_K, Apr 2024

Our knowledge considerate guide. Seeing the real Japan without crowds and queues. A unique experience. Highly recommended

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for your very kind review. I hope you come to Japan again and I can show you more of the countryside.

Amazing way to see Japan outside of the big cities

kaydlou, Mar 2024

We really enjoyed our tour! Jeremy is great and taught us a lot on our day trip into the Japanese Alps. We learned about Amaterasu, the most powerful Shinto goddess of the sun, Buddha Jizo, who takes the souls of children to Buddhist heaven in his sleeves after crossing the river Sansu, and Youkai or Japanese ghosts. We ate lunch (which was delicious) at the bamboo temple dedicated to Gozu, the torturer in Buddhist hell with the head of a cow and the body of a man. The lucky god of this temple was Benten, the goddess of teaching, music, art and love, also known as Sarasweaty in Hindi. We traveled higher into the mountains to see Torii Kannon, a massive tribute to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. We visited a pagoda that used to contain the bones of Xuanzang, a monk in the Tang period of China. He followed the footsteps of Dharma, the Indian monk who brought Zen Buddhism to China, and lost the use of his limbs because he spent 15 years meditating in front a wall, trying to think about nothing. The pagoda is now empty, because Japan felt compelled to return the bones to China. We loved seeing this side of Japan and had a wonderful time with our guide - Jeremy is extremely knowledgeable, interesting, and funny! This is an all day tour - I recommend not booking anything too closely after so you can enjoy at a relaxed pace. We learned the most on this tour and I can’t stop thinking about the soba noodles we ate! Thanks, Jeremy!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for your very kind review. I loved showing you around and if you come back to Japan I can show you more beautiful places.

Countryside Experience

Mark_R, Mar 2024

Need a little more time to take photos and enjoy the sights. A lot of driving through country side. Host very very knowledgeable person.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for your kind review. I am most sorry about the terrible traffic.

Jeremy's Japanese joys

Evan_F, Mar 2024

Seeing lots of interesting sights in the Japanese countryside like rice fields, ancient shrines, magnificent statues hidden in the mountains. Jeremy's excellent knowledge of the culture and history AND his great stories. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of city.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for your very kind review. I hope you are enjoying the rest of your trip in Japan.

Countryside Tour

Colin_M, Mar 2024

Our guide Owen kept us entertained the whole day with his stories about the temples and his general knowledge of Japan. We saw three temples including lunch at the bamboo temple. Most of the trip was through mountainous countryside with stunning views. Owen managed to scare my girlfriend to death with his stories of the man eating bears in the mountains! The whole trip was thoroughly entertaining thanks to Owens expertise and good humour. We would recommend this excursion as a must do in Japan.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for your kind review. I can show you a different side of the countryside if you come to Japan again.

Great tour to get away from packed Tokyo for a day

Gregory_L, Mar 2024

This is a great tour. Jeremy picks you up in his comfortable van and drives you around the Japanese countryside and mountains. He shows you three main locations so far out of the way that you're practically the only tourist there, which is great, especially since the temples and shrines in Tokyo are so crowded. Jeremy studied Japanese history in college so he knows his stuff. His experience as a foreigner living in Japan is also something worth hearing about. Lunch is included in the price and you won't have to spend a single dime on anything other than what you paid for on Viator. Highly recommended.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for your kind review. If I would love to show you more places if you come to Japan again.

Great tour

Zorica_P, Mar 2024

This was a great tour and Jeremy is an amazing tour guide! He is very knowledgable about history and culture of Japan and he took me to see some beautiful scenery outside of Tokyo. I would highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for your very kind review. If you come to Japan again I will show you a good bamboo forest.

Excellent experience

galit_b, Feb 2024

Jeremy the tour guide was very good and very enthusiastic about showing me the beautiful countryside. He made this private tour very interesting and is very knowledgeable. It was a unique tour that’s different from other “touristy “ tour. This was a more authentic tour. I highly recommend this tour

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thank you for your very kind review. If you come again I hope to show you more of the countryside that is not covered in snow.

Best private tour

Michael_F, Feb 2024

Jeremy was an amazing guy and amazing tour guide. I loved spending the day with him and learned alot about Japanese Buddhism. It's a great tour to get away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and out into the Japanese countryside. I highly recommend this tour and its definitely the best priced private tour I could out there.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thank you for your kind review. I hope to show you more of the countryside if you come to Japan again.

Beautiful Japan tour!

Michael_D, Nov 2023

Wow! What a unique and wonderful experience. See a beautiful and lesser known part of Japan not far from Tokyo. Jeremy is a fantastic guide and has organized this tour to give visitors an experience like no other. The beauty and history is incredible, away from other busy tourist spots. A great lunch at a local restaurant. Jeremy was a fantastic guide and a wonderful and interesting person to spend the day with. Thank you Jeremy! We highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thank you for wonderful review, it would be a pleasure to show you another side of the countryside if you come to Japan again.

Good alternative from the crowded sites

Florencio_D, Nov 2023

We saw wonderful parts of Japan that we wouldn’t find ourselves thanks to this private tour. Jeremy is a great guide. Energetic and passionate. We saw mountains, temples, the country side, small towns and villages. This is a good break from the crowds. Great experience overall.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thank you for your kind review. I hope to show you around the countryside when you come to Japan again

A Unique Experience in the Tokyo Countryside

Nathaniel_P, Nov 2023

This is a wonderful and unique tour, and Jeremy may be the only person in the world qualified to give it. He is fluent in both Japanese and English, owns a home in the area he guides you through, and has Buddhist monks in his family whose insights he shares with you. I encourage anyone visiting Tokyo to take this tour and experience a part of Japan that most tourists never do.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Thank you for your very kind review. I will show you another side of the countryside if you come to Japan again.

Likely to Sell Out