Shadows of Edo: Yoshiwara Courtesan District & Asakusa Backstreet

Name: Shadows of Edo: Yoshiwara Courtesan District & Asakusa Backstreet
Brand: Viator
Price: 35 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

4.0(1)1 hr 30 minEnglish, French, SpanishBook 1 day aheadAsakusa, Japan

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$35

Book on Viator

Step beyond Tokyo’s famous landmarks and discover a quieter side of the city on this small-group evening walking tour through Asakusa and Yoshiwara. While Kaminarimon and Senso-ji attract crowds, this tour takes you into hidden backstreets and historic areas many visitors never see.

Led by a local guide, you’ll explore the former Yoshiwara district, once Edo-period Japan’s only licensed pleasure quarter. Though the original buildings no longer remain, the streets and atmosphere still preserve traces of the past. Through engaging storytelling, your guide will bring old Tokyo to life and explain how people once sought entertainment and escape during the Edo era.

Discover quiet alleys, hidden local spots, and overlooked history while learning about the culture of Yoshiwara and its lasting influence on Tokyo. This tour offers a deeper look into a rarely seen side of the city.

Included

A Professional Local Guide

Not included

Transportation during the tour

What you'll do

Meet your guide and receive an introduction to the tour and the hidden history o
f Yoshiwara and old Edo nightlife culture.
5 min
Sanyabori Park
1-4-9 Higashi Asakusa, Taito, Japan
Discover the history of the former Sanyabori canal and learn how Yoshiwara was structured during the Edo period.
15 min
Hear the story behind the famous “Looking Back Willow,” where visitors to Yoshiw
ara were said to turn around for one last glance before entering the district.
10 min
Visit the former entrance gate of Yoshiwara and explore the history of Edo’s lic
ensed pleasure quarters and entertainment culture.
20 min
Yoshiwara Shrine
3-20-2 Senzoku, Taito, Japan
Visit this historic shrine connected to Yoshiwara’s past while learning about courtesan culture, local traditions, and the lives of townspeople during the Edo era.
20 min
Yoshiwara Benzaiten
3-22 Senzoku, Taito, Japan
Conclude the tour with final historical insights, a Q&A session, and recommendations for exploring Asakusa afterward.
5 min

Meeting and pickup

3 locations

Pickup details

Your guide will be waiting in front of the The Sacred Ginkgo Tree of Sensō-ji 10 minutes before the tour starts. They will be holding a sign that says "YURAGI TOUR", so please gather at the meeting spot on time.