Asakusa: 3.5-hour Big-picture History Walk

What if one half-day walk in Asakusa could reveal the bigger story of Japan? This tour goes far beyond sightseeing, using real landmarks to explain not just what you see, but as a gateway to understand Japan’s history, beliefs, and society. With your expert guide, you’ll: 1) Explore Japan’s 300-year isolation and reopening to the world. 2) Understand why Japan chose the Netherlands as its only trading partner when it closed itself. 3) Learn how the 19th-century Japanese art had an impact on the West, especially French impressionists. 4) Discover how Shinto and Buddhism have coexisted for over a millennium, with shared worshippers and a shared influence on everyday life. 5) Compare Japanese and Western symbolism, including dragons. 6) Discover the shared mindsets in Japan and the West a millennium ago. 7) Experience the contrast between the sacred temple and former entertainment districts 8) Explore nostalgic postwar lanes, and streets that evoke Edo-period Japan.