Scrumpdillyicious: Private Tokyo Highlights Tour & Tea Ceremony

Tokyo is one of the great cities of the world with many faces – imperial capital, modern metropolis, traditional city and shopping paradise. Exploring the city for one full day with a private guide, we were whisked away to experience the best of Tokyo on a grand tour of the city including an ancient tea ceremony at Hamarikyu Gardens. We began with the Imperial Palace, which was the old Edo castle and is now the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun, started building his castle here in 1590, but sadly the castle's main building burned down in 1873. In the Edo period, the shogun's successors made this into the worlds largest castle, however now only the inner circle remains. It is however still possible to get a sense of the sheer size of this fortress from the moats, thick walls, bridges and defences that remain, including one of the oldest remaining buildings — the Fujimi-yagura watchtower, which was built in 1659 to protect the southern side of the grounds. Although the palace complex still seems vast, it was once even larger — in fact, Tokyo Station and the Marunouchi area were once part of the castle grounds. Given the extraordinarily hot day with humidity hovering in the mid 40s, we then took an air-conditioned taxi to Asakusa to explore the Sensoji temple, Asakusa shrine, and famous Nakamise shopping district, but were very surprised to find a Samba Festival in full swing along Asakusa's main street. Stopping for lunch at Asadori, a traditional Japanese restaurant for lunch, we finished at the beautiful Hamarikyu Garden, which was originally owned by Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo era, and where we enjoyed a traditional maccha tea ceremony at the Hamarikyu tea house, for a true taste of old Japan.

Moat and thick stone defence walls fortify the 15th-century Kikyomon Gate entrance to Edo Castle

Doshin-Bansho is one of the remaining guardhouses from the Tokugawa shogunate,

where samurai were stationed to keep constant watch

Iconic Japanese pine tree on the Edo Castle grounds

Fujimi-Yagura is the last remaining corner watchtower on the castle grounds

and dates from the 17th century

The East Gardens is the site of the former Edo Castle which was built the mid 15th century, and was the centre of power of the Tokugawa Soguns during the Edo period, from 1803-1868

View from the the stone foundations of Edo Castle with gold tipped roof of Nippon Budokan,

the sacred ground of Japanese martial arts

Ninomaru Gardens with beautiful pond, pines and flowers

Koi swimming in the Imperial pond

Arriving at Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa only to find ourselves in the midst of a Samba Festival

A vivacious Samba dancer in Asakusa covered with feathers and not much else!

Kaminarimon Gate lantern which one passes under before entering

the bustling Nakamise shopping district

Many ladies dressed in kimonos frequent the shops in the Nakamise entertainment district

Selection of Japanese rice crackers

There are also many sweet shops like this fellow making popular red bean cookies by hand

Founded in 1870, Sakai Kokodo is one of the oldest shops specializing in Ukiyo-e woodblock prints,

including limited edition and original art

Gojunoto five story Pagoda at Senso-ji, one of the oldest temples in Japan, the stately pagoda was originally built in 942

People stop at a large bronze incense burner in front of the main hall to bathe their hands and faces in the smoke to ward of bad spirits before climbing the stairs to offer prayers