Visiting Horse Racing Course of JRA (Japan Racing Association) or Off-Track Betting Facilities (WINS) near your hotel.
How to bet your money on horses and background of the race are explained by the guide of this tour.
At your hotel in Tokyo (or the place you designate).
At your hotel in Tokyo (or the place you designate).
Guide fee, Hotel pick-up in central Tokyo area.
Transportation fee from the hotel to the Race Course (you and guide), Lunch, Entrance fee into the Race Course, Horse racing newspaper, Betting fee.
If your hotel is located in 23 wards of Tokyo, pick-up fee to the hotel is free.
Tours are basically done by using public transportation like trains and subways.
This tour is basically available on every Saturday and Sunday, but also sometimes on Monday of national holiday when JRA (Japan Racing Association) horse race is held.
Recently Japanese horses are getting strong. Some horses run in overseas prestigious races like Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Horse racing is getting popular among Japanese people and would be the most typical gamble. You will enjoy not only horse racing itself but also watching how Japanese people are distracted on weekend. In case of a tour to the horse racing course, it is possible to see inside race course as general amusement place for Japanese people. In case of visiting WINS, you can choose Off-Track Betting Facilities near your hotel.
If you are lucky, you will get money (but it is NOT guaranteed).
In spring, autumn and winter, JRA horse races are held in Tokyo area in either Tokyo Racecourse (Fuchu, west of Tokyo) or Nakayama Racecourse (Funabashi, Chiba).
In summer, JRA horse races are held in local sites in Japan and this tour is done by visiting one of the Off-Track Betting Facilities (WINS) in Tokyo (or Yokohama) near your hotel.
Detailed information on schedule of JRA races can be obtained from JRA English web site.
I’m traveling with my partner who is paralyzed. Toshihiro spent hours just researching how to navigate a very complicated subway system in Tokyo just to find elevators that would get us from place to place. Often times it took three elevators just to take one train. It was very complicated and he worked everything out. There’s no way we could’ve done this on our own. He’s so thoughtful the way he thought everything through and he certainly knows the city.. You cannot go wrong by him and he’s just a gentle soul. When we come back, we will absolutely have Tito show us around even more. We used him for two days on this trip.
Thank you for the amazing tour review, Scott-san. Most of subway stations in Tokyo have elevators, but some don't have. Sometimes elevators are not working because of maintenance. Fortunately when we were doing a tour for two days, all elevators at the subway stations we used were working normally. It was lucky. I was really impressed as you and your partner were very friendly, and you were supporting him well. You and your partner also have great insight on Japanese culture. I am happy as I could contribute to the sightseeing of Tokyo for people like you. You made a relaxed atmosphere during the tour. Thank you very much again.
For the east side of Tokyo, we hired Toshihiro to plan our 8 hour tour. My daughter researched the sites of interest in east Tokyo, with an emphasis on those that would interest my 10 year old granddaughter. Toshihiro offered us excellent advice and recommendations to complete our itinerary before we arrived in Japan. With water bottles, hats and suntan lotion, we met up with Toshihiro in the lobby of our hotel and headed off for a long, hot (35C or 98F) but fascinating day. As we approached the subway, Toshihiro advised us to buy a 24h unlimited Tokyo metro pass: adult 600 Y, child 300Y. THAT IS A DEAL because some brief rides cost 200Y! Toshihiro organized our day to ensure we had time to see all the sights with minimal retracing and for fast transfers using the Metro. We started out visiting the Imperial Palace grounds (there is zero shade), where Toshihiro gave a history lesson dating back to the Shogun period that was followed by the ascent of the Emperor. We then subwayed to the Tsukiji fish market after a brief stop at a very large Budhist temple next to the fish market, for a memorial service. We learned about the history of Tokyo and the Tsukiji fish market as we meandered the streets, admiring the fish and Wagyu meat, vegetables (wasabi), and ice cream including Black Sesame ice cream, my fave. Before leaving the fish market, Toshihiro brought us to a traditional Japanese lunch place that a food critic had highly recommended years ago. It was outstanding so we recommend it! Translated the name in English is "good old age". Then off to Akihabara (with claw machines), Nezu shrine and Asakusa area with the Senso-ji temple and Hozomon Gate. Toshihiro left us as we set out to enjoy an amazing sensory experience at Teamlab Planets (photos). We spent 90 minutes there wading through knee-deep water, AI generated fish, light-enhanced crystal hangings, room filled with giant balloons, pods and plants. What an amazing finish to a fun and informative day! Thank you
Thank you for the brilliant tour review with excellent photos, Jerrold-san. You are three generations family with a daughter and a granddaughter. You had already come to Japan several times before. I am really happy to get this kind of wonderful comments on the tour from a person like you. Tour was done more than two weeks ago. It was a very hot summer day. I guess that you are now back to your country with a nice cool climate. Tokyo is still very hot today. I am impressed with that you have an amazing good memory on the tour in Tokyo. Your daughter researched well on the popular touristic spots in Tokyo. It was easy to make the tour itinerary for you because your daughter informed me of your interests clearly. You had good preparations against a crazy hot summer day in Tokyo. I could do a guide without any extra difficulty. Your hotel was located at nice area in central Tokyo near Tokyo Metro subway station, one of the two subway companies in Tokyo. That's why we could use very economical 24 hours tickets. In Tokyo, some spots are better to visit in the morning, some other spots are better to visit in the late afternoon. Sometimes I encounter difficulty to decide the order of the sightseeing. But you agreed with my suggestion. You were very cooperative. Thank you very much again. At historical spots like the Imperial Palace, I explained Japanese history. But real history is more complicated and has various aspects. My explanation of Japanese history was very simplified. I am happy to hear that you enjoyed both traditional spots and modern spots. Tokyo has many other amazing attractions and is changing drastically every year. Please come to Japan again in the near future.
We had the pleasure of touring Tokyo with Toshi over 2 days. With his breadth of knowledge about Japanese culture, history, geography and religions, he was able to supplement our itinerary with facts giving us a deeper understanding of the shrines, temples, traditions famous buildings, and other landmarks. Toshi drew up a lovely itinerary really covering all the main highlights both the historical along with the modern. With his insight and experience, we were able to fully experience everything that this beautiful capita had to offer, and to fully embrace ourselves in Japanese culture with recommendations of food markets and restaurants. Before the trip he thoroughly answered all of our questions and concerns online, and tailored a perfect itinerary for our group ( 3 adults and 3 teenagers). Toshi was extremely patient and took time to answer all our questions. He always ensured that we were together as a group. He would wait patiently as my elderly mother tried keeping up with us and my three teenage kids. Overall a wonderful and extremely memorable 2 days We highly recommend Toshi
Thank you for the outstanding tour review, Angela-san. It was wonderful two days for me to guide your excellent family. You showed interests on various spots in Tokyo. I really enjoyed guiding you, taking your family photographs and answering your family's questions. Your family consists of various kinds of generations from 80 years old your mother to teenager children. Sometimes, they required different destinations to visit. But you arbitrated well their various opinions. Unfortunately, strong typhoon was coming to Japan and Tokyo was affected. In some area, it was rainy. We needed umbrellas. One tourist spot where your elderly mother especially would have liked to visit was closed. But you took your family to in-house touristic spots like animal cafe instead. You were very cooperative and supported me many times. Thank you very much again. Tokyo still has other attractive view spots. I hope that you come to Japan again in the near future. I recommend at the end of March cherry blossom season.
Toshihiro was wonderful! He is a master of the subway/train systems so gets you to all these wonderful sights in one day (you do pay for his subway day ticket, along with your own, FYI, which was a nominal cost)! Best of all, he adjusts the time you spend and the places you go based on what interests you! We really wanted to see Akihabara, which was not on his normal itinerary, and he seamlessly blended that right into our schedule instead of Shibuya. He was so patient as we geeked out and shopped at so many of the shops, and never pressured us to “stay on schedule”! I’d do it all over again!
Thank you for the fantastic tour review, Dana-san. Your hotel was located near Tokyo Metro subway station. So we could use a nominal price one day ticket. You clearly showed me your interests, which area you would like to visit in Tokyo. It was easy for me to adjust the time. You were very cooperative. Thank you again. To tell the truth, I am not so familiar with animation. But you kindly instructed me which animation characters and goods are popular now. I really enjoyed walking Akihabara with you. You gave me a lot of new knowledge. You are still in Japan. Please enjoy the rest of days!