kagurazaka walking tour

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10 things to do in Kagurazaka: a walk there will give you a taste of traditional Japan!

Kagurazaka is a district of Shinjuku in the middle of Tokyo. It's so packed with typical Japanese buildings, products, and food, that you can fully enjoy traditional Japan just by walking around for a few hours.

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Kagurazaka is situated near the Tokyo Dome. From the era when it was a famous red-light district during the Taisho period (1912-1926) still remain the old ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurants) and the geisha houses. It is a quiet and idle place in the afternoon, marked by its thin stone-paved roads. Just a few hours walk in this neighborhood full of old buildings, Japanese restaurants, and Japanese sweets shops, will give you a taste of  traditional Japan. Due to the nearby French institute, there are also a lot of French people living in Kagurazaka, giving the district another one of its best-known features: the French eateries. Here is a list of the temples, shops, and restaurants that will show you the typical Kagurazaka.

1. Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple

 This is the shrine of the god of treasure, Bishamonten, one of the Seven Gods of Fortune in Buddhism. He is also worshiped in India since ancient times under the name of Vaisravana. The belief in Bishamonten grew stronger during the commercial and cultural development of the Edo period (1603-1868). Nowadays this temple belongs to the Nichiren school of Buddhism and Bishamonten is still popular as a god of fortune who wards off evil.

Address : 5-36 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

7-minute walk from the south exit of JR Iidabashi Station 6-minute walk from the A1 exit of Kagurazaka Station [Tokyo Metro Tozai Line] 6-minute walk from the A3 exit of Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station [Toei-Oedo Line]

2. Akagi Shrine, Akagi café

Guilhem Vellut/Wikimedia Commons

The Akagi Shrine is known as one of the 3 temples in Tokyo since the Edo period (1603-1868). Its god can ward off evil, prevent fires, and give its blessing over studies and arts. The good luck charms here are also famous for being very cute. The most unusual feature of this temple is that there is a café inside where people often drops by after visiting the shrine.

Address : 1-10 Akagi Motomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

 2-minute walk from Kagurazaka Station [Tokyo Metro Tozai Line]

3. The French Institute in Tokyo

This is not a place that will give you a taste of Japan, but it can be a very good spot to rest at during a walk. Near the Iidabashi Station in Kagurazaka, you will find the official French Institute in Tokyo. Inside, there is a French library and a courtyard so silent it is hard to believe you are in the middle of Tokyo; the atmosphere makes you feel like you are actually in Paris. Some people come here especially to eat at the French restaurant "La Brasserie". It might be perfect for  those who can't eat Japanese food.

Address : 15 Ichigaya Funagawaramachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

7-minute walk from JR Iidabashi Station

[Opening hours]

Mon~Fri 10am ~ 10pm Sat 11:30am ~ 10pm

4. Furoshiki shop : Yamato Nadeshiko

This is a shop selling a useful Japanese item, the "furoshiki." It is a piece of cloth that is very convenient for wrapping up a lot of different things. It is used in Japan to protect or decorate valuable gifts and wrap together clothes or kimono. Its charm comes above all from the various beautiful patterns; there are even people in Japan who use different patterns according to the seasons. Since it can be folded and doesn't take up much space in luggage, it is also recommended as a souvenir. There are a lot of ways to fold and wrap things with the furoshiki, so feel free to ask the shop clerk to show you!

Address : 6-15 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

2-minute walk from the exit 1 of Kagurazaka Station [Tokyo Metro Tozai Line] 7-minute walk from Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station [Toei-Oedo Line] 12-minute walk from JR Iidabashi Station

Furoshiki-ya Yamato Nadeshiko (English site)

5. makanai cosme.

This store's concept started at the gold leaf shops in Kanazawa (Ishikawa prefecture) and specializes in cosmetics and miscellaneous kitchen goods that help to always have a beautiful skin. Most of them are made with natural ingredients. Their most famous item is the konjac sponge, a natural cleansing sponge made from vegetable fibers of the konjac yam (konnyaku). The shop is full of things that any girl would want so please go try and touch the products. You will surely find some perfect gifts.

Address : 3-1 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture.

5-minute walk from JR Iidabashi Station. 2-minute walk from the B4b exit of  Iidabashi Station [Tokyo Metro Yurakucho, Tozai, Oedo, Namboku Lines]

Week-day, Saturday :　10:30am ~ 8pm　　　 Sunday, National holiday : 11am ~ 7pm

 Makanai cosme (Japanese site)

 6. kagurazaka saryo honten.

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Known for its "okayu," a thin Japanese rice porridge, and its matcha latte, this cafe focuses on using Japanese ingredients. You can also enjoy warm weather on their open terrace.

Address : 5-9 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

 [Access]　

5-minute walk from the south exit of JR Iidabashi Station [JR Sobu Line] 4-minute walk from the exit 1 of Kagurazaka Station [Tokyo Metro Tozai Line] 3-minute walk from the A3 exit of Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station [Toei-Oedo Line]

Monday ~ Thursday : 11:30am ~ 10pm (last order) Sunday, National holidays : 11:30am ~ 9pm (last order)

Kagurazaka Saryo Honten Home Page

7. kyourakutei.

This restaurant serves Japanese noodles (soba, udon) and tempura. It has received one star from the Michelin Guide and is very popular among Japanese soba lovers. Of course there are many other dishes and in the evening, a lot of people come to have a drink. The restaurant also serves lunch except on Mondays.

Address : Kagurazaka-kun 1F, 3-6 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

3-minute walk from the B3 exit of JR Iidabashi Station. 4-minute walk from the A3 exit of Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station [Toei-Oedo Line] 5-minute walk from the west exit of Iidabashi Station [Tokyo Metro]

[Opening Hours]

Monday : 5pm ~ 9pm (last order) Tuesday ~ Saturday :　11:30am ~ 3pm / 5pm ~ 9pm (last order)

Kyourakutei Home Page (Japanese site)

8. kinpei kagurazaka.

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This is a Japanese-style bistro serving seafood. It might be easier for people who are not used to Japanese food to eat here, because this restaurant also cooks some traditional Japanese food in an Italian way. For example, they offer a tomato risotto and "takikomi gohan" (rice seasoned and cooked with various ingredients). We recommend that travelers with a tight budget come here for lunch instead of dinner. The set lunch menus are mainly made with fish.

Address : Kagurazaka MK Building 1F, 3-2-39 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

7-minute walk from JR Iidabashi Station 3-minute walk from the B3 exit of Iidabashi Station [Tokyo Metro] 8-minute walk from Kagurazaka Station [Tokyo Metro Tozai Line]

    Lunch Tuesday ~ Sunday : 11:30am ~ 3pm     Dinner Tuesday ~ Friday : 6pm ~ 10:30pm Saturday, Sunday, National holidays : 5pm~ 10:30pm

Kinpei Kagurazaka Home Page (Japanese site)

9. kagurazaka oishinbo.

Address : 4-8 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

9-minute walk from the west exit of Iidabashi Station [JR Sobu Line], the B3 exit of Iidabashi Station [Tokyo Metro] or the A3 exit of Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station [Toei-Oedo Line]

Lunch　 11:30～14:00 (Last order)　　　Dinner  17:30～22:00 (Last order)　　Open on Sunday

Kagurazaka Oishinbo Home Page (Japanese website)

10. tanaka-ya　.

There are a lot of ramen restaurants in Kagurazaka, but the Japanese ramen lovers would recommend this one, Tanaka-ya. The most famous noodles in this restaurant are the salt flavored "Chuuka Soba," a clear soup with delicious roasted pork fillets. Although the soup looks transparent because it is salt flavored, the taste is very strong. Please use the vending machine at the entrance to select your menu and purchase your "meal ticket" before entering in the shop.

Address : 6-8-23 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

A few steps away from Kagurazaka Station [Tokyo Metro], Iidabashi Station [JR Sobu Line]

Tanaka-ya Home Page (Japanese only)

The district of Kagurazaka condenses a lot of traditional Japan in a small area. Even walking for just a few hours in the area, peeking into small shops, will surely make you feel immersed in Japanese culture.

The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

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A Day in Kagurazaka: Walking in the Footsteps of Geisha and Discovering Modern Nostalgia

Kagurazaka is a prominent neighborhood of Tokyo that was once one of Edo’s main hubs for geisha, teahouses, and all sorts of entertainment ! Back then, the streets hustled and bustled both during the day and during the night, and while this is still true today, the face of Kagurazaka did change over time. Now, atmospheric French cafés and nostalgic restaurants dominate the area but its geisha history can still be discovered in every nook and cranny. Taking a slow, relaxed walk through Kagurazaka , from Shinjuku ’s Okubo Street to Sotobori Street, will show you an entirely different side of the Tokyo from the one you might know!

Starting in Iidabashi: Walking the Street of Nostalgia

The best way to enjoy Kagurazaka on foot is by starting at Iidabashi Station, making your way over Kagurazaka -Shita to Kagurazaka -Ue. This recommended route is especially beautiful on holidays and weekends, as the streets become closed to traffic and transform into a pedestrian paradise. Take your time walking along the many shops lining the street on both sides and discover the unique nostalgic atmosphere of the area! Also something to note, this is Japan’s only one-way road that is reversed depending on the time of the day.

Kinozen: Discovering Japan’s Traditional Tastes as a Long-Established Sweets Shop

Kinozen first opened its doors to customers in 1948 and thus is one of Kagurazaka ’s most long-established sweets shops and an absolute must-visit of the area. The “Green Tea Bavarian Cream” for 874 yen (tax included) is Kinozen’s signature dish, made from high quality green tea from Kyoto, making for a wonderfully rich taste that spreads throughout your entire mouth with the very first spoon. The fresh taste of raw cream in combination with the homemade coarse sweet red bean paste will take you right to dessert heaven! Besides that, Kinozen offers various dishes from kamameshi cuisine – kamameshi refers to rice, meat, and vegetables boiled together in a small pot called a kama. A limited fall and winter delicacy of this kamameshi cuisine is called chestnut zenzai and can be enjoyed for 950 yen (tax included), while the strawberry anmitsu for the same price is an incredibly popular spring dish.

• Address 1-12, kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 1620825 Japan

La Kagu: Relaxed Shopping for Adorable Knick-Knacks

Once an old warehouse, now a modern and stylish shopping complex, La Kagu operates under the theme of “necessities of life + knowledge.” This is just the right place to take a little break during your walk to enjoy a hot cup of coffee on the terrace and to find a unique and adorable souvenir for yourself or friends and family. A café also sits right amidst fashion, furniture, books, and knick-knacks of every shape and color, inviting you to take a breather while leisurely overlooking the many things to discover. The building that is now La Kagu was built in 1965 as the warehouse of a major publishing company, and responsible for the redesign of the structure was the world-renowned architecture office Kengo Kuma & Associates. The wonderful thing about the redesigned building is the atmosphere, retaining its old warehouse charm. Enjoy snacks such as a “short” coffee for 500 yen (tax excluded) and omelet sandwiches*, arranged in delicate rows to emulate the warehouse feeling further, and stroll among the various knick-knacks to find your very favorite one! La Kagu is certain to fill both your heart and your stomach. * Corona Egg Sandwich: eat-in 850 yen (tax excluded), take-out 950 yen (tax excluded). The eggs’ preparation method differs by eat-in or take-out. Take-out sandwiches are limited to 10 per day. Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Closed: open every day

• Address 67, Yaraicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 1620805 Japan

Cobblestones Telling the Stories of Generations

After five o’clock in the evening, the many little stores in Kagurazaka ’s back alleys start to open one after another. Kagurazaka by night is a vastly different scenery from Kagurazaka by day, an enigmatic and nostalgic atmosphere that should not be missed out on. Let’s take a stroll through the beautiful cobblestone alley called Michikusa Yokocho and walk in the steps of Edo’s geisha. Nowadays, private apartments are scattered in between the many shops, transmitting a wonderfully personal atmosphere of the day-to-day life of the neighborhood.

When you walk this cobblestone street in the evening, you might even be able to spot a geisha entering one of the many restaurants of the area.

Enjoying the Cuisine of Japan’s Islands at Rito Kitchen!

Rito Kitchen, a restaurant with a name that translates to “Remote Island Kitchen,” is located in a scenic alley not far away from Kagurazaka Station. As its name promises, you’ll find a wonderfully rural and cozy atmosphere inside, much like an actual remote island, that lets you forget the hustle and bustle of big Tokyo. The menu is filled with dishes and regional products from about 50 different Japanese islands, many of the ingredients coming directly from these islands themselves. The restaurant aims to bring the charm of remote islands to Tokyoites and curious tourists, thus promoting the many islands and their unique culture themselves. Rito Kitchen is a must-try when it comes to discovering the diversity of local Japanese culture, and a wonderful last stop on your Kagurazaka tour.

Next to various a la carte dishes, the special, monthly-changing “Island Tour Lunch Set” is offered during lunchtime, available for 2,000 yen (tax excluded), and our special recommendation should you visit around noon time. This unique set allows you to savor the local delicacies of about ten different islands, and is best enjoyed with local drinks! Some of our favorites are the local beer from Hyogo Prefecture ’s Awaji Island for 890 yen, the sake from Sado Island in Niigata for 650 yen, or Ehime Prefecture’s Iwashiro Island lemon sour for 550 yen (tax excluded for all prices). Why not take the tour and discover the distinctive and delicious food culture of Japan’s many islands? Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (dinner only on Mondays) Closed: irregular holidays

• Address 6-23, kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 1620825 Japan
• Area Kagurazaka
• Category Old Towns (Shitamachi)

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Tour Details

Kagurazaka walking tour.

Duration: 3 hours

Category: Culture & History

Discover the faded charm of Tokyo’s Kagurazaka neighborhood, with its cobblestone streets and traditional architecture. On this guided walking tour, wander the neighborhood and to see the remnants of this former geisha district. Visit the numerous shrines, historical buildings and points of interest as you get a local look into Japanese culture.

See a quieter side of Tokyo on a walking tour of the Kagurazaka neighborhood. With your local guide, walk along the many alleyways and lanes off the main street, and enjoy a glimpse back in time to the era of the geisha. The beautiful neighborhood of Kargurazaka was known in the early 1900s for its geisha houses, some of which still remain today.

Your walking tour starts with a visit to the Tokyo Daijingu Shrine, considered to be lucky for those seeking romance. Then stroll Kagurazaka Street past traditional Japanese stores. See the Zenkokuji Temple with its striking red pillars, and walk along the old stone steps, past the onsen (hot baths), to reach the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine.

Next, spend some time on Oguri Yokocho, a narrow street named after the Oguri family, a powerful clan during the Edo era. Unlike busy Kagurazaka Street, this area is quieter and more intimate, with residential houses located among the cafes and restaurants. Continue your tour by walking past the former Geisha Association office and through more small laneways to the areas of Kakurenbo Yokocho and Hyogo Yokocho, where you will find small hole-in-the-wall restaurants, izakayas (bars) and perhaps even a geisha or two.

Take the subway back to the Keio Plaza Hotel, where your tour concludes.

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Culture Shock Rating

We have a wide range of tours designed to give you an insight into the destination you're travelling in and there is something for everybody. The culture shock ratings considers the destination visited, transport used, activities undertaken and that "Wow, I'm really not at home now!" factor. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

This is the least confronting of our tour range. Transport used on the trip is either private or a very comfortable public option, the activities included are usually iconic sites and locations that are not all too confronting.

The tour can include a mix of private and public transport providing a level of comfort that is slightly below what you would experience at home. Sites visited are usually iconic sites, tours can also include market visits, visits to communities etc that provide the traveller with a fantastic insight into destination.

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether it's a packed public bus where you are forced to stand, a visit to a local market, a local community, you are sure to have an experience that is very different from what you're used to at home.

The comforts of your home town and the environment you are used to are more of a rarity. Expect some challenging transport options, visits to local sites and areas that don't resemble anything at home.

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Physical Rating

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These tours have very limited physical activity. Usually climbing in and out of the transport provided, walking through sites, markets etc included in the itinerary.

These tours have a bit of physical activity but nothing that should challenge you too much. This could be climbing on and off public transport through to a walk through the destination you're travelling in, they can include walking only tours or a combination of walking and transport.

These tours involve a bit of physical activity from walking up and down hills in the destination you're travelling in or the surrounding areas. Climbing on and off local transport or riding a bike up to 30 kms along predominantly flat terrain or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

These Tours will provide you with some solid physical activity. Whether its bike riding, walking, trekking, kayaking or riding on public transport you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. These tours are our most challenging and involve some serious walking, hiking or bike riding. Can involve step climbs by foot or pedal and some challenging public transport options in the destination you are travelling.

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• Explore Kagurazaka

A traditional Tokyo enclave that's sophisticated and genteel

Main content starts here.

Updated: October 11, 2019

Neighbor to bustling Shinjuku, head to Kagurazaka and discover the discreet charms of one of Tokyo's oldest neighborhoods. Lined with traditional craft and souvenir shops, restaurants and sellers of Japanese confectioneries, the area's main sloping street once marked the outskirts of Edo Castle. Kagurazaka is a former prominent geisha entertainment district and remnants of this fascinating culture exist in its cobbled backstreets today.

Kagurazaka Station

Reach Kagurazaka Station via the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and head to Exit 2.

Akagi-jinja Shrine

Kengo Kuma's touch is also apparent at this Shinto holy site, which the architect modernized in 2010. Pay your respects and admire the steel plate roofing that mimics traditional yamato-buki tiling before heading off for some lunch.

French dining

Home to much of the French expat community, Kagurazaka is one of the best places in Tokyo to dine francais. You'll find everything from French pastries to backstreet bistros, along with Japan's first creperie and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Kakurenbo Yokocho

Especially alluring at dusk, Kagurazaka's cobbled backstreets speak of the area's past. Wander this winding alleyway, lined with discreet high-end restaurants, to capture the essence of this former geisha district.

Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple

Veer back to the main street of Kagurazaka and you'll see the commanding red pillars of Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple in your sights. Founded by shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa and relocated to its current location in the late 18th century, this temple is a Kagurazaka hub.

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17 best things to do in Kagurazaka: temples, restaurants, bars, shops and more

Peek behind the scenes of this refined Shinjuku neighbourhood that fuses traditional Edo charm with classic French influences

Photo: Akagi Shrine

There are over 250 restaurants hidden in the cobblestone alleyways of Kagurazaka, but you wouldn’t know it unless you spent a day exploring all the narrow paths and winding slopes of the neighbourhood. The area is still reminiscent of old Tokyo, with traditional shops, shrines and the occasional sighting of a real life geisha making her way to her next dinner appointment at one of the long-standing local restaurants. 

Kagurazaka hasn’t lost its colour in recent decades. Instead, it has become even more vibrant, thanks in part to the French International School situated near the district, bringing with it many French businesses. Among the traditional sweet shops and sake bars, you’ll now see European bistros and wine bars perfectly merging cultures and culinary experiences. 

On weekends, the main road is closed to car traffic during the day, leaving plenty of space for you to meander from shop to shop, uncovering all the hidden gems in one of Tokyo’s most captivating neighbourhoods.

RECOMMENDED: Best things to do in Daikanayama

Food & drink

Le bretagne.

The crêpes and galettes of Harajuku have somewhat skewed Tokyo’s idea of these thin French pancakes, but Le Bretagne serves the real deal for anyone with a yearning for something more authentic. The galettes, made with buckwheat, are a perfect meal at any hour of the day, especially when paired with a glass of apple cider from Brittany.

The galette selection offer combinations of melty cheese, ham, fried egg and mushrooms, whereas seasonal specials feature ingredients like crab with bechamel sauce and semi-dried tomatoes. Try to leave room for dessert, as the crêpes here are worth a special visit, too. Order the crêpes suzette if you’re in the mood for something classic, or take your crêpes with a scoop of ice cream on the terrace.

In 2011, Yusuke Miyashita opened his restaurant Fushikino, serving a banquet of Japanese dishes paired with craft sake, in the stone-cobbled neighbourhood of Kagurazaka. Miyashita is a licensed sake brewer, sommelier and Enshu-style tea-ceremony master who pairs seasonal sake with traditional multi-course kaiseki dishes created by renowned chef Yoshio Aramaki. The Michelin-starred restaurant only seats nine people at a time, and as you settle down at the chestnut counter and eye the antique tableware, you know you're in for something special. Behind the counter, Miyashita warms a flask to reach a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius, ensuring the fats in the fish or meat of the dishes will melt in your mouth as you sip throughout your meal. Every evening features at least one vintage sake, which has been aged over ten years, as well as a blend of two sake that Miyashita combines to match the food. The meal concludes with a bowl of rich matcha, which Miyashita whisks in front of you to revive you from the spell of the potent rice wine.

Rito Kitchen Kagurazaka

Local delicacies from a different island are served up every month at Rito Kitchen, a restaurant dedicated to promoting the edible treasures of Japan’s many far-flung isles. It occupies an old house in Kagurazaka; inside you’ll find names of the featured islands written all over on the ceiling of the ground-floor room.

All the Ama-cho seafood and other fresh ingredients served here are sourced on location and preserved with a technology called CAS (Cells Alive System) during transportation.This helps keep the food fresher than if frozen the old-fashioned way, making sure everything survives the trip in pristine condition.

The air of Kagurazaka is often thick with the rich scent of hojicha (roasted green tea) as it roasts in a churning drum at the storefront of this tea shop. If you’ve ever fancied the idea of having your own matcha tea set, this is the place to start – there’s an ample selection of ceramic tea bowl chawan cups to choose from and bamboo whisks as used in traditional tea ceremonies.

The shop assistants will explain all you need to know about different grades of tea to help you find one that best matches your preferred price point and how you intend to brew the tea. Before you take your tea home, why not sample some of the brews that the store has to offer? As you do, you can also read up on how long to boil and steep the different tea leaves.

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Kyorakutei is a good place to get an education in soba. This old-school restaurant in the backstreets of Kagurazaka features a grinder in its storefront window, where the noodle master makes soba by hand. You’ll also get to compare the two different types of buckwheat noodles: the regular soba, which is made by cutting a small percentage of wheat flour, and the juwari soba that’s a craft by itself as it uses pure 100 percent buckwheat.

Darker in colour compared to the regular soba, the juwari soba at Kyorakutei is one of the best we’ve had. The texture is firm with a bit of give, and it has a beautiful nuttiness that makes it delicious even on its own. The best way to appreciate the texture and flavour is to eat it cold with a side of dipping broth.

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Finding an affordable place for dinner in Kagurazaka can be a challenge, so we were more than happy to discover this casual kappo  (counter-style cuisine) restaurant, located on the ground floor of a tastefully renovated traditional house. Find it just a short walk from Kagurazaka Station – look for the impressive wooden gate – and choose from a selection of seasonal specials for the full experience. Alternatively, you can stop at the standing-only bar by the entrance, where sake starts from ¥400 per cup and the appetiser menu includes rarities like deep-fried quail and round herring tsukudani, a kind of simmered and preserved food that’s been a capital staple since the Edo era.

• Cocktail bars

With a door so small it could be mistaken for a window, you might walk past Lidemo without noticing it as you skip down the stone steps of the narrow alley outside. Duck through the entrance, though, and you’ll find a sleek, warmly lit hideaway serving some of the best drinks in the city. The bar is manned entirely by women who expertly crush fresh fruit into seasonal cocktails light enough that you could guzzle rather than sip. 

The fresh cocktail recipes rely on the natural sweetness from the fruit, so nothing you drink will be stirred in with artificial, sickly syrups. Even the bloody mary has a garden freshness to it, made with unprocessed fruit tomatoes that haven’t been muddled with the vinegary flavours of hot sauce. Prefer to drink your liquor neat? The bar is also known for its excellent selection of rum from just about every island in the Caribbean, from Martinique to Barbados. The ¥1,000 table charge comes with a small shot of the soup of the day – a savoury hit that amply prepares your palette for the drinks to come.

Shirokane Toritama Kagurazaka

Shirokane Toritama makes something as simple as chicken on skewers into a work of art at this elegant restaurant tucked along the narrow streets of Kagurazaka. Stunning skewers of charcoal-grilled chicken are served alongside grated daikon and fresh quail egg to add a refreshingly light accompaniment to the meat.  

There are three omakase courses available, with seven, 12 or 15 skewers of yakitori favourites such as tsukune meatballs brushed lightly with a sweet savoury sauce or chochin (ovary) with its two rich orange egg yolks. The menu also features a selection of individual skewers as well as a number of modern izakaya side dishes that pair well with booze and yakitori. Add some green to your meal with a zesty salad of fresh coriander with mustard dressing and crispy potato chips or order the chicken liver mousse to dip with toast and enjoy with wine. 

• Chocolate and sweets

When Kagurazaka Baikatei's founder, Shozo Inoue, was detained for a time in Siberia during the Second World War, all he could think about was the kakimochi (small rice crackers) his mother used to make when he was a child. Once he was released, he decided to open a sweets shop where he could make classic Japanese sweets and mimic the recipes his mother used. Today, the delicate cakes on offer include everything from elastic warabi-mochi (bracken starch jelly) flavoured with brown sugar to chewy daifuku rice cakes filled with sweet red bean paste, perfect with a freshly brewed cup of green tea.

This al fresco café provides an ideal setting for cherry blossom viewing as the canal across it is lined with sakura trees that bloom on either side in spring. The café makes a lovely lunch spot with its outdoor terrace and menu of wood-fired pizzas, but the real draw on sunnier days is the rowboats you can rent and take out on to the water. These pastel coloured boats cost ¥600 for a 40-minute session as you bask in the sun and bob serenely along the canal. After you return to the dock, it’s worth stopping at the gelato stand stationed by the terrace to cool off with seasonal flavours such as peach, pistachio, and yoghurt.

• Things to do

Akagi Shrine

• Attractions
• Religious buildings and sites

This shrine just behind Kagurazaka Station was renewed in 2010 under the direction of renowned architect Kengo Kuma. Although it’s an innovative glass-enclosed  worship room and a modern looking komainu, this sanctum that enshrines the Ushigome general guardian deity has a history of 700 years.  The shrine hosts recurring markets and other seasonal events, as well as a casual Italian eatery, Akagi Café.

Cave-Ayumi Gallery

Beyond its numerous bars and eateries, Kagurazaka is a neighbourhood full of tiny galleries and art spaces. Located next to Kagurazaka Station, Cave-Ayumi Gallery opened in 2015 and introduces the works of up-and-coming young artists from both Japan and abroad. Enter through the copper-plated doorway and you’ll find a   103sqm minimalist space with bare white walls and a concrete ceiling. The gallery's name is not only inspired by its basement location, but the fact that caves are thought to be the earliest kind of gathering place, where people made murals on walls to communicate and tell stories to each other.

Bishamonten Zenkokuji

Founded in 1595 by shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, the temple of Bishamonten Zenkokuji was originally built in the Chiyoda Ward. After suffering a damage from a series of fires, however, the temple was moved to its present location in Kagurazaka and is regarded as a symbol of the neighbourhood.

Solo Sauna Tune

• Health and beauty
• Saunas and baths

This solo sauna facility is a recent addition to Kagurazaka’s trendy capsule hotel, Unplan. It is one of the few saunas in Japan designed specifically for solo sauna goers or small groups of up to three people. Unlike one of those intolerably hot and dry saunas where you have to hold a damp towel over your face, this one is modelled off the typical Finnish sauna that’s set to a more hospitable temperature. Better yet, it’s more steamy than dry. As is custom in Finnish sauna culture, sauna users can sprinkle water over the heat stove to regulate humidity. There is a private shower outside the sauna booth for you to cool off with mist, where the water temperature is set to a chilly 15C. 

The addition of Tune sauna at Unplan is undoubtedly a perk for the backpackers staying there, but you don’t have to be an overnight guest to use the private sauna. A one-hour solo session is priced at ¥3,800 and a group session is ¥11,400 for 80 minutes.

Akomeya in La Kagu

• Specialist food and drink

Kagurazaka’s trendy La Kagu ‘warehouse’ welcomes the newly opened Akomeya flagship store, offering shoppers some of Japan’s most delicious and beautiful goods – especially for your kitchen.

Above all, Akomeya is a rice speciality shop and so it offers an almost overwhelming range of grains that can be purchased by weight. Whether you’re looking for heirloom rice from a particular prefecture or the healthier brown variety for everyday eating, the shop attendants can help you find the exact grain to suit your cooking style and health requirements.

Places to stay

Kagurazaka retro bar & hotel.

Take a trip to Kagurazaka's bygone days in this nostalgic hotel with tatami mat rooms and vintage Showa-era furniture. With just three guest rooms and a detached guest house, availability at this artfully designed hotel is limited, so you’ll want to plan your trip a few months in advance if you want to book a stay here.

UNPLAN Kagurazaka

Set in the Shinjuku Ward district in Tokyo, 1.6 km from Yasukuni Shrine, Unplan Kagurazaka is a trendy hostel where guests can enjoy coffee and cocktails at the on-site bar and cafe. 

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Kagurazaka is the last bastion of the geisha (more commonly called maiko in Japanese) in Tokyo. It’s also a quaint neighbourhood on a very human scale that is great for just wandering around. It also claims to have a strong French influence with more French restaurants, patisseries and bakeries than elsewhere in Tokyo. The nature of the area is much more residential than office so there are lots of small quaint shops that have probably been in the same place for 50 years or more.

In terms of cheapo attractions, all the cheap food chains have branches in Kagurazaka. McDonald’s too is surprisingly flash in Kagurazaka with an outside terrace with tables for watching the passing crowds. There are also a large number of 100 yen shops and discount pharmacies in the area so daily living is affordable in this area even if the rent isn’t.

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Kagurazaka (�_�y��) is a fashionable shopping and dining district along a sloping street in Tokyo near Iidabashi Station. During the Edo Period (1603 - 1868), Kagurazaka was located just outside the outer moat of Edo Castle and gained prominence as an entertainment district with numerous geisha houses and restaurants. Some of the geisha houses survive in the district's narrow alleys to this date.

Kagurazaka also has a significant French presence due to two nearby French schools. A large variety of French cafes and restaurants can be found throughout the district, alongside a host of trendy and upscale Japanese restaurants, many of which are tucked away along the side streets that lead off of the main slope. The main road through Kagurazaka is closed to car traffic everyday from 12:00 to 13:00, and from 12:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and public holidays .

A short walk beyond the upper end of the Kagurazaka slope stands Akagi Jinja, a branch shrine of the one at Mount Akagi in Gunma Prefecture . The shrine was built during the Edo Period by a wealthy immigrant from Gunma. It was recently renovated into a unique, modern exposition of wood and glass designed by the famous Japanese architect Kuma Kengo.

On the fourth Saturday and Sunday of July, the streets around Kagurazaka become packed with festival stands and revelers who come to celebrate the Kagurazaka Awa Odori Festival. The highlight is the entertaining Awa Odori dancing and music modeled after the famous festival in Tokushima .

Getting there and around

The bottom of the Kagurazaka slope starts a short walk from Iidabashi Station , which is served by the JR Chuo Line and the Oedo, Tozai, Yurakucho and Namboku subway lines. Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station on the Oedo Subway Line lies near the top of the slope, while Kagurazaka Station on the Tozai Subway Line lies a little past Akagi Shrine.

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Kagurazaka Walking Tour

Discover the faded charm of Tokyo's Kagurazaka neighborhood, with its cobblestone streets and traditional architecture. On this guided walking tour, wander the neighborhood and to see the remnants of this former geisha district. Visit the numerous shrines, historical buildings and points of interest as you get a local look into Japanese culture.

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10 Best Things to do in Kagurazaka

David Meskens is an intern from Belgium. He is a last-year International Business Management student from Thomas More in Belgium. He came to Japan to learn as much as possible from the Japanese culture and to get some work-ready experience. He is a big sports fan. Basketball is his favorite, and he recently became passionate about Sumo wrestling after attending an event in Japan.

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There is a hidden gem, rich in history and culture, among the bustling streets of Tokyo . Kagurazaka, also called Tokyo’s “little Paris”, is an area in Tokyo that has managed to successfully combine traditional Japanese culture with a hint of contemporary chic. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the Edo period as you stroll along the charming cobblestone lanes, where geisha residences and traditional tea shops formerly flourished. Kagurazaka is located in the northern part of Tokyo and is often overlooked by tourists when visiting Tokyo, but you will not make that mistake. Come with us as we investigate the 10 best things to do in Kagurazaka!

1. Hanamachi

2. atamiyu sento, 3. french restaurants, 4. koishikawa korakuen garden, 5. bishamonten zenkokuji, 6. akagi shrine, 7. rakuzan teashop, 8. canal cafe, 10. solo sauna tune, unplan kagurazaka, boutique sauna arch, hotel vintage kagurazaka tokyo, japan wonder travel tours in tokyo, other articles you might like.

Kagurazaka is one of Tokyo’s last hanamachi and was well-known for its many geisha homes around the beginning of the 20th century, and many of them still exist today. But what is a hanamachi? A hanamachi is a district where geisha live and perform in Japan; it can be translated as “flower town”. Geisha normally don’t work outside of their own area, and each hanamachi has its own name, emblem, and distinct geisha community. Ochaya (geisha houses) and okiya (teahouses where geisha entertain) are frequently seen in hanamachi. The neighborhood has drastically changed over time, but you can still see traces of its rich geisha history.

We recommend that you also check out some old alleys like Kakurenbo Yokocho or Hyogo Yokocho, which really give you a small taste of what it would have been like to wander the streets of Kagurazaka back in the day.

Sento are often man-made baths, whereas onsen refer to hot springs that are found naturally close to Japan’s volcanic regions . Sento might look like a downgraded version of the onsen to some, but we can assure you that the relaxing time in the sento is as good as in a traditional onsen. Atamiyu Sento is particularly popular because of the beautiful fresco on the wall of the bath, which makes it an even more pleasant place. You will surely end up going more than once to this bath!

Even if the district changed quite a bit over the years, it never lost its charm. Instead, it has grown even more dynamic, in part because of the nearby French International School, which brought numerous French businesses with it. Today’s European bistros and wine bars seamlessly meld cultures and gastronomic experiences with the old sweet shops and sake bars, giving Kagurazaka a unique ambiance compared to the rest of Tokyo. Even though we would strongly suggest you try as much Japanese food as possible, you should definitely try out some of the French restaurants in this neighborhood.

Founded during the Edo Period, the traditional garden first welcomed visitors in 1938. There are numerous picturesque features, such as ponds, bridges, and lush vegetation. If you are longing for a nice stroll through a traditional Japanese garden in Kagurazaka, then look no further than Koishikawa Korakuen Garden , as it is highly recommended if you wish to see a hidden treasure in Tokyo or stay away from crowded major tourist destinations .

This temple was built in Nihonbashi Bakurocho by the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, on the grounds that Buddhist doctrine defends and stabilizes the country. In 1670 and 1792, there were several fires, and it was moved to Kagurazaka. Since the late Edo period, Zenkokuji Temple has thrived as “Bishamon-sama in Kagurazaka”. The prosperity of Kagurazaka, also known as “Yamanote Ginza,” was actually a result of the area’s growth as a Bishamonten temple town. According to legend, this temple was the first in Tokyo where night markets debuted during temple or shrine festivals.

Kagurazaka used to be home to Tokyo’s political elite, and Akagi Shrine served as support for this community. However, Kagurazaka changed a lot over time, and the more rigid design of the shrine seemed out of order. In 2010, it was decided to give the shrine a more modern look. This transformation was led by the architect Kuma Kengo . This shrine really stands out compared to others because of its more modern design. Also, be on the lookout for the food market , which is held once a month on the shrine’s grounds!

Tea drinking in Japan is very popular and common all over the country, and in Kagurazaka, you will be attracted by the smell of roasted green tea leaves in the front of a shop. If you want to be sure to get excellent tea, you should go to Rakuzan Teashop in Kagurazaka. The shop is renown for its excellent service with locals and tourists alike and its expertise, which will surely help you find the exact tea corresponding to your taste. A wide variety of ceramic tea bowls, chawan cups, and bamboo whisks used in traditional tea ceremonies , in addition to the wide array of different teas available. So, if you are fancying some really good tea, Rakuzan Teashop is the place to go!

Not a lot of restaurants can boast having good dinners in such a location. Canal Cafe offers you the possibility to have a waterside dinner, and if you wish, you can even rent one of the cafe’s row boats. Neapolitan pizzas , pastas, seafood, and other dishes are available on the more extensive food menu in the interior dining area, but when the weather is nice, most customers seek out a table on the large wooden decks outdoors. This is the ideal escape on a warm, sunny day.

If you desire doing some shopping , La Kagu is where you should be heading. A long-established publishing company called Shinchosha owns the commercial complex called La Kagu, which was constructed inside a restored warehouse. There are numerous stylish items here, including clothing, household goods, furniture, books, and cafés. The splendid wooden stairs at La Kagu were designed by none other than the previously mentioned Kuma Kengo, designer of the Akagi shrine.

If you’re looking for a sauna experience that doesn’t involve stifling heat and dry air, then you’ll love this one. This sauna is located in the famous Unplan capsule hotel in Kagurazaka. What makes this sauna special compared to others you could find in Tokyo is that it is based on the traditional Finnish sauna, which is set to a more pleasant temperature and is more humid than dry. True to Finnish sauna customs, you can regulate humidity by sprinkling water over the heat stove. Once you’ve worked up a sweat, you can cool off in a private shower located outside the sauna, allowing you to cool off. This sauna experience is sure to leave you feeling rejuvenated and energized!

Where to stay in Kagurazaka

As we previously mentioned, there is a famous Capsule Hotel in Kagurazaka called Unplan. A true gem located in the center of Kagurazaka. This beautiful hotel perfectly balances comfort and minimalist decor. UNPLAN’s ground floor lounge is the perfect spot to connect with fellow travelers and soak up the welcoming atmosphere. You can relax in the cozy ambiance, strike up conversations with the friendly staff at the bar, and treat your taste buds to a delectable array of original western dishes and tapas. And, with over 50 types of cocktails and a coffee selection that’s sure to satisfy any caffeine cravings, you can sip and savor to your heart’s content. Come on in and experience the lively vibe for yourself!

Boutique Sauna ARCH is a modern 5 star hotel that has received nothing but amazing reviews. The unique thing about this hotel is that you don’t even have to leave your room to go to the sauna! Your room will have both a sauna and bath in it, making for a luxury and comfortable stay. It is in a great location, making it easy to see everything tha Kagurazaka has to offer, but you can easily spend your whole stay inside the hotel as there is a bar and terraces you can make use of.

Hotel Vintage Kagurazaka Tokyo is just a short walk from Kagurazaka Station, and is also a new modern hotel that makes for a comfortable stay. The rooms are very spacious and make for a great getaway for couples as well as a group trip with friends. Some of the rooms are even equipped with a terrace for a nice view of the area.

Japan Wonder Travel is a travel agency that offers guided tours throughout Japan.  From private walking tours to delicious Food and Drink tours, we can help organize the best tours just for you! If you want to explore Japan and learn more about the history and backstories of each area you are traveling in, our knowledgeable and friendly guides will happily take you to the best spots!  In addition, we can provide you with any assistance you may need for your upcoming trip to Japan, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need some help! 

▶ Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Drink Tour Explore the most lively and popular fish market in Tokyo, where you will have the chance to try some of the local’s favorite street foods and sake along with your friendly English-speaking guide! 

▶ Tokyo 1–Day Highlights Private Walking Tour (8 Hours) There’s no better way to explore an area than taking a tour with a knowledgeable local guide. You will have the chance to learn about the history and interesting background stories of Tokyo, as well as discover some hidden gems which can be hard to do without a guide.

▶ Shinjuku Bar Hopping Tour: Experience Tokyo’s Nightlife in Izakaya Check out the best spots in Shinjuku while bar hopping through the lively and vibrant area. Try some delicious local food and drink as you explore the narrow yet photogenic alleys that the town has to offer. Experience Japanese izakaya culture and drink in Shinjuku like the locals!

▶ Kimono Experience in Tokyo Step into the charm of the kimono, a beloved icon of Japanese tradition, ideal for festivals and wandering quaint streets. Asakusa offers the perfect setting to don your kimono and create cherished memories with picturesque backdrops. Let Kimono Rental Wargo dress you up for a day of delightful exploration in timeless style!

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Louisville Downtown Partnership starts self-guided walking tours

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A new series of solo walking tours are coming to Louisville residents this summer. Louisville Downtown Partnership says the new venture is an opportunity to have people experience the culture, architecture, and history of Louisville.

Each walking tour is 45 to 60 minutes. Walkers can use web or podcasts platforms to get an immersive experience of Louisville from University of Louisville Archivist Tom Owen, author Rasheda Ali, and LDP’s executive director Rebecca Fleischaker.

“We are thrilled to unveil these new audio walking tours, offering an additional way for people to engage with Downtown and enlighten themselves about the story of our city,” Fleischaker said. “Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime resident, these self-guided tours provide a personalized and educational experience that celebrates the unique character and heritage of our Downtown.”

Cleo Battle, Louisville Tourism President & CEO, is excited for people to see Whiskey Row, West Main Street, Civil Rights Markers, and other notable stops.

“Louisville’s walkability is on full display as guests enjoy this new audio tour series featuring many of the unique attractions that can only be found in Bourbon City,” Battle said. “We know these self-guided tours will tell Louisville’s authentic story, showcasing why Travel + Leisure named us one of the ‘50 Best Places to Travel to in 2024.”

The curated walking tours are presented by Republic Bank Foundation. Steve Trager, Executive Chair of Republic Bank, believes that the tours will “impact the lives of people visiting, working, and living downtown as well as highlighting the many sites that we enjoy every day.”

People can access each tour through Spotify or from the Louisville Downtown Partnership website. Free maps can also be printed and downloaded.

Copyright 2024 WAVE. All rights reserved.

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App offers self-guided downtown Louisville walking tours

Presented by Republic Bank Foundation, this self-guided tour series is designed to immerse locals and visitors alike to participate in the authentic culture.

Created by the Louisville Downtown Partnership, the ever-growing series includes historic West Main Street, Civil Rights Markers, and Whiskey Row, with tours narrated by Louisvillians including University of Louisville Archivist Tom Owen; author and daughter of Muhammad Ali, Rasheda Ali; and LDP’s executive director Rebecca Fleischaker.

Each tour is 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how long individuals want to stop and look around with directions provided within the audio tour. The series is accessible via any podcast platform, found under LDP’s Spotify , or can be streamed directly from LDP’s website. The tours are free, and digital maps of each tour can be downloaded or printed here .

Walking Tour Descriptions

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Walking Can Significantly Improve Lower Back Pain

New research suggests that those with back pain can lower recurrence by walking just three times per week.

• Research involving 700 adults found that those with lower back pain who walked for 30 minutes three times a week had lower rate of recurrence.
• The gentle movement of walking, how it loads the spine, and the relaxation benefit may all contribute to reducing pain.

Looking at about 700 adults in Australia who reported non-specific low back pain—which means it didn’t have a cause like a specific injury—researchers assigned participants to either a program called WalkBack or a control group with no treatment.

For WalkBack, participants received six months of progressive walking sessions with a physiotherapist, building up over time to walking five times per week for at least 30 minutes. However, researchers found benefits well before that point: At just three times weekly for 30 minutes per session, participants in the WalkBack program went almost twice as long between pain recurrences as those in the other groups.

This is notable, given the prevalence of recurrent low back pain, according to the study’s lead researcher, Natasha Pocovi, Ph.D., in the department of health sciences at Macquarie University in Sydney. She told Bicycling that almost seven out of 10 people experience a recurrence of back pain within a year of recovery .

“Despite the fact that recurrence is incredibly common, prevention is largely neglected in the care of many patients with low back pain,” she said. “Our simple, low-cost, and accessible intervention helped get people moving, reduced their fear, and gave them strategies and confidence to better self-manage their low back pain.”

Fear is a particularly important variable with this type of pain. Previous research found that fear-avoidance behaviors—such as reducing physical activity overall and modifying movement in ways that reduce mobility —often come into play with low back pain, and this can contribute to poor outcomes and disability. It can also be an obstacle to recovery, creating a vicious cycle in which pain worsens, leading to less movement and subsequently more pain. Being able to break that loop is a major part of reducing low back pain episodes and improving recovery, said Pocovi.

In terms of why walking, specifically, is so helpful compared to other exercises, part of the appeal is that it’s easy to do and is a full-body activity. “The benefits we saw may have been from the gentle movements, loading the strengthening of the spinal structures and muscles, the relaxation and stress provided, and the release of feel-good endorphins,” she added.

Importantly, the intervention also involved education for the WalkBack group as well, she said. This information provided by the physiotherapist aimed to give participants a better understanding of pain , and recognition of the fear associated with exercise and movement. Pocovi stated that this helped build confidence to keep progressing in the program.

“Let’s face it, walking is really the most functional exercise you could ever do,” she said. “There’s no reason to believe that swimming, cycling, or some other exercise modality wouldn’t provide benefits, too, but we wonder if other exercises would be as accessible, low-cost, and simple as walking.”

Elizabeth Millard is a freelance writer focusing on health, wellness, fitness, and food. 

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How to Get Around Cancun, Mexico

Updated : July 16, 2024

AAA Travel Editor, WA

Table of contents, buses in cancun, walking cancun, cancun rental car, ride shares, complimentary transportation, plan your trip to cancun with aaa.

As one of Mexico’s top destinations, Cancún is perfect for all types of travelers, including families, groups and couples. Its stunning Caribbean beaches feature turquoise waters and soft white sand, while its vibrant nightlife and diverse restaurants offer something for everyone.

Knowing how to best navigate a new location is important though, so it’s best to have some ideas in mind before setting off. From traveling to downtown or the club-filled Hotel Zone from your beachside resort, to visiting some famous nearby attractions like Chichen Itza, this guide will help you to effortlessly get around Cancun today.

• Pros: Very inexpensive (68 cents average rate), 24/7 access, safe and efficient, access to all districts and attractions

• Cons: can get crowded, may be warm on hot days

Cancun’s buses are one of the best transportation options for travelers since they run 24/7 and cost just 12 pesos, which is around 68 cents per ride. Buses arrive and depart frequently at numerous designated stops around the city, from the downtown area to the Hotel Zone, along with many beaches and nearby attractions. If you want to get on a bus and aren’t near a stop, simply wave them over and they’ll likely stop for you. Inside, you can press a button to request an earlier stop as well if you wish to get off before the planned destination.

Along with Cancun attractions, you can also take the same buses to popular nearby destinations like:

• Chichen Itza

• Playa del Carmen

• Pros: Free, energizing, allows you to explore new areas on a whim

• Cons: Can get hot, tiring, not possible for all ages and people, will need transportation to further away districts

Walking in Cancun can be a fun and worthwhile activity all on its own, although some preparation may be required. If you’re staying in a coastal resort, you can walk along the endless beaches and paths throughout the day to take in the gorgeous coastline. Likewise, in the Hotel Zone, you can walk along Kukulcan Blvd. and find many exciting restaurants, bars and local shops. However, Cancun is quite large and spacious and it’s not easy to traverse different zones solely by foot. Taking a bus may be required at points simply due to the large sprawl of the city and its unique layout.

Likewise, the weather can get quite hot throughout the year, so make sure to plan accordingly with adequate water and sunscreen, along with breathable clothing.

• Pros: Allows you to drive on a whim, great for exploring nearby attractions outside of Cancun

• Cons: Pricey, parking can be very difficult and often requires a fee, not the easiest city to navigate, traffic jams

Renting a car in Cancun can be beneficial for those wishing to explore many nearby attractions outside of Cancun, including:

While public buses do go from Cancun to these destinations, having your own car can allow for more spontaneity and help you to dive further into the surrounding areas.

However, if you’re looking to relax mostly within Cancun and enjoy its endless beaches and entertainment opportunities, renting a car may not be ideal.

It’s one of the pricier options and you’ll likely have to pay a parking fee at your resort. Plus, you’ll likely have to pay for parking every time you head into town or one of the beaches. Along with these extra fees, you’ll have to navigate the sometimes hectic Cancun traffic.

If you wish to explore nearby attractions on your own, renting a car can be a great option. However, for most people, simply utilizing public transportation or getting a taxi will be the simplest and most cost-effective solution while visiting Cancun.

• Pros: Readily available, not too expensive

• Cons: More expensive than public transportation and ride shares, a possibility of being overcharged

Taxis are a safe and inexpensive way to explore Cancun and you can hail one at any hour with ease. A ride between downtown and the Hotel Zone can be anywhere from $10 to $20 or more, depending on the time of day and traffic. Unfortunately, many visitors report that their taxi fares are often higher than initially agreed upon, due to the driver adding surprise and dubious fees at the end of the ride.

While there is a high surcharge after sunset, up to 50% of the daytime rate, some drivers may add illegal fees to the fare for unsuspecting tourists. It’s important to talk to the driver about the price and charges beforehand so there are no problems at your destination. While taxis are safe, it may be unpleasant to have to argue about the price if you feel you were unfairly charged.

Be prepared to discuss the fare beforehand and don’t be afraid to stand your ground should the driver add unknown fees at the end. All fares should be posted at tourist hotspots and be aware that fares are often much higher in popular districts as well.

• Pros: Cheaper than taxis, fixed rates which prevent you from being overcharged

• Cons: Limited reach, can only pick up outside of taxi zones which are prevalent throughout the city

Ride sharing options like Uber are generally available in Cancun and they provide a safe and affordable way to comfortably travel around town. Plus, since the price is shown on the app before accepting the ride, you won’t have the risk of being overcharged with surprise fees as can often happen with taxis.

However, ride shares are restricted from picking people up in taxi zones, which are marked near most major hotels, beaches and popular attractions throughout Cancun. They are especially prevalent in the Hotel Zone.

To get around this, you can often walk just a few minutes away from the taxi zone to be eligible for a ride. Plus, you can be dropped off anywhere, even inside a taxi zone, which makes ride sharing a valuable option day or night.

• Pros: Free, efficient

• Cons: Not always direct if there are multiple pickup spots, usually included in more expensive and premium packages through resorts or clubs

Some Cancun resorts and clubs offer complimentary transportation to their guests and it can be a great way to cheaply and efficiently get around town. Ask your concierge if there are any free shuttles to downtown, the Hotel Zone, or nearby beaches and attractions. High-end clubs often provide free transportation for those with reservations or VIP bookings and this can range from free shuttles to private limousines, depending on the club.

Join the over a million people who are AAA members and start planning your trip to Cancun today. Dream up the perfect trip and use your membership to get the best discounts on hotels , rental cars and entertainment tickets.

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Here are 6 tours you can take of Old Louisville, America’s grandest Victorian neighborhood

Looking for something to do around Louisville this summer? What about exploring some history, right in your backyard?

From stories about bourbon barons and racetrack royalty to titans of tobacco who used to reside in the opulent mansions on St. James Court, discover Old Louisville, America’s grandest Victorian neighborhood, on one of David Domine’s six Louisville Historic Tours. 

Domine, who is known for his books including " A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City ," " Phantoms of Old Louisville ," and " Ghosts of Old Louisville ," created the tours, which give you a glimpse into some of the weirdest history in Old Louisville.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit louisvillehistorictours.com .

Old Louisville History and Architecture Tour

WHAT:  Learn about Old Louisville’s history and the Victorian architectural styles in the grand homes along Ormsby Avenue and around the Olmsted-designed Central Park. Hear stories about the bourbon barons, racetrack royalty, and the titans of tobacco who used to reside in the opulent mansions and townhouses on St. James Court and Millionaires Row. The guide will take you to the secluded walking courts like Floral Terrace and gaslit Belgravia Court, areas that you probably wouldn't find on your own.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

WHERE:  Departs from the corner of South Fourth Street and West Ormsby Avenue in Old Louisville

WHEN:  9 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. daily

COST:  $25 for ages 11-62, $22 for ages 63 and older, $20 for ages 3-10.

MORE INFORMATION: Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and expect to traverse a bumpy patch or two. If you use a cane or a walker, this tour is not recommended for you. Guests in wheelchairs have encountered very few challenges when participating in this tour. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Old Louisville Ghost Tour: America's Most Haunted Neighborhood

WHAT:  The tour focuses on allegedly haunted locations, local legends, and spooky tales. On this walking tour, uncover the eerie past of the neighborhood alongside a guide who regales you with several ghostly tales. Stop at several points of interest including the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, the Witches' Tree, and the Filson Historical Society.

WHERE:  Start and end in front of the brown “Welcome to Old Louisville” sign at the corner of Fourth Street and Ormsby Avenue

WHEN:  6, 7:30 and 9:15 p.m. daily

COST:  $27.50, $25 for ages 11-17, $22 for ages 63 and older and ages 3-10

MORE INFORMATION:  Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and expect to traverse a bumpy patch or two. If you use a cane or a walker, this tour is not recommended for you. Guests in wheelchairs have encountered very few challenges when participating in this tour. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Secrets and Scandals of Old Louisville Tour

WHAT:  On this tour visit locations where famous people lived and died; houses with interesting backstories, and hidden architectural features; and places where scandals and grisly crimes occurred. The walk will include a stroll through Belgravia Court and secluded, tree-lined St. James Court. View the carved lamplighter and the statue of Venus rising from the sea that has come to be the symbol of Old Louisville. Also included are stops at the Witches’ Tree, Fountain Court, and hidden Floral Terrace.

WHERE:  Departs from the Old Louisville Tavern, 1532 S. Fourth St.

WHEN:  3 and 5:30 p.m. daily and by appointment

COST:  $65 and includes a complimentary beer or cocktail, sweet treats and a surprise gift.

MORE INFORMATION:  Recommended for ages 16 and older.

Paranormal Buff Supernatural Tour

WHAT:  Explores the dark side of Old Louisville. Trained orisha, voodoo priestess, and expert storyteller Angelique Stacy will lead the tour. In addition to outdoor locations such as the infamous Witches’ Tree and Fountain Court, guests will walk through gas-lit St. James Court and tour a Third Street mansion that was once home to a family of poets and artists.

WHERE:  Departs from Dreamlight Antiques, 1201 S. Third St. (parking in the lot.

WHEN:  8 p.m. Fridays-Sundays and by appointment.

COST:  $110 and includes a signed copy of David Dominé’s True Ghost Stories and Eerie Legends from America’s Most Haunted Neighborhood, entrance into one allegedly haunted location for a 30-minute paranormal investigation, complimentary beer, and a sweet treat or two.

MORE INFORMATION: Recommended for ages 18 and older.

Glitter Ball City Walking Tour

WHAT:  Fans of author David Dominé will be thrilled to know that David Dominé is the tour guide, and the tour focuses exclusively on the spots and characters featured in his 2021 memoir, "A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City." The book chronicles the bizarre murder of Jamie Carroll in a crumbling Fourth Street mansion and the subsequent trials of his accused killers. The tour goes through Central Park where you visit the Witches’ Tree, and then head for the corner of “Fourth and Crazy” and the house where David used to live and began writing his books about Old Louisville. Tour-goers will stop in front of the large red brick mansion where Jamie Carroll met his unfortunate end and hear more about the history of this location, which has been featured on national true-crime shows such as “The First 48,” “Hell House,” “Deadly Sins,” and “After the First 48.”

WHERE:  Departs from Birdie & Vi’s Fleatique, 622 W. Magnolia Ave.

WHEN:  2:30 and 5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays and by appointment

COST:  $90 and includes a signed, personalized copy of Dominé’s book, complimentary beer or cider at Birdie & Vi’s, disco ball souvenir, and Happy Ball bourbon candy.

Best of Old Louisville 50-Minute Guided Walking Tour

WHAT: This tour is for those who don't have a lot of time, but still want to learn a lot about Old Louisville. In less than an hour, you'll be guided through St. James Court, Fountain Court, Belgravia Court, and several blocks of the city's old Millionaires Row as you learn about the bourbon barons, racetrack royalty, and the titans of tobacco who settled in this fascinating neighborhood. Some structures you'll admire from the sidewalks include the Samuel Culbertson Mansion, Caldwell's Castle, the Pink Palace, and the elegant William Wathen Residence, but you'll also see the emblematic Fountain at St. James Court and leafy Central Park as well.

WHERE: Departs from the corner of Fourth Street and Ormsby Avenue

WHEN: 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. daily

COST: $15 for ages 18-62, $12 for ages 63 and older and ages 11-17, $10 for ages 3-10

MORE INFORMATION: Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and expect a bumpy patch or two when encountering old brick sidewalks and uneven paving stones. If you use a cane or a walker, this tour is not recommended for you. Guests in wheelchairs, however, have encountered very few challenges when participating in this tour. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Reach news clerk Gege Reed at [email protected].

New augmented reality walking tour reveals what Third Ward ghost signs used to look like

Mike Roe, the executive creative director for Milwaukee marketing agency Hoffman York , got interested in ghost signs when he noticed one outside his office window in the Third Ward, and then started noticing them everywhere in the neighborhood.

Ghost signs are faded advertisements that were painted on the outside of buildings decades ago, the remnants of which can still be seen.

"These signs were like the original out-of-home advertisements before TV, before social media, when you'd paint a big message on the side of your building to say, 'These are things we sell,'" Roe said. "And now it's like this art form of a part of history."

As his interest in the ghost signs grew, Roe started talking to people at the Historic Third Ward Association and learned about some of the factors that make the old, faded signs so prevalent in the Third Ward — including the fact that the area is a federally protected historic district and that it has a concentration of brick buildings built after a fire in 1892 destroyed hundreds of wooden buildings .

Roe wondered if there was a noninvasive way to preserve the signs before they completely fade away so people can see what they looked like in their glory days. With the help of augmented reality technology, he and some coworkers created a ghost sign tour of 13 signs on 10 buildings in the Third Ward. Now people can scan a QR code on a paper map or a mobile link, hold up their phone to a building, and see what the ghost sign used to look like.

Here's what Roe had to say about the tour and his fascination with ghost signs.

How did you learn what the ghost signs used to look like?

Most of the signs are now illegible so I had to find old photographs, some of them century-old. And when you look for those photos, they're usually of other things. So you're sifting through all these old photographs to try to catch these buildings in the background.

I found all these photos at the Milwaukee Public Library and the Milwaukee County Historical Society and the Wisconsin Historical Society . I've never had an excuse to really explore those places before, but whenever I would tell the staff there what I was looking to do, everyone was so friendly and excited and happy to help.

Once we found enough photos for reference, our designers and art directors re-created the signs. The augmented reality work was challenging because that type of technology works really well for closer stuff, like when you go to a furniture store website and they show you what your furniture would look like in your living room. But we were trying to use the technology on a much bigger scale, to show what something would look like on the side of a whole building. The developers used geolocation and got it worked out so when you use your phone to look at the side of the building, the sign will sit there and when you move, it stays anchored and doesn't float around.

What can people expect when they go on the tour?

People can go to the Historic Third Ward Association, 525 E. Chicago St., to get a copy of the map. We're also hoping to partner with other places in the Third Ward, like the Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water St., so people spending time in the Third Ward can pick up a map to either take a walking tour of the signs or use the mobile link ( augmentedhistory.org ) when they come across the buildings.

Then, as you come up to one of the buildings on the map, you use your phone to scan the QR code for that building, and hold up your phone to the ghost sign, and it will overlay the image of what the sign used to look like.

Will there be more ghost sign tours in the future?

What's great about having this tour in the Third Ward is, in addition to so many ghost signs, people can get something to eat, go to the shops and the galleries, spend some time walking around and have a fun adventure.

We've had kind of tunnel vision on creating this experience and making it live, and now, after doing a soft launch, we're realizing how many people are really enthusiastic about this. A lot of people have told me about their passion for this art form, so we'd love to feed that passion as much as we can. And I've noticed there are a lot of ghost signs in the Fifth Ward as well. A part of me would love to expand the tour, and I do love the idea of finding other ghost signs in Milwaukee.

How do you explain your fascination with ghost signs?

I would never have called myself a history buff, but there's something about these signs. I look at them and then when I see what they used to look like, I think about that company and what they used to sell and what it used to be like.

Like one of the buildings had these two Rex Chocolates signs, which was this big chocolate manufacturer. When I was researching them, I found magazine and newspaper articles about them, then on eBay, I found some of their old candy tins. I love to see that there was this whole experience, this whole brand that few people know about now that used to be this giant of Milwaukee industry.

I've got to watch out. It's definitely a rabbit hole.