Tokyo: Meiji Shrine & Imperial Palace — Guide Leo
August, 2026
Hello! I’m Ryosuke—please call me Leo.
I’d love to help you create great memories in Japan, especially around Tokyo and my hometown, Hiroshima.
I once traveled 44,000 km by bicycle across four continents (every continent except Australia!). There’s a chance I might even have passed through your hometown. Through that journey, I learned not only how wonderful travel can be, but also the things travelers should watch out for.
With that experience, I’m sure I can help make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
Let’s have a great time exploring Japan together!
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Meet@Hotel
- 9:30 Meiji Shrine
- 11:00 Shibuya Crossing
- 12:00 Gotokuji Temple
- 13:00 Lunch@Shibuya
- 14:00 Asakusa
- 15:00 Yanaka Ginza
- 15:30 Nezu Shrine
- 16:15 Imperial Palace (Nijubashi Bridge)
- 17:00 Dismissal@Tokyo Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 9:00 at @Hotel and ended at 17:00. The day ran to 8 hours from start to finish. It included lunch@Shibuya at 13:00.
Over the course of the day the route took in Meiji Shrine at 9:30, Shibuya Crossing at 11:00, Gotokuji Temple at 12:00, Asakusa at 14:00, Yanaka Ginza at 15:00, Nezu Shrine at 15:30 and Imperial Palace (Nijubashi Bridge) at 16:15.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Harajuku by train (160JPY); Harajuku to Gotokuji by train (330JPY); Gotokuji to Shibuya by train (260JPY); Shibuya to Asakusa by train (260JPY); Asakusa to Nippori by train (340JPY); Nezu to Nijubashimae by train (180JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,530JPY per person.
What Can You See on a Private Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji, Yanaka, and Gotoku-ji
The guests were friends visiting from North America. We shared many topics of conversation and enjoyed the tour from start to finish. Although they mentioned they were still experiencing jet lag right after arriving in Japan, they ended up staying very active throughout, without needing frequent breaks. At Meiji Shrine and Senso-ji Temple, they were impressed by Japan's unique religious sensibility, in which Shinto and Buddhism are intricately intertwined. They were also delighted to visit places beyond the usual well-known spots, such as Yanaka and Gotoku-ji, which they had not expected to see.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Shinjuku～Harajuku | 160JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Harajuku～Gotokuji | 330JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Gotokuji～Shibuya | 260JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shibuya～Asakusa | 260JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Asakusa～Nippori | 340JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Nezu～Nijubashimae | 180JPY |
| Total | 1,530JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @Hotel at 9:00, and the tour finished at @Tokyo Station at 17:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 8 hours in total, from 9:00 to 17:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, Gotokuji Temple, Asakusa, Yanaka Ginza, Nezu Shrine and Imperial Palace (Nijubashi Bridge).
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,530JPY per person across 6 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Leo is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Tokyo itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hello! I’m Ryosuke—please call me Leo.
I’d love to help you create great memories in Japan, especially around Tokyo and my hometown, Hiroshima.
I once traveled 44,000 km by bicycle across four continents (every continent except Australia!). There’s a chance I might even have passed through your hometown. Through that journey, I learned not only how wonderful travel can be, but also the things travelers should watch out for.
With that experience, I’m sure I can help make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
Let’s have a great time exploring Japan together!
Sep 23, 2026
MarouschkaV3
Go Leo!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Leo is the best guide we have…
Sep 23, 2026
MarouschkaV3
Go Leo!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Leo is the best guide we have had! Knows many good places, very flexible in changing routes, and knows how to adjust to our pacing. He is a very nice guy with a very calm presence.
Aug 16, 2026
El_Hombre_Aleman
Great day, thank you!
Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour with Licensed Guide
We had a fantastic day! Ryosuke contacted…
Aug 16, 2026
El_Hombre_Aleman
Great day, thank you!
Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour with Licensed Guide
We had a fantastic day! Ryosuke contacted is in advance to hear what we‘d like to See and do and matched his suggestions perfectly! We spend a lovely day exploring with the friendly, knowledgeable, and kind young man. We feel lucky to have him as our Guide!
Aug 6, 2026
antoinemC9893MM
Tripadvisor review: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excursion d’une journée à Hakone
Nous sommes particulièrement ravis…
Aug 6, 2026
antoinemC9893MM
Tripadvisor review: Hakone Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excursion d’une journée à Hakone
Nous sommes particulièrement ravis de cette journée d’excursion autour d’Hakone et du Mont-Fuji avec notre guide Ryosuke. Le programme et le rythme étaient parfaitement adaptés à nos attentes, Ryosuke nous a permis de vivre une excellente expérience en famille, ses explications se sont révélées intéressantes et précises, le choix des lieux à visiter, des points de vue et les endroits où effectuer des pauses nous ont beaucoup plu !
Jul 30, 2026
BrianBurnette
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great Memories
We really enjoyed this tour. Leo, our…
Jul 30, 2026
BrianBurnette
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great Memories
We really enjoyed this tour. Leo, our guide, was very knowledgeable regarding the culture and history of each site we visited. And for lunch he found a delicious authentic Ramen counter restaurant. It was a really nice day with great memories.