Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Tachi

What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. Although they had made many requests in advance, the itinerary was ultimately set as the Hachiko statue in Shibuya, Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji Temple, the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Skytree, and a samurai museum, with Tokyo Skytree and the samurai museum to be visited after the tour. Since they were staying at a hotel in Yokohama, we arranged to meet in the lobby of the station hotel at Tokyo Station. At the hotel meeting, I reconfirmed the itinerary, and they purchased a 24-hour metro pass for overseas visitors at Tokyo Station.

On the subway heading to Meiji Shrine, one of the guests was very talkative despite the jet lag. At Meiji Shrine, they did listen attentively to the explanation. At Shibuya Station, there was a long line in front of the Hachiko statue, so they only took photos of the statue, then crossed the intersection and headed to a coffee shop. As the temperature began to rise, some of the guests took a coffee break at the coffee shop. Even on a Sunday, depending on the time of day, it was surprisingly not crowded.

On the way to the Imperial Palace, the guests requested to have a light meal somewhere. We skipped the Nijubashi Bridge at the main gate and instead entered the East Gardens through the Kitahanebashi Gate. In the Ninomaru Garden, the irises and azaleas were beautiful. I also explained the difference between a circuit-style garden and a dry landscape garden. As we approached the Otemon Gate, one of the guests seemed a little unwell, so I guided them to a restroom and we waited for a while. After about ten minutes, they said they were fine, and we resumed the tour.

I let them know the travel time to Senso-ji Temple and we walked as slowly as possible. On the subway to Asakusa, one of the guests spoke at length about various experiences and recent world affairs. After arriving in Asakusa, we had lunch at a fast food restaurant as the guests wished. We did not have to wait long and easily found seats, so I hope they were able to relax a little.

We mainly took the back streets to Senso-ji Temple, guiding them to the Hozomon Gate, the five-story pagoda, and then the main hall. Some of the guests purchased an amulet for good health. One of the guests tried an omikuji fortune and drew a "good luck" fortune. After that, I guided them to the entrance of Tokyo Skytree, for which they had a 3:00 admission reservation. I then confirmed how to get to the taxi stand for the samurai museum and the route back to their hotel in Yokohama, returned to the entrance, and we parted ways. It was a well-balanced group, and it was a pleasure to guide them.

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Tour Report by Tachi

Hi! I’m a local guide in Tokyo and have been working as a licensed tour guide for almost 10 years. I love helping guests discover the “real Japan” beyond the guidebooks. I enjoy showing guests both famous sights and places that many tourists miss. My tours are based on your interests and can include not only famous sightseeing spots, but also local neighborhoods, culture, history, and everyday life in Japan. I also help guests enjoy Japanese cultural activities and make communication easier. If you’d like vegan or gluten-free meals, let me help you find suitable restaurants in Tokyo. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please feel free to let me know in advance. I look forward to showing you around Tokyo!