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. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Meeting place: Tokyo Station・Hotel
- 9:10 Tokyo Station
- (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
- Ginza Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- 9:30 Tsukiji Station
- Tsukiji Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
- Tsukiji Uogashi
- Tsukiji Outer Market
- Namiyoke Shrine
- 11:15 Tsukiji Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Hibiya Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- 11:30 Otemachi Station
- Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
- Nijubashi Bridge
- 12:30 Otemachi Station
- (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line)
- Nihonbashi Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 13:00 Asakusa Station
- Dismissal: Asakusa Station
Title: What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like? Tsukiji Market and the Imperial Palace East Gardens — A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. It was a return visit to Japan for part of the group, while for others it was their first time.
A week earlier, they had arrived at Narita and headed straight to the Kansai region by shinkansen. After visiting Kyoto and Osaka, they arrived at Tokyo Station by shinkansen this morning. We met at the Hotel.
Their stay in Japan was two weeks in total, and they planned to return home the next day.
It was a hot and humid day for the tour.
After meeting successfully at the Hotel, we headed to the Tsukiji Outer Market.
We visited and photographed Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, and then first went to "Tsukiji Uogashi."
The guests were very knowledgeable about Japanese food and asked, "Why was the Toyosu Market newly built?"
At Namiyoke Shrine, I explained the history of Tsukiji as well as Edo and Tokyo. They paid their respects carefully.
At Tsukiji Uogashi, they eagerly looked around everywhere and asked many questions about the types of fish, prices, and places of origin.
We then moved to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where they browsed everywhere with great interest and care.
They commented, "For a fish market, it is clean and there is no strange smell."
They also asked, "Why are there so many people? Is it always this crowded?"
We entered one shop and purchased and sampled "tuna nigiri sushi" and "grilled beef skewers."
They commented, "It's fresh and delicious."
They also asked, "Why are there so many people? Is it always this crowded?"
They requested, "After this, we'd like to go to the Imperial Palace East Gardens," so I guided them through the East Gardens.
They asked questions such as "When was it built as a castle?" and "Why did Edo Castle become the Imperial Palace?"
They also asked about things like "Does the Emperor live inside here?" "Does the Emperor have political influence?" and "Who will be the next Emperor?"
They remarked, "The whole town is clean, and there is no litter on the ground."
Click here for more details: Tsukiji Local Food & Culture Half-Day Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Tokyo Station～Tsukiji Station | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Tsukiji Station～Otemachi Station | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Otemachi Station～Asakusa Station | 178JPY |
| Total | 534JPY | ||
Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and lovely company. My 13-yr-old daughter and I had a great day walking around the sites we had picked with him. He tooks his time to explain all the history and then kindly walked us to the spot of our next booking as it was quite confusing. I would very highly recommend him. Of all the tours we did in Tokyo Masa Sam was my favourite tour guide.
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an amazing tour guide that communicated extremely well ahead of time about the sites we would like to see in Tokyo, picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel, was very friendly and well prepared and finally but most importantly made our day in Tokyo very memorable.
We went to the Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Meiji Shinto Temple, imperial Palace, Shinjuku Gyoen National Gatden, and Shibuya Crossing. All were great and amazing suggestions by Masa.
Would highly recommend this tour as it was a private tour guide for a full day and provided discretion on which 5-6 sites you want to see. Also highly recommend our tour guide Masa who was a wealth of knowledge and very friendly and charming.
15/10 would do again.
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our…
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our guide, Masa was really great. Although it was raining, he had no
hesitations in completing his tour and showing us great places around Tokyo. If you are still
on the fence about this, please don’t, you won’t regret it. Thank you, Masa!
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
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Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was…
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was incredible and filled with interesting facts and history, he gave us incredible insight on each location. We loved that we were able to choose 3-4 sites from a large selection and really spend enough time at each spot. Masa was kind and knowledgable and even helped us with a restaurant reservation for later in the evening when were unable to find one.