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
- 10:00 Meeting point: Mimaru Tokyo Ginza East
- 10:10 Depart Shintomicho Station
- (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
- Yurakucho Station/Hibiya Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- 10:30 Arrive Otemachi Station
- Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
- Nijubashi Bridge
- 11:30 Depart Nijubashimae Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- Hibiya Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- 11:40 Arrive Kamiyacho Station
- Shiba Tokyo Tower
- 13:00 Depart Kamiyacho Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Kasumigaseki Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- 13:10 Meiji-jingumae Station
- Harajuku Meiji Shrine
- Takeshita Street
- 14:10 Depart Meiji-jingumae Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- Hibiya Station/Yurakucho Station
- (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
- Arrive Shintomicho Station
- 14:30 Dismissal: Shintomicho Station
Title: What Is a Family-Friendly Private Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a family group visiting Japan for the first time, arriving from Oceania and North America. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures.
The group had arrived at Narita Airport about a week earlier and traveled directly to the Kansai region, visiting Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. They then came to Tokyo the previous evening and planned to stay in Tokyo for several days.
They mentioned that they would be going to Disneyland the following day.
They requested a tour focused on being family-friendly.
It was a hot and humid day for the tour.
The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace were quite crowded.
There were questions such as "When was it built as a castle?" and "Did Edo Castle become the Imperial Palace?"
There were also questions such as "Does the Emperor live inside here?", "Does the Emperor have political influence?", and "Who will become the next Emperor?"
After that, we went to Tokyo Tower. Everyone went up to the Top Deck and was thrilled by the view of Tokyo. We took a commemorative photo together.
They said, "Now I really understand how vast a city Tokyo is."
At Meiji Shrine, there were questions such as "What is the purpose of the torii gate?", "Why do Buddhism and Shinto coexist?", and "Do the Shinto priests live within these grounds?"
There were also questions such as "Do Japanese people respect the Emperor and the Imperial family?" and "Why did the Meiji Restoration happen?"
They made comments such as "The city is clean and quiet," "No one talks loudly on the trains," "There are really so many subway trains," and "We don't see any homeless people."
They said the Tokyo subway is difficult to transfer between, so I saw them off at Shintomicho Station, where we parted ways.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Shintomicho Station～Otemachi Station | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Nijubashimae Station～Kamiyacho Station | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Kamiyacho Station～Meiji-jingumae Station | 178JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae Station～Shintomicho Station | 209JPY |
| Total | 743JPY | ||
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
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
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.