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
- 09:30 Meet at hotel
- 10:10-11:00. Sensoji Temple sightseeing
- 11:30-12:00 Akihabara sightseeing
- 12:30-13:30. East Gardens sightseeing
- 14:00-15:00. Meiji Shrine sightseeing, then lunch
- 15:00-15:30. Shibuya Scramble Square sightseeing
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Sensoji Temple sightseeing at 10:10, Akihabara sightseeing at 11:30, East Gardens sightseeing at 12:30, Meiji Shrine sightseeing, then lunch at 14:00 and Shibuya Scramble Square sightseeing at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Higashi-ginza to Sensoji Temple by train (220JPY); Asakusa to Suehirocho by train (178JPY); Akihabara to Tokyo by train (146JPY); Otemachi to Meiji-jingumae by train (209JPY); Harajuku to Shibuya by train (146JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 899JPY per person.
What Is a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo's East Gardens Like on a Hot Day? A Licensed Guide's Report
It was another hot day, so much so that while walking through the East Gardens the guests even commented that they wanted to take a shower. Since there had been no response to my greeting email, we decided on the course while consulting on the day itself. Fortunately, I was able to get a clear answer about the next destination from one of the guests right away, so I think we were able to cover quite a lot even in that heat. They also asked many questions, which is truly a pleasure as a guide. Some restaurants in Japan cannot accommodate certain requests, so I was even consulted about dinner plans. There were no problems when we ate lunch together, but the group found it difficult to dine all in one place, so I recommended some options.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Higashi-ginza～Sensoji Temple | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Asakusa～Suehirocho | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Akihabara～Tokyo | 146JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Otemachi～Meiji-jingumae | 209JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 146JPY |
| Total | 899JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Sensoji Temple sightseeing, Akihabara sightseeing, East Gardens sightseeing, Meiji Shrine sightseeing, then lunch and Shibuya Scramble Square sightseeing.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 899JPY per person across 5 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?
Kappa 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.
Thank you for your entry in this tour. Nice to meet you in this mail.
Your tour guide Kappa is my nickname. Kappa is a traditional, imaginary creature who came into being in Japan over 300 years ago. She is good at swimming, like me, for I like swimming. I would like to make our tour operated smoothly as Kappa does when she swims in the river or pond. It is my pleasure to introduce many aspects in our tour, especially cooking, for it is my hobby and I went to the professional cooking and SAKE school, respectively. If you have any questions or requests about Japanese cooking, of course our tour, I am very delighted to answer to you anytime!
Jul 30, 2025
Michael_R
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Jul 30, 2025
Michael_R
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Our guide, Kappa-san, modified the typical Hakone tour to accommodate our interests, and is very helpful and knowledgeable. Since the day was very hot (95°F / 35°C) we favored activities that were more shaded or cool, including a walk on a cedar-lined section of the old Tokaido path.
May 18, 2025
Leigh_M
Kappa, our guide met us…
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Kappa, our guide met us at the train station and took us all over Kamakura. We saw shrines, the big Buddha, gardens, and the Oceanside! Kappa shared a lot of history about Kamakura, and it was nice to have this background when we were exploring these incredible sites! Highly recommend!
May 4, 2025
panderhigs
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Kappa was an amazing guide who created a thorough…
May 4, 2025
panderhigs
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Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kappa was an amazing guide who created a thorough and thoughtful itinerary for us over
the course of 6 hours. We saw SO much in such a short time and would definitely
recommend her!
May 4, 2025
O9621SBscottp
Kappa is a wonderful tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I were treated…
May 4, 2025
O9621SBscottp
Kappa is a wonderful tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I were treated to a wonderful walking tour of Tokyo with Kappa. Kappa was very accommodating in designing a tour specifically tailored to our interests. Kappa is a wealth of knowledge regarding the city history, temples and shrine, and Japanese art history. She is a lovely person too. I highly recommend Kappa if you want to learn about Tokyo