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: Hotel GrandBach Tokyo Ginza
- 10:10 Depart Higashi-ginza Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Kasumigaseki Station
- (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
- 10:40 Shinjuku Station
- Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
- Omoide Yokocho
- Kabukicho
- 11:40 Depart Shinjuku Station
- (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
- Shinjuku-sanchome Station
- (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line)
- 12:00 Arrive Meiji-jingumae Station
- Harajuku Meiji Shrine
- 12:50 Depart Meiji-jingumae Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- 13:00 Arrive Omotesando Station
- Omotesando Omotesando
- 13:50 Depart Omotesando Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- 14:00 Arrive Shibuya Station
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- Hachiko Statue
- 14:20 Depart Shibuya Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 14:40 Arrive Ginza Station
- 14:40 Disband: Ginza Station
What Is a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shinjuku, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya
The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. One of the guests had visited Japan several times before, while the others were visiting for the first time. They had arrived at Haneda Airport the previous night. In the evening, they strolled around Ginza and then enjoyed sushi together for dinner. They remarked, "We had no idea Japan would be this hot." They planned to stay in Japan for 12 days. After spending time in Tokyo, they would travel to Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, then return to Tokyo before heading home. One of the guests said, "I want to get a sense of everyday Japanese life. I'd like to walk around the city and see various places." It was a tour held in hot and humid weather. First, we headed to Shinjuku and visited the observation deck of the Metropolitan Government Building. "Now I really understand what a vast city Tokyo is," they said. We were able to faintly see Mount Fuji. Afterward, we moved to Meiji Shrine. At Meiji Shrine, they asked questions such as "What is the difference between Buddhism and Shinto?" and "Do Japanese people believe in Buddhism or Shinto?" I explained about the nature and history of the Japanese imperial family. There were also questions such as "Why did the Meiji Restoration happen?" One of the guests suddenly expressed a wish to walk along Omotesando, so we strolled leisurely along Omotesando. They asked, "Which is more glamorous, Ginza or Omotesando?" After that, we moved to Shibuya. At the Scramble Crossing, they commented, "Why are there so many people here?" and "It reminds me of Times Square in New York." We took photos in front of the Hachiko statue. They made comments such as "Everywhere in the city is clean and quiet. There's no litter on the ground," "No one talks loudly on the trains," and "The trains run so frequently." They also said that their home city used to be a quiet, pleasant place, but has since become noisier and less clean. They said they wanted to have sushi for lunch in Ginza. I saw them off at Ginza 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 | Higashi-ginza Station～Shinjuku Station | 209JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Shinjuku Station～Meiji-jingumae Station | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae Station～Omotesando Station | 178JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Omotesando Station～Shibuya Station | 178JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Shibuya Station～Ginza Station | 209JPY |
| Total | 952JPY | ||
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.