Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa — Guide Maki
July, 2024
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.
Tour Itinerary
- 13:00 Depart from Edition Tokyo Ginza
- 13:25-14:20 Asakusa sightseeing
- 14:40-15:45 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 16:10-16:50 Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Shibuya PARCO, guide on how to return via the Ginza Line and disband
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 13:00 at Edition Tokyo Ginza and ended at 16:10. The day ran to 3 hours and 10 minutes from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in Asakusa sightseeing at 13:25 and East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 14:40.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Takaracho Station to Asakusa by Free Pass (900JPY); Asakusa to Otemachi by Free Pass (0JPY); Otemachi to Shibuya by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 900JPY per person.
What Can You See in a 4-Hour Private Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, and Shibuya
The guests were visitors from North America. They had already traveled through Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and had moved to Tokyo by shinkansen that morning. They wanted to see Asakusa, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, and the Shibuya Scramble Crossing within four hours. Since the guests were strong walkers, we moved at a fast pace, and as a result we finished with a little time to spare, so I guided them to Parco before ending the tour (as one of the guests was interested in anime and manga). The guests listened carefully to the explanations, which made guiding very easy. We were lucky to be able to proceed with the tour without being caught in any thunderstorms.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Free Pass | Takaracho Station～Asakusa | 900JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Asakusa～Otemachi | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Otemachi～Shibuya | 0JPY |
| Total | 900JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Edition Tokyo Ginza at 13:00, and the tour finished at Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Shibuya PARCO, guide on how to return via the Ginza Line at 16:10.
How long does the tour last?
About 3 hours and 10 minutes in total, from 13:00 to 16:10.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Asakusa sightseeing and East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 900JPY per person across 3 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?
Maki 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.
Hello!
I’m Maki. Nice to meet you.
I used to work at a travel agency as a tour escort so I have traveled to more than 50 countries and all 47 prefectures in Japan.
When I came back to Japan from abroad, I always noticed virtues in Japan anew.
I’m thrilled to introduce such kinds of stories and favorite places to you.
I like bar hopping, cooking, history, and outdoor activities such as camping, cycling.
I have a licence of International Sake Sommlier and Wine Expert. I’m happy if I would have a chance to introduce you about sake and wine.
I’m also a mother of high school girl. Let’s have fun together!
Oct 9, 2025
301catherinep
Fabulous customised tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki is a wonderful, well informed guide. She customised…
Oct 9, 2025
301catherinep
Fabulous customised tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki is a wonderful, well informed guide. She customised the tour for me and made six
hours fly by. I got a fabulous overview of the city and tips on where else to visit. Plus some
help with my onward travel. Highly recommended.
Oct 2, 2025
Gene L
Our 6 hour tour with Maki was fantastic
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and…
Oct 2, 2025
Gene L
Our 6 hour tour with Maki was fantastic
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I enjoyed this tour immensely. Maki was absolutely great. If you want to get oriented in Tokyo take this tour first. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and considerate to our needs for seeing the best of Tokyo in one day. I would recommend this tour on the first day to experience negotiating the Tokyo Metro and famous sights.
Aug 31, 2025
T
tmay2921
Maki is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an absolutely wonderful day exploring…
Aug 31, 2025
T
tmay2921
Maki is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an absolutely wonderful day exploring Tokyo with Maki. She curated the tour perfectly to our interests, blending culture, history, and hidden gems that we never would have discovered on our own. We left the tour with a much deeper appreciation for Tokyo and Japanese culture.
Thank you so much, Maki, for such an amazing tour—we’re truly grateful and would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting!
Jul 12, 2025
O6400ONsaram
Maki san kakkoii desu
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki was generous and flexible! She met us…
Jul 12, 2025
O6400ONsaram
Maki san kakkoii desu
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki was generous and flexible! She met us at our hotel, helped us understand the subway
system, and made a dinner reservation. She made our first day in Japan memorable and
put us at ease for the rest of our trip. Thank you, Maki!