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
- 10:30 Meet at hotel
- 10:30-11:00 Travel to Meiji Shrine
- 11:00-12:00 Visit Meiji Shrine
- 12:00-13:30 Travel to Shibuya, lunch, experience Shibuya Crossing
- 13:30-14:00 Travel to Ginza
- 14:00-14:30 Window shopping in Ginza
- 14:30-15:00 Travel to Asakusa
- 15:00-16:00 Visit Senso-ji Temple
- 16:00-16:30. Travel from Senso-ji Temple, disband at Ueno Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Travel to Meiji Shrine at 10:30, Meiji Shrine at 11:00, Travel to Shibuya, lunch, experience Shibuya Crossing at 12:00, Travel to Ginza at 13:30, Window shopping in Ginza at 14:00, Travel to Asakusa at 14:30, Senso-ji Temple at 15:00 and Travel from Senso-ji Temple, disband at Ueno Station at 16:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ikebukuro to Harajuku by train (178JPY); Harajuku to Shibuya by train (146JPY); Shibuya to Ginza by train (209JPY); Ginza to Asakusa by train (209JPY); Asakusa to Ueno by train (178JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 920JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like on a Rainy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visiting from Europe as part of a cruise. Since a bus tour was planned for the following day, I took them to the places they wished to see. When we met, I made a point of pointing out nearby landmarks as often as possible after the tour began, so they could find their way back to the hotel on their own. At Meiji Shrine and Sensoji Temple, I focused my explanation on the difference in how to worship, since these sites offer a nice contrast between Shinto and Buddhism, and the guests worshipped very enthusiastically. Their wish was to see a market and, along the way, a robot cafe, but since they wanted to avoid the fish market, I took them to the cafe instead. The rain was extremely heavy due to a typhoon, so we took shelter inside a shopping complex, where the guests found a bag for one of the group and seemed to enjoy it very much. Although it was a tour in very heavy rain, I believe it ended safely and well.
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 | Ikebukuro～Harajuku | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 146JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Shibuya～Ginza | 209JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Ginza～Asakusa | 209JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Asakusa～Ueno | 178JPY |
| Total | 920JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Travel to Meiji Shrine, Meiji Shrine, Travel to Shibuya, lunch, experience Shibuya Crossing, Travel to Ginza, Window shopping in Ginza, Travel to Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple and Travel from Senso-ji Temple, disband at Ueno Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 920JPY 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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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.
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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!
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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!
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O9621SBscottp
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Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I were treated…
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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