Tokyo in Half a Day: Ikebukuro Station — Guide Seizo
August, 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
- 8:20 Meet up @ Hotel
- 9:16 Ikebukuro Station
- 10:00 Kawagoe Station
- 10:25 Kitain Temple
- 11:00 Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
- 11:40 Toki no Kane (Bell of Time)
- 11:50 Lunch @ Kincho (udon specialty restaurant)
- 13:00 Matsumoto Soy Sauce Store factory tour
- 13:30 Kurazukuri warehouse district streetscape
- 14:00 Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley)
- 14:30 Kawagoe Festival Museum
- 15:20 Kawagoe Station
- 16:00 Disband @ Ikebukuro Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at @ Hotel at 8:20, the group explored Tokyo until the tour ended at 16:00. The day ran to 7 hours and 40 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch @ Kincho (udon specialty restaurant) at 11:50.
The itinerary covered Ikebukuro Station at 9:16, Kawagoe Station at 10:00, Kitain Temple at 10:25, Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine at 11:00, Toki no Kane (Bell of Time) at 11:40, Matsumoto Soy Sauce Store factory tour at 13:00, Kurazukuri warehouse district streetscape at 13:30, Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley) at 14:00, Kawagoe Festival Museum at 14:30 and Kawagoe Station at 15:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Hiroo to Ebisu by subway (180JPY); Ebisu to Ikebukuro by train (180JPY); Ikebukuro to Kawagoe by train (1,110JPY); Kawagoe Station to Kitain Temple front by bus (0JPY); Kitain Temple front to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine front by bus (0JPY); Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine front to Ichibangai by bus (0JPY); Ichibangai to Kawagoe Station by bus (0JPY); Kawagoe to Ikebukuro by train (0JPY). Across 8 sections the fare came to 1,470JPY per person.
What Is a Private Kawagoe Day Tour from Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group from North America, some of whom had visited Japan about twenty years ago, while the others were visiting for the first time. This trip was focused only on the Tokyo area, and they did not plan to visit places such as Kyoto. At Kitain Temple and Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, the guests listened with great interest to explanations about the differences between Buddhism and Shinto, and they also purchased protective charms. A factory tour of the Matsumoto Soy Sauce Shop was specially added to the tour route at the guests' request, and they observed it very enthusiastically while also purchasing soy sauce as a souvenir. Since I accommodated everything according to the guests' wishes, I believe they were satisfied.
Click here for more details: Kawagoe Half-Day Trip from Tokyo with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Hiroo～Ebisu | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Ebisu～Ikebukuro | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Ikebukuro～Kawagoe | 1,110JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Kawagoe Station～Kitain Temple front | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Bus | Kitain Temple front～Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine front | 0JPY |
| Section 6 | Bus | Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine front～Ichibangai | 0JPY |
| Section 7 | Bus | Ichibangai～Kawagoe Station | 0JPY |
| Section 8 | Train | Kawagoe～Ikebukuro | 0JPY |
| Total | 1,470JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Hotel at 8:20, and the tour finished at @ Ikebukuro Station at 16:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 7 hours and 40 minutes in total, from 8:20 to 16:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Ikebukuro Station, Kawagoe Station, Kitain Temple, Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, Toki no Kane (Bell of Time), Matsumoto Soy Sauce Store factory tour, Kurazukuri warehouse district streetscape, Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley), Kawagoe Festival Museum and Kawagoe Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,470JPY per person across 8 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?
Seizo 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.
I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto
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Seizo was a tremendously fabulous and friendly tour guide. He made us feel welcome and took great care to explain the tour and what we would be seeing during the day. It was a great way to see the city’s sights and a great help navigating the transit system. Loads of trains rides to get us to each new location.
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Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto. He was very knowledgeable, easy going, great sense of humour and taught us a lot about Japanese culture and history. We all thoroughly enjoyed the tour and our guide Seizo. Would highly recommend.
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We had an excellent time with Seizo Kamiuto as our guide for Kamakura. He was an excellent guide for the whole day and it really made a difference with an experienced person who knew the area. He was very friendly and accommodating with our plans for Kamakura, including me picking out which temples and shrines to visit. He met us at our hotel in Asakusa and dropped us back off at the hotel even if it is an hour from Kamakura. He also recommended a great sushi restaurant that I would not have even known existed, even if I was looking straight at it. I would highly recommend bringing a guide like Seizo if you want to maximize your time in Kamakura to explore the area.
Our tour went to 3 places in the morning and 2 places in the afternoon. The morning places were a bit out of the way and less crowded, but were beautiful on their own. The morning places where Engakuji Temple, Meigetsu-in Temple (slightly out of season for September but some hydrangeas were still blooming and the temple itself was very beautiful with nature all around), and Kencho-ji Temple. The afternoon was in the busier places of Kamakura, but the crowds weren’t too bad. They were Hasedera Temple and the Giant Buddha of Kamakura Temple. Each place was different and pretty in their own ways.
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