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
- 9:30 Meet at The Okura Tokyo
- 10:00 Imperial Palace Outer Garden ⇒ East Gardens
- 11:15 Travel (subway)
- 11:45 Meiji Shrine
- 12:30 Harajuku (Takeshita Street)
- 12:45 Shibuya
- 13:15 Travel (JR)
- 13:30 Ebisu (end)
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Imperial Palace Outer Garden ⇒ East Gardens at 10:00, Travel (subway) at 11:15, Meiji Shrine at 11:45, Harajuku (Takeshita Street) at 12:30, Shibuya at 12:45, Travel (JR) at 13:15 and Ebisu (end) at 13:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Toranomon Hills to Hibiya by train (178JPY); Otemachi to Meiji-jingumae by train (209JPY); Harajuku to Shibuya by train (146JPY); Shibuya to Ebisu by train (146JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 679JPY per person.
What Is a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Harajuku, and Shibuya
The guests appeared very energetic and were strong walkers. The day was quite hot at 34 degrees with strong sunshine, but the guests were completely unbothered and enjoyed walking around the Imperial Palace area and the East Gardens. The conversation was pleasant throughout, which allowed me to guide them with ease. In Harajuku, they were delighted to find several items they wanted to buy as gifts, and in Shibuya they were amazed by the large discount store while also happily finding souvenirs. When I shared information about a restaurant with a traditional Japanese atmosphere for dinner, they were grateful and said they would try to make a reservation right away. The guests were calm and pleasant to work with.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Toranomon Hills～Hibiya | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Otemachi～Meiji-jingumae | 209JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 146JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shibuya～Ebisu | 146JPY |
| Total | 679JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Imperial Palace Outer Garden ⇒ East Gardens, Travel (subway), Meiji Shrine, Harajuku (Takeshita Street), Shibuya, Travel (JR) and Ebisu (end).
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 679JPY per person across 4 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?
Shinji 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.
Before I started the guiding job in 2022, I had worked for private companies and been engaged in overseas business, which led me to be stationed in various English-speaking countries. Taking advantage of such experiences and also wishing to reciprocate the kindness extended to me during my career, I have decided to help visitors to Japan enjoy their stay and obtained a national guide license.
I am very honored and pleased to assist guests from overseas and enjoy seeing them having a great time visiting interesting spots in Japan and learning about the country. I look forward to serving more new guests and seeing them smile at the end of my private tours.
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For those not wanting to read my entire post, let me say if you are going to Hakone, consider hiring Shinji. He is marvelous!
We went to Hakone, a notable spa town and a popular tourist destination due to its many hot springs being within view of nearby Mount Fuji, the most visited mountain in Japan. With our guide Shinji we visited the Hakone open air Museum, Hakone Shrine, Lake Ashi, Hakone, Japan, and took the Lake Ashi Cruise. Shinji’s knowledge about the sites, trains, cable cars, cruise, history, culture and languages (Japanese and English) made for a most efficient and memorable experience. Lastly, Shinji was very patient, as our getting to Hakone took more time than we expected, and adaptable, as we made the necessary adjustments to visit every relevant site we had hoped for. Great trip with a great guide!