Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa & Hamamatsucho — Guide Masa
September, 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. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:30 Meeting place: Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Kaminarimon Gate
- Asakusa Sensoji Temple
- Nakamise Shopping Street
- Asakusa Shrine
- 10:30 Depart Asakusa Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- Ueno Station
- (JR Yamanote Line)
- 10:50 Nippori Station
- Yanaka Yanaka Ginza
- 11:30 Depart Sendagi Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- 11:40 Arrive Nezu Station
- Nezu Nezu Shrine
- 12:30 Depart Nezu Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- Omotesando Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 13:00 Arrive Shibuya Station
- Shibuya Lunch: Hidakaya
- Scramble Crossing
- Hachiko Statue
- Shibuya Parco / Pokemon Center / Nintendo Store
- 14:00 Depart Shibuya Station
- (JR Yamanote Line)
- 14:30 Arrive Hamamatsucho Station
- 14:30 Disband: Hamamatsucho Station
Title: What Is a Private Family-Friendly Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Yanaka, and Shibuya
The guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe. They had arrived at Haneda Airport the previous night, later than planned because their scheduled flight had been canceled. Their accommodation was a bed & breakfast in the Hamamatsucho area.
They were on a two-week holiday trip, planning to spend five days in Tokyo, then visit Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara, before returning to Tokyo and heading home. This evening, they had a reservation for the Tokyo Skytree.
The tour took place under occasional light rain.
We met at the Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa and strolled around the area. One question was, "Why are there so many people here? Is it always this crowded?"
I explained about Sensoji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo, the differences between Buddhism and Shinto, as well as omikuji (fortune slips) and omamori (amulets). There were questions such as "What does Buddhism teach?" and "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?" One of the guests noted, "In Europe too, most buildings were destroyed by bombing during the Second World War."
After that, we moved to Yanaka, as they said they wanted to see an old townscape.
At Nezu Shrine, they passed through the torii gates and took photos.
From there, we moved to Shibuya. Since they said, "We'd like to eat ramen, if possible ramen without soup," we went to a casual ramen restaurant. They seemed to particularly enjoy the gyoza and edamame.
Afterward, we crossed the scramble crossing and took commemorative photos in front of the Hachiko statue, and I explained the story of Hachiko. There was a question: "Why do so many people gather here at the scramble crossing?"
After that, at the request of the guests, we visited the Pokemon Center and the Nintendo Store inside Shibuya Parco.
They also made comments such as, "The city is so clean. There is no litter on the ground," "The public toilets are clean and pleasant, and they're free," and "The subway is quiet and clean."
At their request to be taken to Hamamatsucho Station, I saw them off there and 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 | Asakusa Station～Ueno Station | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Ueno Station～Nippori Station | 146JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Sendagi Station～Nezu Station | 178JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Nezu Station～Shibuya Station | 209JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Shibuya Station～Hamamatsucho Station | 208JPY |
| Total | 919JPY | ||
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.