Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

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

  • 1. 09:40 Meet up @ Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya
  • 2. 09:45 Travel: Subway
  • 3. 10:25 Stay @ East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
  • 4. 11:50 Travel: Subway
  • 5. 12:15 Stay @ Meiji Shrine
  • 6. 13:20 Stay @ Takeshita Street
  • 7. 13:55 Travel: Train
  • 8. 14:10 Disband @ JR Shibuya Station

Title: What Is a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo's Shibuya, Meiji Shrine, and Harajuku Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guest's accommodation was a hotel inside Shibuya Sakura Stage, a complex that had only just opened in July of this year. It is a little hard to find on Google Maps, but rather than going down to street level, it is easier to cross via the concourse from the second floor of Shibuya Station. The guest was already waiting in the lobby 20 minutes early. Since I guided them to spots within a short distance of each other except for the East Gardens, there was plenty of time to spare right up to the end, even though the overall tour took a fairly long time. We took a break at a café at Meiji Shrine, and afterward I was able to guide them along Takeshita Street without any issues. As the guest preferred to have lunch in Shibuya rather than continue shopping in Harajuku, I took them to Shibuya Station at the end, where we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayShibuya Station～Otemachi Station210JPY
Section 2SubwayOtemachi Station～Meiji-jingumae Station210JPY
Section 3TrainHarajuku Station～Shibuya Station150JPY
Total570JPY

Tour Report by Sam

Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

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