Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

October, 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. 10:20 Meet up @ Hotel
  • 2. 10:25 Travel: Subway
  • 3. 10:45 Visit @ Imperial Palace East Gardens
  • 4. 11:55 Travel: Subway
  • 5. 12:15 Visit @ Tsukiji
  • 6. 13:30 Travel: Subway
  • 7. 14:05 Visit @ Meiji Shrine
  • 8. 14:45 Visit @ Takeshita Street
  • 9. 15:15 Disband @ Tokyo Metro Meiji-jingumae Station

What Is a Private Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan. In advance emails, their requested spots included Hamarikyu Gardens and Yoyogi Park, but it became clear that they were more interested in the East Gardens than in Hamarikyu, so we changed the plan. Also, thinking that Takeshita Street would be more fun for the group than Yoyogi Park, I decided to take them there instead after guiding them through Meiji Shrine.

One of the guests visits Japan every year and is very knowledgeable about Japan, so there were moments when guiding them made me a little nervous. Since Tsukiji was closed that day, I had assumed it would not take much time, but the group had a hearty appetite and we stopped at many shops, so it actually took a fair amount of time. After finishing the tour of Takeshita Street, we parted ways slightly over the scheduled time.

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

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwaySuidobashi Station～Otemachi Station180JPY
Section 2SubwayOtemachi Station～Tsukiji Station180JPY
Section 3SubwayTsukiji Station～Meiji-jingumae Station210JPY
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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