Tokyo in Half a Day: Starting from Hotel TOKYO — Guide Masa
December, 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
- 13:00 Starting from Hotel TOKYO
- (Starting time was changed by the guest)
- 13:30 1. KOISHIKAWA KOURAKUEN
- 15:00 2. Tokyo Station & THE IMPERIAL PALACE
- 16:00 3. SHIBUYA CROSSING
- 17:00 4. SHINJUKU
- 17:45 back to Hotel TOKYO
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Starting from Hotel TOKYO at 13:00, 1. KOISHIKAWA KOURAKUEN at 13:30, 2. Tokyo Station & THE IMPERIAL PALACE at 15:00, 3. SHIBUYA CROSSING at 16:00, 4. SHINJUKU at 17:00 and back to Hotel TOKYO at 17:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket Nishi-Shinjuku to Korakuen by Free Pass (600JPY); Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket Iidabashi to Tokyo／Sakuradamon to Shibuya to Shinjuku by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 600JPY per person.
What Is a Private Afternoon Walking Tour of Central Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The tour start time was changed to 13:00, moving two hours later due to the guest's work commitments. Since it gets dark in the early evening, I rearranged the order of the itinerary and explained the changes at departure. At the first stop, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, the contrast between the Japanese garden and the dome and cluster of buildings in the background was wonderful, and it was also perfect timing for the maple leaves turning red, so the guest was delighted by how beautiful it was. Before stopping at the Imperial Palace, I introduced the architecture of Tokyo Station, and since the guest was a little tired from lack of sleep, we had a coffee break at KITTE. I have uploaded the photo the guest took of me at the Christmas tree in KITTE. Before we said goodbye at the hotel, I introduced some restaurants around the Keio Plaza area, showing them from the storefronts. When I recommended Marugame Seimen, located in the building next to the hotel, as cheap and delicious, the guest later shared a photo saying it was truly delicious after eating there. As a guide, this is a joy.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket Nishi-Shinjuku～Korakuen | 600JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket Iidabashi～Tokyo／Sakuradamon～Shibuya～Shinjuku | 0JPY |
| Total | 600JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Starting from Hotel TOKYO, 1. KOISHIKAWA KOURAKUEN, 2. Tokyo Station & THE IMPERIAL PALACE, 3. SHIBUYA CROSSING, 4. SHINJUKU and back to Hotel TOKYO.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 600JPY per person across 2 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?
Masa 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.
Welcome to Japan. I hope you are going to enjoy your stay.
Who am I?
I am a Licensed Guide Interpreter at an age of 61.
I got an early retirement from 36 yrs of the employment in a Japanese financial sector.
I hope I can attend to you with the Japanese politeness, hospitality and smile.
What can I be expected?
I would like to introduce the photogenic sites, the indigenous experiences
and good Japanese local food around Tokyo, Hakone/Mt Fuji.
I might be able to show you the features of shrine and temple with a religious manner if you’d like.
As a matter of fact, I don’t have a specific religion to believe, though.
I love Japan and that’s why I started a new career as a guide.
What do I love?
Most of all, my family. I have a wife 56 yrs old, a son 28 yrs old and a daughter 25 yrs old.
I like eating raw fish and sushi, buckwheat noodles and curry rice.
How do I spend my spear time?
I run for 5 km in the morning listening to my favorite music.
I might have a chance to go to a studio program in the fitness club nearby once a week.
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Thank you.
Jul 21, 2026
Sandra_U
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Individualized Tour!
Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour…
Jul 21, 2026
Sandra_U
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Individualized Tour!
Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour was individually crafted to the sites and activities that we wanted to see. We really enjoyed that we used public transportation. He had great insight and was very helpful. I highly recommend.
Apr 3, 2026
Celal_S
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great tour even…
We had a great tour even…
Apr 3, 2026
Celal_S
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great tour even…
We had a great tour even it was full day rainy and a bad day for walking. Masa san was a
great guide, he was very helpful and guided us very nicely.
Mar 30, 2026
Johanna H
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
We booked the 6…
Mar 30, 2026
Johanna H
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
We booked the 6 hour tour of Tokyo with a Government Guide for our first day, to help us ‘acclimatise’ to Tokyo….learn the trains/metro, get tips and ideas etc, plus obviously visit a few highlights. Masa our guide was brilliant, contacting us in advance to find out what we would like to see, then he produced a detailed itinerary for us to review (it was spot on). He kept in touch leading up to the day and led us through a great day. The tour (& Masa) exceeded our expectations
Mar 26, 2026
Chica717
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing private tour with Masa!
We had the absolute pleasure of spending…
Mar 26, 2026
Chica717
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing private tour with Masa!
We had the absolute pleasure of spending two days with Masa san (a 6-hr tour and an 8-hour tour). If you are able to specifically request him as your guide, I highly recommend you do. He went above and beyond to make sure our visit to Tokyo was unforgettable. We corresponded well in advance, and Masa san provided invaluable insight into planning two days’ worth of sightseeing. On the days of our tours, he arrived on time and well prepared, and answered all our questions throughout the tours, whether they were about the sites, local customs, history, or etiquette. He researched alternatives when it rained and called venues on our behalf. He was a tour guide, travel agent, interpreter, and fixer – all in one! Most importantly, Masa san is a delight to spend time with – he’s a great conversationalist, and is extremely thoughtful, kind, and funny!