Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Noripy
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
- 1. 9:30 Meet up @Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho
- 2. 10:10 @Rikugien Garden
- 3. 11:20 @Yanaka Shopping Street
- 4. 12:10 @Meiji Shrine
- 5. 13:20 Lunch @Tsujita (inside FUKURAS)
- 6. 14:00 Disband @Shibuya Station (Hanzomon Line ticket gate)

What Is a Private Tokyo Garden and Shrine Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Rikugien and Meiji Shrine
The guest was a visitor from North America making a second trip to Japan. Their first visit to Japan had happened by chance, when a flight to another destination in Asia was diverted to Osaka due to bad weather, and having enjoyed Japan, they returned for this second visit. This tour took place the day before their departure from Japan, and they had already experienced sightseeing in Tokyo once before. As they wished to visit a Japanese garden and a shrine, I guided them to Rikugien Garden and Meiji Shrine. At Rikugien, the autumn foliage was extremely beautiful, and they were very pleased, including with my explanations about the rocks around the pond. They were a very quiet type of person, and perhaps the atmosphere of the Japanese garden suited them well. I explained features of Japanese gardens, such as how walking around the central pond reveals a different landscape at each point, and they took many photographs of the garden scenery from various angles with a professional camera, including views from atop a small hill. They seemed very satisfied to be able to capture the beautiful autumn foliage in their photos. For lunch, they requested either ramen or curry with tonkatsu, so I guided them to a ramen restaurant in Shibuya. They enjoyed a bowl of ramen with pulled chashu.
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 | JR Yamanote Line Kinshicho Station~Komagome Station | 230JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | JR Yamanote Line Komagome Station~Nippori Station | 150JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Sendagi Station~Meiji-jingumae Station | 260JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station~Shibuya Station | 150JPY |
| Total | 790JPY | ||
Hello, I’m Noripy.
I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!
Jul 3, 2026
Jody D
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
Best Post cruise tour ever
It was…
Jul 3, 2026
Jody D
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
Best Post cruise tour ever
It was a GREAT TOUR with Noripy! With a family of many different ages and walking levels this was fantastic. We were picked up from our cruise in Yokohama and dropped off at Haneda airport. We had about 10 hours before our flight and it went flawlessly.
June 19, 2026
Alec T
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Tokyo in 4 hours
Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…
June 19, 2026
Alec T
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo in 4 hours
Noripy was excellent! She guided us through several parts of the city: Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, Tokyo Tower, Sangedatsumon, Zojo-ji, Meiji Jingu, and Golden Gai. A great way to see many Tokyo sites and get acquainted with the city on your first day!
Jun 16, 2026
Hema_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely experience. My…
Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…
Jun 16, 2026
Hema_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely experience. My…
Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady who managed to fit all the iconic Tokyo spots into my 6-hour tour without anything feeling rushed. She was knowledgeable, organised, and genuinely kind. Toward the end she even helped me with some shopping, which I really appreciated. A wonderful introduction to Tokyo and a guide I’d happily recommend….
Jun 3, 2026
Sara B
Tokyo walking tour with Noripy. A+!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Noripy gave a 5/5 tour!…
Jun 3, 2026
Sara B
Tokyo walking tour with Noripy. A+!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Noripy gave a 5/5 tour! She provided useful instruction for public transport use, fascinating historical information, spiritual customs and current cultural practices- All with an infectious smile and never ending positive energy. Noripy’s tour allowed us to made the most of the rest of our time in Tokyo. I feel like we did 5 days of sightseeing in 6 hrs! But Noripy made sure to always check if we wanted a break. Our tour was customized for my 2 teenage kids and I, and if we saw or thought of something along the way that interested us, Noripy accommodated! I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Tokyo. And you will be extra lucky to get Noripy for your guide!
