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
- 10:30 Meet @ Hotel
- 11:05 East Gardens Otemon Gate
- 12:20 In front of Otemon Gate
- 12:45 Nezu Shrine
- 13:30 Yanaka Ginza
- 14:30 Disband @ Yanaka Ginza
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 10:30 at @ Hotel and ended at 14:30. The day ran to 4 hours from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in East Gardens Otemon Gate at 11:05, In front of Otemon Gate at 12:20, Nezu Shrine at 12:45 and Yanaka Ginza at 13:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Otemachi Station to Nezu Station by subway (180JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 180JPY per person.
What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like for a Family Group? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Asia. The reservation was originally for a smaller number, but on the day the group turned out to be larger. After confirming with [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), we started the tour as planned. They had earlier visited Ghibli Park in Nagoya and had only done shopping there, so they booked this tour because they wanted to learn about history. At the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, I explained points that seemed interesting enough to keep the group engaged. One of the guests had brought a DSLR camera, so at Nezu Shrine and Yanaka Ginza I pointed out good photo spots, and they quietly focused on capturing them. Although some of the guests seemed a little reserved at first, it was wonderful to see smiles by the end. One of the guests also went into every favorite shop I recommended, buying food and rice crackers, and enjoyed it all very much.
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 | Otemachi Station～Nezu Station | 180JPY |
| Total | 180JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Hotel at 10:30, and the tour finished at @ Yanaka Ginza at 14:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours in total, from 10:30 to 14:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited East Gardens Otemon Gate, In front of Otemon Gate, Nezu Shrine and Yanaka Ginza.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 180JPY per person across 1 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?
Lily 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.
Hi there! Thank you so much for hitting my page!
I’m Yuriko, but please call me Lily!
I’m a qualified guide and interpreter, proud to be awarded as one of the finalists of Japan guide awards 2025.
I have conducted over 100 tours a year since March 2024, with more than 90% of my clients awarding a five-star rating.
I love Japanese food(eating and cooking!), cultures such as traditional arts and crafts, and so much more! I’ve always explored places seeking new things and love to share them with you.
I was born and raised in Tokyo(for over 40 years!) but used to live in the U.S. for a couple of years as a child.
I am proud to be able to introduce the charms of Japan from multiple perspectives based on my experience of interacting with people from many different nationalities.
I am happy to tailor an original plan or to arrange your bucket list advancing it to a better option.
The following is my contact information:
lilyjapanguide@gmail.com
I’m looking forward to guiding and sharing the excitement of Japan!!
Sep 17, 2025
785hongc
Wonderful 6 hour Tokyo tour with Lily in September
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a…
Sep 17, 2025
785hongc
Wonderful 6 hour Tokyo tour with Lily in September
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful tour with our guide Lily. Lily speaks excellent English and thoughtfully designed our tour itinerary based on our preference on leaning culture and history of Japanese. She brought history and culture information booklets full of historic photos and literature making sure that we understand the content and key historic facts. She also brought us along a Tokyo maps and attraction guide carefully explained how the Tokyo public transportation system along with more attraction recommendations for our planning purpose. Lily introduced us to some lovely authentic Japanese food and artwork shop including an incense shop that we could never found by ourselves. She is extremely knowledgeable and also patiently answering a variety questions that we had and also navigate timing and traffic perfectly. We could not have asked a better guide, thank you Lily!
Sep 16, 2025
H
Hong_C
A wonderful day tour of Tokyo in September
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Best relaxed educational…
Sep 16, 2025
H
Hong_C
A wonderful day tour of Tokyo in September
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Best relaxed educational experience about historic Tokyo! Lily is a wonderful guid who had designed a perfect tour itinerary for our 6-hour tour for a hot humid day in September. Her English skill is perfect and she is very thoughtful about introducing Japanese history, cultures, art work and authentic food to us. She is also extremely helpful to explain Tokyo public transportation system to us and provided us step by step instructions on some JR line ticket purchase options to make sure that we could catch a chance to see Mt Fuji on our way to Kyoto. Most amazingly she was also able to locate an incense shop that we could never found it ourselves. Perfect time management too! Perfect tour!
Jul 18, 2025
Venture26940872209
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lilly was an excellent guide .. lots of communication before the visit…
Jul 18, 2025
Venture26940872209
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lilly was an excellent guide .. lots of communication before the visit to understand what we
liked .. and then a very enjoyable 4 hours
Highly recommend
Jul 1, 2025
michaellG938KC
Lily is the best. Highly recommended
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lily is an amazing guide and…
Jul 1, 2025
michaellG938KC
Lily is the best. Highly recommended
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lily is an amazing guide and her tour was the highlight of our trip. Lily was friendly, knowledgeable, and perfectly tailored the experience to my teenage kids. From trendy boutiques in Shibuya to hidden vintage gems in Harajuku, every stop felt special. They helped with translations, provided helpful advice and made the whole day fun and stress-free. My daughters found pieces we never would’ve discovered on my own at vintage thrift stores. Highly recommend for anyone who loves fashion and wants a local’s guide!