Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sally
March, 2025
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
- Hotel 10:30 — Ueno Park 11:00 — Yanaka 11:40 — Yanaka Ginza Cafe break 12:40 — Nezu Shrine 13:30 — East Gardens of the Imperial Palace 14:40
What's a Private Yanaka and Ueno Walking Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Europe. Before meeting them, I had a different impression of their relationship, so I was a little surprised. They had no specific requests and, since it was their first visit, asked me to plan everything, which was a bit challenging at first. I had initially been considering the classic spots such as Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and the Imperial Palace. Later I received an email explaining that they had arrived in Japan on the day the tour was booked through [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), with the tour set for two days later, and that the day after their arrival they had joined a bus tour. When I asked where the bus tour had taken them, they mentioned Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Skytree, Hamarikyu, and more, so I quickly reworked the plan. Fortunately, they wanted to see old Japanese townscapes, so I proposed Yanaka, Nezu, and Ueno, which became the plan for the day. Since they had received little information on the bus tour, they said they were looking forward to hearing explanations today. The guests were sincere and listened very attentively to topics such as Japan, Tokyo, the "kimon" (unlucky direction), and religion, asking many questions. At the end, I guided them to the East Gardens, which they had not visited the day before, and we parted ways. They told me they had a wonderful time. Unlike the previous day, the weather was fine, which I was also grateful for.
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 | Suidobashi～Ueno | 167JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Sendagi 3-chome～Sendagi 2-chome | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Nezu～Otemachi | 178JPY |
| Total | 565JPY | ||
Hello, I’m Hizuru.
I have a passion for sharing my knowledge and love for Japan with visitors from all over the world.
After teaching English and Japanese to Elementary school and Junior high school students for about 15
years, I got the National License of Guide and Interpreter in 2014 which allowed me to officially guide
tourists around Japan.
I have guided many tourists around Tokyo and its vicinities, helping them to discover the hidden gems of the
city and learn about its rich history and traditions.
Whether you’re interested in visiting historical landmarks, trying delicious Japanese cuisine, or experiencing
the vibrant pop culture scene, I can tailor a tour suit your interests.
My experience as a teacher greatly helped me in this role as I was able to efficiently communicate and engage
with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
I am dedicated to providing an unforgettable and insightful experience for all my guests.
I look forward to welcoming you to in and around Tokyo and sharing the wonders of Japan with you.
Oct 14, 2025
vanessajK6787GS
Great day out and about in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hizuru was an absolute delight.…
Oct 14, 2025
vanessajK6787GS
Great day out and about in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hizuru was an absolute delight. Her communication from the beginning was wonderful. She tailored the tour to the things I wanted to see. Her local knowledge was invaluable at the shrines, she is also a wonderful story teller. An important thing for me was to learn how to use the train system and she went above and beyond to help me understand how it all works. Which I am happy to say I navigated well once on my own. I would highly recommend Hizuru to anyone, she was a great companion for the day.
May 23, 2025
Inspire25413313092
Tokyo walking tour 2025
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Sally did a great job putting together a…
May 23, 2025
Inspire25413313092
Tokyo walking tour 2025
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Sally did a great job putting together a program for us. She reached out early in the week to understand what we were looking for and experience.
I must admit it was nice to be guided through the subway system by a “professional”. That allows me to enjoy the experience and not worry about getting to the right train & connection.
Sally was very knowledgeable and my wife & I learned a lot about the history of Japan and Tokyo.
I would recommend Sally.
May 3, 2025
davidfZ3537PI
Great tour with Hizuru!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great private tour with Hizuru! Prior to the…
May 3, 2025
davidfZ3537PI
Great tour with Hizuru!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great private tour with Hizuru! Prior to the tour, she was in email contact with us to find out exactly what we wanted to do – then she arranged the perfect schedule. She met us in the lobby of our hotel, helped us navigate the Tokyo metro and took us to Gotokuji temple, Shinjuku crossing, the Azalea festival at Nezu shrine, then to Ginza (where she dropped us off for our dinner reservation). She gave us great information during the tour, good history lessons and cultural explanations, and was a pleasure to be around. At the end of the tour, she made sure we knew exactly how to navigate on our own back to our hotel. highly recommend the private tour, highly recommend our guide Hizuru!
Apr 17, 2025
Sharon_F
Sampling of everything in one day!
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great sampling of lots of different…
Apr 17, 2025
Sharon_F
Sampling of everything in one day!
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great sampling of lots of different places in the city! Did the palace garden, a Shinto shrine and Buhdist temple, along with Shibuya Crossing and Meiji Jungu! I appreciated the instructions at the religious sites and the history at the palace. The gardens were unbelievably beautiful this time of year! Great job on a good combination of places and info!