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
- 8:20 Meet at Tsukiji Station
- Tour Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple → Guide around Tsukiji Outer Market, food walking, tasting, etc.
- 9:40 Move to Akihabara
- 10:00 Explore Akihabara
- Yodobashi Camera 1F → Gashapon → ONODEN 4th floor → Don Quijote → TAMASHI NATIONS
- 11:00 Move to Okachimachi
- Explore Ameyoko → Niki no Kashi and others → Walk through Ameyoko to Ueno Station
- 11:40 Move from Ueno to Asakusa
- Asakusa Station underground mall → Kaminarimon, Nakamise, Sensoji Temple → West approach → Hoppy Street → Around Rock-za → Pachinko hall
- 13:00 Lunch @ Sushiro
- 14:00 Explore Kappabashi Street
- 14:30 Tour ends
- Saw them off at Tawaramachi Station, rode together on the Ginza Line to Ueno Station, and disbanded.
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 8:20 at Tsukiji Station and ended at 14:30. The day ran to 6 hours and 10 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch @ Sushiro at 13:00.
Over the course of the day the route took in Akihabara at 9:40, Explore Akihabara at 10:00, Okachimachi at 11:00, Move from Ueno to Asakusa at 11:40 and Explore Kappabashi Street at 14:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Oizumi-gakuen Station to Shintomicho Station by train (472JPY); Tsukiji to Akihabara by train (178JPY); Akihabara to Okachimachi by train (146JPY); Ueno to Asakusa by train (178JPY); Tawaramachi to Ueno by train (178JPY); Ueno to Ikebukuro by train (178JPY); Ikebukuro to Oizumi-gakuen by train (252JPY). Across 7 sections the fare came to 1,582JPY per person.
What's a Full-Day Private Food and Culture Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Akihabara, Ameyoko, Asakusa, and Kappabashi
The tour was originally scheduled to start from the accommodation, but to allow more time for the tour itself, we changed the meeting point to Tsukiji. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, I suggested and had the guests purchase and enjoy fatty tuna slices, tamagoyaki, strawberry daifuku, and wagyu sushi. In addition, they sampled and tasted dried goods, beans, tea, and dashi stock, and also made some purchases. Including the foods I suggested, the guests were very satisfied.
We arrived in Akihabara a little after 10:00, but since several of the planned destinations did not open until 11:00, we could not visit them; however, I selected other places and adapted accordingly.
At Ameyoko, I guided the guests to a large confectionery wholesaler, and while they were amazed by the wide variety of sweets, they found and purchased several unusual ones. They also enjoyed exploring Ameyoko in general.
In Asakusa, the guests enjoyed the underground shopping area, and were satisfied with the sightseeing in Asakusa as well as guidance around the Hoppy Street area and pachinko parlors. For lunch, they requested sushi, and I had originally planned to take them to an authentic sushi restaurant, but when I called to make a reservation, I was told that lunch service was suspended. While I was considering alternatives, there was a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant nearby, so I asked whether they would like to try it — not authentic, but reasonably priced and delicious — and after some thought they agreed, so I guided them there, and in the end they were very satisfied.
Finally, they also strolled with great interest around Kappabashi.
In the end, the guests were very grateful, saying it had been a truly fulfilling day.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Oizumi-gakuen Station～Shintomicho Station | 472JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Tsukiji～Akihabara | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Akihabara～Okachimachi | 146JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Ueno～Asakusa | 178JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Tawaramachi～Ueno | 178JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Ueno～Ikebukuro | 178JPY |
| Section 7 | Train | Ikebukuro～Oizumi-gakuen | 252JPY |
| Total | 1,582JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Tsukiji Station at 8:20, and the tour finished at at 14:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 10 minutes in total, from 8:20 to 14:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Akihabara, Explore Akihabara, Okachimachi, Move from Ueno to Asakusa and Explore Kappabashi Street.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,582JPY per person across 7 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?
Kenji 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.
Hello! I am very interested in Japanese cultures, places, and foods. I enjoy the opportunity to introduce Japan to travelers.
I am an active guide on my days off. I guide Akihabara, Tsukiji, Yanaka, Harajuku, Asakusa, and Kamakura walking tours, a Sumo morning practice tour, a 5-hour cycling tour, and a Shinjuku bar hopping tour. Moreover, I accompanied large bus tours such as Fuji Hakone and Nikko, and private Kamakura tours.
I also participated as an interpreter in cultural experiences such as Kintsugi, Samurai Experience, Biwa lute master Class, and others.
I look forward to meeting you soon.