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
- 9:15 Hotel New Otani
- 10:00 Tsukiji
- 12:00 Asakusa
- Lunch at Ramen Nadai Yoroiya
- 13:30 Kappabashi
- 14:30 Shinjuku Gyoen
- 15:15 Disband at the Shinjuku Gyoen exit
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Hotel New Otani at 9:15, Tsukiji at 10:00, Asakusa at 12:00, Kappabashi at 13:30 and Shinjuku Gyoen at 14:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Akasaka-mitsuke to Tsukiji by subway (178JPY); Tsukiji to Asakusa by subway (209JPY); Tawaramachi to Ueno by subway (178JPY); Ueno to Sendagaya by train (178JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 743JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private One-Day Family Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Shinjuku Gyoen
The guests were a family group. It took some time for them to get ready, so we started about 15 minutes later than planned. Since they had no particular destinations in mind, I recommended Tsukiji and Asakusa, and because they were also interested in cherry blossoms, I added Shinjuku Gyoen to the itinerary. They had already toured Kyoto, but I tried to make the temples and shrines more hands-on and experiential so the day would stay engaging throughout. At Senso-ji, one of the guests drew a "great blessing" fortune and was delighted, and as they love strawberries, they enjoyed the food at both Tsukiji and Asakusa. Along the way, one of the guests expressed interest in buying a kitchen knife, so I took them to Kappabashi and we looked around about three shops, though in the end they decided not to buy one. By this point everyone was quite tired (in Kyoto they had used taxis for almost everything), but fortunately they were revitalized when we finally headed to Shinjuku Gyoen and saw cherry blossoms in nearly full bloom. We even encountered beautiful moments when gusts of wind created showers of falling petals, and everyone took many photos and was moved by the scenery. Afterward they planned to go shopping in Ginza, so we said goodbye at the exit. They were a very close-knit family, and it was heartwarming and enjoyable to spend the day with them (I have rarely been asked to take so many photos). Today I managed to get through the day by taking medicine to prevent hay fever.
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 | Subway | Akasaka-mitsuke～Tsukiji | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Tsukiji～Asakusa | 209JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Tawaramachi～Ueno | 178JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Ueno～Sendagaya | 178JPY |
| Total | 743JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hotel New Otani, Tsukiji, Asakusa, Kappabashi and Shinjuku Gyoen.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 743JPY per person across 4 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?
Danda 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.
Nice to meet you. I am delighted to introduce myself. My nickname is Danda. I live in Saitama prefecture next to Tokyo, but I was brought up in Kanazawa, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. My favorite things are bonsai and hiking. Also, I have been a big fun of history and sumo since my childhood. As for the guide, I have enjoyed making communication with foreign visitors since 2019. I have taken more than 30 private groups to not only major scenic spots but also their favorite places such as tea ceremony, maid cafe, sumo tournament, bonsai village, fire ritual and so on. I can arrange the original tour based on your requests and curiosity. It will be only for you. I look forward to meeting you soon. Thank you.
Apr 21, 2026
Sabrina_F
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Balade riche en découvertes
Nous avons passé un super moment avec Danda.…
Apr 21, 2026
Sabrina_F
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Balade riche en découvertes
Nous avons passé un super moment avec Danda. D Asakuza au jardin de Hama rikyu en passant par Ginza et ses boutiques sans oublier le marché aux poissons. Nous avons appris plein de choses sur le Japon et avons pu acheter sur ses conseils du matcha et des baguettes personnalisées. 4h au top avec ma fille de 15 ans. En anglais.
発見に満ちた散策
私たちはダンダさんととても素晴らしい時間を過ごしました。浅草から浜離宮庭園、銀座のショップ、そして魚市場まで巡りました。日本について多くのことを学ぶことができ、また彼のアドバイスのおかげで抹茶や名入れの箸を購入することもできました。15歳の娘と一緒に過ごした4時間は最高でした。英語での対応でした。
Apr 14, 2026
davidjonesresponseen
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking tour with Danda in Tokyo
Excellent walking tour, we followed our…
Apr 14, 2026
davidjonesresponseen
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Walking tour with Danda in Tokyo
Excellent walking tour, we followed our guides recommendations are were very pleased.
Great combination of Historic places, shrines, beautiful gardens and local shops and
restaurants/ bars. Our guide Danda was very informative and fun.
Apr 10, 2026
Anna_O
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour with great guide
Excellent tour with a very good guide…
Apr 10, 2026
Anna_O
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour with great guide
Excellent tour with a very good guide (Danda). The tour was well organized and the guide
communicated with us before finalizing the itinerary.
Mar 25, 2026
Nahmjee_L
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour guide and experience.
Danda was great with my family. He…
Mar 25, 2026
Nahmjee_L
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour guide and experience.
Danda was great with my family. He was thoughtful, kind and patient with our family and
we felt welcomed and comfortable with him. He went above and beyond to make sure we
were all set and prepared for great Japan trip experience. Highly recommend him!