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.
Tour Itinerary
- 09:50 Meet up @ Hotel
- 10:40 Imperial Palace
- 11:50 Sensoji Temple
- 13:20 Shibuya Scramble Crossing & Hachiko
- 14:30 Disband @ Meguro River
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at @ Hotel at 09:50, the group explored Tokyo until the tour ended at 14:30. The day ran to 4 hours and 40 minutes from start to finish.
The itinerary covered Imperial Palace at 10:40, Sensoji Temple at 11:50 and Shibuya Scramble Crossing & Hachiko at 13:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Daiba to Shimbashi by train (330JPY); Shimbashi to Tokyo by train (150JPY); Yurakucho to Asakusa by subway (700JPY); Asakusa to Shibuya by subway (0JPY); Shibuya to Naka-Meguro by train (140JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,320JPY per person.
What's a Private Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Senso-ji, Shibuya, and Meguro River
The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. They planned to go on a cruise tour for two weeks after sightseeing in Tokyo. At the Imperial Palace, they listened with great interest to historical explanations about the role of the Emperor, the Meiji Restoration, and the Edo shogunate. At Senso-ji Temple, they were interested in explanations about the differences between temples and shrines, and they showed interest in the souvenir shops along Nakamise Street. In Shibuya, they were fascinated by the lively atmosphere of the Scramble Crossing. Along the Meguro River, the cherry blossoms had begun to bloom, and they were very pleased to be able to see them. Since they wished to stroll along the Meguro River at their own leisure, we parted ways there. As I accommodated the guests' wishes as requested, I believe they were satisfied.
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 | Daiba～Shimbashi | 330JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Shimbashi～Tokyo | 150JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Yurakucho～Asakusa | 700JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Asakusa～Shibuya | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Shibuya～Naka-Meguro | 140JPY |
| Total | 1,320JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Hotel at 09:50, and the tour finished at @ Meguro River at 14:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours and 40 minutes in total, from 09:50 to 14:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Imperial Palace, Sensoji Temple and Shibuya Scramble Crossing & Hachiko.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,320JPY per person across 5 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?
Seizo 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.
I am Seizo Kamiuto, National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English). I was born in Kagoshima City in Kyushu (Southern part of Japan) and grew up there until the graduation from a high school. I came to Tokyo to enter a University in Tokyo and since then, I have lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years and therefore I know Tokyo and its suburbs and Kagoshima City very well. After retiring from an IT company, I have been working as a Guide Interpreter of English since March 2018. I have guided many overseas guests to the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Kamakura, Mt. Fuji area (Kawaguchiko Lake etc.), Hakone, Nikko, Yokohama, Kawagoe and Kagoshima and so on. I have received good reviews from many guests. I can explain the history and the culture of Japan in detail. I look forward to an opportunity to guide you in Japan. Thank you. Seizo Kamiuto
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Seizo was a tremendously fabulous and friendly tour guide. He made us feel welcome and took great care to explain the tour and what we would be seeing during the day. It was a great way to see the city’s sights and a great help navigating the transit system. Loads of trains rides to get us to each new location.
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Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto.…
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Had an amazing tour with Seizi Kaminto. He was very knowledgeable, easy going, great sense of humour and taught us a lot about Japanese culture and history. We all thoroughly enjoyed the tour and our guide Seizo. Would highly recommend.
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We had an excellent time with Seizo Kamiuto as our guide for Kamakura. He was an excellent guide for the whole day and it really made a difference with an experienced person who knew the area. He was very friendly and accommodating with our plans for Kamakura, including me picking out which temples and shrines to visit. He met us at our hotel in Asakusa and dropped us back off at the hotel even if it is an hour from Kamakura. He also recommended a great sushi restaurant that I would not have even known existed, even if I was looking straight at it. I would highly recommend bringing a guide like Seizo if you want to maximize your time in Kamakura to explore the area.
Our tour went to 3 places in the morning and 2 places in the afternoon. The morning places were a bit out of the way and less crowded, but were beautiful on their own. The morning places where Engakuji Temple, Meigetsu-in Temple (slightly out of season for September but some hydrangeas were still blooming and the temple itself was very beautiful with nature all around), and Kencho-ji Temple. The afternoon was in the busier places of Kamakura, but the crowds weren’t too bad. They were Hasedera Temple and the Giant Buddha of Kamakura Temple. Each place was different and pretty in their own ways.
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We had a great time learning about little Edo. Our guide, Mr. Seizo, was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and patient with the number of questions we had.