Tokyo: Meiji Shrine & Akihabara — Guide Sam
April, 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
- 10:00 Meet at the hotel
- 10:40 Meiji Shrine
- 11:20 Takeshita Street
- 12:30 Lunch in Shibuya (Hidakaya)
- 13:10 Shibuya PARCO
- 14:40 Shibuya Sky
- 15:20 Cafe in Shinjuku, see the 3D cat signage
- 16:30 Akihabara
- 18:00 Have dinner at a restaurant in front of Akihabara Station, then disband
What Is a Private Anime and Pop Culture Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Harajuku, Shibuya, and Akihabara
We had a great time, as I had heard in advance that the guests were fans of Pokémon, Dragon Ball, and NARUTO. The guests visit a major theme park resort four times a year, and thanks to their knowledge of the Japan pavilion there, they felt a sense of Japanese atmosphere upon seeing the torii gate at Meiji Shrine. On Takeshita Street, the guests found a Dragon Ball gachapon machine and gave it a try. On Takeshita Street and in Shibuya, it was hard to find an available ramen shop, and since the guests did not want to wait too long, we went around to several places before they were satisfied with tonkotsu ramen, gyoza, and fried rice at a casual ramen chain.
At Shibuya PARCO, the guests purchased items such as a Dragon Ball figure, a NARUTO plush toy, and Pokémon stickers.
For Shibuya Sky, we managed to get tickets two days before the tour, and although it was windy, the clear weather made it enjoyable. At the Tamashii Nations Store in Akihabara, the guests purchased around 45,000 yen worth of items, including a figure requested by someone else. Since they were unsure whether they could carry it all home, I mentioned that they might be able to arrange shipping at their hotel. We parted ways in front of the elevator of an izakaya I had recommended.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Tokyo～Harajuku | 208JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae～Shibuya | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Shibuya～Shinjuku | 167JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shinjuku～Akihabara | 178JPY |
| Total | 731JPY | ||
Hi, I’m Sam.
I am happy to welcome you all to Japan.
Since I was a child, my parents welcomed many international students into our home and I had many opportunities to interact with them. My mother is a translator, and I have always seen her guiding foreigners around Japan, so it was natural for me to start doing the same.
I am good at guiding people to popular places such as Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Asakusa, as well as photogenic spots in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Since I was a child, I’ve watched anime like Pokémon and played Nintendo games, and I still buy around 100 manga comic books a month. I love shopping in Akihabara! I currently live in Urayasu City, Chiba, so close that I can see fireworks from Disneyland from my house every night.
Please feel free to ask me anything!
Jul 10, 2026
Brooke_J
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo History Modernized!
This tour was a wonderful experience.…
Jul 10, 2026
Brooke_J
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo History Modernized!
This tour was a wonderful experience. Sayumi-San (Sam) was an absolutely amazing tour guide. She met me at my hotel and was a complete professional from the word ‘go.’ We did a good amount of walking to the sights/sites and rode the train to some places that were farther away from each other. Sam was very knowledgeable about the history of Japan and the places we visited. She was very respectful of my interests and curated a tour that fit well with what I wanted to see. I can’t say enough wonderful things about her and the tour.
The six hour tour included lunch. I recommend bringing water, though, while walking around and bringing a hat or small umbrella because the sun can be brutal. Finally, wear comfortable shoes.
Jun 19, 2026
Catherine_S
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
We had a wonderful time with Sam, who took our…
Jun 19, 2026
Catherine_S
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
We had a wonderful time with Sam, who took our requests and made them into a
manageable itinerary. She was wonderful with our daughter, too! Highly recommended.
Jun 7, 2026
Elena_Q
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun visit to Tokyo!
Wonderful customized tour of Tokyo with Sam. She…
Jun 7, 2026
Elena_Q
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun visit to Tokyo!
Wonderful customized tour of Tokyo with Sam. She meticulously coordinated our itinerary based on our preferences and included great local places to eat that were reasonably priced and delicious. Her insights and own personal experiences made the visit extra special.
May 12, 2026
Leonard B
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Awesome experience with a very knowledgeable friendly guide.
We had an…
May 12, 2026
Leonard B
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Awesome experience with a very knowledgeable friendly guide.
We had an amazing time in our tour. Our guide was knowledgeable, professional and friendly. We hit all of the main sites in Tokyo. Each stop our guide walked us through the experience and we felt immersed in the local culture. Would highly recommend this tour guide.