Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — 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

  • 1. 09:10 Meet up @ Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo Shiodome
  • 2. 09:15 Travel∶Train
  • 3. 10:00 Stay @ Meiji Shrine
  • 4. 11:00 Travel∶Train
  • 5. 11:10 Stay @ Shibuya Scramble Crossing
  • 6. 11:25 Travel∶Subway
  • 7. 11:45 Stay @ Imperial Palace East Gardens
  • 8. 12:55 Stay @ Marunouchi
  • 9. 13:15 Travel∶Train
  • 10. 13:35 Disband @ Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo Shiodome

Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, and the Imperial Palace East Gardens

This was a case where communication had been difficult beforehand, so I had been a little concerned, but when I arrived at the hotel about 20 minutes early on the day, the guests were already waiting in the lobby, and we were able to start the tour ahead of schedule.

Originally I had planned to guide them around the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Asakusa, but since they had booked a spot tour of Asakusa for the following day, I decided to show them Meiji Shrine and the Shibuya Scramble Crossing instead. I had thought of taking the Ginza Line from Shimbashi Station, but since it was rush hour and boarding looked unlikely, we traveled to Harajuku by JR. After that we mainly used JR to get around. One of the guests loves plants, and there was a particularly positive reaction to the seasonal flowers in the Imperial Palace East Gardens. Since we had some time to spare in the latter half, I also guided them around the Marunouchi area, then took them from Tokyo Station toward Shimbashi Station, saw them back to the hotel, and we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainShimbashi Station～Harajuku Station210JPY
Section 2TrainHarajuku Station～Shibuya Station150JPY
Section 3SubwayShibuya Station～Otemachi Station210JPY
Section 4TrainTokyo Station～Shimbashi Station150JPY
Total720JPY

Tour Report by Sam

Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

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