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
- 12:00 Meeting place: Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba
- 12:10 Depart Daiba Station
- (Yurikamome)
- Shimbashi Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 12:45 Arrive Ginza Station
- Ginza Ginza Mitsukoshi
- Ginza Six, etc.
- 13:30 Depart Ginza Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- Akasaka-mitsuke Station
- (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
- 14:15 Arrive Shinjuku Station
- Shinjuku Kabukicho
- Omoide Yokocho
- Secondhand brand goods shops
- Lunch: Hidakaya
- 15:30 Depart Shinjuku Station
- (JR Yamanote Line)
- 15:45 Arrive Shibuya Station
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- Hachiko Statue
- Secondhand brand goods shops
- 16:45 Depart Shibuya Station
- (Keio Inokashira Line)
- 17:00 Arrive Shimokitazawa Station
- Shimokitazawa Secondhand goods shops
- 17:45 Depart Shimokitazawa Station
- (Keio Inokashira Line)
- Shibuya Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- Shimbashi Station
- (Yurikamome)
- 18:30 Daiba Station
- 18:30 Disband: Daiba Station
Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Tokyo Like for Shopping in Ginza, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Shimokitazawa? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They had arrived at Narita Airport a few days earlier and taken a taxi to their hotel. They were staying only in Tokyo, and outside the city their only plans were a day trip to Mount Fuji and a visit to Disneyland. The main purpose of their visit was sightseeing in Tokyo combined with shopping for secondhand clothing and pre-owned brand-name items. Up until the previous day, they had done all of their Tokyo sightseeing by taxi.
The tour took place under clear skies, though it was quite windy.
Starting from Daiba Station, we first headed to Ginza, which they had said they very much wanted to see. We strolled through Ginza Mitsukoshi and other stores, and they carefully checked the prices of brand-name goods.
From there, we moved to Shinjuku. After walking around Kabukicho and the surrounding area, we visited several shops selling pre-owned brand-name items and checked the prices. Every shop was packed with international visitors. The guests commented that it was difficult to find exactly what they were looking for.
After that, they said they wanted to eat ramen, so we went to a ramen restaurant.
We then moved to Shibuya. After experiencing the Scramble Crossing, we again visited shops selling pre-owned brand-name items and carefully checked the prices.
From there, we moved to Shimokitazawa and browsed a secondhand jeans shop, again checking the prices. The guests remarked that the secondhand items sold in Japan were kept in beautiful condition and were reasonably priced. They said they planned to return to Shinjuku and Shibuya the next day to purchase the items they had their eyes on.
They also made several comments and asked questions, such as: "The streets are so clean, with no litter — completely different from back home." "Doesn't anyone throw trash on the ground?" "There are no homeless people around." "Why are there no trash cans on the streets?"
Since they said they were not sure how to use the subway, I saw them off at Daiba Station, where we parted ways.
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 | Other | Daiba Station～Shimbashi Station | 325JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Shimbashi Station～Ginza Station | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Ginza Station～Shinjuku Station | 209JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shinjuku Station～Shibuya Station | 167JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Shibuya Station～Shimokitazawa Station | 140JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Shimokitazawa Station～Shibuya Station | 140JPY |
| Section 7 | Subway | Shibuya Station～Shimbashi Station | 178JPY |
| Section 8 | Other | Shimbashi Station～Daiba Station | 325JPY |
| Total | 1,662JPY | ||
Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and lovely company. My 13-yr-old daughter and I had a great day walking around the sites we had picked with him. He tooks his time to explain all the history and then kindly walked us to the spot of our next booking as it was quite confusing. I would very highly recommend him. Of all the tours we did in Tokyo Masa Sam was my favourite tour guide.
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an amazing tour guide that communicated extremely well ahead of time about the sites we would like to see in Tokyo, picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel, was very friendly and well prepared and finally but most importantly made our day in Tokyo very memorable.
We went to the Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Meiji Shinto Temple, imperial Palace, Shinjuku Gyoen National Gatden, and Shibuya Crossing. All were great and amazing suggestions by Masa.
Would highly recommend this tour as it was a private tour guide for a full day and provided discretion on which 5-6 sites you want to see. Also highly recommend our tour guide Masa who was a wealth of knowledge and very friendly and charming.
15/10 would do again.
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our…
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our guide, Masa was really great. Although it was raining, he had no
hesitations in completing his tour and showing us great places around Tokyo. If you are still
on the fence about this, please don’t, you won’t regret it. Thank you, Masa!
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was…
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was incredible and filled with interesting facts and history, he gave us incredible insight on each location. We loved that we were able to choose 3-4 sites from a large selection and really spend enough time at each spot. Masa was kind and knowledgable and even helped us with a restaurant reservation for later in the evening when were unable to find one.