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
- 8:00 Meet at the hotel, board the train
- 9:30 Oshiage Station
- 10:00 Skytree, Solamachi
- 11:30 Board the train
- 12:00 Tsukiji, lunch
- 14:00 Board the train
- 14:30 Meguro Station
- 14:45 Starbucks Roastery
- 15:20 Board the train
- 16:00 Arrive at the hotel
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Oshiage Station at 9:30, Skytree, Solamachi at 10:00, Board the train at 11:30, Tsukiji, lunch at 12:00, Board the train at 14:00, Meguro Station at 14:30, Starbucks Roastery at 14:45 and Board the train at 15:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ishikawacho to Shimbashi by train (571JPY); Shimbashi to Oshiage by subway (220JPY); Ningyocho to Tsukiji by subway (97JPY); Tsukiji to Naka-Meguro by subway (209JPY); Naka-Meguro to Motomachi-Chukagai Station by train (533JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,630JPY per person.
What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Skytree, Tsukiji, and Starbucks Reserve Roastery
The guests were a group visiting from North America. Since one of the guests had experience working at a travel agency, we had planned the itinerary together in advance, but when I met the guests in person on the day, their preferences turned out to be a little different, so I made some last-minute changes to part of the plan.
First, we went up to the Tembo Galleria of Tokyo Skytree using tickets they had purchased in advance. They enjoyed the height. They interacted with students on a school trip, taking photos together and quizzing them about where they were from.
Next, I had planned for us to go to Tsukiji and eat sushi, but they said, "Is sushi raw fish? We can't eat that," so we went to a tempura rice bowl restaurant instead. It turned out they could enjoy it since it was cooked, and they said the sauce was exquisite.
After that, we went to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which they enjoyed, saying it was like a theme park of coffee.
Since they were going on a cruise trip starting Sunday, and it was raining, I also helped them reserve a taxi in advance.
They were extremely satisfied, and they even asked me whether there was a site where they could leave a review of this tour.
Click here for more details: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Ishikawacho～Shimbashi | 571JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Shimbashi～Oshiage | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Ningyocho～Tsukiji | 97JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Tsukiji～Naka-Meguro | 209JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Naka-Meguro～Motomachi-Chukagai Station | 533JPY |
| Total | 1,630JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Oshiage Station, Skytree, Solamachi, Board the train, Tsukiji, lunch, Board the train, Meguro Station, Starbucks Roastery and Board the train.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,630JPY 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?
Sam 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.
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!
Sep 26, 2026
Carl_W
Tokyo city tour custom
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Sam was very knowledgeable and…
Sep 26, 2026
Carl_W
Tokyo city tour custom
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Sam was very knowledgeable and accommodating. She knew about all of the city and train system and food
Sep 7, 2026
782alessandrof
Sam was amazing
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
It was a very rainy day…
Sep 7, 2026
782alessandrof
Sam was amazing
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
It was a very rainy day and Sam went above and beyond to make sure we had the greatest experience and we stayed mostly dry. She chose an amazing ramen restaurant and made us feel cared for and very comfortable. She talked a lot about the history and the culture and it is clear that she is very passionate about her job. When we come back to Tokyo, we will request her again.
Aug 24, 2026
596vincentz
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Family-Friendly Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Sam was an star tour guide for us
our Guide Sam was…
Aug 24, 2026
596vincentz
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Sam was an star tour guide for us
our Guide Sam was amazing! she was really flexible with us and try to look out for our need during the trip and went above and beyond to help make our trip a smooth experience.
Aug 10, 2026
piperl686
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Honeymoon Tour in Tokyo
We are so happy that…
Aug 10, 2026
piperl686
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Honeymoon Tour in Tokyo
We are so happy that we got to experience Tokyo with Sam (Sayumi) as our tour guide! She was so friendly, helpful, and brimming with fun facts. We really appreciated that after giving her a draft itinerary, she provided great recommendations about how to maximize our experience on the tour. She also went above and beyond to help us find a few specific items on our shopping list in Shibuya and Shinjuku, and went out of her way to take us to several One Piece stores because we mentioned it was a favorite show of ours. Overall we are so pleased and would highly recommend Sam to anyone looking to have a blast in Tokyo!