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
- 11:00 Meet at the guesthouse in Nakazato, Kita-ku
- 11:35 Meiji Shrine
- 12:35 Harajuku Takeshita Street
- 13:30 Buy snacks at the Hotel convenience store
- 13:40 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 15:15 Akihabara
- 15:50 Kappabashi Shopping Street
- 16:20 Asakusa Kaminarimon
- 17:00 Asakusa Azumabashi
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Meiji Shrine at 11:35, Harajuku Takeshita Street at 12:35, Buy snacks at the Hotel convenience store at 13:30, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 13:40, Akihabara at 15:15, Kappabashi Shopping Street at 15:50, Asakusa Kaminarimon at 16:20 and Asakusa Azumabashi at 17:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Komagome to Harajuku by train (208JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Otemachi by train (700JPY); Takebashi to Akihabara by train (0JPY); Suehirocho to Tawaramachi by train (0JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 908JPY per person.
Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, and Asakusa
There were occasional light showers, but no umbrella was needed, and in the latter half the sunshine grew strong and it became hot and humid. I picked up the guests at their accommodation and started the private tour at Meiji Shrine. The guests asked many questions about religion and history. There were two questions I could not answer (why the gate is called a "torii," and why the chrysanthemum is used as the crest of the Imperial family). On Takeshita Street in Harajuku, the guests bought tapioca drinks. At the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, we also talked a great deal about the history of Edo Castle. The irises were very beautiful, and the guests took photos of them. We passed through Akihabara from south to north, and at Kappabashi the guests scouted out kitchen knives and tableware to purchase. From Kaminarimon in Asakusa I guided them to Asakusa Shrine, and since they had a 6:00 reservation at the Tokyo Skytree, we finished by taking photos of the Skytree from Azumabashi Bridge to end the tour.
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 | Train | Komagome～Harajuku | 208JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Meiji-jingumae～Otemachi | 700JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Takebashi～Akihabara | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Suehirocho～Tawaramachi | 0JPY |
| Total | 908JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Takeshita Street, Buy snacks at the Hotel convenience store, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Akihabara, Kappabashi Shopping Street, Asakusa Kaminarimon and Asakusa Azumabashi.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 908JPY per person across 4 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?
Koba 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.
My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
Please call me Koba.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly appreciated his knowledge of the history of Tokyo and Japan and his very pleasant demeanor. He is a true gentleman and was a pleasure to tour with in Tokyo.
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit…
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit to Tokyo, and our tour with Koba made the experience truly exceptional. We’re a family of four with two teenage boys (14 and 16), and Koba was wonderfully kind, patient, and engaging with each of us. The experience started even before we arrived—his first communications laid out a thoughtful, customized itinerary that perfectly matched our interests as first-time visitors. Our six hours together were full, seamless, and incredibly rewarding. Koba’s deep knowledge of the city, his attention to detail, and his warm, easygoing approach made the tour an ideal fit for our family. It was the perfect way to get a broad yet meaningful introduction to Tokyo in a short time. We’re so grateful he was our guide and highly recommend him to anyone visiting the city.
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience…
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience see learned a lot about Tokyo and our guide Koba was perfect in every way and very helpful. We had a perfect time together.Thank you Koba
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family…
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family and I. He was patient and helped carry a large toy my daughter won. I wished we had another day. Having a guide saved us hours of navigating the subway and metro.