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
- 9:00 Meet at the hotel
- 10:00 Arrive at Meiji Shrine
- 11:30 Arrive at the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 12:15 Depart from Otemachi
- 12:45 Arrive at Asakusa
- 15:15 Farewell at Asakusa
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at hotel at 9:00, the group explored Tokyo until the tour ended at 15:15. The day ran to 6 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish.
The itinerary covered Meiji Shrine at 10:00, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 11:30, Otemachi at 12:15 and Asakusa at 12:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Iriya to Meiji-jingumae by subway (252JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Otemachi by subway (209JPY); Otemachi to Asakusa by subway (178JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 639JPY per person.
What's a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa
The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. It was their first trip to Japan, and they were celebrating a family milestone. We followed the itinerary we had discussed in advance by email, visiting Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa. They mentioned they were fans of a popular drama, so they listened with great interest to the stories about the Edo Tokugawa era at the Imperial Palace. They were surprised by the high humidity of Tokyo at this time of year, as the climate where they live is much drier. Although there were occasional heavy downpours, there were also many stretches when we could walk without umbrellas, so I believe they were able to enjoy the walk. After the tour, they wanted to visit Kappabashi, so I guided them part of the way there before we parted.
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 | Subway | Iriya～Meiji-jingumae | 252JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae～Otemachi | 209JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Otemachi～Asakusa | 178JPY |
| Total | 639JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at hotel at 9:00, and the tour finished at Asakusa at 15:15.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 15 minutes in total, from 9:00 to 15:15.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Otemachi and Asakusa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 639JPY per person across 3 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?
Michi 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.
Hello.
Thank you for choosing Japan as your travel destination.
I am Michi.
It has been over 40 years since I was born and raised in Tokyo.
And I live with my husband and two children.
I love history,Japanese gardens,cooking,traveling,and more recently,camping.
I have been working as a National Licensed Guide since 2016.
Because of my husband’s job,I lived in Western part of Japan from 2012 to 2017 and spent nearly two years working as a guide in Kyoto.
Afterward,I moved back to Tokyo,my hometown,and continued my work.
I am truly passionate about my work as a tour guide and am very proud of it.
Also,I am flexible and happy to adjust to your needs.
I am looking forward to sharing lots of wonderful discoveries with you.
Michi
Sep 21, 2025
Q7599JLstellav
Tokyo Walking tour with Michi
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful guided tour with Michi
Couldn’t ask…
Sep 21, 2025
Q7599JLstellav
Tokyo Walking tour with Michi
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful guided tour with Michi
Couldn’t ask for more. Pace was good. We covered a lot of ground in this tour.
Best way is to have a guide. Took the stress out of knowing where to go. Also gave us tips on how to get around.
We were surprised with a small gift at the end of our tour. Very sweet
Jun 25, 2025
R9003QBcindyk
Michi-san is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Michi-san was our amazing guide. The communication for…
Jun 25, 2025
R9003QBcindyk
Michi-san is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Michi-san was our amazing guide. The communication for planning the tour was great. She met us at our hotel and we were off for our adventure. We did our tour the first full day we were in Tokyo, so she taught us how to navigate the subway, use our Suica card for the vending machines, and much more. We went to the Meiji Jingu Shrine, Imperial Palace, and Asakusa. Along the way we stopped at several other well known areas which was very fun and interesting. We appreciate all the historical information she shared with us. She was very knowledgeable.
Thank you very much Michi-san for making this trip memorable! Highly recommend this tour.
May 31, 2025
Molly_G
Highly recommend this private tour and Michi as your guide!
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
This was…
May 31, 2025
Molly_G
Highly recommend this private tour and Michi as your guide!
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
This was the perfect tour to end our Japan trip! Michi personalized our itinerary and was flexible in adjusting sights to include those we missed at the beginning of our journey. Michi was knowledgeable about the history and culture of the region. She also pointed out unique details about the Imperial Palace/family, gardens, shrines, fish market, and local shops. Michi even helped me buy a few gifts for myself and family members to remember our amazing adventures in Japan. Highly recommend this private tour and Michi as your guide!
May 12, 2025
Anonymous
We had the absolute…
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had the absolute pleasure of spending the…
May 12, 2025
Anonymous
We had the absolute…
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had the absolute pleasure of spending the day with Michi, our private guide in Tokyo, and I can’t recommend her enough. She was warm, knowledgeable, and incredibly thoughtful throughout our entire tour.
Michi didn’t just show us the sights—she brought them to life with stories, history, and cultural insights we never would have gotten on our own. She gave us space to take it all in, answered every question with care, and made the entire day feel seamless and personal.
One of the highlights was being guided through both a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple, where Michi explained the differences in tradition and meaning so beautifully. She even guided us through a smoke cleansing ritual and taught us how to properly offer a prayer.
If you’re visiting Tokyo and want a truly meaningful and enriching experience, book a day with Michi. It was a day we’ll never forget.
※JGA-T89816134でご案内いただいたゲスト様からのレビューと思われます。