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
- 8:30 Meet at Hotel Century Southern Tower – talked for a while about the itinerary explanation and the tickets to purchase
- 9:05 Shinjuku Station
- 9:20 Meiji Shrine
- 11:20 Imperial Palace, walk from Takebashi to Otemon Gate
- 12:10 Tokyo Tower
- 13:55 Asakusa (Skytree photos)
- 15:10 Disband at Asakusa
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Tokyo began at 8:30, when the guide met the guests at Hotel Century Southern Tower – talked for a while about the itinerary explanation and the tickets to purchase, and finished at 15:10. The day ran to 6 hours and 40 minutes from start to finish.
From there the group visited Shinjuku Station at 9:05, Meiji Shrine at 9:20, Imperial Palace, walk from Takebashi to Otemon Gate at 11:20, Tokyo Tower at 12:10 and Asakusa (Skytree photos) at 13:55.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Harajuku by train (150JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Takebashi by Free Pass (900JPY); Otemachi (Tokyo) to Kamiyacho by Free Pass (0JPY); Akabanebashi to Asakusa by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 1,050JPY per person.
Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, and Akihabara: A Licensed Guide's Private Tokyo Tour Report
Right after meeting, the guests shared that they communicate using sign language, which came as a great surprise. For part of the tour we communicated by typing on a smartphone, but at Meiji Shrine I was able to use voice recognition with a Google Document, which made guiding go a little more smoothly. Even so, since only one of the guests could understand English, a long process was required: speaking into the device, showing the text, and then having it interpreted into sign language for the other guest. It was unfortunate that there had been no advance information at all, either through [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) or directly from the guests. Had there been prior notice, I could have prepared by installing voice recognition software or bringing more printed materials. The voice recognition in the Google Document was surprisingly capable and useful. As for the tour, the plan had been to visit Asakusa and then Akihabara before finishing, but time had run over and there was no request for an extension, so we parted ways in Asakusa. Asakusa took much more time than expected, largely due to photos. I reflected that I should have discussed matters in advance, such as noting that there would be limited time for photos and shopping, and that the tour would end at 14:30 unless they wished to extend.
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 | Shinjuku～Harajuku | 150JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Meiji-jingumae～Takebashi | 900JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Kamiyacho | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Akabanebashi～Asakusa | 0JPY |
| Total | 1,050JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel Century Southern Tower – talked for a while about the itinerary explanation and the tickets to purchase at 8:30, and the tour finished at Asakusa at 15:10.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 40 minutes in total, from 8:30 to 15:10.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Shinjuku Station, Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace, walk from Takebashi to Otemon Gate, Tokyo Tower and Asakusa (Skytree photos).
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,050JPY 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.