Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

August, 2025

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

  • 1. 09:50 Meet up @Hotel
  • 2. 10:00 Travel: Subway
  • 3. 10:45 Stay @East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
  • 4. 11:55 Travel: Subway
  • 5. 12:05 Stay @Nezu Shrine
  • 6. 13:00 Travel: Subway
  • 7. 13:55 Disband @JINS Odakyu Ace Store

What Is a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Higashi Gyoen and Nezu Shrine

The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. Since the Hotel turned out to be closer than expected to the Toei subway's Shinjuku Station, after meeting we walked to Shinjuku Station together, where the guests purchased a one-day pass.

The spots they had requested were a Japanese garden and a traditional shrine, so I chose the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace (Higashi Gyoen) and Nezu Shrine. They had also expressed a wish to visit a textile district, so we planned to stop by Nippori after visiting Nezu Shrine. As it was a hot day, at the East Gardens I skipped the Honmaru area and guided them mainly around the Ninomaru Garden. Even so, including a break, we stayed there for more than an hour.

On the way from Nezu Shrine toward Nippori, one of the guests became unwell and needed to rest, so I had them sit on a bench at Yushima Station and we canceled the visit to Nippori. Since they had also wanted to purchase eyeglasses after the tour, I found a suitable shop near Shinjuku Station, close to their Hotel, explained how to get back from the eyeglasses shop to the Hotel, and then we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1Free PassShinjuku～Otemachi900JPY
Section 2Free PassOtemachi～Nezu0JPY
Section 3Free PassNezu～Yushima0JPY
Section 4Free PassYushima～Shinjuku0JPY
Total900JPY

Tour Report by Sam

Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

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