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@the b Akasaka
  • 2. 09:55 Travel∶Subway
  • 3. 10:30 Stay@Imperial Palace East Gardens
  • 4. 12:00 Travel∶Subway
  • 5. 12:50 Lunch@Aen
  • 6. 13:55 Stay@Shinjuku Kabukicho (Godzilla Head)
  • 7. 14:15 Travel∶Subway
  • 8. 14:30 Stay@Takeshita Street
  • 9. 14:50 Disband@Yoyogi Park Entrance

Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Sightseeing Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial East Gardens, Shinjuku, and Harajuku

The guests were a family visiting from Europe. Their accommodation was located at the top of a steep hill in Akasaka, which was a slightly inconvenient location, but I discovered that using an elevator near the TBS grounds made the trip considerably easier. The guests had reserved a 3-day subway pass online, which they had issued at Akasaka Station, and we traveled by subway from then on.

Each of the guests had different interests, so we often stopped along the way, and we spent longer than planned at each spot. After guiding them through the Imperial East Gardens, the guests requested a proper sit-down lunch at a restaurant rather than a light meal, so I took them to a Japanese restaurant I frequent in Shinjuku. This lunch break was not part of the original plan, and the schedule ended up being pushed back by the time spent here. By the time we arrived in Harajuku we had already exceeded the schedule, so I skipped the guided portion at the final stop, Yoyogi Park, and we parted ways at the entrance.

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Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayAkasaka (Tokyo)～Otemachi (Tokyo)180JPY
Section 2SubwayOtemachi (Tokyo)～Shinjuku-sanchome210JPY
Section 3SubwayShinjuku-sanchome～Meiji-jingumae Station / Shibuya Ward, Tokyo180JPY
Total570JPY

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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