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
- 10:00 Meet at Tokyo Hilton (Buy a 1-day subway pass at Nishi-Shinjuku Station)
- 11:20 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 12:20 Asakusa (Skytree photos)
- 13:00 Buy snacks at FamilyMart, eat them on the train
- 13:50 Meiji Shrine
- 15:00 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
- 15:35 Disband at Tokyo Hilton
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 10:00 at Tokyo Hilton (Buy a 1-day subway pass at Nishi-Shinjuku Station) and ended at 15:35. The day ran to 5 hours and 35 minutes from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 11:20, Asakusa (Skytree photos) at 12:20, Buy snacks at FamilyMart, eat them on the train at 13:00, Meiji Shrine at 13:50 and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Nishi-Shinjuku to Takebashi by Free Pass (700JPY); Otemachi to Asakusa by Free Pass (0JPY); Asakusa to Meiji-jingumae by Free Pass (0JPY); Harajuku to Tochomae by train (330JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 1,030JPY per person.
Can You Do a Private One-Day Tokyo Sightseeing Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report
Compared with the previous days, the temperature was slightly lower and the sunshine was a bit weaker, but I proceeded carefully with the tour, watching out for heatstroke. I provided a parasol and had the guests use it when the sun was out. After departing, the guests bought a one-day subway pass at Nishi-Shinjuku Station, but as usual their overseas credit card could not be used, so they had to pay in cash. I always wonder why overseas credit cards cannot be used. At the Imperial Palace East Gardens the sun was strong at times, but we toured smoothly. There were many questions about history. In Asakusa, after taking photos of the Skytree, we went on to Senso-ji Temple. Almost all of the visitors were from overseas, to the point that I wondered what kind of tourist spot it was. Many questions came up about religion, which I answered. At Meiji Shrine it became a little cooler. When I talked about the Meiji Restoration, I was told, "So this is the era of The Last Samurai," which made me smile wryly. Since we were running ahead of schedule, I asked whether they would like to take a quick look at Takeshita Street, but they said it was not necessary, so we saw the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck and headed back. It had been agreed in advance that we would finish 30 minutes early, and on parting I received a tip.
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 | Free Pass | Nishi-Shinjuku～Takebashi | 700JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Otemachi～Asakusa | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Asakusa～Meiji-jingumae | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Harajuku～Tochomae | 330JPY |
| Total | 1,030JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Tokyo Hilton (Buy a 1-day subway pass at Nishi-Shinjuku Station) at 10:00, and the tour finished at Tokyo Hilton at 15:35.
How long does the tour last?
About 5 hours and 35 minutes in total, from 10:00 to 15:35.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Asakusa (Skytree photos), Buy snacks at FamilyMart, eat them on the train, Meiji Shrine and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,030JPY 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.