Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Maddie
October, 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
- Meet at the lobby of the guest's hotel at 9:00. Walk and stroll through Onoterusaki Shrine, Kaneiji Temple, Yanaka, and Ueno Park.
- After 11:00, travel from Ueno Station to Tokyo Station via the JR Yamanote Line. Stroll through Tokyo Station, the Imperial Palace, and Kanda.
- Arrive at Jimbocho Station at 13:00, then disband.
Title: What's a Full-Day Private Walking Tour of Ueno, the Imperial Palace, and Jimbocho in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
Since the guests were staying in the Shitaya area and enjoyed jogging, I proposed a course that mainly involved walking around the Ueno area and the vicinity of the Imperial Palace.
At Ono Terusaki Shrine in Shitaya, I explained how to worship at a shrine, its origins, the legend of Ono no Takamura, as well as the Inari Shrine, Sengen Shrine, and the Koshinzuka located on the same grounds, and the guests listened with great interest. We passed through Uguisudani Station and headed toward Kaneiji Temple, and along the way I explained the Chokugakumon gate of the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ietsuna and the Chokugakumon gate of the mausoleum of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, before guiding the guests to the grave of Tokugawa Yoshinobu in Yanaka Cemetery.
While explaining the history and origins of Ueno Park and Kaneiji Temple, we strolled through the park, and then took the JR from Ueno Station to Tokyo Station. In preparation for the next day, we checked how to use the QR code ticket on a smartphone at the Shinkansen counter. From Tokyo Station, we walked around the Imperial Palace Plaza and the East Gardens, and then extended our route to Kanda Jimbocho. As we looked at the secondhand bookshops, I mentioned that this area has long had many Japanese-style curry restaurants, and one of the guests happily responded, "Is that because you can eat it with a spoon while holding a book in one hand?" and decided to have curry for lunch.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Ueno～Tokyo | 170JPY |
| Total | 170JPY | ||
Hello!
I’m Maddie, an English-speaking tour guide.
As a guide, I have been attending bus tours, Tokyo walk-around tours, and also, sumo wrestling tournaments tours.
I have lived in Tokyo for nearly 30 years and have enjoyed walking around this city, full of wonder, mixture of nature and artificial structures. I am happy to share my experience with you.
My hobbies are reading books including Manga, watching films including Anime. I like to watch various sorts of sports. I like to visit museums. And I am a tea ceremony practitioner, so I am quite familiar with green tea (matcha) and Japanese sweets.
I am looking forward to seeing you!
Jun 4, 2026
vadk2026
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo2026
We had an excellent 6-hour walking tour around Tokyo with Maddie.…
Jun 4, 2026
vadk2026
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo2026
We had an excellent 6-hour walking tour around Tokyo with Maddie. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the city’s history and culture come alive with interesting stories and local insights. The tour was well-paced, organized, and tailored to our interests. We saw so much in a short time and learned things we would never have discovered on our own. Highly recommend Maddie for anyone visiting Tokyo!
May 30, 2026
Heather_O
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfect intro to Japan!
We had a 4 hour private tour on…
May 30, 2026
Heather_O
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfect intro to Japan!
We had a 4 hour private tour on our first morning in Tokyo, and it was the perfect introduction to Japan! We had been contacted by our guide Maddie before the tour, and we told her a few of the places we wanted to visit. She helped us navigate the train station and walked us through all the areas we wanted to see, as well as many other stops along the way that we wouldn’t have seen without her. Maddie was very knowledgeable and friendly, and spoke very clear English. She knew exactly which routes to take, and we would have taken at least twice as long if we tried to go to all those areas without her. She was a great guide and we wished we could have taken her along for the rest of our trip!
May 29, 2026
jasonbO4660LV
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Afternoon in west Tokyo
Maddie was an excellent, knowledgeable guide who maintained…
May 29, 2026
jasonbO4660LV
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Afternoon in west Tokyo
Maddie was an excellent, knowledgeable guide who maintained flexibility as requirements
changed dynamically.
May 8, 2026
sebastianzO2366GR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great
We had a good time walking with Maddie through Tokio. She…
May 8, 2026
sebastianzO2366GR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great
We had a good time walking with Maddie through Tokio. She provided us with a lot of
interesting facts and was always kind and helpful. Even with spontaneous ideas.