Tokyo in One Day: Nijubashi & Yanaka — Guide Motoko
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
- 10:30 Meeting up at the front of the Oak Wood Premium Tokyo
- 11:00-11:30 Nijubashi
- 11:45-13:00 the East Garden of the Imperial Palace
- 13:30-14:00 Lunch at Sushi restaurant in Shin Marunouchi Building
- 14:30-16:10 Yanaka
- 16:30 the end of the tour at Ginza
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 10:30 at front of the Oak Wood Premium Tokyo and ended at 16:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch at Sushi restaurant in Shin Marunouchi Building at 13:30.
Over the course of the day the route took in Nijubashi at 11:00, the East Garden of the Imperial Palace at 11:45 and Yanaka at 14:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Tokyo to Sakuradamon by train (330JPY); Nijubashimae to Otemachi (Tokyo) by train (180JPY); Otemachi (Tokyo) to Tokyo by train (180JPY); Tokyo to Nippori by train (170JPY); Sendagi to Ginza by train (180JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,040JPY per person.
What's a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace and Yanaka
The guests were visitors from Europe currently residing in Asia. Some of the group had visited Tokyo several times before and were very familiar with Japanese customs and Japanese cuisine. They listened attentively to the guiding about the Imperial Palace and the Tokugawa shogunate, and asked many questions. The East Gardens were not very crowded, but Tokyo Station was packed with both Japanese and international visitors. We had originally planned to go to Asakusa, but as the guests wished to enjoy a quiet setting and Japanese coffee, we changed course and headed to Yanaka. We were miraculously able to get into a well-known retro coffee shop, and the guests enjoyed its nostalgic and relaxed atmosphere. On the way to Yanaka Ginza, they were able to see the old-fashioned streets of Tokyo, which they were very happy about.
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 | Tokyo～Sakuradamon | 330JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Nijubashimae～Otemachi (Tokyo) | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Tokyo | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Tokyo～Nippori | 170JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Sendagi～Ginza | 180JPY |
| Total | 1,040JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at front of the Oak Wood Premium Tokyo at 10:30, and the tour finished at end of the tour at Ginza at 16:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 10:30 to 16:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Nijubashi, the East Garden of the Imperial Palace and Yanaka.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,040JPY per person across 5 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?
Motoko 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.
Hi,
Thank you for contacting the Japan Guide Association to request a licensed guide for your upcoming visit to Japan. My name is Motoko Tanaka. I’m so happy to be assigned to you.
Let me introduce myself. I was born and raised in Tokyo, so it is nice to hear that you are excited about your visit to this wonderful city. There is much to be excited about here in Tokyo. I have really enjoyed guiding in Tokyo and the surrounding areas for more than 10 years.
I live with my husband and a dog named Alice. She was a rescue dog and I adopted her about 4 years ago. Now she is a very precious family member. I have two daughters, the elder one has a child and the younger has a aroma shop in a town near Mr. Fuji. I sometimes visit there with Alice.
I look forward to hearing from you and working with you to create a special day.
Regards,
Motoko
Apr 25, 2026
catvila
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Primeira vez em Tóquio
A Motoko foi excelente para nos guiar pelos…
Apr 25, 2026
catvila
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Primeira vez em Tóquio
A Motoko foi excelente para nos guiar pelos bairros de Tóquio. Foi super simpática com
ótimo inglês o que facilita a comunicação e o entendimento ( algo que nem sempre é fácil
no Japão…😅).
東京は初めてでした。
モトコさんは東京の各エリアを案内してくれる素晴らしいガイドでした。とても親切で、英語も上手だったため、コミュニケーションや理解がしやすく（日本では必ずしも簡単ではないので…😅）、とても助かりました。
Apr 22, 2026
72breannaj
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour highly recommend! And loved our guide
We had an amazing…
Apr 22, 2026
72breannaj
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour highly recommend! And loved our guide
We had an amazing experience on this tour and couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Japan. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and made everything easy to understand while sharing so much interesting history and local insight. She took us to a variety of places we wouldn’t have found on our own and made sure we were comfortable the entire time.
This tour is perfect for first-time visitors—it really helps you get familiar with the area, culture, and transportation without feeling overwhelmed. Everything was well-organized, informative, and enjoyable from start to finish. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Japan!
Apr 17, 2026
denisemD3032GY
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Our guide Motoko was so polite &…
Apr 17, 2026
denisemD3032GY
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Our guide Motoko was so polite & engaging. She customised the tour around things we enjoy and took us to a traditional Japanese restaurant for lunch which we would never have found.
We only had a couple of days in Tokyo so wanted to make the most of it. I would highly recommend this tour & Motoko if you are in the same position.
Apr 14, 2026
Dennis_M
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Very nice and very…
Very nice and very…
Apr 14, 2026
Dennis_M
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Very nice and very…
Very nice and very informative couldn’t be better. Very personal. Would do it again in a
heartbeat 💓.