Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

November, 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.

Tour Itinerary

  • 1. 09:45 Meet up @ JR Shinjuku Station East Exit
  • 2. 09:50 Transfer: Train
  • 3. 10:00 Stay @ Meiji Shrine
  • 4. 11:15 Transfer: Subway
  • 5. 11:40 Stay @ Imperial Palace (exterior), Tokyo Station
  • 6. 12:20 Transfer: Subway
  • 7. 12:40 Stay @ Asakusa
  • 8. 14:10 Disband @ Senso-ji Kaminarimon

Title: What Is a 4-Hour Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shinjuku and Asakusa

The guests were staying at a private lodging near Takadanobaba Station, and in their advance email they requested Shinjuku Station as the meeting point. Thinking it would be an easy-to-spot landmark, I suggested the lion statue at the East Exit as our meeting place. Fortunately it was after rush hour, so we were able to meet up easily.

The guests were a group visiting from North America, and everyone was sociable, making it a tour full of lively conversation. It was a packed course covering three locations in four hours, but since we were able to start directly from Shinjuku Station, we had time to spare, and in Asakusa I was even able to guide them all the way to the western approach. We ended the tour once we returned to Kaminarimon Gate.

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

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainShinjuku～Harajuku150JPY
Section 2SubwayMeiji-jingumae～Otemachi (Tokyo)210JPY
Section 3SubwayOtemachi (Tokyo)～Asakusa290JPY
Total650JPY

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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Sep 29, 2026
Y9791IZnicks
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Sam was a wonderful…

Sep 25, 2026
910lorig
Best experience for a perfect day in Tokyo!
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Best…

Sep 15, 2026
R8612KOjanicea
Highly recommend 👍
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Our guide, Sam, was amazing!!…

Sep 1, 2026
greasygrandpa
First Day In Tokyo
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Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…