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
- １．9:30 Meet up ＠Hotel Hibiya
- ２．9:45 ＠Uchisaiwaicho Station (purchase Pasmo card)
- ３．10:30 ＠Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate)
- ４．11:00 ＠Tokyo Station (station plaza, station building)
- ５．11:45 ＠Nezu Shrine
- ６．12:30 ＠Yanaka Shopping Street
- ７．13:45 Lunch ＠soba restaurant (Yanaka Ginza)
- ８．14:00 ＠Akihabara (Chuo-dori)
- ９．14:30 ＠Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Nakamise-dori, Sumida Park, Tokyo Skytree, Azumabashi Bridge)
- １０．16:20 Disband ＠in front of Shimbashi Station
Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nezu Shrine, Yanaka, and Asakusa
Body: The guests were two groups visiting Japan for the first time from North America, where they had been living for about 30 years. They arrived from different parts of North America and met up in Tokyo. Among themselves, the guests spoke to one another in their native language. After Tokyo, they planned to travel on to Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, and other destinations.
The night before this tour, on the way from the airport to their hotel, they had passed by the Imperial Palace but had not been able to see it clearly, so I first guided them to the Imperial Palace before heading to Tokyo Station. From there we went to the first destination we had decided on in advance, Nezu Shrine. They seemed to find the large torii gate and the turtles and carp in the pond quite fresh and interesting, and they were also very interested in the omamori charms, which they purchased as souvenirs. They took many photos at the thousand torii gates and the enormous torii gate.
Continuing our walk through the Yanaka shopping street, for lunch they preferred to sit down rather than eat while walking, so they enjoyed soba and Asahi beer while seated. In Asakusa, they were delighted to be able to view the early-blooming cherry blossoms at Sumida Park.
During the tour, I received various questions about their future travel plans, so for facilities that require advance reservations I advised them to book early, especially as it was a busy season. They immediately took action one after another, reserving the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone online. The guests who were mainly in charge of planning the trip were very keen on sightseeing and, perhaps inspired by the Tokyo tourism information available online, were excited to try many different experiences. I also shared details about teamLab, including access and online reservations, as well as shopping information such as kitchenware including knives, and Pokémon cards.
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 | Toei Mita Line Uchisaiwaicho Station～Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line Sakuradamon Station | 1,100JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Tokyo Station～Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Nezu Station | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Nippori～Akihabara | 200JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Suehirocho～Asakusa Station | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station～Shimbashi Station | 0JPY |
| Total | 1,300JPY | ||
Hello, I’m Noripy.
I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!
Jul 3, 2026
Jody D
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Best Post cruise tour ever
It was…
Jul 3, 2026
Jody D
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
Best Post cruise tour ever
It was a GREAT TOUR with Noripy! With a family of many different ages and walking levels this was fantastic. We were picked up from our cruise in Yokohama and dropped off at Haneda airport. We had about 10 hours before our flight and it went flawlessly.
June 19, 2026
Alec T
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Tokyo in 4 hours
Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…
June 19, 2026
Alec T
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo in 4 hours
Noripy was excellent! She guided us through several parts of the city: Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, Tokyo Tower, Sangedatsumon, Zojo-ji, Meiji Jingu, and Golden Gai. A great way to see many Tokyo sites and get acquainted with the city on your first day!
Jun 16, 2026
Hema_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely experience. My…
Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…
Jun 16, 2026
Hema_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely experience. My…
Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady who managed to fit all the iconic Tokyo spots into my 6-hour tour without anything feeling rushed. She was knowledgeable, organised, and genuinely kind. Toward the end she even helped me with some shopping, which I really appreciated. A wonderful introduction to Tokyo and a guide I’d happily recommend….
Jun 3, 2026
Sara B
Tokyo walking tour with Noripy. A+!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Noripy gave a 5/5 tour!…
Jun 3, 2026
Sara B
Tokyo walking tour with Noripy. A+!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Noripy gave a 5/5 tour! She provided useful instruction for public transport use, fascinating historical information, spiritual customs and current cultural practices- All with an infectious smile and never ending positive energy. Noripy’s tour allowed us to made the most of the rest of our time in Tokyo. I feel like we did 5 days of sightseeing in 6 hrs! But Noripy made sure to always check if we wanted a break. Our tour was customized for my 2 teenage kids and I, and if we saw or thought of something along the way that interested us, Noripy accommodated! I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Tokyo. And you will be extra lucky to get Noripy for your guide!