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. 10:00 Meet up @The Westin Tokyo
- 2. 10:40 @Drugstore (near Hamamatsucho Station)
- 3. 11:00 @Zojoji Temple
- 4. 11:30 @Tokyo Tower
- 5. 11:50 @Ginza (Kabukiza Theatre, 4-chome Intersection, Ginza Main Street)
- 6. 12:30 @Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge)
- 7.13:00 @Tokyo Station (Station Plaza, Marunouchi Side of Station Building)
- 8. 13:10 Lunch @Kamachiku Udon (Gransta Yaesu)
- 9. 13:50 @Chidorigafuchi
- 10. 14:30 @Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue)
- 11. 15:00 @Meiji Shrine
- 12. 15:50 Dismissal @In front of JR Ebisu Station ticket gate
Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Sightseeing Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Zojoji, Chidorigafuchi Cherry Blossoms, and Shibuya
The guests were visitors currently living in Oceania. They appeared to be seasoned travelers, having come to Tokyo directly from their previous stop in Asia. One of the guests had visited Japan many times before, while the trip marked a first visit to Japan for another in the group. The group was joining a golf-focused tour, with a friend from North America also taking part. Following this Tokyo sightseeing day, they planned to stay in Tokyo while enjoying seven days of golf at courses in nearby Kanagawa and Ibaraki Prefectures, and afterward to spend about four days in Kyoto.
Shortly after the tour began, one of the guests asked me for help purchasing some specific cosmetics. At the first destination, a large drugstore near Zojoji Temple, we found the items and purchased two. One was bought duty-free, and the other, intended for use during the stay in Japan, was purchased without the tax exemption. In any case, one of their goals was achieved right away, and they seemed very pleased.
When I introduced the Himalayan cedar planted by General Grant at Zojoji Temple, it turned out that the guests had a particularly deep connection to General Grant. The group shared that, having grown up in North America, they had often visited the general's birthplace and childhood home in their youth, as well as places associated with the general when traveling to a neighboring area. They took many photographs, including the scenery combining the temple with Tokyo Tower, the Jizo statues, and the cherry blossoms in full bloom in front of them.
When I guided the group to Chidorigafuchi for cherry blossom viewing, they were amazed by the fully blooming cherry trees, and even asked me to confirm the name of the spot and mark it on a map so they could recommend it to their friend arriving from North America the next day. So I marked it on a map I had on hand and gave it to them. As is typical of famous cherry blossom spots, it was quite crowded, though not as much as on weekends. We walked through the path from the Kudanshita side to the Hanzomon side, and headed to our next destination, Shibuya, boarding the Hanzomon Line at Hanzomon Station.
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 | Ebisu～Hamamatsucho | 210JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Kamiyacho Station～Higashi-ginza Station | 700JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line Ginza-itchome Station～Sakuradamon Station | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Otemachi Station～Kudanshita Station | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line Hanzomon Station～Shibuya Station | 0JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Shibuya～Harajuku | 160JPY |
| Section 7 | Train | Harajuku～Ebisu | 160JPY |
| Total | 1,230JPY | ||
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!
Sep 10, 2026
Sonal_G
Noripy is just the best
Viator review: Tokyo Vegetarian and Halal Food Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Noripy is such a…
Sep 10, 2026
Sonal_G
Noripy is just the best
Viator review: Tokyo Vegetarian and Halal Food Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Noripy is such a great guide and just a wonderful human being that felt like an old friend. We had first visited Tokyo eight years ago, so we had not planned on getting a tour, but we felt like we got both a Food Tour and a cultural tour with her and we were so grateful for both. My daughter is moving to Japan, and so we were excited to be here but we were disappointed that we had not been able to find vegetarian food as easily. Noripy had tips and tricks and language she suggested we use and helped us with our first vegan ramen which was excellent. I highly recommend anything you can do with a Noripy, you should run and go do it! She trained at Boston University and international relations, and had ties with both my daughters from her schooling which tickled us with delight. She is a spry woman and the kindest soul and I’m so glad our paths crossed as Tokyo came to life through her welcoming eyes. We were nervous about going on this tour because we had a bad experience with a different tour with someone else the night before, but she restored our faith in humanity and tour guides and that was a tall order.
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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.
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Alec T
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Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…
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Alec T
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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!
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Hema_R
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Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…
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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….