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
- 09:30 Meet at hotel lobby
- 10:15 Imperial Palace Front Plaza
- 11:00 Nezu Shrine
- 12:30 Ueno Park
- 13:40 Ueno Station
- 14:40 Suehirocho Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Imperial Palace Front Plaza at 10:15, Nezu Shrine at 11:00, Ueno Park at 12:30, Ueno Station at 13:40 and Suehirocho Station at 14:40.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Otemachi (Tokyo) to Nezu by subway (180JPY); Ueno to Suehirocho (Tokyo) by subway (180JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 360JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? Nezu Shrine, Ueno, and Akihabara — A Licensed Guide's Report
We met at the hotel lobby at the scheduled time. After discussing the day's itinerary, we walked past the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace and boarded the Chiyoda Line from Otemachi Station. At Nezu Shrine, the guests enjoyed the azalea festival, which was the main highlight of the day. We then walked past Shinobazu Pond to the peony garden. Some of the guests entered and took their time enjoying the peony garden, while the guide waited nearby with the rest of the group, taking in the surroundings of the garden. We walked through Ueno Park toward Ueno Station and had lunch at "Juraku" near the station. Finally, from Ueno Station we took the Ginza Line, got off at Suehirocho, and I took the guests to the Yodobashi Camera in front of Akihabara Station, where we parted ways at 15:30.
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 | Subway | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Nezu | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Ueno～Suehirocho (Tokyo) | 180JPY |
| Total | 360JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Imperial Palace Front Plaza, Nezu Shrine, Ueno Park, Ueno Station and Suehirocho Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 360JPY per person across 2 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?
Maddie 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.
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.