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
- 08:30 Meet up at the hotel
- 09:00 Odaiba Seaside Park
- 10:00 Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden
- 11:00 Take the Sumida River water bus to Asakusa
- 11:50 Explore Asakusa and lunch
- 14:30 Drop off at the hotel near Shiomi Station and disband
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Tokyo began at 08:30, when the guide met the guests at hotel, and finished at 14:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish.
From there the group visited Odaiba Seaside Park at 09:00, Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden at 10:00, Take the Sumida River water bus to Asakusa at 11:00 and Explore Asakusa and lunch at 11:50.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shiomi to Odaiba Seaside Park by train (440JPY); Odaiba Seaside Park to Hamamatsucho by train (490JPY); Kaigan 1-chome by bus (210JPY); Asakusa to Shiomi by train (490JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 1,630JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Family Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Sumida River Cruise, Odaiba, and Asakusa
The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from Oceania, and they chose this tour for their first visit. Since a "Sumida River Cruise" was a must-have request from the guests, I created the tour plan to fit the cruise schedule. As the cruise on the day departed at 11:00, I asked the guests to book that cruise in advance, and we started the tour with visits to Odaiba and the former Shiba Rikyu Garden, both near Hinode Pier. It was a fine day, so the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower could be seen clearly, and I showed the guests the great metropolis of Tokyo from the bayside, helping them understand that Tokyo has expanded through land reclamation. Since I had once been involved in the land reclamation and the construction of high-rise apartments in the Odaiba area, I also explained the ground improvement of reclaimed land against earthquakes and the earthquake-resistant structures of buildings, helping them understand Tokyo's disaster prevention. As Oceania is also an earthquake-prone region, they showed strong interest in disaster prevention, and the guests carefully conveyed these points among themselves.
The Sumida River Cruise was also under clear skies, and we proceeded in a pleasant river breeze. Many bridges span the river, and the guests took interest in each bridge, including the design of Kiyosu Bridge, which became a symbol of recovery from the great fires since the Edo period and the Great Kanto Earthquake. The first half of the tour became something like a tour on "the history and present of Tokyo's disaster prevention."
In Asakusa, the guests strolled around Senso-ji Temple. The Sanja Matsuri festival happened to be taking place, so we were able to watch the portable shrines proceed through the Senso-ji grounds and be dedicated to Asakusa Shrine. When I explained that the mikoshi serves as a "portable shrine" and that the shrine parades through the town, they laughed and admired it, saying, "Japanese people are good at making everything small."
Having only arrived in Japan the day before, and combined with the high temperature of the day, the guests became tired, so at their request I saw them back to the Hotel and ended the tour.
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 | Shiomi～Odaiba Seaside Park | 440JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Odaiba Seaside Park～Hamamatsucho | 490JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Kaigan 1-chome / Toei Bus～Hinode Sanbashi Iriguchi / Toei Bus | 210JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Asakusa～Shiomi | 490JPY |
| Total | 1,630JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at hotel at 08:30, and the tour finished at hotel near Shiomi Station and disband at 14:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 08:30 to 14:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Odaiba Seaside Park, Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden, Take the Sumida River water bus to Asakusa and Explore Asakusa and lunch.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,630JPY per person across 4 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?
Toru 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 am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.
For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/
I look forward to meeting you soon!
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru…
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru was an AMAZING host and tour guide. He went above and beyond with communication prior, during, and after to make sure my Son and I had an incredible experience. He was unbelievably knowledgeable and catered the tour to what we wanted as well. The sushi breakfast was unreal! Learning all about both Toyosu and Tsukiji markets was an experience we will never forget. 10 out of 10 for sure!!
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
This was our first time visiting a fish market, and from the time we booked the experience, Toru-san has been amazing. He helped us get to Toyosu market, where the tuna auction takes place, at the right time to get the best views and explained everything about how the auction works and made sure we didn’t miss anything. (You will need a knowledgeable tour guide because everything happens so fast and you might miss it!) We learned so much during such a short time about how the delicious tuna you eat at a sushi restaurant ends up in front of you. After the auction Toru-san took us to Okame, a great sushi restaurant, where we got to experience delicious sushi breakfast. Our next stop was Tsukiji market, and again we got to try all sorts of food and learn more about the market and got to meet some of the vendors. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. If you are interested in cooking, Japanese cuisine, or know someone home, this tour will give you the opportunity to do some shopping for unique souvenirs.
We had to get to Toyosu market before 5 am, and while you might think it’s too early, but why not do something fun and delicious with your jetlag? It was so worth it and I’m glad we chose to spend our first morning in Tokyo with Toru-san. The other advantage of being so early was that the market was not as crowded and we got to enjoy our time without having to wait in line.
Thank you, Toru-san!
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction…
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
The tour was great. We got to learn a lot about sushi and really enjoyed our time in the
market as well.
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was…
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was a fantastic guide and made our experience one to remember. He picked us up
from the hotel and clearly knew how to be there early to get a good view. He also took us to
a delicious sushi place thereafter which the whole family enjoyed.