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
- 0900 Meet up
- 0940 Asakusa
- 1140 Komagome Lunch
- 1300 Rikugien Garden
- 1440 Yanaka
- 1620 Nezu Shrine
- 1700 Board a taxi and finish
What's an 8-Hour Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Rikugien, and Yanaka
The guests were visiting from Oceania and requested an 8-hour tour. I planned the day with plenty of time, paying careful attention to walking pace and the ease of getting around. Toward the end, as the guests grew a little tired, one of them chose to skip the visit to Nezu Shrine. The guests were delighted by the lively atmosphere of Asakusa. They enjoyed a soba steak set at a long-established soba restaurant in Komagome, finishing it completely and remarking how delicious it was, and they also loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. They were captivated by the beauty of the Japanese garden at Rikugien and by the charm of Yanaka. They expressed their gratitude, saying it had been a wonderful and thoughtfully arranged day.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Asakusabashi～Asakusa | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Asakusa～Ueno | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Ueno～Komagome | 200JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Komagome～Nippori | 160JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Sendagi～Nezu | 180JPY |
| Total | 900JPY | ||
My name is Kris,
Before becoming a tour guide, I worked for a major steelmaking company as an engineer for many years. During my career, I lived and worked in both Germany and the United States for a total of five years. These experiences helped me understand different cultures and ways of thinking, which now helps me connect easily with guests from around the world.
After retirement, I chose a second career as a tour guide because I truly enjoy meeting people from different countries and sharing Japanese culture, history, and daily life. I have been working as a guide for more than nine years and continue to enjoy every tour.
I currently live in Tokyo, but I was born and raised in Kobe, near Osaka, and my family roots are in Kyoto. As a result, I have extensive knowledge not only of Tokyo but also of Kyoto, Osaka, and many other parts of Japan. I enjoy introducing both famous landmarks and hidden local gems that many visitors might otherwise miss.
I am energetic, friendly, and very sociable. I always try to create tours that are relaxed, flexible, and tailored to my guests’ interests.
Travel is one of my greatest passions, especially visiting hot spring resorts. I have visited more than 80 onsen destinations throughout Japan, giving me a deep appreciation of Japanese culture and regional traditions.
Whether you are visiting Japan for the first time or returning for another adventure, I would be delighted to help you discover the real Japan from a local perspective.
I look forward to meeting you and helping you create wonderful memories in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond.
See you in Japan!
Kris
May 10, 2026
Matt_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A Wonderful Introduction to Tokyo
We were so lucky to have Kris-San…
May 10, 2026
Matt_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A Wonderful Introduction to Tokyo
We were so lucky to have Kris-San as our guide for our first full day in Tokyo. He was great about communicating before the trip, and he even left our hotel a beautiful note welcoming us to the city. He met us at our hotel early the day of the tour and showed us how to use the subway. We toured Senso Ji, the Tobacco and Salt Museum, the Honjo Disaster Prevention Center, and the Kiyosumi Gardens. He also recommended a fantastic noodle restaurant close to one of our tour spots where the duck soba noodles were incredible. Kris-San was warm, personable, and funny, it was hard to say goodbye after such a wonderful tour.
Apr 29, 2026
Rebecca_M
Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour
We had such a wonderful…
Apr 29, 2026
Rebecca_M
Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour
We had such a wonderful tour with Kris! He was very knowledgeable and kept things so fun.
Meeting and transport were seamless and stress-free. This was a wonderful memory of our
time in Tokyo!
Apr 21, 2026
jacquir581
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We love Kris
Kris was awesome! He was very flexible when our…
Apr 21, 2026
jacquir581
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We love Kris
Kris was awesome! He was very flexible when our flight was cancelled and we weren’t able
to make our original tour.
Apr 2, 2026
Frank_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A great day in Tokyo
Great tour with an excellent guide, Kris.…
Apr 2, 2026
Frank_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A great day in Tokyo
Great tour with an excellent guide, Kris. He made suggestions in advance, we were able to tweak the schedule before the tour adjusted as we went along. He had a restaurant in mind for lunch but when we got there the wait time was more than we wanted to spend. So he came up with other alternatives that worked well. He knows his stuff and added interesting bugs of information, making the visits special.