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
- 9:00 Meeting place: MIMARU TOKYO UENO NORTH
- 9:10 Depart Ueno Station
- (JR Yamanote Line)
- Akihabara Station
- (JR Sobu Line)
- 9:30 Arrive Suidobashi Station
- Suidobashi Koishikawa Korakuen
- 10:30 Depart Suidobashi Station
- (JR Sobu Line)
- Yoyogi Station
- (JR Yamanote Line)
- 10:45 Arrive Harajuku Station
- Harajuku Meiji Jingu
- Takeshita Street
- Break: Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu
- 11:30 Meiji-jingumae Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- Omotesando Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 11:45 Arrive Shibuya Station
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- Hachiko Statue
- 12:30 Depart Shibuya Station
- (JR Yamanote Line)
- 13:00 Arrive Ueno Station
- 13:00 Disband: Ueno Station
What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Koishikawa Korakuen, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya
The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America, including two very young children. The guests arrived at Narita Airport by air three days earlier and took a taxi to their Hotel. They planned to stay in Japan for a number of days. Two days before, they had strolled around the Ueno and Asakusa areas, and the previous day they took a day trip to Kamakura. Starting the next day, they planned to spend two days at Tokyo Disneyland. They planned to stay only in the Tokyo area rather than traveling to the Kansai region, before returning home by air.
It was a tour under cloudy and rather chilly weather. The tour was conducted while pushing a stroller for one of the young children.
First, we visited Koishikawa Korakuen. I explained about the Edo period and the origins and history of Koishikawa Korakuen. One of the guests remarked, "The Japanese garden is wonderful. I would like to create one in my own home garden."
We then moved to Harajuku and visited Meiji Shrine. I explained about Shinto, torii gates, Emperor Meiji, and why sake barrels are displayed, as well as why wine barrels are displayed. There were questions such as "What kind of religion is Shinto?", "How does Buddhism differ from Shinto?", and "Are there Shinto shrines overseas as well?" A wedding ceremony was taking place, and the guests eagerly took photographs.
We took a break at Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu. We also strolled along Takeshita Street.
We then moved to Shibuya. After that, we looked at Shibuya Scramble Square and crossed the famous scramble crossing on foot. There were questions such as "Why are so many people gathering here?", "About how many people cross at once?", and "Why did it become so famous?" We also took photographs in front of the Hachiko statue.
The guests commented that the streets were clean and free of litter, and asked why there were no trash bins on the streets. I saw them off at Ueno Station, where the tour concluded.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Ueno～Suidobashi | 200JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Suidobashi～Harajuku | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Meiji-jingumae～Shibuya | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shibuya～Ueno | 260JPY |
| Total | 850JPY | ||
Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and lovely company. My 13-yr-old daughter and I had a great day walking around the sites we had picked with him. He tooks his time to explain all the history and then kindly walked us to the spot of our next booking as it was quite confusing. I would very highly recommend him. Of all the tours we did in Tokyo Masa Sam was my favourite tour guide.
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an amazing tour guide that communicated extremely well ahead of time about the sites we would like to see in Tokyo, picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel, was very friendly and well prepared and finally but most importantly made our day in Tokyo very memorable.
We went to the Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Meiji Shinto Temple, imperial Palace, Shinjuku Gyoen National Gatden, and Shibuya Crossing. All were great and amazing suggestions by Masa.
Would highly recommend this tour as it was a private tour guide for a full day and provided discretion on which 5-6 sites you want to see. Also highly recommend our tour guide Masa who was a wealth of knowledge and very friendly and charming.
15/10 would do again.
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our…
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our guide, Masa was really great. Although it was raining, he had no
hesitations in completing his tour and showing us great places around Tokyo. If you are still
on the fence about this, please don’t, you won’t regret it. Thank you, Masa!
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was…
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was incredible and filled with interesting facts and history, he gave us incredible insight on each location. We loved that we were able to choose 3-4 sites from a large selection and really spend enough time at each spot. Masa was kind and knowledgable and even helped us with a restaurant reservation for later in the evening when were unable to find one.