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
- 10:00 Minami Shinmon meeting point No. 4 on the map
- 10:55 Parking lot
- 11:00-12:30 Takeshita Street, Jingu Mae Tochigi leather shop “GANZO”
- 13:30-14:30. Imperial Palace
- 15:10 Drop off Taxi・Hotel’s “Godzilla”
- 15:30. “Omoide Yokocho”. It's 15:30. We're kind of done.
- Mother (to her son and daughter) what do you say to the guide?
- Son and Daughter: Thank you. Daughter: You’re very kind
Title: What Can You See on a Private Hired-Car Family Tour in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report
1. We are making a big family trip. This is our first. 2. Do students go to school 7 days a week? 3. How long is summer vacation? 3 months? It's almost the same. 4. A snake is over there; maybe the stones are cooler. 5. We have many reptiles back home. Do you have alligators or crocodiles? 6. I have a truck and gasoline cars, and we are surrounded by gas stations. Is Tesla popular? 7. "I have the same name, my child has the same name, and so did my parent." "So the name has been passed down through the generations?" I have inherited a large piece of land from my family. 8. Some of the guests live nearby, about an hour's drive away. The group takes care of younger relatives. 9. Some of the guests wear a helmet, but others don't, as it is not mandatory back home. 10. How many political parties are there in Japan? Our politics are just extreme. 11. Why don't you have trash cans? What do you do with the trash? 12. You know, students' backpacks are very popular with tourists; they make good souvenirs. 13. You brought us to the wrong street (an expensive one). Someone in the group is buying another purse, three altogether. Some of us like tools, like hammers. 14. I bought Miura golf sets yesterday and had them shipped already.
Note: The hired car dropped us off at 15:00, and everything went smoothly. For the group, I showed them the Godzilla at the hotel up close. The guests wanted to eat ramen together as a group and also wanted to photograph Omoide Yokocho, so I guided them there. We finished at 15:30, as they wished to choose from the ramen shops they had seen and have their meal there, so the tour ended at that point.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Hello, welcome to Japan you all.
I’m a resident of Ebina, Kanagawa, and am a national government licensed guide and interpreter.
I enjoy showing travelers both the new and old of central Honshu, primarily Tokyo and Kanagawa, ranging from Meiji Shrine, Edo Castle, Tsukiji Outer Market, Ueno, Asakusa, Ginza, Ginza Sky Farmstead, Shibuya Zebra Crossings, Yokohama, Kamakura, to Hakone, not to mention Mt. Fuji, and sharing views with my guests on Japanese homes and their surroundings, Japan’s labor productivity and labor market, among others.
I also enjoy introducing travelers to Japanese culture through home visits with Japanese families, touring Zen temples, and explaining the intricacies of Japanese culture.
I am happy to arrange personalized tours to other places of your interest.
I am making the most of my long experience as a foreign language education service, escorting VIPs at the Sony showroom in Ginza, Tokyo.
I also offer services to help families and individuals relocating to Japan with immigration VISA applications.
My hobbies are movies, strolling along the river in my neighborhood and am a novice at la lingua Italiano.
Let’s enjoy touring together, shall we?
Jul 16, 2026
135ulrikh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Private guide – a very good experience
We spent a half…
Jul 16, 2026
135ulrikh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Private guide – a very good experience
We spent a half day with Hideaki Wada, which can be highly recommended. He was on time on the spot, very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and spoke good English. We made a plan, followed it and ended up with a little extra time.
Jun 21, 2026
CJW324
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Guided Tour & Tablet Guided Origami Experience
Unforgettable day in Tokyo with Hideaki — incredible with…
Jun 21, 2026
CJW324
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Guided Tour & Tablet Guided Origami Experience
Unforgettable day in Tokyo with Hideaki — incredible with kids
Hideaki was the highlight of our time in Tokyo. We were a group of six — two grandparents and two young kids — and he handled every dynamic with ease. Patient, warm, and endlessly accommodating, he read the energy of the group and adjusted the pace so no one ever felt rushed or left behind. He was especially wonderful with our kids, keeping them engaged and curious all day — from the grandeur of the Imperial Palace, to shopping, to the wonderful craziness of Shinjuku. As a licensed guide his knowledge was deep, but what set him apart was how genuinely kind and thoughtful he was with our whole family. If you want a guide who treats you like family and makes Tokyo come alive for all ages, book Hideaki. Highest possible recommendation — thank you, Hideaki!
May 20, 2026
olgalA154QQ
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with an excellent guide
Great experience! Our guide WADA Hideaki…
May 20, 2026
olgalA154QQ
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with an excellent guide
Great experience! Our guide WADA Hideaki was excellent! He was fully engaged and helpful!
He explained so many things and showed us everything we wanted to see.
Apr 19, 2026
Sightseer57474900023
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hideaki’s perfect first day in Tokyo!
Hideaki was an incredible guide and…
Apr 19, 2026
Sightseer57474900023
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hideaki’s perfect first day in Tokyo!
Hideaki was an incredible guide and my family had the most wonderful first day in Tokyo with him showing us the sights! We covered so much ground, learned a ton about the city and its history and truly got acclimated to Japan!
We clocked over 20k steps by end of day and hit at least 4 different areas of the city. Plus the lunch spot Hideaki took us was delicious! A perfect start to our trip and forever grateful to Hideaki for the fantastic memories!