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
- 8:30 Meet at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
- 9:05 Imperial Palace East Gardens
- 10:45 Asakusa (Skytree photos)
- 12:00 Lunch @ Asakusa Sushiba Hinatomaru Kaminarimon Yanagi Koji Branch (~12:40)
- 13:30 Meiji Shrine, then a short stop at Harajuku Uniqlo
- 14:30 Disband at the entrance of Takeshita Street
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 8:30 at Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo and ended at 14:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch @ Asakusa Sushiba Hinatomaru Kaminarimon Yanagi Koji Branch (~12:40) at 12:00.
Over the course of the day the route took in Imperial Palace East Gardens at 9:05, Asakusa (Skytree photos) at 10:45 and Meiji Shrine, then a short stop at Harajuku Uniqlo at 13:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Nogizaka to Otemachi by Free Pass (700JPY); Takebashi to Asakusa by Free Pass (0JPY); Asakusa to Meiji-jingumae by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 700JPY per person.
What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, and Meiji Shrine
It did not rain and it was not too hot, making it a perfect day for guiding. Since everyone in the group had a Suica card, the tour progressed smoothly. At the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, there were still few visitors, so I was able to guide them at a relaxed pace. The Japanese garden was very well received. In Asakusa, the guests enjoyed shopping quite a bit along Nakamise, and I was a little nervous about whether we would make it in time for lunch at noon. The sushi restaurant for lunch was very well received as delicious, and I also felt the quality was good and offered great value for money. The guests were delighted, remarking that the fatty tuna (o-toro) was one fifth of the price compared to North America. At Meiji Shrine, I talked about religion in Japan and about the architecture of temples and shrines. As planned, we parted ways at Takeshita Street. A tip was received.
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 | Free Pass | Nogizaka～Otemachi | 700JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Takebashi～Asakusa | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Asakusa～Meiji-jingumae | 0JPY |
| Total | 700JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo at 8:30, and the tour finished at entrance of Takeshita Street at 14:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 8:30 to 14:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Imperial Palace East Gardens, Asakusa (Skytree photos) and Meiji Shrine, then a short stop at Harajuku Uniqlo.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 700JPY per person across 3 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?
Koba 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.
My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
Please call me Koba.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly appreciated his knowledge of the history of Tokyo and Japan and his very pleasant demeanor. He is a true gentleman and was a pleasure to tour with in Tokyo.
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit…
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit to Tokyo, and our tour with Koba made the experience truly exceptional. We’re a family of four with two teenage boys (14 and 16), and Koba was wonderfully kind, patient, and engaging with each of us. The experience started even before we arrived—his first communications laid out a thoughtful, customized itinerary that perfectly matched our interests as first-time visitors. Our six hours together were full, seamless, and incredibly rewarding. Koba’s deep knowledge of the city, his attention to detail, and his warm, easygoing approach made the tour an ideal fit for our family. It was the perfect way to get a broad yet meaningful introduction to Tokyo in a short time. We’re so grateful he was our guide and highly recommend him to anyone visiting the city.
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience…
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience see learned a lot about Tokyo and our guide Koba was perfect in every way and very helpful. We had a perfect time together.Thank you Koba
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family…
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family and I. He was patient and helped carry a large toy my daughter won. I wished we had another day. Having a guide saved us hours of navigating the subway and metro.