Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

September, 2026

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.

Tour Itinerary

  • 1. 10:15 Meet @ Hotel Lobby
  • 2. 10:20 Travel: Subway
  • 3. 10:50 Stay @ East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
  • 4. 12:10 Travel: Subway
  • 5. 12:40 Stay @ Meiji Shrine
  • 6. 13:30 Travel: Train
  • 7. 13:40 Stay @ Shinjuku
  • 8. 14:10 Lunch @ Aen
  • 9. 14:45 Disband @ Shinjuku-sanchome

What's a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Shinjuku

The guests were a group visiting Japan. They arrived early at the meeting point, and since it was close to the station, we were able to start smoothly. Although we stayed a little longer at the first stop, the East Gardens, the travel time between each spot was short, so the tour proceeded smoothly all the way to the end. In Shinjuku, even after guiding them around the Kabukicho area, including Omoide Yokocho and Shinjuku Golden Gai, we still had time to spare, so I took them to a Japanese restaurant I often use, where we had lunch together and parted ways at the end of the meal. A notable stop on the tour was the Imperial Palace East Gardens. These gardens are part of the inner grounds of the Imperial Palace and are open to the public free of charge. They occupy the former site of Edo Castle, and visitors can still see remnants of the castle, including massive stone walls and the foundation of the former main keep. The gardens are beautifully landscaped, with seasonal flowers and trees that offer a peaceful contrast to the surrounding modern cityscape of central Tokyo.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayShibuya～Otemachi (Tokyo)210JPY
Section 2SubwayOtemachi (Tokyo)～Meiji-jingumae210JPY
Section 3TrainHarajuku～Shinjuku160JPY
Total580JPY

Tour Report by Sam

Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

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Highly recommend 👍
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Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable…