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
- 8:00 meet at the gathering place near Higashi-Hakuraku Station
- 9:30～10:30 Sightseeing at the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 11:00～11:30 Sightseeing at Nezu Shrine
- 12:00～13:00 Sightseeing at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
- 13:15～14:00 Lunch
- 14:30～15:15 Sightseeing at Meiji Shrine
- 16:00 Arrive at Higashi-Hakuraku Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 9:30, Nezu Shrine at 11:00, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden at 12:00, Meiji Shrine at 14:30 and Higashi-Hakuraku Station at 16:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Musashi-Kosugi to Higashi-Hakuraku by train (250JPY); Higashi-Hakuraku to Tokyo by train (670JPY); Otemachi (Tokyo) to Sendagi by subway (180JPY); Nezu to Suidobashi by subway (340JPY); Suidobashi to Yoyogi by train (210JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Higashi-Hakuraku by train (490JPY); Higashi-Hakuraku to Musashi-Kosugi by train (400JPY). Across 7 sections the fare came to 2,540JPY per person.
Private Tokyo Tour Report: What Does a Full-Day Walking Tour of the East Gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen, and Meiji Shrine Look Like?
The guests were visitors from North America, visiting Japan for the first time. They were highly knowledgeable and curious, which meant I made full use of my guiding knowledge throughout the day. Although they did not appear to be used to walking much on a regular basis, they walked the entire day and enthusiastically explored each destination. At the East Gardens, I was impressed by the depth of plant knowledge shown, and the guests clearly chose exactly what they wanted to see. At Koishikawa Korakuen, they admired the beauty of the garden and took many photographs. At lunch, they watched the hand movements of the sushi chef at a casual restaurant and seemed very pleased. They took one break at a coffee shop before and one after our final stop at Meiji Shrine. I believe they were very satisfied with the day.
A notable stop on the tour was Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in central Tokyo, dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Surrounded by a large forest of around 100,000 trees donated from across Japan, it offers a peaceful retreat from the surrounding city. The shrine is one of the most visited in Japan, particularly during the New Year period, and its spacious grounds and towering torii gates make it a popular destination for visitors seeking to experience traditional Japanese culture.
Click here for more details: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Musashi-Kosugi～Higashi-Hakuraku | 250JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Higashi-Hakuraku～Tokyo | 670JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Sendagi | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Nezu～Suidobashi | 340JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Suidobashi～Yoyogi | 210JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Meiji-jingumae～Higashi-Hakuraku | 490JPY |
| Section 7 | Train | Higashi-Hakuraku～Musashi-Kosugi | 400JPY |
| Total | 2,540JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Nezu Shrine, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Meiji Shrine and Higashi-Hakuraku Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 2,540JPY per person across 7 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?
Hiro 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.
Born and bred in Tokyo I have some native knowledge of Tokyo. I think this may my uniqueness. Thanks to the experiences gained during working for trading company more than 30 years, I’ve come to know the questions and points that people from abroad likely to feel curious about Japan. My basic ideas to attend guests are, For first visitors to Japan, I would like to explain must-see destinations steadily for sure. For repeaters, I would like to hear your experiences so far in order to make tour something new and more exciting. In either case, you are free to request anything in preparing schedule by me in advance. It was my great pleasure/pride to receive a mail from one of female guests saying that I was “exceptional guide with great energy and very positive, polite, informative and solicitous.”
Having cheerful and bright nature, I am sure I can show you around off-the-beaten track as well as famous spots making you enjoyable. It will never falls short of your expectations. Looking forwards to meeting you soon!
Sep 16, 2026
stuartcT9106VM
Fantastic Tour and Guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Hiro was a wonderful guide,…
Sep 16, 2026
stuartcT9106VM
Fantastic Tour and Guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Hiro was a wonderful guide, very attentive and very knowledgeable , made the tour very enjoyable, we would highly recommend Hiro and this tour