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
- 9:00 Meet at 1 Hotel Tokyo
- 9:35 Tsukiji, enjoy oysters and premium fatty tuna bought at the market on the rooftop
- 11:05 Buy cards and more at the Nihonbashi Pokemon Shop
- 11:45 Asakusa (Skytree photos), shopping at Nakamise
- 13:35 Imperial Palace East Gardens
- 14:40 Buy snacks @Seven Palace Building store
- 15:25 Meiji Shrine
- 15:30 Disband at Meiji Shrine
Title: What's a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Meiji Shrine
The group had a mobile transit IC card, which allowed for smooth guidance throughout the day. There was a brief spell of rain at Tsukiji, but otherwise it was mostly cloudy, and the tour proceeded without any issues. At Tsukiji, the guests enjoyed the long-awaited fatty tuna and oysters on the rooftop and were very pleased. Since they had been unable to buy character cards at a shop in Shibuya the previous day, we made an unplanned stop at a character goods store between Tsukiji and Asakusa, and the guests were delighted to be able to purchase the cards. In Asakusa, they also enjoyed shopping along the Nakamise shopping street. There were questions from the group about history and sumo, which I addressed. As we were running short on time, the original plan to visit Akihabara after Meiji Shrine was adjusted, and with the group's understanding, we concluded the tour after giving an explanation in front of the torii gate. A tip was received.
A notable stop on the tour was Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in a large forested area in central Tokyo, dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Visitors pass through towering torii gates and walk along tree-lined paths before reaching the main shrine buildings, making it one of the most peaceful and popular spiritual sites in the city. The surrounding forest, with over 100,000 trees donated from across Japan, offers a tranquil contrast to the busy streets nearby and is especially known for traditional ceremonies and seasonal events held throughout the year.
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 | Tameike-sanno～Tsukiji | 700JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Tsukiji～Nihonbashi | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Nihonbashi～Asakusa | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Asakusa～Takebashi | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Free Pass | Otemachi～Meiji-jingumae | 0JPY |
| Total | 700JPY | ||
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.