Tour Itinerary
- 0900 Meet at Hotel Blossom Shinjuku (3 min from JR Shinjuku Station South Exit)
- 0915 Harajuku, visit Meiji Shrine. Since it's early and the shops on Takeshita Street aren't open yet, explanation near the entrance
- 1045 Kokyo Gaien (Imperial Palace Outer Garden), Tatsumi Yagura, Gyoko-dori Avenue, Marunouchi, Tokyo Station
- 1140 Tsukiji Outer Market, lunch at Sushizanmai Annex, Kabukiza Theatre, Ginza 4-chome intersection
- 1305 Asakusa, Nakamise, Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine
- 1500 Shibuya, Hachiko statue, cross the scramble intersection
- 1515 Explain the return route and disband
Can You Do a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Shibuya The guests were visitors from Europe, having arrived the previous day on their first trip to Japan. The day before, they had briefly explored a nearby department store area. Today marked the start of their sightseeing. They planned to stay in Tokyo for several days and then travel on to Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima. Although it rained from the morning, this meant there were fewer tourists. Even so, many tour groups (possibly related to a cruise ship) streamed into Meiji Shrine one after another. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, which the guests had shown the most interest in during our prior communication, we managed to secure seats despite it being lunchtime, and they thoroughly enjoyed an assorted sashimi platter and grilled conger eel. Asakusa had fewer crowds, making it easy to get around. The guests enjoyed a strawberry daifuku they had wished to try, though they mentioned they actually preferred daifuku without strawberries. I told them that there would be more mochi sweets at the destinations coming up on their trip, so they should enjoy those too. In Shibuya, the Hachiko statue was cordoned off and surrounded by a large number of tourists, so we chose not to join the crowd there. For the evening, a Food Hopping Tour was scheduled, so the guests planned to return to the Hotel for a rest first.
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 | Train | Shinjuku～Harajuku | 146JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Meiji-jingumae～Nijubashimae | 700JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Nijubashimae – Hibiya～Tsukiji | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Ginza～Asakusa | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Free Pass | Asakusa～Shibuya | 0JPY |
| Total | 846JPY | ||
I had worked in the international business scene for over 40 years and traveled to North America and European countries over 1000 days.
After I retired from the business, I traveled to most of the major sightseeing spots in all 47 prefectures in Japan.
My guide is starting from a brief history of the site where I am going to guide. I usually add a briefing about Japanese culture based on religions, such as Shinto Shrine and Buddhist temples. A geographic background behind the history is also important.
My course includes 4 to 5 (in 6 hours) sites from the following depending on where I will pick the guests up;
– Senso ji Temple
– Kappabashi Kitchenware Market
– Tokyo Skytree
– Ueno Park
– Nezu Shrine
– Imperial Palace outer park
– Tokyo Central Station, Marunouchi historic district
– Tsukiji Fish Market
– Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
– Ginza
– Odaiba
– Hama Rikyu Garden
– Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
– Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
– Roppongi
– Meiji Shrine
– Harajuku & Takeshita Street
– Shibuya
– and Any of your interest.
I am happy to introduce Japanese Manga/Anime cultures such as Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Ghibli related sites.
Travelling along the JR central line where guests can stopover at major animation studios (it is not accepted to visit the inside). The majority of animation studios such as TMS Entertainment, SUNRISE, A1 Pictures etc. are located in this area. Suginami Animation museum, Studio Ghibli and Ghibli Museum are also located.
Guests can feel old houses in the Spirited Away scene in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.
I can also provide a pilgrimage to the sacred place (shooting location) for the Shinkai Makoto animation movies such as Your name, Weathering with you, and Suzume.
Another interesting feature is to visit authentic Japanese style pub meals such as Yakitori, Karaage, and Sushi etc.
Asakusa Hoppy Street, Ameyoko Street, Yurakucho, Shimbashi, Shinjuku Golden gai, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho are nice to visit.
A Sake tasting at Sake Cellar can be an option.
In addition to the above, I am available in the neighboring cities.
Kawagoe is an old town developed in the 17th century. It has very close relationship with the Edo central government. Kawagoe castle ruins, Kitain temple and 500 Buddha statues will welcome the guests.
These areas are renovated and provide an old days atmosphere.
Japanese style sweets food stands will fascinate the guests.
Kawagoe is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.
Kamakura is the first Samurai worriers government established in the late 12th century.
The Buddhism are introduced to Japan in the 6th century, and flourished at Nara and Kyoto later. A newer Buddhism sect such as Zen has well developed at Kamakura area.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Gigantic Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple and the flower temple Hasedera Temple are must-see.
Kamakura is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.
I am also happy to develop any other site the guests have interest.
Jul 2, 2026
Susan M
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Family fun in Tokyo.
A wonderful day. Ted customized our tour…
Jul 2, 2026
Susan M
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Family fun in Tokyo.
A wonderful day. Ted customized our tour to suit our families interests. Definitely a great way to see Tokyo.
Jun 26, 2026
ann r
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Educational with kind, generous guide
My teenage sons and I learned…
Jun 26, 2026
ann r
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Educational with kind, generous guide
My teenage sons and I learned so much about Tokyo and Japan in a few hours. We were very fortunate to have such an excellent guide! We highly recommend Ted and appreciated his knowledgeable and thoughtful sightseeing tour of Tokyo. He planned a wonderful itinerary for us and made it all happen, with excellent pacing of breaks and good conversation.
Jun 14, 2026
141yunb
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Can’t believe all that we got to see in 6 hours
We…
Jun 14, 2026
141yunb
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Can’t believe all that we got to see in 6 hours
We had a fantastic time with Ted, our guide. He contacted us prior to the trip to customize an itinerary that would have things of interest to everyone in our group. He shared helpful history for each of the places we visited, from Tsukigi market, Harujuku district, to Meiji Shrine. He had great recommendations for other parts of our trip. He is an expert at navigating the Tokyo train system. This tour is family friendly, but also very active in terms of walking to cover all the places we got to visit. The tour with Ted is definitely a highlight of our trip, I would highly recommend.
May 18, 2026
B
Beth56646
Great tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Ted and I agreed upon what we would see…
May 18, 2026
B
Beth56646
Great tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Ted and I agreed upon what we would see soon after I registered for the tour. He met us at
the hotel. Ted was very knowledgeable about both the places we visited and Japanese
history. I highly recommend him
