Category: Uncategorized

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Taking JR train to Miyajima-guchi

    Hiroshima in One Day: Taking JR train to Miyajima-guchi

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:30 Meeting at the hotel lobby of the Sheraton
    • 8:53 Taking JR train to Miyajima-guchi
    • 9:40 Arriving at Miyajima and visiting Torii Gate and Shrine
    • 10:50 Visiting the Daiganji-Temple
    • 11:10 Having lunch at Toriiya restaurant and having coffee at the nearby shop
    • 11:55 Visiting the Five-storied Pagoda and Senjyo-Kaku
    • 13:20 Taking a ferry and JR train and bus
    • 13:51 Arriving at the A-bomb Dome and visiting the monuments in the Park
    • 14: 40 Visiting the Museum
    • 15:10 Visiting the Hiroshima National Prayer Hall
    • 15:35 Saying goodbye at the entrance of the Hondori Street

    Title: What Is a Private Tour of Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Osaka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Asia. Although one of them had visited Japan several times before, this was their first time traveling here for leisure, with a five-city trip covering Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Osaka. The guests were warm and cheerful, and we got along very well, discussing the relationship between young people in modern Japan and their parents' generation. They took an interest in the camphor trees used for torii gates, so I explained about camphor. They also asked about the difference between temples and shrines, as well as the role of shimenawa ropes and five-story pagodas, and the meaning of the maneki-neko and the tanuki figurines placed in front of traditional inns, all of which I explained. The guests were well informed about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and about radiation effects, and they mentioned that they had learned about the photographs in the Peace Memorial Museum in their textbooks, except for the photographs of the survivors. Both guests were keen to learn Japanese, and they were delighted whenever I offered Japanese equivalents of expressions, taking notes each time.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHiroshima Station~Miyajima-guchi840JPY
    Section 2BusHiroshima Station~A-bomb Dome220JPY
    Total1,060JPY

    Select a guide: enter the WordPress Guide post ID or Guide ID in the block settings.

    Apr 13, 2026
    Mariana_M
    Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Hiroshima Tour with Yoshi
    Yoshi was truly one of the…

    Apr 11, 2026
    Liesbet N
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    Boeiende reis door geschiedenis
    Een boeiende rondleiding van Yoshiko…

    Oct 26, 2025
    COYS100
    Great Hiroshima experience
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
    A great tour with a very informed…

    Jun 25, 2025
    O1135UVraymondp
    Highly recommended to everyone to this tour
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Joshi is…

  • Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour

    Hakone Full-Day Customized Private Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 8:00 Meet at Odawara Station. After assisting with the purchase of the Hakone Free Pass, take the mountain train and cable car to Sounzan, then take the ropeway to sightsee at Owakudani. Take the ropeway to Togendai. 12:00 Pirate Ship. 12:40 Arrive at Moto-Hakone. After sightseeing at Hakone Shrine, take the bus to the Hakone Open-Air Museum. After sightseeing, take the train to Odawara Station. Disband at 17:20. The customer will head to Tokyo on the 17:44 Shinkansen.

    Title: What's a Private Mount Fuji and Hakone Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from the Middle East. They were very energetic and loved shopping and taking photos. Mount Fuji was their biggest goal, and thanks to fine weather, they were extremely satisfied. Some of the guests enjoyed anime and had a strong interest in Japanese history and culture, even studying Japanese independently. Since there are no four seasons where they live, every kind of Japanese scenery was novel to them. Even a simple view of the shore of Lake Ashi, which seems ordinary to us, became a subject for their photos. I found time to introduce kanji characters, and we had an enjoyable time together. They said they would love to visit again in spring.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1Free PassOdawara Station~Odawara Station5,000JPY
    Total5,000JPY

    I am Hiroki Morikawa :Hiro:, English guide living with my wife ,just a hop skip and jump from Hakone, Kamakura, Tokyo and the Mt. Fuji.
    I am a friendly grandfather of 4 grandchildren.
    I would love to help you enjoy Japan, using my 3 strong points.
    First: I am used to dealing with any kind of matters. I have experienced various situations in the 40 years of my working life.
    Second: I am good at making a friendly atmosphere between you and local people to help you enjoy Japan. I was raised in western Japan, studied in northern Japan and now live in central Japan. So I know various local cultures and dialects to communicate with a wide variety of people.
    Third: I can explain things from a technical point of view.
    For example, how the Great Buddha was constructed, because I am a master of engineering graduated from Hokkaido University.
    Please enjoy Japan with me. See you soon!!
    dummy

    Jun 30, 2026
    G2432BLtimothyc
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone Full Day Tour with Guide and Vehicle
    6 hour tour of Hakone
    we had a great experience with…

    Jun 25, 2026
    T7734IPbrandons
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    First time in hakone
    Niro was perfect for us. He was…

    Jun 8, 2026
    JasonB6980
    Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Hiro-san knows Hakone!
    Our guide, Hiro-san, did a wonderful job introducing…

    Jun 7, 2026
    Tourist31988989961
    Tripadvisor review: Kamakura 8 hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide from Tokyo
    Great Day and Tour
    Kamakura was amazing. Enjoyed…

  • Tokyo: Tsukiji Outer Market

    Tokyo: Tsukiji Outer Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet @ Hotel
    • 9:05 – 11:25 Tsukiji Outer Market
    • 11:30 – 12:45 Toyosu Market, Senkyaku Banrai
    • 13:00 Dismissal @ Hotel

    What Is a Private Tokyo Food Market Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji and Toyosu [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private tour of the Tsukiji Outer Market and Toyosu Market for guests visiting from North America. At Tsukiji, the guests enjoyed sampling various kinds of sushi, and since one of the guests loves cooking, they also enjoyed shopping for tableware. As they had expressed interest in seeing the newly opened Senkyaku Banrai at Toyosu, I took them there, but they seemed a little disappointed by its clearly tourist-oriented setup. So I took them to the third floor of the wholesale market to see the shops catering to professional chefs. They were very pleased and purchased a large number of cooking utensils.

    Hi friends, I’m Seky, a tour guide in Tokyo, but I cover all over Japan, namely from Hokkaido to Kyushu. I have lived overseas for more than 15 years in total, such as US, UK, Singapore and others, and enjoyed local culture there. Back in Japan, I wish I could help travelers to Japan enjoy Japanese culture, and this is why I became a tour guide.
    In Tokyo, my favorite places are Shibuya, Harajuku, Asakusa, and if you are interested in fish market, I’d love to take you to the world largest Tuna auction and/or if you are sports lovers, I’ll go to ball games (baseball) too.

    May 8, 2025
    J
    jeanne_c
    Sell was very…
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Sell was very knowledgeable and willing to talk…

    Mar 2, 2025
    Joe_F
    Excellent Custom Tokyo Tour
    Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Great tour, customized to my interests, Edo period…

    Mar 1, 2025
    R2911ISjoef
    Excellent Custom Tours, Great Guides, Reasonable Prices.
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour with a friendly…

    Oct 27, 2024
    Jennifer_G
    Great day touring Tokyo !
    Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Government Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 7 persons)
    We had…

  • Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajima & Hiroshima Peace Park

    Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajima & Hiroshima Peace Park

    Tour Itinerary

    • 11:00 Meet at Hiroshima Station
    • 12:00 Miyajima
    • 13:00 Lunch
    • 16:00 Hiroshima Peace Park
    • 19:00 Hiroshima Station – Disband

    What Is a Private Guided Tour of Miyajima and Hiroshima Peace Park Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Tour Report Date of tour: December 2024 Places visited: Miyajima, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Guests: the group Weather: Sunny Experiences: Kaidan-meguri (underground passage), stroll along Maple Road The guests were a group visiting from the Middle East, arranged through a local travel agency. Because communication came through an intermediary, I repeated confirmations several times to be sure everything was clear. When we actually met, they turned out to be very friendly, and it was a pleasure to spend time together. Using my rusty Spanish here and there, we had a lot of fun — playing around, spending time with the deer, and even holding an impromptu Japanese-language lesson. I also noticed that more and more shops around Miyajima now let you order from an English menu on a tablet. This is a wonderful system that greatly reduces the workload for guides.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainHiroshima Station~Miyajimaguchi Station420JPY
    Section 2TrainMiyajimaguchi Station~Nishi-Hiroshima Station330JPY
    Section 3BusNishi-Hiroshima Station~Hiroshima Peace Park220JPY
    Section 4BusAtomic Bomb Dome-mae~Hiroshima Station220JPY
    Total1,190JPY

    Originally, I’m a cycling guide doing cycling tours all over Japan.
    But, already done Hiroshima & Miyajima tour more than 400 times.
    I traveled many countries in my younger days. I traveled Europe, US, China, India, US, Mexico, Peru Australia, NZ, and so on.
    I decided to use this experience to become a guide.
    I’m afraid but no tipping required, because cycling guides are not allowed to have tipping in my association. And you do not need to pay for my lunch, because my lunch is prepared by our group.
    Please do not hesitate to ask me anything, I’ll change the plan according to your requests.
    Thank you for your understanding and please stay connected.

    Jun 1, 2026
    John_W
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    A top day with a top guide
    My wife…

    May 27, 2026
    Annabelle_C
    Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Hiroshima in a day
    Yuji was a great communicator…

    May 12, 2026
    satishp656
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    HIROSHIMA HALF DAY TOUR
    Yuji is a warm, knowledgeble…

    May 10, 2026
    StephanieB6076
    Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
    Incredible Experience
    We had an incredible experience visiting Hiroshima…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Akihabara & Asakusa

    Tokyo in One Day: Akihabara & Asakusa

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel Shinjuku
    • 10:00 Akihabara
    • 11:40 Tsukiji Market
    • 13:30 Asakusa
    • 15:00 Disband

    Title: What's a Private Family Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Akihabara, and Asakusa The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. They were a wonderful group with excellent manners and etiquette. At Tsukiji Market, they enjoyed eel and fatty tuna sashimi and were very satisfied with how delicious it was. In Akihabara, the group competed against each other in video games, and it was very heartwarming to see how one of the guests won by a narrow margin while another looked a little disappointed. At a cafe in the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, we had beer and had a lively conversation about Shohei Ohtani and rugby. After the tour, since they had a reservation for Sky Tree, I saw them off at the Asakusa subway station and concluded my work.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayTochomae~Yoyogi178JPY
    Section 2TrainYoyogi~Akihabara178JPY
    Section 3SubwayAkihabara~Tsukiji178JPY
    Section 4SubwayTsukiji~Asakusa286JPY
    Total820JPY

    My name is Kris,
    Before becoming a tour guide, I worked for a major steelmaking company as an engineer for many years. During my career, I lived and worked in both Germany and the United States for a total of five years. These experiences helped me understand different cultures and ways of thinking, which now helps me connect easily with guests from around the world.

    After retirement, I chose a second career as a tour guide because I truly enjoy meeting people from different countries and sharing Japanese culture, history, and daily life. I have been working as a guide for more than nine years and continue to enjoy every tour.

    I currently live in Tokyo, but I was born and raised in Kobe, near Osaka, and my family roots are in Kyoto. As a result, I have extensive knowledge not only of Tokyo but also of Kyoto, Osaka, and many other parts of Japan. I enjoy introducing both famous landmarks and hidden local gems that many visitors might otherwise miss.

    I am energetic, friendly, and very sociable. I always try to create tours that are relaxed, flexible, and tailored to my guests’ interests.

    Travel is one of my greatest passions, especially visiting hot spring resorts. I have visited more than 80 onsen destinations throughout Japan, giving me a deep appreciation of Japanese culture and regional traditions.

    Whether you are visiting Japan for the first time or returning for another adventure, I would be delighted to help you discover the real Japan from a local perspective.

    I look forward to meeting you and helping you create wonderful memories in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond.

    See you in Japan!

    Kris

    May 10, 2026
    Matt_B
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A Wonderful Introduction to Tokyo
    We were so lucky to have Kris-San…

    Apr 29, 2026
    Rebecca_M
    Viator review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour
    We had such a wonderful…

    Apr 21, 2026
    jacquir581
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We love Kris
    Kris was awesome! He was very flexible when our…

    Apr 2, 2026
    Frank_B
    Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    A great day in Tokyo
    Great tour with an excellent guide, Kris.…

  • Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at Hotel Knot Shinjuku – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck
    • 11:00 Shinjuku Station – Tokyo Station – KITTE Observation Deck – Marunouchi Street Gallery
    • 12:00 Tokyo Station – Sendagi – Yanaka – Nezu – Short break at dango shop
    • 13:40 – Nezu Station – 14:00 Disband at Nishi-Nippori

    Title: What Can You See on a Private Tokyo Old-and-New Walking Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from Europe. To introduce both the old and new sides of Tokyo, I chose Marunouchi and Yanaka. On the way to Shinjuku Station, the group wanted to go up to the observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, so they enjoyed views of Tokyo Bay and Mount Fuji from above. In Marunouchi, they enjoyed art. After that, we stopped by Yanaka Ginza and Zenshoan Temple from Sendagi, but unfortunately the Asakura Museum of Sculpture was closed. Since they seemed to love art, I recommended that they visit Ueno in the afternoon. So in the end, I saw them off at Nishi-Nippori on the Yamanote Line and said goodbye. Lately there have been many guests from Northern Europe, and I feel grateful that they travel such a long way to visit.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1SubwayNishi-Shinjuku~Tokyo209JPY
    Section 2SubwayTokyo~Sendagi178JPY
    Section 3SubwayNezu~Nishi-Nippori178JPY
    Total565JPY

    Hello! I am Kyoko who has been working as a guide since 2017. I was born in Kyoto. So, my name comes from Kyoto which is Japan’s beautiful ancient capital . And “ko” literally means child in Japanese. Thus, my name Kyoko means Kyoto’s child, Kyoko. But some guests call me Kyoto. It’s okay, not a big problem.
    But to say the truth, I feel like this, ” Am I like an ancient person? No way~!!…” I am mainly guiding in and around Tokyo. Tokyo has two faces of well-advanced and old-fashioned. So, you can enjoy both high-tech technology and historical culture plus delicious food and drinks,too. You will surely be inspired in this city with me. Anyway, looking forward to meeting you in the near future. Thank you in advance!

    Sep 9, 2025
    salanicolas
    Superb Tokyo guide
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kyoko was great! Super knowledgeable, a lot of fun,…

    Jun 19, 2025
    josephk547
    A definite must-do when visiting Tokyo!
    Tripadvisor review: Nikko Full-Day Private Walking Tour with Government-Licensed Guide (Tokyo DEP.)
    Absolutely amazing tour…

    May 24, 2025
    sandrashachar
    Terrific Tokyo Tour!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    We had a fantastic tour of the Asakusa Shrine,…

    May 22, 2025
    andywP8147WV
    Private Guided Tour in Tokyo
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our wonderful guide Kyoko prepared an excellent…

  • Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Nishiki Market

    Kyoto in One Day: Fushimi Inari Taisha & Nishiki Market

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet @Hotel (Hotel)
    • 10:10:30 Travel (JR; Kyoto Station → Inari Taisha)
    • 10:30-11:20 Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • 11:20-11:30 Travel (Keihan Train; Fushimi Inari → Keihan Shichijo)
    • 11:40-12:30 Visit Sanjusangendo
    • 12:30-12:50 Travel (Keihan Train; Keihan Shichijo → Kiyomizu-Gojo)
    • 13:00-13:50 Lunch (@Gohanya Shinkiro/Gojo)
    • 14:00-14:40 Stroll around Gion
    • 14:40-14:50 Travel (City Bus; Gion → Shijo Kawaramachi)
    • 15:00-15:30 Stroll around Nishiki Market
    • 15:30-15:50 Travel (Karasuma Line; Karasuma Shijo → Kyoto)
    • 15:50-16:00 Stroll Kyoto Station SkyWalk
    • 16:00 Farewell at the hotel

    Title: What's a Full-Day Private Kyoto Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Fushimi Inari, Sanjusangendo, Gion, and Nishiki Market The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had traveled to other destinations before arriving in Kyoto, Japan, the previous evening. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures. In the morning, I took the guests to Fushimi Inari Taisha and Sanjusangendo, and after lunch we strolled through Gion and Nishiki Market and I showed them the Skywalk at Kyoto Station. The tour proceeded on schedule as planned. As for their impressions, the guests said that Fushimi Inari and Sanjusangendo in the morning were wonderful. Gion and Nishiki Market in the afternoon were included at the guests' request, but these may have been slightly less than what they had expected.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainKyoto~Inari Taisha150JPY
    Section 2TrainFushimi Inari~Keihan Shichijo170JPY
    Section 3TrainKeihan Shichijo~Kiyomizu-Gojo170JPY
    Section 4BusGion~Kawaramachi Shijo230JPY
    Section 5SubwayKarasuma Shijo~Kyoto220JPY
    Total940JPY

    My name is (Mr.)Michiharu Aioi and I worked at Electronic Manufacturing Company (Panasonic) for more than 40 years in charge of overseas sales.
    I learned a lot in these 40 years and now I would like to contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding with foreign countries being involved in tourism busines utilizing my long experience in my previous company. I will do my best to make each trip very fruitful for each foreign visitor.
    As for my language ability, in addition to English, I can speak Spanish which I used in my job and I can communicate with Chinese people with intermediate level. Finally It is my great pleasure if my activity could work in the mutual understang with foreign visitors. Thanks a Lot !

    Jul 19, 2026
    Wander35832177180
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Kyoto temple tour
    Our Kyoto guided tour (Aioi Michiharu) was a…

    Jul 16, 2026
    Abby_M
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Excellent tour. Highly recommend
    Michi our guide was excellent!…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Javier P
    Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
    Kyoto gems
    Michi was incredibly courteous and informative.…

    Jul 13, 2026
    Beth_D
    Viator review: Kyoto Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
    Excellent Tour and Guide
    Michi was an excellent tour guide! He…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Senso-ji Temple & Nijubashi Bridge

    Tokyo in One Day: Senso-ji Temple & Nijubashi Bridge

    Tour Itinerary

    • 10:00 Meet at hotel
    • 10:45-11:30 Sightseeing at Senso-ji Temple
    • 11:45-12:30 Sightseeing in Akihabara
    • 12:30-13:45 Move to Tokyo Station, lunch
    • 14:10-14:40. Sightseeing at Nijubashi Bridge
    • 15:20-16:30. Visit Meiji Shrine, dismissal
    • 14:30-15:00

    What Is a Private Tokyo Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visiting from North America. One of the group was studying Japanese and showed great interest in the various things we saw at each destination. I was not sure whether Akihabara would suit the group, but they seemed to enjoy buying souvenirs for friends and doing some shopping of their own. Since they mentioned that they preferred the outdoors and disliked shopping, I focused the tour on outdoor spots where they could enjoy the clear weather and the history, such as Senso-ji Temple and the Imperial Palace, which seemed to work well. I was happy when they told me, "Thank you for taking us to such beautiful places."

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainMita~Asakusa220JPY
    Section 2TrainAsakusa~Suehirocho178JPY
    Section 3TrainAkihabara~Tokyo146JPY
    Section 4TrainKasumigaseki~Meiji-jingumae178JPY
    Total722JPY

    Thank you for your entry in this tour. Nice to meet you in this mail.
    Your tour guide Kappa is my nickname. Kappa is a traditional, imaginary creature who came into being in Japan over 300 years ago. She is good at swimming, like me, for I like swimming. I would like to make our tour operated smoothly as Kappa does when she swims in the river or pond. It is my pleasure to introduce many aspects in our tour, especially cooking, for it is my hobby and I went to the professional cooking and SAKE school, respectively. If you have any questions or requests about Japanese cooking, of course our tour, I am very delighted to answer to you anytime!

    Jul 30, 2025
    Michael_R
    Customized Hakone tour
    Viator review: Hakone 8 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Our guide, Kappa-san, modified the typical Hakone tour…

    May 18, 2025
    Leigh_M
    Kappa, our guide met us…
    Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kappa, our guide met us at the…

    May 4, 2025
    panderhigs
    Kappa A+ Guide!
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    Kappa was an amazing guide who created a thorough…

    May 4, 2025
    O9621SBscottp
    Kappa is a wonderful tour guide
    Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
    My wife and I were treated…

  • Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day

    Tour Itinerary

    • 0900 Meet at Hotel (2 min from Keiyo Line Shiomi Station)
    • 0920 At Tokyo Station, guide to the location of the Station Travel Concierge for later JR Pass exchange and Shinkansen ticket purchase.
    •   Explain the historical background from Tokyo Station to Marunouchi. ~ Gyoko-dori Avenue ~ Tatsumi Yagura Turret
    • 1100 Visit Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street (you can take your time here another day)
    • 1240 Shibuya, Hachiko Statue, Scramble Crossing
    • 1340 Asakusa, Nakamise, Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine
    • 1450 Tokyo Skytree, after explaining the route to Solamachi,
    • 1500 At the 4F entrance gate, confirm admission and disband

    Can You Do a First-Day Private Tour of Tokyo to Learn the JR Pass and Train System? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group of four visiting from Oceania. One of the guests had visited Japan about 25 years ago but did not have clear memories of it. Their main purpose in requesting a guide on their first day was to understand the transportation system and to confirm things like purchasing a JR Pass and Shinkansen tickets. They mentioned that since guide time is valuable, once they knew the locations they would handle the rest on their own later. They planned to stay in Tokyo for several days, but the destinations for the following days had not yet been decided. Ginza and Tokyo Midtown seemed to be candidates, but since shopping was important to some of the guests, they planned to revisit Harajuku and Shibuya. After Tokyo, they planned to visit Takayama, Kanazawa, and Kyoto. Since their accommodation was on the Keiyo Line, I chose Tokyo Station as the first destination, partly to introduce the station travel concierge, but the distance from the Keiyo Line platform to the Marunouchi North Exit turned out to be quite long. Due to time constraints (in particular a 15:00 reservation at Skytree), it was not possible to set aside a proper lunch break, so the guests enjoyed things like melon bread and strawberry candy on Takeshita Street and in Asakusa. I introduced the food court at Skytree, so they planned to have their meal either there or somewhere near Sensoji Temple.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainShiomi~Tokyo167JPY
    Section 2SubwayNijubashimae~Meiji-jingumae209JPY
    Section 3TrainHarajuku~Shibuya146JPY
    Section 4SubwayShibuya~Asakusa252JPY
    Section 5TrainAsakusa~Tokyo Skytree157JPY
    Total931JPY

    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…

    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 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…

    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…

  • Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Akihabara

    Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine & Akihabara

    Tour Itinerary

    • 9:00 Meet at Hotel Tokyo Ginza
    • 9:50 Meiji Shrine
    • 11:30 Imperial Palace Sakuradamon Gate ~ Nijubashi Bridge ~ Otemon Gate
    • 12:15 Shopping at 7-Eleven in Palace Building, then lunch on a bench
    • 13:00 Asakusa (Skytree photos)
    • 14:30 Akihabara
    • 15:00 Disband in front of Akihabara Station

    Title: What Is a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Body: The weather was fair and Mobile Suica had been prepared in advance, so the tour proceeded without any trouble. The Ginza Line from Ginza to Omotesando was quite crowded, which seemed to surprise the guests. At one point, the group was pushed out by other passengers and could not board again, which caused some delay. At Meiji Shrine, the guests spent a considerable amount of time taking photos and asking questions. They appeared very interested in Japanese religion and history. At Takeshita Street in Harajuku, it was just before 11:00, so some shops had not yet opened and it was not very crowded, allowing us to move smoothly. The guests tried to enter an otter cafe but gave up because it was full. Since the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace were closed, we proceeded from Sakuradamon Gate to the Nijubashi Bridge and Otemon Gate. We bought lunch at a convenience store in the basement of a nearby building, and the guests ate on the benches at Otemachi Station. Two of the guests could not eat certain foods, so they chose their items carefully at the convenience store. In Asakusa, we saw the Skytree, and at Sensoji Temple the guests enjoyed drawing omikuji fortunes. At their request, we then went around Akihabara, where I showed them camera accessories at an electronics store. We reached the front of a large electronics retailer at 15:00, and the tour concluded there. The guests each enjoyed the tour in their own way.

    Transportation cost per person

    No.TransportationRouteFare
    Section 1TrainGinza~Meiji-jingumae600JPY
    Section 2TrainMeiji-jingumae~Kasumigaseki0JPY
    Section 3TrainOtemachi~Yushima0JPY
    Section 4TrainUeno-hirokoji~Asakusa0JPY
    Section 5TrainAsakusa~Suehirocho0JPY
    Total600JPY

    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 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 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 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…